EXHIBIT 10.3
WARRANT
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE
SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE,
SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM REASONABLY
SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SAID
ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS WARRANT MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION
WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT.
ADVANCED VIRAL RESEARCH CORP.
WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
Warrant No.: _____ Number of Shares: 15,000,000
Date of Issuance: April 28, 2003
ADVANCED VIRAL RESEARCH CORP., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
certifies that, for Ten United States Dollars ($10.00) and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, Cornell Capital Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership
("Cornell"), the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns, is entitled,
subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company upon
surrender of this Warrant, at any time or times on or after six months after the
date hereof, but not after 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on the Expiration Date (as
defined herein) fifteen million (15,000,000) fully paid and nonassessable shares
of Common Stock (as defined herein) of the Company (the "Warrant Shares") at the
exercise price per share provided in Section 1(b) below or as subsequently
adjusted; provided, however, that in no event shall the holder be entitled to
exercise this Warrant for a number of Warrant Shares in excess of that number of
Warrant Shares which, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the holder and
its affiliates to exceed 9.99% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock
following such exercise, except within 60 days of the Expiration Date. For
purposes of the foregoing proviso, the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by the holder and its affiliates shall include the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with
respect to which the determination of such proviso is being made, but shall
exclude shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the
remaining, unexercised Warrants beneficially owned by the holder and its
affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted
portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by the holder
and its affiliates (including, without
limitation, any convertible notes or preferred stock) subject to a limitation on
conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as
set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial
ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For purposes of this Warrant, in determining
the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock a holder may rely on the number
of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company's most
recent Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public
announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or its
transfer agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Upon the written request of any holder, the Company shall promptly, but in no
event later than one (1) Business Day following the receipt of such notice,
confirm in writing to any such holder the number of shares of Common Stock then
outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall
be determined after giving effect to the exercise of Warrants (as defined below)
by such holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.
Section 1.
(a) This Warrant is the common stock purchase warrant (the
"Warrant") issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith given by and between the Company and the Investors set forth on
Schedule I thereto (the "Securities Purchase Agreement").
(b) Definitions. The following words and terms as used in this
Warrant shall have the following meanings:
(i) "Approved Stock Plan" means any employee benefit plan
which has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to
which the Company's securities may be issued to any employee, officer or
director for services provided to the Company.
(ii) "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are
authorized or required by law to remain closed.
(iii) "Closing Bid Price" means the closing bid price of
Common Stock as quoted on the Principal Market (as reported by Bloomberg
Financial Markets ("Bloomberg") through its "Volume at Price" function).
(iv) "Common Stock" means (i) the Company's common stock,
par value $0.00001 per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such Common
Stock shall have been changed or any capital stock resulting from a
reclassification of such Common Stock.
(v) "Excluded Securities" means, provided such security
is issued at a price which is greater than or equal to the arithmetic average of
the Closing Bid Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive trading
days immediately preceding the date of issuance, any of the following: (a) any
issuance by the Company of securities in connection with a strategic partnership
or a joint venture (the primary purpose of which is not to raise equity
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capital), (b) any issuance by the Company of securities as consideration for a
merger or consolidation or the acquisition of a business, product, license, or
other assets of another person or entity and (c) options to purchase shares of
Common Stock, provided (I) such options are issued after the date of this
Warrant to employees of the Company within 30 days of such employee's starting
his employment with the Company, and (II) the exercise price of such options is
not less than the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock on the date of issuance
of such option.
(vi) "Expiration Date" means the date five (5) years from
the Issuance Date of this Warrant or, if such date falls on a Saturday, Sunday
or other day on which banks are required or authorized to be closed in the City
of New York or the State of New York or on which trading does not take place on
the Principal Exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock
is traded (a "Holiday"), the next date that is not a Holiday.
(vii) "Issuance Date" means the date hereof.
(viii) "Options" means any rights, warrants or options to
subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(ix) "Other Securities" means (i) those options and
warrants of the Company issued prior to, and outstanding on, the Issuance Date
of this Warrant, (ii) the shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of such
options and warrants, provided such options and warrants are not amended after
the Issuance Date of this Warrant and (iii) the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of this Warrant.
(x) "Person" means an individual, a limited liability
company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an
unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency
thereof.
(xi) "Principal Market" means the New York Stock Exchange,
the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market, the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market, whichever is at the time the principal trading exchange or market for
such security, or the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board
for such security as reported by Bloomberg or, if no bid or sale information is
reported for such security by Bloomberg, then the average of the bid prices of
each of the market makers for such security as reported in the "pink sheets" by
the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.
(xii) "Registration Rights" means the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall have "piggy back"
registration rights.
(xiii) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
(xiv) "Warrant" means this Warrant and all Warrants issued
in exchange, transfer or replacement thereof.
(xv) "Warrant Exercise Price" shall be the higher of one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the closing bid price of the Company's Common
Stock (as reported by
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Bloomberg, LP) on the date hereof or Eight Cents ($0.08) per share or as
subsequently adjusted as provided in Section 8 hereof.
(xvi) "Warrant Shares" means the shares of Common Stock
issuable at any time upon exercise of this Warrant.
(c) Other Definitional Provisions.
(i) Except as otherwise specified herein, all references
herein (A) to the Company shall be deemed to include the Company's successors
and (B) to any applicable law defined or referred to herein shall be deemed
references to such applicable law as the same may have been or may be amended or
supplemented from time to time.
(ii) When used in this Warrant, the words "herein",
"hereof", and "hereunder" and words of similar import, shall refer to this
Warrant as a whole and not to any provision of this Warrant, and the words
"Section", "Schedule", and "Exhibit" shall refer to Sections of, and Schedules
and Exhibits to, this Warrant unless otherwise specified.
(iii) Whenever the context so requires, the neuter gender
includes the masculine or feminine, and the singular number includes the plural,
and vice versa.
Section 2. Exercise of Warrant. Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the holder hereof then registered on
the books of the Company, pro rata as hereinafter provided, at any time on any
Business Day on or after the opening of business on such Business Day,
commencing with the first day six months after the Closing Date and prior to
11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on the Expiration Date, by (i) delivery of a written
notice, in the form of the subscription notice attached as Exhibit A hereto (the
"Exercise Notice"), of such holder's election to exercise this Warrant, which
notice shall specify the number of Warrant Shares to be purchased, (ii) payment
to the Company of an amount equal to the Warrant Exercise Price(s) applicable to
the Warrant Shares being purchased, multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares
(at the applicable Warrant Exercise Price) as to which this Warrant is being
exercised (plus any applicable issue or transfer taxes) (the "Aggregate Exercise
Price") in cash or wire transfer of immediately available funds or and (iii) the
surrender of this Warrant (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to
this Warrant in the case of its loss, theft or destruction) to a common carrier
for overnight delivery to the Company as soon as practicable following such
date. In the event of any exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant in
compliance with this Section 2(a), the Company shall on the fifth (5th) Business
Day following the date of receipt of the Exercise Notice, the Aggregate Exercise
Price and this Warrant (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this
Warrant in the case of its loss, theft or destruction) and the receipt of the
representations of the holder specified in Section 6 hereof, if requested by the
Company (the "Exercise Delivery Documents"), and if the Common Stock is DTC
eligible credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the
holder shall be entitled to the holder's or its designee's balance account with
The Depository Trust Company; provided, however, if the holder who submitted the
Exercise Notice requested physical delivery of any or all of the Warrant Shares,
or, if the Common Stock is not DTC eligible then the Company shall, on or before
the fifth (5th) Business Day following receipt of the Exercise Delivery
Documents, issue and surrender to a common carrier for overnight delivery to the
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address specified in the Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the name
of the holder, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the holder
shall be entitled pursuant to such request. Upon delivery of the Exercise Notice
and Aggregate Exercise Price referred to in clause (ii)(A) above, the holder of
this Warrant shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the
holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has
been exercised. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Warrant
Exercise Price, the Closing Bid Price or the arithmetic calculation of the
Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the holder the number of
Warrant Shares that is not disputed and shall submit the disputed determinations
or arithmetic calculations to the holder via facsimile within one (1) Business
Day of receipt of the holder's Exercise Notice. If the holder and the Company
are unable to agree upon the determination of the Warrant Exercise Price or
arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares within one (1) day of such disputed
determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the holder, then the
Company shall immediately submit via facsimile (i) the disputed determination of
the Warrant Exercise Price or the Closing Bid Price to an independent, reputable
investment banking firm or (ii) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the
Warrant Shares to its independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause
the investment banking firm or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform
the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the holder of the
results no later than forty-eight (48) hours from the time it receives the
disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment banking firm's or
accountant's determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be deemed
conclusive absent manifest error.
(a) Unless the rights represented by this Warrant shall have
expired or shall have been fully exercised, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable and in no event later than five (5) Business Days after any exercise
and at its own expense, issue a new Warrant identical in all respects to this
Warrant exercised except it shall represent rights to purchase the number of
Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant
exercised, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which such Warrant
is exercised.
(b) No fractional Warrant Shares are to be issued upon any pro
rata exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of Warrant Shares issued
upon such exercise of this Warrant shall be rounded up or down to the nearest
whole number.
(c) If the Company or its Transfer Agent shall fail for any reason
or for no reason to issue to the holder within fifteen (15) days of receipt of
the Exercise Delivery Documents, a certificate for the number of Warrant Shares
to which the holder is entitled or to credit the holder's balance account with
The Depository Trust Company for such number of Warrant Shares to which the
holder is entitled upon the holder's exercise of this Warrant, the Company
shall, in addition to any other remedies under this Warrant or the Placement
Agent Agreement or otherwise available to such holder, pay as additional damages
in cash to such holder on each day the issuance of such certificate for Warrant
Shares is not timely effected an amount equal to .025% of the product of (A) the
sum of the number of Warrant Shares not issued to the holder on a timely basis
and to which the holder is entitled, and (B) the Closing Bid Price of the Common
Stock for the trading day immediately preceding the last possible date which the
Company could have issued such Common Stock to the holder without violating this
Section 2.
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(d) If within fifteen (15) days after the Company's receipt of the
Exercise Delivery Documents, the Company fails to deliver a new Warrant to the
holder for the number of Warrant Shares to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, then, in addition to any other available
remedies under this Warrant or the Placement Agent Agreement, or otherwise
available to such holder, the Company shall pay as additional damages in cash to
such holder on each day after such fifteenth (15th) day that such delivery of
such new Warrant is not timely effected in an amount equal to 0.25% of the
product of (A) the number of Warrant Shares represented by the portion of this
Warrant which is not being exercised and (B) the Closing Bid Price of the Common
Stock for the trading day immediately preceding the last possible date which the
Company could have issued such Warrant to the holder without violating this
Section 2.
Section 3. Covenants as to Common Stock. The Company hereby covenants and
agrees as follows:
(a) This Warrant is, and any Warrants issued in substitution for
or replacement of this Warrant will upon issuance be, duly authorized and
validly issued.
(b) All Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of
the rights represented by this Warrant will, upon issuance, be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges with
respect to the issue thereof.
(c) During the period within which the rights represented by this
Warrant may be exercised, the Company will at all times have authorized and
reserved at least one hundred percent (100%) of the number of shares of Common
Stock needed to provide for the exercise of the rights then represented by this
Warrant and the par value of said shares will at all times be less than or equal
to the applicable Warrant Exercise Price. If at any time the Company does not
have a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock authorized and available,
then the Company shall call and hold a special meeting of its stockholders
within sixty (60) days of that time for the sole purpose of increasing the
number of authorized shares of Common Stock.
(d) If at any time after the date hereof the Company shall file a
registration statement, the Company shall include the Warrant Shares issuable to
the holder, pursuant to the terms of this Warrant and shall maintain, so long as
any other shares of Common Stock shall be so listed, such listing of all Warrant
Shares from time to time issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant; and the
Company shall so list on each national securities exchange or automated
quotation system, as the case may be, and shall maintain such listing of, any
other shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon the exercise of this
Warrant if and so long as any shares of the same class shall be listed on such
national securities exchange or automated quotation system.
(e) The Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of
Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation,
merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action,
avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be
observed or performed by it hereunder, but will at all times in good faith
assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Warrant and in the
taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by the holder of this
Warrant in order to protect the
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exercise privilege of the holder of this Warrant against dilution or other
impairment, consistent with the tenor and purpose of this Warrant. The Company
will not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon
the exercise of this Warrant above the Warrant Exercise Price then in effect,
and (ii) will take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant.
(f) This Warrant will be binding upon any entity succeeding to the
Company by merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or substantially all of
the Company's assets.
Section 4. Taxes. The Company shall pay any and all taxes, except any
applicable withholding, which may be payable with respect to the issuance
and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.
Section 5. Warrant Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. Except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, no holder, as such, of this Warrant shall be
entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of shares of
capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in
this Warrant be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold
consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock,
reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise),
receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or
otherwise, prior to the issuance to the holder of this Warrant of the Warrant
Shares which he or she is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this
Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as
imposing any liabilities on such holder to purchase any securities (upon
exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company,
whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the
Company. Notwithstanding this Section 5, the Company will provide the holder of
this Warrant with copies of the same notices and other information given to the
stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof
to the stockholders.
Section 6. Representations of Holder. The holder of this Warrant, by the
acceptance hereof, represents that it is acquiring this Warrant and the Warrant
Shares for its own account for investment only and not with a view towards, or
for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution of this Warrant
or the Warrant Shares, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the
Securities Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein,
the holder does not agree to hold this Warrant or any of the Warrant Shares for
any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of this
Warrant and the Warrant Shares at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a
registration statement or an exemption under the Securities Act. The holder of
this Warrant further represents, by acceptance hereof, that, as of this date,
such holder is an "accredited investor" as such term is defined in Rule
501(a)(1) of Regulation D promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act (an "Accredited Investor"). Upon exercise of this
Warrant, the holder shall, if requested by the Company, confirm in writing, in a
form satisfactory to the Company, that the Warrant Shares so purchased are being
acquired solely for the holder's own account and not as a nominee for any other
party, for investment, and not with a view toward distribution or resale and
that such holder is an Accredited Investor. If such holder cannot make such
representations
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because they would be factually incorrect, it shall be a condition to such
holder's exercise of this Warrant, that the Company receive such other
representations as the Company considers reasonably necessary to assure the
Company that the issuance of its securities upon exercise of this Warrant shall
not violate any United States or state securities laws.
Section 7. Ownership and Transfer.
(a) The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices
(or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to
the holder hereof), a register for this Warrant, in which the Company shall
record the name and address of the person in whose name this Warrant has been
issued, as well as the name and address of each transferee. The Company may
treat the person in whose name any Warrant is registered on the register as the
owner and holder thereof for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the
contrary, but in all events recognizing any transfers made in accordance with
the terms of this Warrant.
(b) The Company is obligated to register the Warrant Shares for
resale under the Securities Act pursuant to the Investor Registration Rights
Agreement dated the date hereof and the initial holder of this Warrant (and
certain assignees thereof) is entitled to the registration rights in respect of
the Warrant Shares as set forth in the Investor Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 8. Adjustment of Warrant Exercise Price and Number of Shares. The
Warrant Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:
(a) Adjustment of Warrant Exercise Price upon Subdivision or
Combination of Common Stock. If the Company at any time after the date of
issuance of this Warrant subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of
Common Stock into a greater number of shares, any Warrant Exercise Price in
effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and
the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of this Warrant
will be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time after the date of
issuance of this Warrant combines (by combination, reverse stock split or
otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, any Warrant Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant
Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant will be proportionately decreased.
Any adjustment under this Section 8(d) shall become effective at the close of
business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.
(b) Distribution of Assets. If the Company shall declare or make
any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its
assets) to holders of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise
(including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other
securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off,
reclassification, corporate rearrangement or other similar transaction) (a
"Distribution"), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each
such case:
(i) any Warrant Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of
holders of Common Stock entitled
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to receive the Distribution shall be reduced, effective as of the close of
business on such record date, to a price determined by multiplying such Warrant
Exercise Price by a fraction of which (A) the numerator shall be the Closing
Sale Price of the Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding such
record date minus the value of the Distribution (as determined in good faith by
the Company's Board of Directors) applicable to one share of Common Stock, and
(B) the denominator shall be the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the
trading day immediately preceding such record date; and
(ii) either (A) the number of Warrant Shares obtainable
upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased to a number of shares equal to
the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable immediately prior to the close
of business on the record date fixed for the determination of holders of Common
Stock entitled to receive the Distribution multiplied by the reciprocal of the
fraction set forth in the immediately preceding clause (i), or (B) in the event
that the Distribution is of common stock of a company whose common stock is
traded on a national securities exchange or a national automated quotation
system, then the holder of this Warrant shall receive an additional warrant to
purchase Common Stock, the terms of which shall be identical to those of this
Warrant, except that such warrant shall be exercisable into the amount of the
assets that would have been payable to the holder of this Warrant pursuant to
the Distribution had the holder exercised this Warrant immediately prior to such
record date and with an exercise price equal to the amount by which the exercise
price of this Warrant was decreased with respect to the Distribution pursuant to
the terms of the immediately preceding clause (i).
(c) Certain Events. If any event occurs of the type contemplated
by the provisions of this Section 8 but not expressly provided for by such
provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation
rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the
Company's Board of Directors will make an appropriate adjustment in the Warrant
Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise
of this Warrant so as to protect the rights of the holders of the Warrants;
provided, except as set forth in section 8(d),that no such adjustment pursuant
to this Section 8(f) will increase the Warrant Exercise Price or decrease the
number of shares of Common Stock obtainable as otherwise determined pursuant to
this Section 8.
(d) Notices.
(i) Immediately upon any adjustment of the Warrant
Exercise Price, the Company will give written notice thereof to the holder of
this Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the
calculation of such adjustment.
(ii) The Company will give written notice to the holder of
this Warrant at least ten (10) days prior to the date on which the Company
closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or
distribution upon the Common Stock, (B) with respect to any pro rata
subscription offer to holders of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to
vote with respect to any Organic Change (as defined below), dissolution or
liquidation, provided that such information shall be made known to the public
prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to such holder.
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(iii) The Company will also give written notice to the
holder of this Warrant at least ten (10) days prior to the date on which any
Organic Change, dissolution or liquidation will take place, provided that such
information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with
such notice being provided to such holder.
Section 9. Purchase Rights; Reorganization, Reclassification,
Consolidation, Merger or Sale.
(a) In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 8 above, if
at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible
Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property
pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the "Purchase
Rights"), then the holder of this Warrant will be entitled to acquire, upon the
terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which
such holder could have acquired if such holder had held the number of shares of
Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant immediately
before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of
such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the
record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale
of such Purchase Rights.
(b) Any recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
to another Person or other transaction in each case which is effected in such a
way that holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive (either directly or
upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with respect to or in
exchange for Common Stock is referred to herein as an "Organic Change." Prior to
the consummation of any (i) sale of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets to an acquiring Person or (ii) other Organic Change following which the
Company is not a surviving entity, the Company will secure from the Person
purchasing such assets or the successor resulting from such Organic Change (in
each case, the "Acquiring Entity") a written agreement (in form and substance
satisfactory to the holders of Warrants representing at least two-thirds (iii)
of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants then outstanding)
to deliver to each holder of Warrants in exchange for such Warrants, a security
of the Acquiring Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar
in form and substance to this Warrant and satisfactory to the holders of the
Warrants (including an adjusted warrant exercise price equal to the value for
the Common Stock reflected by the terms of such consolidation, merger or sale,
and exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of Common Stock acquirable
and receivable upon exercise of the Warrants without regard to any limitations
on exercise, if the value so reflected is less than any Applicable Warrant
Exercise Price immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or sale). Prior
to the consummation of any other Organic Change, the Company shall make
appropriate provision (in form and substance satisfactory to the holders of
Warrants representing a majority of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants then outstanding) to insure that each of the holders of the
Warrants will thereafter have the right to acquire and receive in lieu of or in
addition to (as the case may be) the Warrant Shares immediately theretofore
issuable and receivable upon the exercise of such holder's Warrants (without
regard to any limitations on exercise), such shares of stock, securities or
assets that would have been issued or payable in such Organic Change with
respect to or in exchange for the number of Warrant Shares which would have been
issuable and receivable upon the exercise
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of such holder's Warrant as of the date of such Organic Change (without taking
into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of this
Warrant).
Section 10. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Warrant. If this Warrant
is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Company shall promptly, on receipt
of an indemnification undertaking (or, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, the
Warrant), issue a new Warrant of like denomination and tenor as this Warrant so
lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed.
Section 11. Notice. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Warrant must be in
writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when
delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided
confirmation of receipt is received by the sending party transmission is
mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party);
or (iii) one Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the
same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Cornell: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
101 Hudson Street - Suite 3606
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
Attention: Mark A. Angelo
Telephone: (201) 985-8300
Facsimile: (201) 985-8266
With Copy to: Butler Gonzalez LLP
1000 Stuyvesant Avenue
Suite # 6
Union, New Jersey 07083
Attention: David Gonzalez, Esq.
Telephone: (908) 810-8588
Facsimile: (908) 810-0873
If to the Company, to: Advanced Viral Research Corp.
200 Corporate Boulevard South
Yonkers, New York 10701
Attention: Alan Gallantar
Telephone: (914) 376-7383
Facsimile: (914) 376-7638
With a copy to: Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP
201 South Biscayne Boulevard., Suite 2000
Miami, Florida 33131
Attention: Clayton E. Parker, Esq.
Telephone: (305) 539-3306
Facsimile: (305) 358-7095
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Each party shall provide five days' prior written notice to the other party of
any change in address or facsimile number. Written confirmation of receipt (A)
given by the recipient of such notice, consent, facsimile, waiver or other
communication, (or (B) provided by a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile
or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance
with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
Section 12. Expiration Date. This Warrant, in all events, shall be wholly
void and of no effect after the close of business on the Expiration Date, except
that notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the provisions of Section 8(b)
shall continue in full force and effect after such date as to any Warrant Shares
or other securities issued upon the exercise of this Warrant.
Section 13. Amendment and Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
provisions of the Warrants may be amended and the Company may take any action
herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by
it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the holders of
Warrants representing at least two-thirds of the Warrant Shares issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants then outstanding; provided that, except for Section
8(d), no such action may increase the Warrant Exercise Price or decrease the
number of shares or class of stock obtainable upon exercise of any Warrant
without the written consent of the holder of such Warrant.
Section 14. Descriptive Headings; Governing Law. The descriptive headings
of the several sections and paragraphs of this Warrant are inserted for
convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Warrant. The corporate
laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues concerning the relative
rights of the Company and its stockholders. All other questions concerning the
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall
be governed by the internal laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving
effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the
State of New Jersey or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application
of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New Jersey. Each party
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in Hudson County and the United States District Court for
the District of New Jersey, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in
connection herewith or therewith, or with any transaction contemplated hereby or
discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any
suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought
in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is
improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and
consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by
mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under
this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
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Section 15. Waiver of Jury Trial. AS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR EACH PARTY
HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS WARRANT, THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THIS WARRANT AND/OR
ANY AND ALL OF THE OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TRANSACTION.
Section 16. Assignment. This Warrant shall not be assignable except to an
affiliate of Cornell Capital Partners LP.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed as
of the date first set forth above.
ADVANCED VIRAL RESEARCH CORP.
By: /s/ Shalom Z. Hirschman, MD
---------------------------------------
Name: Shalom Z. Hirschman, MD
Title: Chief Financial Officer
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