EXHIBIT 10(hh)
Chardan Capital Markets, LLC
17 State Street, Suite 1600
New York, New York 10004
June 18, 2012
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Geert Kersten
Director and Chief Executive Office
CEL-SCI Corporation
8229 Boone Boulevard
Suite 802
Vienna, VA 22182
Dear Mr. Kersten:
This letter (the "Agreement") constitutes the agreement between Chardan
Capital Markets, LLC ("Placement Agent") and CEL-SCI Corporation (the
"Company"), that Placement Agent shall serve as the exclusive placement agent
for the Company, on a "reasonable best efforts" basis, in connection with the
proposed placement (the "Placement") of registered securities (the "Securities")
of the Company, including shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock") and warrants to purchase shares of
Common Stock. The terms of such Placement and the Securities shall be mutually
agreed upon by the Company and the purchasers (each, a "Purchaser" and
collectively, the "Purchasers") and nothing herein constitutes that Placement
Agent would have the power or authority to bind the Company or any Purchaser or
an obligation for the Company to issue any Securities or complete the Placement.
This Agreement and the documents executed and delivered by the Company and the
Purchasers in connection with the Placement shall be collectively referred to
herein as the "Transaction Documents." The date of the closing of the Placement
shall be referred to herein as the "Closing Date." The Company expressly
acknowledges and agrees that Placement Agent's obligations hereunder are on a
reasonable best efforts basis only and that the execution of this Agreement does
not constitute a commitment by Placement Agent to purchase the Securities and
does not ensure the successful placement of the Securities or any portion
thereof or the success of Placement Agent with respect to securing any other
financing on behalf of the Company.
SECTION 1. COMPENSATION AND OTHER FEES.
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As compensation for the services provided by Placement Agent hereunder, the
Company agrees to pay to Placement Agent:
The fees set forth below with respect to the Placement:
1. A cash fee payable immediately upon the closing of the Placement
and equal to 8.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in the Placement.
2. [RESERVED]
SECTION 2. REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
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The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Placement
Agent that:
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(A) The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration File No.
333-162792) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
which became effective on November 13, 2009, for the registration under the
Securities Act of the Shares. At the time of such filing, the Company met the
requirements of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. Such registration statement
meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the Securities Act
and complies with said Rule. The Company will file with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations (the
"Rules and Regulations") of the Commission promulgated thereunder, a supplement
to the form of prospectus included in such registration statement relating to
the placement of the Shares and the plan of distribution thereof and has advised
the Placement Agent of all further information (financial and other) with
respect to the Company required to be set forth therein. Such registration
statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the date of this
Agreement, is hereinafter called the "Registration Statement"; such prospectus
in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter
called the "Base Prospectus"; and the supplemented form of prospectus, in the
form in which it will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
(including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented) is hereinafter called the
"Prospectus Supplement." Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration
Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to
refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein (the
"Incorporated Documents") pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), on or
before the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Base Prospectus or
the Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be; and any reference in this
Agreement to the terms "amend," "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the
Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement shall
be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange
Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Base Prospectus
or the Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference. All references in this Agreement to financial statements
and schedules and other information that is "contained," "included,"
"described," "referenced," "set forth" or "stated" in the Registration
Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement (and all other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information that is or is deemed to
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus
or the Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Base Prospectus or
the Prospectus Supplement has been issued, and no proceeding for any such
purpose is pending or has been initiated or, to the Company's knowledge, is
threatened by the Commission. For purposes of this Agreement, "free writing
prospectus" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and
the "Time of Sale Prospectus" means the preliminary prospectus, if any, together
with the free writing prospectuses, if any, used in connection with the
Placement, including any documents incorporated by reference therein.
(B) The Registration Statement (and any further documents to be filed with
the Commission) contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the
Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material
respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules
and Regulations and did not and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will
not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading. The Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, and
the Prospectus Supplement, each as of its respective date, comply in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
applicable Rules and Regulations. Each of the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, if any, and the Prospectus Supplement, as amended or supplemented,
did not and will not contain as of the date thereof any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the
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Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations, and none of such
documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein (with respect to Incorporated Documents incorporated
by reference in the Base Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement), in light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading; and any further
documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, the
Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, or Prospectus Supplement, when such documents
are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations, as
applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement reflecting any facts or events arising
after the date thereof which represent, individually or in the aggregate, a
fundamental change in the information set forth therein is required to be filed
with the Commission. There are no documents required to be filed with the
Commission in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby that (x) have
not been filed as required pursuant to the Securities Act or (y) will not be
filed within the requisite time period. There are no contracts or other
documents required to be described in the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, if any, or Prospectus Supplement, or to be filed as exhibits or
schedules to the Registration Statement, that have not been described or filed
as required.
(C) The Company is eligible to use free writing prospectuses in connection
with the Placement pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any
free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule
433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission
in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus
that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d)
under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or behalf of or used by the
Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements
of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder. The Company will not, without the prior consent of the Placement
Agent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(D) The Company has delivered, or will as promptly as practicable deliver,
to the Placement Agent complete conformed copies of the Registration Statement
and of each consent and certificate of experts, as applicable, filed as a part
thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits),
the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, and the Prospectus
Supplement, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as
the Placement Agent reasonably requests. Neither the Company nor any of its
directors and officers has distributed and none of them will distribute, prior
to the Closing Date, any offering material in connection with the offering and
sale of the Shares other than the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus,
if any, the Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement, copies of the
documents incorporated by reference therein and any other materials permitted by
the Securities Act.
SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Except as set forth under the
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corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedules which Disclosure Schedules
shall be deemed a part hereof, the Company hereby makes the representations and
warranties set forth below to the Placement Agent.
(A) Organization and Qualification. All of the direct and indirect
subsidiaries (individually, a "Subsidiary") of the Company are set forth on
Schedule 3(A). Except as disclosed on Schedule 3(A), the Company owns, directly
or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each
Subsidiary free and clear of any "Liens" (which for purposes of this Agreement
shall mean a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first
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refusal, preemptive right or other restriction), and all the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and
are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to
subscribe for or purchase securities. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries
is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization (as applicable), with the requisite power and authority to own and
use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently
conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation or default of
any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of
incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the
Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in
good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in
which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result
in (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of
any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of
operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of
the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse
effect on the Company's ability to perform in any material respect on a timely
basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii),
a "Material Adverse Effect") and no "Proceeding" (which for purposes of this
Agreement shall mean any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened) has been instituted in any such
jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or
curtail such power and authority or qualification.
(B) Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate
power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions
contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its
obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of the
Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the
transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the
Company, its board of directors or its stockholders in connection therewith
other than in connection with the "Required Approvals" (as defined in subsection
3(D) below). Each Transaction Document has been (or upon delivery will have
been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the
terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of
the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except
(i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific
performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.
(C) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the
Transaction Documents by the Company, the issuance and sale of the Securities
and the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any
provision of the Company's or any Subsidiary's certificate or articles of
incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii)
conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of
time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien
upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give
to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation
(with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit
facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or
otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a
party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is
bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or
result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction,
decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the
Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws
and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a
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Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and
(iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(D) Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain
any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any
filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other
governmental authority or other "Person" (defined as an individual or
corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association,
joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an
agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind, including, without
limitation, any Trading Market) in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than such filings
as are required to be made under applicable Federal and state securities laws
(collectively, the "Required Approvals") and filings with the NYSE Amex.
(E) Issuance of the Securities; Registration. The Securities are duly
authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable
Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than
restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Company
has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares
of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents. The issuance by
the Company of the Securities has been registered under the Securities Act and
all of the Securities are freely transferable and tradable by the Purchasers
without restriction (other than any restrictions arising solely from an act or
omission of a Purchaser). The Securities are being issued pursuant to the
Registration Statement and the issuance of the Securities has been registered by
the Company under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement is effective
and available for the issuance of the Securities thereunder and the Company has
not received any notice that the Commission has issued or intends to issue a
stop-order with respect to the Registration Statement or that the Commission
otherwise has suspended or withdrawn the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, either temporarily or permanently, or intends or has threatened in
writing to do so. The "Plan of Distribution" section under the Registration
Statement permits the issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder. Upon
receipt of the Securities, the Purchasers will have good and marketable title to
such Securities and the Securities will be freely tradable on the NYSE Amex (the
"Trading Market").
(F) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth on
Schedule 3(F). Except as shown on Schedule 3(F), the Company has not issued any
capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange
Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the
Company's stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to
employees pursuant to the Company's employee stock purchase plan and pursuant to
the conversion or exercise of securities exercisable, exchangeable or
convertible into Common Stock ("Common Stock Equivalents"). No Person has any
right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar
right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents. Except as shown on Schedule 3(F), and except as a result of the
purchase and sale of the Securities, there are no outstanding options, warrants,
script rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever
relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for
or acquire, any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may
become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock
Equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the
Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other
than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company
securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under
such securities. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance
with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares
was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe
for or purchase securities. Except for the approval of the NYSE Amex, no further
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approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors of the
Company or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. There
are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements
with respect to the Company's capital stock to which the Company is a party or,
to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company's
stockholders.
(G) SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has complied in all
material respects with requirements to file all reports, schedules, forms,
statements and other documents required to be filed by it under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof,
for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the
Company was required by law to file such material) (the foregoing materials,
including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein,
being collectively referred to herein as the "SEC Reports") on a timely basis or
has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC
Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective
dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements
of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports
comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the
time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis during the periods involved ("GAAP"), except as may be otherwise specified
in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited
financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly
present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.
(H) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments.
Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the
SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports, (i) there has
been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not
incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables
and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company's
financial statements pursuant to GAAP or required to be disclosed in filings
made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of
accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or
distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased,
redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital
stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer,
director or "Affiliate" (defined as any Person that, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under
common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule
144 under the Securities Act), except pursuant to existing Company stock option
plans. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for
confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Securities
contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 3(H), no event,
liability or development has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or
its Subsidiaries or their respective business, properties, operations or
financial condition, that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under
applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made that has not
been publicly disclosed 1 Trading Day prior to the date that this representation
is made.
(I) Litigation. Except as shown on Schedule 3(I), there is no action, suit,
inquiry, notice of violation, Proceeding or investigation pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any
Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court,
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arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority
(federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an "Action") which (i)
adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any
of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an
unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or
officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of
violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of
breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the
Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the
Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of
the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order
suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company
or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act. None of the
Company's or its Subsidiaries' employees is a member of a union that relates to
such employee's relationship with the Company, and neither the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the
Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their
employees are good. No executive officer, to the knowledge of the Company, is,
or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment
contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or
non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive
covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not
subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to
any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance
with all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and
wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(J) Labor Relations. No material labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge
of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company
which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(K) Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in default
under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived
that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the
Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received
notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any
indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to
which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or
not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any
order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii) is or has been in
violation of any statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority,
including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws
applicable to its business and all such laws that affect the environment, except
in each case as could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(L) Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all
certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their
respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure
to possess such permits could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect ("Material Permits"), and neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of any Material Permit.
(M) Title to Assets. Except as shown on Schedule 3(M), the Company and the
Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property
owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the
Subsidiaries and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by
them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in
each case free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens as do not materially
affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use
made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the
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Subsidiaries and Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, the
payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real
property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are
held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases of which the Company
and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.
(N) Patents and Trademarks. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have
rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark
applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights,
licenses and other similar intellectual property rights necessary or material
for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC
Reports and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect
(collectively, the "Intellectual Property Rights"). Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that the Intellectual
Property Rights used by the Company or any Subsidiary violates or infringes upon
the rights of any Person. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual
Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another
Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights of others. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy,
confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where
failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(O) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of
recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such
amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and
the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and
officers insurance coverage at least equal to the aggregate subscription amount
under the Transaction Documents. To the best knowledge of the Company, such
insurance contracts and policies are accurate and complete. Neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew
its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain
similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its
business without a significant increase in cost.
(P) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth in the
SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company and, to the
knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company is presently a
party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for
services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract,
agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or
by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise
requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such
employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or
partner, other than (i) for payment of salary or consulting fees for services
rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and
(iii) for other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any
stock option plan of the Company.
(Q) Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is in material compliance with all
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which are applicable to it as of
the date hereof and of the closing date of the Placement.
(R) Certain Fees. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no
brokerage or finder's fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company
to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent,
investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Purchasers shall have no
obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on
behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may
be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents.
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(S) Trading Market Rules. The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder
does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market.
(T) Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and
immediately after receipt of payment for the Securities, will not be or be an
Affiliate of, an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a
manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.
(U) Registration Rights. Except as shown on Schedule 3(U), no Person has
any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities
Act of any securities of the Company.
(V) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Company's Common Stock is
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the
Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to
have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the
Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission
is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12
months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on
which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the
Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of
such Trading Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will
not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such
listing and maintenance requirements.
(W) Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and its Board of
Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render
inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill
(including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar
anti-takeover provision under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation (or
similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or
could become applicable to the Purchasers as a result of the Purchasers and the
Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights under the
Transaction Documents, including without limitation as a result of the Company's
issuance of the Securities and the Purchasers' ownership of the Securities.
(X) Solvency. Based on the financial condition of the Company as of the
Closing Date after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds
from the sale of the Securities hereunder, (i) the Company's fair saleable value
of its assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in
respect of the Company's existing debts and other liabilities (including known
contingent liabilities) as they mature; (ii) the Company's assets do not
constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business for the current
fiscal year as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its
capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the
business conducted by the Company, and projected capital requirements and
capital availability thereof; and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company,
together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all
of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would
be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its debt when such amounts
are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its
ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and
amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no
knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will
file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization
laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. The SEC Reports
set forth as of the dates thereof all outstanding secured and unsecured
Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any
Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Indebtedness"
shall mean (a) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of
$50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of
business), (b) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in
respect of Indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be
reflected in the Company's balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except
guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or
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similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (c) the present
value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be
capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is
in default with respect to any Indebtedness.
(Y) Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all necessary federal, state
and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued all taxes
shown as due thereon, and the Company has no knowledge of a tax deficiency which
has been asserted or threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary.
(Z) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor to the knowledge of
the Company, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company, has (i)
directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts,
entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic
political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic
government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political
parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any
contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its behalf of
which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in
any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977,
as amended.
(AA) Accountants. The Company's accountants are named in the Prospectus
Supplement. To the knowledge of the Company, such accountants, who the Company
expects will express their opinion with respect to the financial statements to
be included in the Company's next Annual Report on Form 10-K, are a registered
public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act.
(BB) Regulation M Compliance. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no
one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price
of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the
Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for
soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities (other than for the placement
agent's placement of the Securities), or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any
person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities
of the Company.
(CC) Approvals. Except for the NYSE Amex, the issuance and listing on the
Trading Market of the Shares requires no further approvals, including but not
limited to, the approval of shareholders.
(DD) FINRA Affiliations. There are no affiliations with any FINRA member
firm among the Company's officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the
Company, any five percent (5%) or greater stockholder of the Company, except as
set forth in the Base Prospectus.
SECTION 4. ENGAGEMENT TERM. Placement Agent's engagement hereunder will be
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for the period of 3 days. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the provisions concerning confidentiality, indemnification and
contribution contained herein and the Company's obligations contained in the
Indemnification Provisions will survive any expiration or termination of this
Agreement, and the Company's obligation to pay fees actually earned and payable
pursuant to Section 1 hereof, will survive any expiration or termination of this
Agreement. Placement Agent agrees not to use any confidential information
concerning the Company provided to them by the Company for any purposes other
than those contemplated under this Agreement.
SECTION 5. PLACEMENT AGENT INFORMATION. The Company agrees that any
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information or advice rendered by Placement Agent in connection with this
engagement is for the confidential use of the Company only in their evaluation
of the Placement and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company will not
disclose or otherwise refer to the advice or information in any manner without
Placement Agent's prior written consent.
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SECTION 6. NO FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. This Agreement does not create, and
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shall not be construed as creating rights enforceable by any person or entity
not a party hereto, except those entitled hereto by virtue of the
indemnification provisions hereof. The Company acknowledges and agrees that
Placement Agent is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary of the Company
and shall have no duties or liabilities to the equity holders or the creditors
of the Company or any other person by virtue of this Agreement or the retention
of Placement Agent hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived.
SECTION 7. CLOSING. The obligations of the Placement Agent and the
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Purchasers, and the closing of the sale of the Securities hereunder are subject
to the accuracy, when made and on the Closing Date, of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company and its Subsidiaries contained herein, to
the accuracy of the statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries made in any
certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company and its Subsidiaries of their obligations hereunder, and to each of the
following additional terms and conditions:
(A) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have
been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request for additional
information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration
Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement or otherwise) shall
have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Placement Agent.
(B) The Placement Agent shall not have discovered and disclosed to the
Company on or prior to the Closing Date that the Registration Statement, the
Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement or any amendment or supplement
thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel
for the Placement Agent, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the
opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(C) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the
authorization, form, execution, delivery and validity of each of this Agreement,
the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the
Prospectus Supplement and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all
material respects to counsel for the Placement Agent, and the Company shall have
furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably
request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(D) The Placement Agent shall have received from outside counsel to the
Company such counsel's written opinion, addressed to the Placement Agent and the
Purchasers dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Placement Agent, which opinion shall include a "10b-5"
representation from such counsel.
(E) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have sustained
since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, any loss or interference with
its business from fire, explosion, flood, terrorist act or other calamity,
whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in or
contemplated by the Base Prospectus and (ii) since such date there shall not
have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management,
financial position, stockholders' equity, results of operations or prospects of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth in or contemplated
by the Base Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in
clause (i) or (ii), is, in the judgment of the Placement Agent, so material and
11
adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or
delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the
Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, and the Prospectus
Supplement.
(F) The Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act and, as of the
Closing Date, the Shares shall be listed and admitted and authorized for trading
on the Trading Market, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been
provided to the Placement Agent. The Company shall have taken no action designed
to, or likely to have the effect of terminating the registration of the Common
Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting or suspending from trading the Common
Stock from the Trading Market, nor has the Company received any information
suggesting that the Commission or the Trading Market is contemplating
terminating such registration or listing.
(G) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall
not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on
the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or the NYSE Alternext US
or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company
on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or
minimum or maximum prices or maximum ranges for prices shall have been
established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such
exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having
jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or
state authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or
securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, (iii) the
United States shall have become engaged in hostilities in which it is not
currently engaged, the subject of an act of terrorism, there shall have been an
escalation in hostilities involving the United States, or there shall have been
a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or (iv) there
shall have occurred any other calamity or crisis or any change in general
economic, political or financial conditions in the United States or elsewhere,
if the effect of any such event in clause (iii) or (iv) makes it, in the sole
judgment of the Placement Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner
contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.
(H) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or
order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or
body which would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the
Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely
affect the business or operations of the Company; and no injunction, restraining
order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent
jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent
the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect or
potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.
(I) The Company shall have prepared and filed with the Commission a Current
Report on Form 8-K with respect to the Placement, including as an exhibit
thereto this Agreement.
(J) The Company shall have entered into subscription agreements with each
of the Purchasers and such agreements shall be in full force and effect and
shall contain representations and warranties of the Company as agreed between
the Company and the Purchasers.
(K) FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness
of the terms and arrangements of this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall,
if requested by the Placement Agent, make or authorize Placement Agent's counsel
to make on the Company's behalf, an Issuer Filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA
Rule 5110 with respect to the Registration Statement and pay all filing fees
required in connection therewith.
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(L) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the
Placement Agent such further information, certificates and documents as the
Placement Agent may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the
provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to counsel for the Placement Agent.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION. (A) To the extent permitted by law, the Company
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will indemnify Placement Agent and its affiliates, stockholders, directors,
officers, employees and controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) against all losses,
claims, damages, expenses and liabilities, as the same are incurred (including
the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), relating to or arising out of its
activities hereunder or pursuant to this engagement letter, except to the extent
that any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) are found in a final judgment (not subject to appeal) by a court of law
to have resulted primarily and directly from Placement Agent's willful
misconduct or gross negligence in performing the services described herein.
(B) Promptly after receipt by Placement Agent of notice of any claim or the
commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which Placement Agent
is entitled to indemnity hereunder, Placement Agent will notify the Company in
writing of such claim or of the commencement of such action or proceeding, and
the Company will assume the defense of such action or proceeding and will employ
counsel reasonably satisfactory to Placement Agent and will pay the fees and
expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Placement
Agent will be entitled to employ counsel separate from counsel for the Company
and from any other party in such action if counsel for Placement Agent
reasonably determines that it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules
of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the
Company and Placement Agent. In such event, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of no more than one such separate counsel will be paid by the
Company. The Company will have the exclusive right to settle the claim or
proceeding provided that the Company will not settle any such claim, action or
proceeding without the prior written consent of Placement Agent, which will not
be unreasonably withheld.
(C) The Company agrees to notify Placement Agent promptly of the assertion
against it or any other person of any claim or the commencement of any action or
proceeding relating to a transaction contemplated by this engagement letter.
(D) If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable to Placement
Agent or insufficient to hold Placement Agent harmless, then the Company shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by Placement Agent as a result of such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and Placement Agent on the other, but also the relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and Placement Agent on the other that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any relevant equitable
considerations. The amounts paid or payable by a party in respect of losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include any
legal or other fees and expenses incurred in defending any litigation,
proceeding or other action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions hereof,
Placement Agent's share of the liability hereunder shall not be in excess of the
amount of fees actually received, or to be received, by Placement Agent under
this engagement letter (excluding any amounts received as reimbursement of
expenses incurred by Placement Agent).
(E) These indemnification provisions shall remain in full force and effect
whether or not the transaction contemplated by this engagement letter is
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completed and shall survive the termination of this engagement letter, and shall
be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have to any
indemnified party under this engagement letter or otherwise.
SECTION 9. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed
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in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements
made and to be performed entirely in such State. This Agreement may not be
assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any right to
trial by jury with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement or any
transaction or conduct in connection herewith is waived. Any dispute arising
under this Agreement may be brought into the courts of the State of New York or
into the Federal Court located in New York, New York and, by execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Company hereby accepts for itself and in respect
of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of aforesaid
courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process
and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by
delivering a copy thereof via overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to
such party at the address in effect for 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. If either party shall
commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of a Transaction
Document, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be
reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and
expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such
action or proceeding.
SECTION 10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT/MISC. This Agreement (including the attached
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Indemnification Provisions) embodies the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this
Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such
determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other
provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This
Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an
instrument in writing signed by both Placement Agent and the Company. The
representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall
survive the closing of the Placement and delivery and/or exercise of the
Securities, as applicable. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission or a .pdf format file, such signature shall
create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf
such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile
or .pdf signature page were an original thereof.
SECTION 11. NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or
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deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile number specified on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 6:30
p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (b) the next business day after the
date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile
at the facsimile number on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is
not a business day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any business
day, (c) the business day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S.
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages hereto.
********************
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement by
signing and returning to Placement Agent a copy of this Agreement.
Very truly yours,
CHARDAN CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By: /s/ Steven Urbach
-----------------------
Name: Steven Urbach
Title: President
Address for notice:
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17 State Street, Suite 1600
New York, New York 10004
Accepted and Agreed to as of the date first written above:
CEL-SCI CORPORATION
By: /s/ Geert Kersten
--------------------------
Name: Mr. Geert Kersten
Title: Director and Chief Executive Officer
Address for notice:
-------------------
CEL-SCI Corporation
8229 Boone Boulevard
Suite 802
Vienna, VA 22182
15