EXHIBIT 10.15
NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE
"COMMISSION") OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER REGULATION D PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"). NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES
ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF MAY BE SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR IN A TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND UNDER
PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS; AND IN THE CASE OF AN EXEMPTION,
ONLY IF THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH TRANSACTION
DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION OF THE WARRANT OR SUCH SHARES, WHICH OPINION AND
WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION.
STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
To Purchase 10,000 Shares of Common Stock of
AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
THIS CERTIFIES that, for value received, AMRO International, S.A. (the
"Holder"), is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter
set forth, at any time on or after September 30, 1999 (the "Initial Exercise
Date") and on or prior to the close of business on March 31, 2002 (the
"Termination Date") but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from AVTEL
COMMUNICATION, INC., a corporation incorporated in Delaware (the "Company"), up
to Ten Thousand (10,000) shares (the "Warrant Shares") of Common Stock, $.01 par
value, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The purchase price of one share of
Common Stock (the "Exercise Price") under this Warrant shall be 125% of the
closing bid price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on the
Closing Date of the Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants Purchase Agreement
dated as of April 5, 1999 pursuant to which this Warrant has been issued (the
"Purchase Agreement"). The Exercise Price and the number of shares for which the
Warrant is exercisable shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the
event of any conflict between the terms of this Warrant and the Purchase
Agreement, the Purchase Agreement shall control. Capitalized terms used and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the
Purchase Agreement.
1. Title of Warrant. Prior to the expiration hereof and subject to compliance
with applicable laws, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in
whole or in part, at the office or agency of the Company by the holder hereof in
person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Warrant together
with the Assignment Form annexed hereto properly endorsed.
2. Authorization of Shares. The Company covenants that all shares of Common
Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of rights represented by this
Warrant will, upon exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all
taxes, liens and charges in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in
respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
3. Exercise of Warrant. Except as provided in Section 4 herein, exercise of the
purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made at any time or times on
or after the Initial Exercise Date, and before the close
of business on the Termination Date, or such earlier date on which this Warrant
may terminate as provided elsewhere in this Warrant, by the surrender of this
Warrant and the Notice of Exercise Form annexed hereto duly executed, at the
office of the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may
designate by notice in writing to the registered holder hereof at the address of
such holder appearing on the books of the Company) and upon payment of the
Exercise Price of the shares thereby purchased by wire transfer or cashier's
check drawn on a United States bank, the holder of this Warrant shall be
entitled to receive a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock so
purchased. Certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be delivered to the
holder hereof within three (3) business days after the date on which this
Warrant shall have been exercised as aforesaid. This Warrant shall be deemed to
have been exercised and such certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have
been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein
shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all
purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised by payment to the
Company of the Exercise Price and all taxes required to be paid by Holder, if
any, pursuant to Section 5 prior to the issuance of such shares, have been paid.
If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Shares,
deliver to Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of Holder to purchase the
unpurchased shares of Common Stock called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant
shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
4. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing
fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any
fraction of a share which Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon
such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final
fraction in an amount equal to the Exercise Price.
5. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of certificates for shares of Common
Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the
holder hereof for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in
respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses
shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name
of the holder of this Warrant or in such name or names as may be directed by the
holder of this Warrant; provided, however, that in the event certificates for
shares of Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than the name of the
holder of this Warrant, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be
accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the holder
hereof; and provided further, that upon any transfer involving in the issuance
or delivery of any certificates for shares of Common Stock, the Company may
require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it
for any transfer tax incidental thereto.
6. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its shareholder books or records
in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant.
7. Transfer, Division and Combination. (a) Subject to compliance with any
applicable securities laws, transfer of this Warrant and all rights hereunder,
in whole or in part, shall be registered on the books of the Company to be
maintained for such purpose, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal
office of the Company, together with a written assignment of this Warrant
substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by Holder or its agent
or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the
making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the
Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the
assignee or assignees and in the denomination specified in such instrument of
assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion
of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. A
Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a new Holder for the purchase
of shares of Common Stock without having a new Warrant issued.
(b) This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon
presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a
written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are
to be issued, signed by Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance
with Section 7(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or
combination, the Company
shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant
or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice.
(c) The Company shall prepare, issue and deliver at its own expense (other
than transfer taxes) the new Warrant or Warrants under this Section 7.
(d) The Company agrees to maintain, at its aforesaid office, books for the
registration and the registration of transfer of the Warrants.
8. No Rights as Shareholder until Exercise. This Warrant does not entitle the
holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder of the
Company prior to the exercise hereof. Upon the surrender of this Warrant and the
payment of the aggregate Exercise Price, the Warrant Shares so purchased shall
be and be deemed to be issued to such holder as the record owner of such shares
as of the close of business on the later of the date of such surrender or
payment.
9. Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company represents and
warrants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to
it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant certificate or
any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft
or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it, and upon
surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated,
the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like
tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock
certificate.
10. Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the
taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein
shall be a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, then such action may be taken or
such right may be exercised on the next succeeding day not a Saturday, Sunday or
legal holiday.
11. Adjustments of Exercise Price and Number of Warrant Shares. (a) Stock
Splits, etc. The number and kind of securities purchasable upon the exercise of
this Warrant and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time upon the happening of any of the following. In case the Company shall (i)
pay a dividend in shares of Common Stock or make a distribution in shares of
Common Stock to holders of its outstanding Common Stock, (ii) subdivide its
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common
Stock, (iii) combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares of Common Stock or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock
in a reclassification of the Common Stock, then the number of Warrant Shares
purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior thereto shall be
adjusted so that the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled to receive the
kind and number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company which he
would have owned or have been entitled to receive had such Warrant been
exercised in advance thereof. Upon each such adjustment of the kind and number
of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company which are purchasable
hereunder, the holder of this Warrant shall thereafter be entitled to purchase
the number of Warrant Shares or other securities resulting from such adjustment
at an Exercise Price per such Warrant Share or other security obtained by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment by
the number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant hereto immediately prior to
such adjustment and dividing by the number of Warrant Shares or other securities
of the Company resulting from such adjustment. An adjustment made pursuant to
this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of
such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.
(b) Reorganization, Reclassification, Merger, Consolidation or Disposition of
Assets. In case the Company shall reorganize its capital, reclassify its capital
stock, consolidate or merge with or into another corporation (where the Company
is not the surviving corporation or where there is a change in or distribution
with respect to the Common Stock of the Company), or sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially
all its property, assets or business to another corporation and, pursuant to the
terms of such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or
disposition of assets, shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring
corporation, or any cash, shares of stock or other securities or property of any
nature whatsoever (including warrants or other subscription or purchase rights)
in addition to or in lieu of common stock of the successor or acquiring
corporation ("Other Property"), are to be received by or distributed to the
holders of Common Stock of the Company, then Holder shall have the right
thereafter to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, the number of shares of
common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it
is the surviving corporation, and Other Property receivable upon or as a result
of such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition
of assets by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this
Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such event. In case of any such
reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of
assets, the successor or acquiring corporation (if other than the Company) shall
expressly assume the due and punctual observance and performance of each and
every covenant and condition of this Warrant to be performed and observed by the
Company and all the obligations and liabilities hereunder, subject to such
modifications as may be deemed appropriate (as determined by resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Company) in order to provide for adjustments of shares
of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable which shall be as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 11.
For purposes of this Section 11, "common stock of the successor or acquiring
corporation" shall include stock of such corporation of any class which is not
preferred as to dividends or assets over any other class of stock of such
corporation and which is not subject to redemption and shall also include any
evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock or other securities which are
convertible into or exchangeable for any such stock, either immediately or upon
the arrival of a specified date or the happening of a specified event and any
warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any such stock. The
foregoing provisions of this Section 11 shall similarly apply to successive
reorganizations, reclassifications, mergers, consolidations or disposition of
assets.
12. Voluntary Adjustment by the Company. The Company may at any time during the
term of this Warrant, reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and
for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company.
13. Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the number of Warrant Shares or number or
kind of securities or other property purchasable upon the exercise of this
Warrant or the Exercise Price is adjusted, as herein provided, the Company shall
promptly mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
holder of this Warrant notice of such adjustment or adjustments setting forth
the number of Warrant Shares (and other securities or property) purchasable upon
the exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price of such Warrant Shares (and
other securities or property) after such adjustment, setting forth a brief
statement of the facts requiring such adjustment and setting forth the
computation by which such adjustment was made. Such notice, in absence of
manifest error, shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such
adjustment.
14. Notice of Corporate Action. If at any time
(a) the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for
the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other distribution, or
any right to subscribe for or purchase any evidences of its indebtedness, any
shares of stock of any class or any other securities or property, or to receive
any other right, or
(b) there shall be any capital reorganization of the Company, any
reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the Company or any
consolidation or merger of the Company with, or any sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all the property, assets or business of the
Company to, another corporation or,
(c) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Company;
then, in any one or more of such cases, the Company shall give to Holder (i) at
least 30 days' prior written notice of the date on which a record date shall be
selected for such dividend, distribution or right or for determining rights to
vote in respect of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger,
consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, liquidation or winding up, and (ii)
in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation,
sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, at least 30
days' prior written notice of the date when the same shall take place. Such
notice in accordance with the foregoing clause also shall specify (i) the date
on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution or right, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to any such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and
character thereof, and (ii) the date on which any such reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up is to take place and the time, if any
such time is to be fixed, as of which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities or other
property deliverable upon such disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding
up. Each such written notice shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Holder
at the last address of Holder appearing on the books of the Company and
delivered in accordance with Section 16(d).
15. Authorized Shares. The Company covenants that during the period the Warrant
is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a
sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares
upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further
covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to
its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to
execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Warrant Shares upon the
exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all
such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares
may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or
regulation, or of any requirements of NASDAQ or any domestic securities exchange
upon which the Common Stock may be listed.
The Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation,
amending 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 of this Warrant, but will at all times in
good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all
such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder
against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company will (a) not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock
receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the amount payable therefor
upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (b) take all
such action 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, and (c) use its best efforts to obtain all
such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body
having jurisdiction thereof as may be necessary to enable the Company to perform
its obligations under this Warrant.
Upon the request of Holder, the Company will at any time during the
period this Warrant is outstanding acknowledge in writing, in form reasonably
satisfactory to Holder, the continuing validity of this Warrant and the
obligations of the Company hereunder.
Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing
the current Exercise Price below the then par value, if any, of the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants, the Company shall take any corporate action which may be necessary in
order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
non-assessable shares of such Common Stock at such adjusted Exercise Price.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the
number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the
Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions
thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory
body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
16. Miscellaneous.
(a) Jurisdiction. This Warrant shall be binding upon any successors or assigns
of the Company. This Warrant shall constitute a contract under the laws of New
York without regard to its conflict of law, principles or rules, and be subject
to arbitration pursuant to the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
(b) Restrictions. The holder hereof acknowledges that the Warrant Shares
acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have
restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws and by the
Purchase Agreement.
(c) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to
exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of
such right or otherwise prejudice Holder's rights, powers or remedies,
notwithstanding all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination Date. If the
Company fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, the Company shall
pay to Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and
expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, including
those of appellate proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due
pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies
hereunder.
(d) Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be
given or delivered to the holder hereof by the Company shall be delivered in
accordance with the notice provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(e) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of affirmative
action by Holder to purchase shares of Common Stock, and no enumeration herein
of the rights or privileges of Holder hereof, shall give rise to any liability
of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the
Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of
the Company.
(f) Remedies. Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights
granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific
performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary
damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a
breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive the
defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
(g) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant
and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors and
permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be
for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and shall be
enforceable by any such Holder or holder of Warrant Stock.
(h) Cooperation. The Company shall cooperate with Holder in supplying such
information as may be reasonably necessary for Holder to complete and file any
information reporting forms presently or hereafter required by the SEC as a
condition to the availability of an exemption from the Securities Act for the
sale of any Warrant or Restricted Common Stock.
(i) Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Holder
from and against any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses and
disbursements of any kind which may be imposed upon, incurred by or asserted
against Holder in any manner relating to or arising out of any failure by the
Company to perform or observe in any material respect any of its covenants,
agreements, undertakings or obligations set forth in this Warrant; provided,
however, that the Company will not be liable hereunder to the extent that any
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
claims, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses or disbursements are found in a final
non-appealable judgment by a court to have resulted from Holder's negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct in its capacity as a stockholder or
warrantholder of the Company.
(j) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof
waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
(k) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under
applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions
or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
(l) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of
reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its
officer thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: April 13, 1999
AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ ANTHONY E. PAPA
---------------------
Anthony E. Papa,
Chief Executive Officer
The Registrant has issued Stock Purchase Warrants identical in form to the
following additional holders:
Austinvest Anstalt Balzers 2,333 shares
Esquire Trade & Finance Inc. 2,667 shares