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S-1/A - AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-1 - Aspira Women's Health Inc.ds1a.htm
EX-5.1 - OPINION OF PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP - Aspira Women's Health Inc.dex51.htm
EX-23.1 - CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP - Aspira Women's Health Inc.dex231.htm

Exhibit 1.1

Shares

VERMILLION, INC.

Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

February , 2011

Roth Capital Partners, LLC

24 Corporate Plaza

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Vermillion, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to Roth Capital Partners, LLC (the “Underwriter”) an aggregate of authorized but unissued shares (the “Firm Shares”) of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company. The Company and Gail S. Page (the “Selling Stockholder”), in the amounts set forth opposite their names on Schedule I, have granted the Underwriter the option to purchase an aggregate of up to Option Shares of Common Stock (the “Option Shares”) as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering. The Firm Shares and Option Shares are collectively referred to as the “Shares.”

The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriter hereby confirm their agreement as follows:

1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-171797) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Commission thereunder, and such amendments to such registration statement (including post effective amendments) as may have been required to the date of this Agreement. Such registration statement, as amended (including any post effective amendments) has been declared effective by the Commission. Such registration statement, including amendments thereto (including post effective amendments thereto) at such time, the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by the Securities Act or otherwise pursuant to the Rules and Regulations at such time, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” If the Company has filed or files an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement shall include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus.”

 

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The Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the pricing of the offering contemplated hereby is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.”

The Company is filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act a final prospectus relating to the Shares and such final prospectus, as filed, is hereinafter called the “Final Prospectus.” The Final Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus in the form in which they were included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act is hereinafter called a “Prospectus.”

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Interactive Data Electronic Applications system.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company Regarding the Offering.

(a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 5(c) below) and as of each Option Closing Date (as defined in Section 5(b) below), except as otherwise indicated, as follows:

(i) At each time of effectiveness, at the date hereof, at the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and 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 Time of Sale Disclosure Package (as defined in Section 2(a)(iii)(A)(1) below) as of the date hereof, at the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, if any, any roadshow or investor presentations delivered to and approved by the Underwriters for use in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares (the “Marketing Materials”) as of the time of their use and at the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, if any, and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the time of filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, at the Closing Date, and on each Option Closing Date, if any, did not and 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 8(f). The Registration Statement contains all exhibits and schedules required to be filed by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. No order preventing or suspending the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement or any Prospectus is in effect and no

 

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proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

(ii) The Company has not distributed any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Marketing Materials.

(iii) (A) The Company has provided a copy to the Underwriter of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) used in the sale of Shares. The Company has filed all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses required to be so filed with the Commission, and no order preventing or suspending the effectiveness or use of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. When taken together with the rest of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, since its first use and at all relevant times since then, no Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has, does or will include (1) any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (2) information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus. The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof. As used in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Agreement:

(1) “Time of Sale Disclosure Package” means the Pricing Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and any description of the transaction provided by the Underwriter included on Schedule II.

(2) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Shares that (A) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, or (B) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) or (d)(8) under the Securities Act, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act.

(B) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or an “excluded issuer” as defined in Rule 164 under the Securities Act.

(C) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus satisfied, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the Prospectus Delivery Period, all other conditions

 

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as may be applicable to its use as set forth in Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act, including any legend, record-keeping or other requirements.

(iv) The financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods therein specified in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. No other financial statements, pro forma financial information or schedules are required under the Securities Act to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus. To the Company’s knowledge, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules filed as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus is an independent public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

(v) The Company had a reasonable basis for, and made in good faith, each “forward-looking statement” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or the Marketing Materials.

(vi) All statistical or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, or included in the Marketing Materials, are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources, to the extent required.

(vii) The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is included or approved for inclusion on the NASDAQ Global Market. There is no action pending by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the NASDAQ Global Market to delist the Common Stock from the NASDAQ Global Market, nor has the Company received any notification that the NASDAQ Global Market is contemplating terminating such listing. When issued, the Shares will be listed on the NASDAQ Global Market.

(viii) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

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(ix) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the net proceeds thereof, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(b) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriter or to the Underwriter’s counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

3. Representations and Warranties Regarding the Company.

(a) The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with, the Underwriter, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as follows:

(i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have or could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect upon the business, prospects, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or in its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement (“Material Adverse Effect”). Substantially all of the business of the Company is conducted directly by the Company and the Company owns substantially all of the assets used or held for use in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. None of the Company’s subsidiaries (i) owns or leases any assets or properties or (ii) conducts any business, in each case material to the business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(ii) The Company has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to authorize, issue and sell the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity.

(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not (A) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any law, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, (B) conflict with, result in any violation or breach of,

 

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or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) (a “Default Acceleration Event”) of, any agreement, lease, credit facility, debt, note, bond, mortgage, indenture or other instrument (the “Contracts”) or obligation or other understanding to which the Company is a party of by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except to the extent that such conflict, default or Default Acceleration Event could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Company’s charter or by-laws.

(iv) The Company is not in violation, breach or default under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other equivalent organizational or governing documents.

(v) All consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings required on the part of the Company in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company have been obtained or made, other than such consents, approvals, orders and authorizations the failure of which to make or obtain could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(vi) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except for the issuances of options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business, since the respective dates as of which information is provided in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has not entered into or granted any convertible or exchangeable securities, options, warrants, agreements or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company any shares of the capital stock of the Company. The Shares, when issued, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and will be free of preemptive, registration or similar rights.

(vii) The Company has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. The Company has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by

 

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or requested from the Company. The term “taxes” mean all federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.

(viii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (a) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; (c) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or the issuance of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units under the Company’s existing stock awards plan, or any new grants thereof in the ordinary course of business), (d) there has not been any material change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt, and (e) there has not been the occurrence of any Material Adverse Effect.

(ix) There is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company is the subject before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator or mediator, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) The Company holds, and is in compliance with, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates and orders (“Permits”) of any governmental or self-regulatory agency, authority or body (including, without limitation, those administered by the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the “FDA”) or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) required for the conduct of its business, and all such Permits are in full force and effect, in each case except where the failure to hold, or comply with, any of them could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xi) The Company has good and marketable title to all property (whether real or personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by it that are material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects, except those that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The property held under lease by the Company is held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions with respect to any particular lease as do not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of the business of the Company.

 

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(xii) The Company owns or possesses or has valid right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of others, except where such action, use, license or fee could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee.

(xiii) The Company has complied with, is not in violation of, and has not received any notice of violation relating to any law, rule or regulation relating to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its property and assets, including, without limitation, (A) the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, or any money laundering laws, rules or regulations, (B) any laws, rules or regulations related to health, safety or the environment, including those relating to the regulation of hazardous substances, (C) the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (D) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (E) the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the rules and regulations thereunder, in each case except where the failure to be in compliance could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xiv) The clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Company that are described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus were and, if still pending, are being conducted in accordance with all statutes, laws, rules and regulations, as applicable (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA). The descriptions of the results of such studies and tests that are described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the published data derived from such studies and tests, and the Company has no knowledge of other studies or tests the results of which are materially inconsistent with or otherwise call into question the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company has not received any notices or other correspondence from the FDA or any other foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA with respect to any ongoing clinical or pre-clinical studies or tests requiring the termination or suspension of such studies or tests. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company makes no representation or warranty that the results of any studies, tests or preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of the Company will be sufficient to obtain governmental approval from the FDA or any foreign, state or local governmental body exercising comparable authority.

 

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(xv) The Company has established and administers a compliance program applicable to the Company, to assist the Company and its directors, officers and employees of the Company in complying with applicable regulatory guidelines (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA and any other foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA).

(xvi) Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has not failed to file with the applicable regulatory authorities (excluding the FDA or any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) any filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission that is required to be so filed. The Company has not failed to file with the FDA or any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA, any filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission that is required to be so filed. All such filings were in material compliance with applicable laws when filed and no deficiencies have been asserted by any applicable regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the FDA or any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) with respect to any such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions.

(xvii) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, representative, agent or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(xviii) The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

(xix) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xx) Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any other party is in violation, breach or default of any Contract that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxi) No supplier, customer, distributor or sales agent of the Company has notified the Company that it intends to discontinue or decrease the rate of business done with the Company, except where such decrease could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxii) There are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services in the nature of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee with respect to the introduction of the Company to the Underwriter or the sale of the Shares hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuances with respect to the Company that may affect the Underwriter’s compensation, as determined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(xxiii) Except as disclosed to the Underwriter in writing, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, investing fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who provided capital to the Company, (ii) any FINRA member, or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member within the 12-month period prior to the date on which the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission (“Filing Date”) or thereafter.

(xxiv) None of the net proceeds of the offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or any affiliate or associate of any participating FINRA member, except as specifically authorized herein.

(xxv) To the Company’s knowledge, no (i) officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries, (ii) owner of 5% or more of the Company’s unregistered securities or that of its subsidiaries or (iii) owner of any amount of the Company’s unregistered securities acquired within the 180-day period prior to the Filing Date, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member. The Company will advise the Underwriter and its counsel if it becomes aware that any officer, director or stockholder of the Company or its subsidiaries is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the offering.

(xxvi) Other than the Underwriter, no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

4. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholder.

(a) The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants and to, and agrees with, the Underwriter as follows:

(i) Each of this Agreement and the Custody Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, the “Selling Stockholder Agreements”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity. The execution, delivery and performance of the Selling Stockholder Agreements and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein

 

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contemplated will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute or Contract to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the Selling Stockholder’s property is subject, or any order, rule, regulation or decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder or any of the Selling Stockholder’s properties, except for violations and defaults that individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in (i) a material adverse effect upon the Selling Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (ii) the creation of any lien, claim, security interest, equity or other encumbrance on the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder (each, a “Selling Stockholder Material Adverse Effect”). No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any court or governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery and performance of the Selling Stockholder Agreements or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholder, except as may be required under the Securities Act or state securities or blue sky laws; and the Selling Stockholder has the legal capacity, power and authority to enter into the Selling Stockholder Agreements and to sell the Shares as contemplated by the Selling Stockholder Agreements.

(ii) The Selling Stockholder is, on the date hereof, the record and beneficial owner of all of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, equities and other encumbrances and has duly indorsed such Shares in blank or has duly signed a stock power assigning all right, title and interest to the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder, with all signatures appropriately guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution with membership in an approved medallion guaranty program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act and, upon delivery of such Shares and payment therefor pursuant hereto, good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, claims or other encumbrances will pass to the Underwriter.

(iii) On any Option Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) that are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer by the Selling Stockholder of the Shares will be fully paid or provided for by the Selling Stockholder and all laws imposing such taxes will be fully complied with.

(iv) The Selling Stockholder, directly or indirectly, has not entered into any existing commitment, transaction or other arrangement, including any prepaid forward contract, 10b5-1 plan or similar agreement, which transfers or may transfer any of the legal or beneficial ownership or any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Shares, except as has been previously disclosed in writing to the Underwriter.

(v) Shares in book entry form representing all of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder have been placed in custody under a Custody Agreement, in the form heretofore furnished to you (the “Custody Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as custodian (the “Custodian”).

 

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(vi) Shares in book entry form held in custody for the Selling Stockholder under the Custody Agreement are subject to the interests of the Underwriter hereunder; the arrangements made by the Selling Stockholder for such custody are to that extent irrevocable; the obligations of the Selling Stockholder under the Selling Stockholder Agreements shall not be terminated by operation of law, whether by the death or incapacity of any individual Selling Stockholder; and if any individual Selling Stockholder should die or become incapacitated, or if any other such event should occur, before the delivery of the Shares hereunder, the Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Custody Agreement, regardless of whether or not the Custodian shall have received notice of such death, incapacity, termination, dissolution or other event.

(vii) The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants that the Selling Stockholder has not prepared or had prepared on the Selling Stockholder’s behalf or used or referred to any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Act) and further represents that the Selling Stockholder has not distributed and will not distribute any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares that could otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Act) required to be filed with the Commission or retained under Rule 433 of the Act.

(viii) All information relating to the Selling Stockholder in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or any Prospectus, as the case may be, is as of the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, true, correct, and complete in all material respects, and does not, and will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading. In addition, the Selling Stockholder confirms as accurate the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the Selling Stockholder’s name in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and any Prospectus under the caption “Principal and Selling Stockholders” (both prior to and after giving effect to the sale of the Shares).

(ix) The Selling Stockholder does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration Statement or included in an offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights that have been fully and irrevocably waived.

(x) The Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(b) Any certificate signed by the Selling Stockholder, as the Selling Stockholder hereunder, and delivered to the Underwriter or to the Underwriter’s counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Selling Stockholder to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

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5. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.

(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase the Firm Shares. The purchase price for each Firm Share shall be $ per share (the “Per Share Price”).

(b) The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby grant to the Underwriter the option to purchase some or all of the Option Shares and, upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriter shall have the right to purchase all or any portion of the Option Shares at the Per Share Price as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. This option may be exercised by the Underwriter at any time and from time to time on or before the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder (the “Option Notice”). The Option Notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Closing Date (as defined below) nor earlier than the first business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised unless the Company and the Underwriter otherwise agree. If the Underwriter elects to purchase less than all of the Option Shares, the Company and the Selling Stockholder agree that the Option Shares shall be allocated, first, to the Selling Stockholder up to the total number of Shares set forth opposite the name of the Selling Stockholder in Schedule I hereto under the caption “Number of Option Shares to be Sold”, and second, to the Company up to the total number of Shares set forth opposite the name of the Company in Schedule I hereto under the caption “Number of Option Shares to be Sold.”

Payment of the purchase price for and delivery of the Option Shares shall be made on an Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Shares as set forth in subparagraph (c) below; provided, however, that payment for any Option Shares purchased from the Selling Stockholder shall be paid to the Selling Stockholder by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Selling Stockholder.

(c) The Firm Shares will be delivered by the Company to the Underwriter against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Roth Capital Partners, LLC, 24 Corporate Plaza, Newport Beach, CA 92660, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 6:00 a.m. PST, on the third (or if the Firm Shares are priced, as contemplated by Rule 15c6-1(c) under the Exchange Act, after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the fourth) full business day following the date hereof, or at such other time and date as the Underwriter and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, or, in the case of the Option Shares, at such date and time set forth in the Option Notice. The time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” If the Underwriter so elects, delivery of the Shares shall be made by credit through full fast transfer to the account at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Underwriter. Certificates representing the Shares, in definitive form and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriter may request upon at least

 

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two business days’ prior notice to the Company, will be made available for checking and packaging not later than 10:30 a.m. PDT on the business day next preceding the Closing Date at the above addresses, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable.

6. Covenants.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:

(i) During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing Date, the expiration of the overallotment option, the last Option Closing Date or such date as determined by the Underwriter that the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, including any Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriter for review and comment a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably objects.

(ii) From the date of this Agreement until the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing (A) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (B) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (C) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or 164(b) of the Securities Act).

(iii) (A) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by the Exchange Act, as now and hereafter amended, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Registration Statement and the

 

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Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs the result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or its counsel or the Underwriter or its counsel to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter, allow the Underwriter the opportunity to provide reasonable comments on such amendment, Prospectus supplement or document, and will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

(B) If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development the result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or promptly will notify the Underwriter and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(iv) The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified, to execute a general consent to service of process in any state or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject.

(v) The Company will furnish to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter copies of the Registration Statement, each Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request.

(vi) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

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(vii) The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (A) all expenses (including transfer taxes allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the delivery to the Underwriter of the Shares, (B) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Shares, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (C) all reasonable filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriter’s counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the Underwriter or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions that the Underwriter shall designate, (D) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (E) the reasonable filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of Underwriter’s counsel incident to any required review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares, (F) listing fees, if any, and (G) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein. In addition to the foregoing, the Company will reimburse the Underwriter for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares contemplated hereby, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel not otherwise specifically enumerated in this Section 6(a)(vii), in an amount not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriter in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 or Section 10, the Company will reimburse the Underwriter for all out-of-pocket disbursements (including, but not limited to, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges) incurred by the Underwriter in connection with its investigation, preparing to market and marketing the Shares or in contemplation of performing its obligations hereunder.

(viii) The Company intends to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares to be sold by it hereunder for the purposes set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Final Prospectus.

(ix) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or that has constituted, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(x) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriter, and the Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectuses included in Schedule II. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Underwriter is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has

 

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treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied or will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record-keeping.

(xi) The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not, during the period ending 30 days after the date hereof (“Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, issue, sell, contract to sell, purchase, contract to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or (iii) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The restrictions contained in the preceding sentence shall not apply to (1) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (2) the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or warrants disclosed as outstanding in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto) or the Prospectus, or (3) the issuance of employee stock options and the grant of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units pursuant to equity incentive plans described in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto) and the Prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, or (y) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this clause shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless the Underwriter waives such extension in writing.

(b) The Selling Stockholder covenants and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:

(i) The Selling Stockholder will deliver to the Underwriter prior to the first Option Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9.

(ii) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Selling Stockholder will advise the Underwriter promptly, and if requested by the Underwriter, will confirm such advice in writing, of any change in information relating to the Selling Stockholder in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or any Prospectus.

(iii) The Selling Stockholder will not prepare or have prepared on the Selling Stockholder’s behalf or use or refer to any “free writing prospectus” (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Act), and will not distribute any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares.

 

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7. Conditions of the Underwriter’s Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder to purchase the Shares are subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof, at the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, as applicable), of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholder contained herein, the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of their respective obligations hereunder and the following additional conditions:

(a) If filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall have filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or 164(b) under the Securities Act); the Registration Statement shall remain effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, any Rule 462 Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; any request of the Commission or the Underwriter for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Underwriter’s satisfaction.

(b) The Shares shall be qualified for listing on the NASDAQ Global Market.

(c) FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(d) The Underwriter shall not have reasonably determined, and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Underwriter’s reasonable opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Underwriter’s reasonable opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(e) On or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s securities.

(f) On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Underwriter such opinions and letters, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and addressed to the Underwriter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, all to the effect set forth in Schedule III.

 

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(g) The Underwriter shall have received a letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, on the date hereof, on the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriter, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and confirming, as of the date of each such letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, as of a date not prior to the date hereof or more than five days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters required by the Underwriter.

(h) On the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have delivered to the Underwriter a copy of the Custody Agreement executed by the Selling Stockholder and such further information, certificates and documents relating to the Selling Stockholder or the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

(i) On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Underwriter a certificate, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and addressed to the Underwriter, signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company, in their capacity as officers of the Company, to the effect that:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement that are qualified by materiality or by reference to any Material Adverse Effect are true and correct in all respects, and all other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, as if made at and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable;

(ii) No stop order or other order (A) suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof, (B) suspending the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale, or (C) suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to their knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body; and

(iii) There has been no occurrence of any event resulting or which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect during the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable.

(j) On each Option Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Underwriter a certificate, dated the applicable Option Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriter, signed by the Selling Stockholder, to the effect that the representations and

 

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warranties of the Selling Stockholder in this Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, as if made at and as of such Option Closing Date, and that the Selling Stockholder has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on the part of the Selling Stockholder to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Option Closing Date.

(k) On or before the date hereof, the Underwriter shall have received duly executed “lock-up” agreements, in a form acceptable to the Underwriter, between the Underwriter and each of the executive officers and directors of the Company specified in Schedule IV.

(l) The Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to the Underwriter and its counsel such additional documents, certificates and evidence as the Underwriter or its counsel may have reasonably requested.

If any condition specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder at any time at or prior to the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as applicable, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except that Section 6(a)(vii), Section 8 and Section 9 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Underwriter or such person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Rules and Regulations, or arise out of or are based upon the omission from the Registration Statement, or alleged omission to state therein, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Marketing Materials or in any other materials used in connection with the offering of the Shares, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iii) in whole or in part, any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, or (iv) in whole or in part, any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law, and will reimburse the Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with evaluating,

 

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investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 8(f).

(b) The Selling Stockholder will defend and hold harmless the Underwriter , its affiliates, directors and officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Underwriter or such person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Selling Stockholder), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Rules and Regulations, or arise out of or are based upon the omission from the Registration Statement, or alleged omission to state therein, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Marketing Materials or in any other materials used in connection with the offering of the Shares, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information regarding the Selling Stockholder or the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, (iii) in whole or in part, any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholder contained herein, or (iv) in whole or in part, any failure of the Selling Stockholder to perform the obligations of the Selling Stockholder hereunder or under law, and will reimburse the Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with evaluating, investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

(c) The Underwriter will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Selling Stockholder, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or the Selling Stockholder may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent

 

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of such Underwriter), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, and will reimburse the Company and the Selling Stockholder for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company and the Selling Stockholder in connection with defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that if (i) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (ii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party), or (iii) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent it in any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the indemnified party as incurred.

The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or

 

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judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is a party or could be named and indemnity was or would be sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability for claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (b) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a), (b) or (c) above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other from the offering and sale of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriter and the parties’ relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (e). The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim that is the subject of this subsection (e). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the Underwriter’s commissions specified on the cover page of the Final Prospectus and actually received by the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(f) The obligations of the Company and the Selling Stockholder under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company and the Selling Stockholder may otherwise have and the benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and

 

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conditions, to each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act; and the obligations of the Underwriter under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability that the Underwriter may otherwise have and the benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to the Company, its officers, directors and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Selling Stockholder.

(g) For purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriter confirms, and the Company and the Selling Stockholder acknowledge, that there is no information concerning the Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for preparation of or inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, other than the statements set forth in the last paragraph on the cover page of the Prospectus and the statements set forth in the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus and Time of Sale Disclosure Package, only insofar as such statements relate to the amount of selling concession and re-allowance or to over-allotment and related activities that may be undertaken by the Underwriter.

9. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholder herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including, but not limited to, the agreements of the Underwriter, the Selling Stockholder and the Company contained in Section 6(a)(vii) and Section 8 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or any controlling person thereof, the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, or the Selling Stockholder, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by the Underwriter hereunder.

10. Termination of this Agreement.

(a) The Underwriter shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder as hereinafter specified at any time at or prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date (as to the Option Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date only), if in the discretion of the Underwriter, (i) there has occurred any material adverse change in the securities markets or any event, act or occurrence that has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Underwriter, will in the future materially disrupt, the securities markets or there shall be such a material adverse change in general financial, political or economic conditions or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriter, inadvisable or impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares (ii) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the NASDAQ Global Market or trading in securities generally on the NASDAQ Global Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex shall have been suspended, (iii) minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the NASDAQ Global Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex, by such exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction, (iv) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (v) there shall have occurred any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of

 

24


terrorism involving the United States, any declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States or international political, financial or economic conditions or any other calamity or crisis, or (vi) the Company suffers any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or (vii) in the judgment of the Underwriter, there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the assets, properties, condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 6(a)(vii) and Section 8 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

(b) If the Underwriter elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be notified promptly by the Underwriter by telephone, confirmed by letter.

11. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if to Roth, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to Roth Capital Partners, LLC, 24 Corporate Plaza, Newport Beach, CA 92660, telecopy number: (949) 720-7227, Attention: Managing Director; if to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to it at Vermillion, Inc., 12117 Bee Caves Road, Bldg 2, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78738, telecopy number: (512) 439-6980, Attention: Gail S. Page; and if to the Selling Stockholder, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to the Selling Stockholder at , telecopy number: ; or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing. Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 8. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Shares from the Underwriter.

13. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company and the Selling Stockholder acknowledge and agree that: (a) the Underwriter has been retained solely to act as underwriter in connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriter has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Underwriter has advised or is advising the Company or the Selling Stockholder on other matters; (b) the price and other terms of the Shares set forth in this Agreement were established by the Company and the Selling Stockholder following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Underwriter and the Company and the Selling Stockholder are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) they have been advised that the Underwriter and its

 

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affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions that may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Selling Stockholder and that the Underwriter has no obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company or the Selling Stockholder by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; (d) they have been advised that the Underwriter is acting, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Underwriter, and not on behalf of the Company or the Selling Stockholder.

14. Amendments and Waivers. No supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby. The failure of a party to exercise any right or remedy shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver of such right or remedy in the future. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of whether similar), nor shall any such waiver be deemed or constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.

15. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or provision.

16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

17. Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company and the Selling Stockholder each irrevocably (a) submits to the jurisdiction of any court of the State of California for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (each a “Proceeding”), (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS RESPECTIVE EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) AND THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND THE PROSPECTUS.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement among the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriter in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
VERMILLION, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Gail S. Page
Title:   Executive Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

  Gail S. Page, Individually

Confirmed as of the date first above-

mentioned by the Underwriter.

 

ROTH CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
By:  

 

Name:   Aaron Gurewitz
Title:   Head of Equity Capital Markets

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

     Number of Firm
Shares  to be Sold
     Number of Option
Shares to be Sold
 

Vermillion, Inc.

               

Gail S. Page

     —           100,000   
                 

Total

               
                 


SCHEDULE II

FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Supplementing the Preliminary Prospectus dated January , 2011

Registration Statement No. 333-

Dated January , 2011

VERMILLION, INC.

Shares of Common Stock

Final Term Sheet

 

Issuer:    Vermillion, Inc. (the “Company”)
Symbol:    VRML
Security:    Common stock, par value $0.001 per share
Size:    shares of common stock
Over-allotment option:    additional shares of common stock, up to 100,000 shares may be sold by the selling stockholder named in the prospectus.
Public offering price:    $ per share
Underwriting discounts and commissions:    $ per share
Net proceeds (excluding the over-allotment):    $ (after deducting the underwriter’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company). The Company will not receive the proceeds from any shares sold by the selling stockholder
Trade date:    January , 2011
Settlement date:    January , 2011
Underwriter:    Roth Capital Partners, LLC

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it from Roth Capital Partners, LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, 24 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, CA, 92660, by telephone at 1-800-678-9147, by e-mail to rothecm@roth.com, by fax to (949) 720-7227.


SCHEDULE III

Opinions


SCHEDULE IV

List of officers and directors executing lock-up agreements

Gail S. Page

James S. Burns

John F. Hamilton

Peter S. Roddy

Carl Severinghaus

William C. Wallen, Ph.D.

Eric T. Fung, M.D., Ph.D.

Sandra A. Gardiner