EX-3.1 2 dex31.htm CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE REGISTRANT, AS AMENDED Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended

EXHIBIT 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

SHOE PAVILION, INC.

 

FIRST: The name of this corporation is SHOE PAVILION, INC.

 

SECOND: The address of the registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

THIRD: The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

 

FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of stock which this corporation shall have authority to issue is 16,000,000 shares which will consist of Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The classes and the aggregate number of shares of stock of each class which this corporation shall have authority to issue are as follows:

 

(i) 15,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share; and

 

(ii) 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, with such rights, privileges, restrictions and preferences as the Board of Directors may authorize from time to time.

 

FIFTH: To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as such law currently exists or may hereafter be amended so long as any such amendment authorizes action further eliminating or limiting the personal liabilities of directors), a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Any repeal or modification of this paragraph by the stockholders of the corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the corporation with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

SIXTH: Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware as the by-laws may provide. The books of the corporation may be kept, subject to any provision contained in the statutes, outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the by-laws of the corporation. Stockholders shall not be entitled to request the election of directors by written ballot unless a by-law of the corporation shall authorize such a vote by written ballot. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders. Stockholders of the corporation shall not have the right to request or call a special meeting of the stockholders.


SEVENTH: The corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred on stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind from time to time any or all of the by-laws of the corporation; including by-law amendments increasing or reducing the authorized number of directors.

 

EIGHTH: The corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, and to the full extent permitted by said laws, except as the by-laws of the corporation may otherwise provide. Such indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, including insurance purchased and maintained by the corporation, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

NINTH: The name and mailing address of the sole incorporator of the corporation is:

 

Brett Cooper

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Old Federal Reserve Bank Building

400 Sansome Street

San Francisco, CA 94111

 

The undersigned, being the sole incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware does make this certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is his act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly has hereunto set forth his hand this 26th day of November, 1997.

 

/s/ Brett E. Cooper

Brett E. Cooper

 

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SHOE PAVILION, INC.

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES,

RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

 

OF

 

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE

 

DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

The undersigned, Dmitry Beinus and John D. Hellmann, do hereby certify that:

 

1. They are the President and Secretary, respectively, of Shoe Pavilion, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”).

 

2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which have been issued.

 

3. The following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board of Directors:

 

WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation provides for a class of its authorized stock known as preferred stock, comprised of 1,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value, issuable from time to time in one or more series;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to fix the dividend rights, dividend rate, voting rights, conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of preferred stock and the number of shares constituting any series and the designation thereof, of any of them; and

 

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, pursuant to its authority as aforesaid, to fix the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to a series of the preferred stock, which shall consist of, except as otherwise set forth in the Purchase Agreement, up to 3,000 shares of the preferred stock which the corporation has the authority to issue, as follows:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issuance of a series of preferred stock for cash or exchange of other securities, rights or property and does hereby fix and determine the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to such series of preferred stock as follows:

 

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TERMS OF PREFERRED STOCK

 

Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Alternate Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).

 

“Bankruptcy Event” means any of the following events: (a) the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) thereof commences a case or other proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction relating to the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary thereof; (b) there is commenced against the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary thereof any such case or proceeding that is not dismissed within 60 days after commencement; (c) the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary thereof is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered; (d) the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary thereof suffers any appointment of any custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property that is not discharged or stayed within 60 days; (e) the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary thereof makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (f) the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary thereof calls a meeting of its creditors with a view to arranging a composition, adjustment or restructuring of its debts; or (g) the Corporation or any Significant Subsidiary thereof, by any act or failure to act, expressly indicates its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of the foregoing or takes any corporate or other action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.

 

“Base Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

“Buy-In” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e)(iii).

 

“Change of Control Transaction” means the occurrence after the date hereof of any of (i) an acquisition after the date hereof by an individual or legal entity or “group” (as described in Rule 13d-5(b)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act) of effective control (whether through legal or beneficial ownership of capital stock of the Corporation, by contract or otherwise) of in excess of 33% of the voting securities of the Corporation, or (ii) the Corporation merges into or consolidates with any other Person, or any Person merges into or consolidates with the Corporation and, after giving effect to such transaction, the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction own less than 66% of the aggregate voting power of the Corporation or the successor entity of such transaction, or (iii) the Corporation sells or transfers its assets, as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, to another Person and the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction own less than 66% of the aggregate

 

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voting power of the acquiring entity immediately after the transaction, (iv) a replacement at one time or within a one year period of more than one-half of the members of the Corporation’s board of directors which is not approved by a majority of those individuals who are members of the board of directors on the date hereof (or by those individuals who are serving as members of the board of directors on any date whose nomination to the board of directors was approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors who are members on the date hereof), or (v) the execution by the Corporation of an agreement to which the Corporation is a party or by which it is bound, providing for any of the events set forth above in (i) through (iv).

 

“Closing Date” means the Trading Day when all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Holders’ obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the Corporation’s obligations to deliver the Securities have been satisfied or waived.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and stock of any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter have been reclassified or changed into.

 

“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

 

“Conversion Amount” means the sum of the Stated Value at issue.

 

“Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

“Conversion Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock are convertible in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Conversion Shares Registration Statement” means a registration statement that meets the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement and registers the resale of all Conversion Shares by the Holder, who shall be named as a “selling stockholder” thereunder, all as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

“Dilutive Issuance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

“Dilutive Issuance Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

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“Effective Date” means the date that the Conversion Shares Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

 

“Equity Conditions” shall mean, during the period in question, (i) the Corporation shall have duly honored all conversions scheduled to occur or occurring by virtue of one or more Notices of Conversion of the Holder, if any, (ii) all liquidated damages and other amounts owing to the Holder in respect of the Preferred Stock shall have been paid, (iii) there is an effective Conversion Shares Registration Statement pursuant to which the Holder is permitted to utilize the prospectus thereunder to resell all of the shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents (and the Corporation believes, in good faith, that such effectiveness will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future), (iv) the Common Stock is trading on the Trading Market and all of the shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents are listed for trading on a Trading Market (and the Corporation believes, in good faith, that trading of the Common Stock on a Trading Market will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future), (v) there is a sufficient number of authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved shares of Common Stock for the issuance of all of the shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents, (vi) there is then existing no Triggering Event, (vii) the issuance of the shares in question to the Holder would not violate the limitation set forth in Section 6(c), (viii) the issuance of the shares in question to the Holder would not violate the limitation set forth in Section 6(d) and (ix) no public announcement of a pending or proposed Fundamental Transaction, Change of Control Transaction or acquisition transaction has occurred that has not been consummated.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock or options to employees, officers or directors of the Corporation pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose, (b) securities upon the exercise of or conversion of any securities issued hereunder, convertible securities, options or warrants issued and outstanding on the date of the Purchase Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of the Purchase Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise or conversion price of any such securities, and (c) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions, provided any such issuance shall only be to a Person which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company in a business synergistic with the business of the Corporation and in which the Corporation receives benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include any acquisition or strategic transaction in which the Corporation is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.

 

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“Forced Conversion Amount” shall mean (i) 100% of the aggregate Stated Value then outstanding and (ii) all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock.

 

“Forced Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

“Forced Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

“Forced Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

“Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).

 

“Holder” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.

 

“Junior Securities” means the Common Stock and all other equity or equity equivalent securities of the Corporation other than those securities that are (a) outstanding on the Original Issue Date and (b) which are explicitly senior or pari passu in rights or liquidation preference to the Preferred Stock.

 

“LIBOR” means (i) the six-month London Interbank Offered Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars, as shown on the Trading Day immediately prior to date in question in The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition) under the caption “Money Rates—London Interbank Offered Rates (LIBOR)”; or (ii) if The Wall Street Journal does not publish such rate, the offered one-month rate for deposits in U.S. dollars which appears on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page as of 10:00 a.m., New York time, on such Trading Day, provided that if at least two rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page on any such Trading Day, the “LIBOR” for such day shall be the arithmetic mean of such rates.

 

“Liquidation” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 5.

 

“Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 6(a).

 

“Original Issue Date” shall mean the date of the first issuance of any shares of the Preferred Stock regardless of the number of transfers of any particular shares of Preferred Stock and regardless of the number of certificates which may be issued to evidence such Preferred Stock.

 

“Permitted Indebtedness” shall mean (a) the Indebtedness existing on the Original Issue Date and set forth on Schedule 3.1(aa) attached to the Purchase Agreement and (b) obligations and Indebtedness incurred under the Corporation’s asset-based line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank or any other successor asset-based line of credit with a nationally recognized commercial lending institution whose primary business is not investing in securities, provided that the maximum interest rate under any such line of credit may not exceed LIBOR plus 4%.

 

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“Permitted Lien” shall mean the individual and collective reference to the following: (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Company) have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) Liens imposed by law which were incurred in the ordinary course of business, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, statutory landlords’ Liens, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business, and (x) which do not individually or in the aggregate materially detract from the value of such property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries or (y) which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property or asset subject to such Lien; (c) Liens incurred in connection with Permitted Indebtedness under clause (b) thereunder provided that such Liens are not secured by assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries other than the assets so acquired or leased and (d) Liens set forth on Schedule 3.1(n) attached to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Person” means a corporation, an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a government or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.

 

“Purchase Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Original Issue Date, to which the Corporation and the original Holders are parties, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

“QPO Forced Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

“QPO Forced Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

“QPO Forced Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

“Qualified Public Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of the Purchase Agreement, to which the Corporation and the original Holder are parties, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

“San Francisco Courts” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 11(d).

 

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“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Share Delivery Date” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 6(e).

 

“Stated Value” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.

 

“Subscription Amount” shall mean, as to each Purchaser, the amount to be paid for the Preferred Stock purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement as specified below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of the Purchase Agreement and next to the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States Dollars and in immediately available funds.

 

“Subsidiary” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Threshold Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.

 

“Trading Market” means the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, or the Nasdaq National Market.

 

“Transaction Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Triggering Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

“Triggering Redemption Amount” for each share of Preferred Stock means the sum of (i) the greater of (A) 130% of the Stated Value or (B) the product of (a) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the Triggering Event and (b) the Stated Value divided by the then Conversion Price and (ii) all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock.

 

“Triggering Redemption Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(b).

 

“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg Financial L.P. (based on a Trading Day from

 

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9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to 4:02 p.m. Eastern Time); (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading Market and if prices for the Common Stock are then quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board; (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by the Pink Sheets, LLC (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported; or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers and reasonably acceptable to the Corporation.

 

Section 2. Designation, Amount and Par Value. The series of preferred stock shall be designated as its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares so designated shall be up to 3,000 (which shall not be subject to increase without the consent of all of the holders of the Preferred Stock (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”)). Each share of Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share and a stated value equal to $1,000 (the “Stated Value”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given such terms in Section 1 hereof.

 

Section 3. Dividends.

 

a) So long as any Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding, neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary thereof shall redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any Junior Securities; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to redemptions, repurchases or other acquisitions of shares, options, warrants or other securities owned by employees of the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof not exceeding $100,000 in the aggregate in any twelve month period. So long as any Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding, neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary thereof shall directly or indirectly pay or declare any dividend or make any distribution upon, nor shall any distribution be made in respect of, any securities of the Company unless a proportional amount is paid to the holders of the Preferred Stock on an as converted basis, nor shall any monies be set aside for or applied to the purchase or redemption (through a sinking fund or otherwise) of any Junior Securities or shares pari passu with the Preferred Stock.

 

b) The Corporation acknowledges and agrees that the capital of the Corporation (as such term is used in Section 154 of the Delaware General Corporation Law) in respect of the Preferred Stock and any future issuances of the Corporation’s capital stock shall be equal to the aggregate par value of such Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, and that, on or after the date of the Purchase Agreement, it shall not increase the capital of the Corporation with respect to any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding on such date. The Corporation also acknowledges and agrees that it shall not create any special reserves under Section 171 of the Delaware General Corporation Law without the prior written consent of each Holder.

 

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Section 4. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein and as otherwise required by law, the Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights. However, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority of the shares of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Preferred Stock or alter or amend this Certificate of Designation, (b) authorize or create any class of stock ranking as to dividends, redemption or distribution of assets upon a Liquidation (as defined in Section 5) senior to or otherwise pari passu with the Preferred Stock, (c) amend its certificate of incorporation or other charter documents so as to affect adversely any rights of the Holders (by merger or otherwise), (d) increase the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock, or (e) enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing.

 

Section 5. Liquidation. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “Liquidation”), the Holders shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation, whether such assets are capital or surplus, for each share of Preferred Stock an amount equal to the Stated Value per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon and any other fees or liquidated damages owing thereon before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Securities, and if the assets of the Corporation shall be insufficient to pay in full such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the Holders shall be distributed among the Holders ratably in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. A Fundamental Transaction or Change of Control Transaction shall not be treated as a Liquidation. The Corporation shall mail written notice of any such Liquidation, not less than 45 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record Holder.

 

Section 6. Conversion.

 

a) Conversions at Option of Holder. Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible into that number of shares of Common Stock (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6(c) and Section 6(d)) determined by dividing the Stated Value of such share of Preferred Stock by the Conversion Price, at the option of the Holder, at any time and from time to time from and after the Original Issue Date. Holders shall effect conversions by providing the Corporation with the form of conversion notice attached hereto as Annex A (a “Notice of Conversion”). Each Notice of Conversion shall specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to the conversion at issue, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned subsequent to the conversion at issue and the date on which such conversion is to be effected, which date may not be prior to the date the Holder delivers such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation by facsimile (the “Conversion Date”). If no Conversion Date is specified in a Notice of Conversion, the Conversion Date shall be the date that such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation is deemed delivered hereunder. The calculations and entries set forth in the Notice of Conversion shall control in the absence of manifest or mathematical error. To effect conversions of shares of Preferred Stock, a Holder shall not be required to surrender the certificate(s) representing such shares of

 

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Preferred Stock to the Corporation unless all of the shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby are so converted, in which case the Holder shall deliver the certificate representing such share of Preferred Stock promptly following the Conversion Date at issue. Shares of Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock or redeemed in accordance with the terms hereof shall be canceled and may not be reissued.

 

b) Conversion Price. The conversion price for the Preferred Stock shall equal $5.25 (the “Conversion Price”), subject to adjustment herein.

 

c) Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Other than pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) and notwithstanding anything else in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, the Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Preferred Stock, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Preferred Stock to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion, such Holder (together with such Holder’s affiliates, and any other person or entity acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s affiliates), as set forth on the applicable Notice of Conversion, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) conversion of the remaining, nonconverted Stated Value of Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its affiliates and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Corporation (including the Warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its affiliates. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 6(c), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 6(c) applies, the determination of whether the Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any affiliates) and of which shares of Preferred Stock is convertible shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the shares of Preferred Stock may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder) and which shares of the Preferred Stock is convertible, in each case subject to such aggregate percentage limitations. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder will be deemed to represent to the Corporation each time it delivers a Notice of Conversion that such Notice of Conversion has not violated the restrictions set forth in this paragraph and the Corporation shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 6(c), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on

 

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the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in the most recent of the following: (A) the Corporation’s most recent Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Corporation or (C) any other notice by the Corporation or the Corporation’s transfer agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Corporation shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Corporation, including the Preferred Stock, by such Holder or its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The provisions of this paragraph shall be implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 6(c) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended 4.99% beneficial ownership limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such 4.99% limitation. The provisions of this paragraph are intended to comply with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and will be so interpreted and applied consistent with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (i) whether or not this Certificate of Designation specifically so provides and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Transaction Documents. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of Preferred Stock. The holders of Common Stock of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of this Section 6(c) and the Company may not waive this Section 6(c) without the consent of holders of a majority of its Common Stock.

 

d) Limitation on Number of Shares Issuable. If the Corporation has not obtained Stockholder Approval (as defined below), then the Corporation may not issue upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, a number of shares of Common Stock, which, when, aggregated with any shares of Common Stock issued prior to such Conversion Date (A) upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and (B) upon exercise of those certain warrants issued pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement, would exceed 19.999% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Original Issue Date, or such greater number of shares of Common Stock permitted pursuant to the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, that is at the time the principal trading exchange or market for the Common Stock, based upon share volume, as confirmed in writing by counsel to the Corporation (the “Maximum Aggregate Share Amount”), unless the Corporation first obtains stockholder approval permitting such issuances (“Stockholder Approval”). Each Holder shall be entitled to a portion of the Maximum Aggregate Share Amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) such the number of shares of Preferred Stock initially purchased by such Holder by (y) the aggregate number of shares purchased by all Holders. Such portions shall be adjusted upward ratably in the event all of the shares of Preferred Stock of any Holder are no longer outstanding.

 

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e) Mechanics of Conversion

 

i. Delivery of Certificate Upon Conversion. Not later than three Trading Days after each Conversion Date (the “Share Delivery Date”), the Corporation shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder (A) a certificate or certificates which, after the Effective Date, shall be free of restrictive legends and trading restrictions (other than those required by the Purchase Agreement) representing the number of shares of Common Stock being acquired upon the conversion of shares of Preferred Stock, and (B) a bank check in the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends. After the Effective Date, the Corporation shall, upon request of the Holder, deliver any certificate or certificates required to be delivered by the Corporation under this Section electronically through the Depository Trust Corporation or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions. If in the case of any Notice of Conversion such certificate or certificates are not delivered to or as directed by the applicable Holder by the third Trading Day after the Conversion Date, the Holder shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Corporation at any time on or before its receipt of such certificate or certificates thereafter, to rescind such conversion, in which event the Corporation shall immediately return the certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock tendered for conversion.

 

ii. Obligation Absolute; Partial Liquidated Damages. The Corporation’s obligations to issue and deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Corporation or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Corporation to the Holder in connection with the issuance of such Conversion Shares. In the event a Holder shall elect to convert any or all of the Stated Value of its Preferred Stock, the Corporation may not refuse conversion based on any claim that such Holder or any one associated or affiliated with the Holder of has been engaged in any violation of law, agreement or for any other reason, unless, an injunction from a court, on notice, restraining and or enjoining conversion of all or part of this Preferred Stock shall have been sought and obtained and the Corporation posts a surety bond for the benefit of the Holder in the amount of 150% of the Stated Value of Preferred Stock outstanding, which is subject to the injunction, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of arbitration/litigation of the dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to such Holder to the extent it obtains judgment. In the absence of an injunction precluding the same, the Corporation shall issue Conversion Shares or, if applicable, cash, upon a properly noticed conversion. If the Corporation fails to deliver to the Holder such certificate or certificates pursuant to Section 6(e)(i) within three Trading Days of the Share Delivery Date applicable to such

 

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conversion, the Corporation shall pay to such Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $5,000 of Stated Value of Preferred Stock being converted, $50 per Trading Day (increasing to $100 per Trading Day after three Trading Days and increasing to $200 per Trading Day six Trading Days after such damages begin to accrue) for each Trading Day after the second Trading Day following the Share Delivery Date until such certificates are delivered. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue actual damages for the Corporation’s failure to deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon conversion within the period specified herein and such Holder shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief.

 

iii. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates Upon Conversion. If the Corporation fails to deliver to the Holder such certificate or certificates pursuant to Section 6(e)(i) by a Share Delivery Date, and if after such Share Delivery Date the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Holder of the Conversion Shares which the Holder was entitled to receive upon the conversion relating to such Share Delivery Date (a “Buy-In”), then the Corporation shall pay in cash to the Holder the amount by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that such Holder was entitled to receive from the conversion at issue multiplied by (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Preferred Stock with respect to which the aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation is $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Corporation shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Corporation written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In, together with applicable confirmations and other evidence reasonably requested by the Corporation. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Corporation’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

iv. Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock solely for the purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (and the other Holders

 

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of the Preferred Stock), not less than such number of shares of the Common Stock as shall (subject to any additional requirements of the Corporation as to reservation of such shares set forth in the Purchase Agreement) be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 7) upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid, nonassessable and, if the Conversion Shares Registration Statement is then effective under the Securities Act, registered for public sale in accordance with such Conversion Shares Registration Statement.

 

v. Fractional Shares. Upon a conversion hereunder, the Corporation shall not be required to issue stock certificates representing fractions of shares of the Common Stock, but may if otherwise permitted, make a cash payment in respect of any final fraction of a share based on the VWAP at such time. If the Corporation elects not, or is unable, to make such a cash payment, the Holder shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the final fraction of a share, one whole share of Common Stock.

 

vi. Transfer Taxes. The issuance of certificates for shares of the Common Stock on conversion of this Preferred Stock shall be made without charge to the Holder hereof for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of such certificate, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate upon conversion in a name other than that of the Holder of such shares of Preferred Stock so converted and the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificates unless or until the person or persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid.

 

Section 7. Certain Adjustments.

 

a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Corporation, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding: (A) pays a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Corporation pursuant to this Preferred Sock), (B) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (C) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, then the Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be

 

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the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

 

b) Subsequent Equity Sales. If the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof, as applicable, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding but prior to the date that the Corporation consummates and receives gross proceeds of at least $10,000,000 from a firm commitment underwritten public offering with a nationally recognized and reputable investment bank at a per share purchase price equal to or greater than the then effective Conversion Price (a “Qualified Public Offering”), shall offer, sell, grant any option to purchase or offer, sell or grant any right to reprice its securities, or otherwise dispose of or issue (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition) any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents entitling any Person to acquire shares of Common Stock, at an effective price per share less than the then Conversion Price (such lower price, the “Base Conversion Price” and such issuances collectively, a “Dilutive Issuance”), as adjusted hereunder (if the holder of the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents so issued shall at any time, whether by operation of purchase price adjustments, reset provisions, floating conversion, exercise or exchange prices or otherwise, or due to warrants, options or rights per share which is issued in connection with such issuance, be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock at an effective price per share which is less than the Conversion Price, such issuance shall be deemed to have occurred for less than the Conversion Price on such date of the Dilutive Issuance), then the Conversion Price shall be reduced to equal the Base Conversion Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment will be made under this Section 7(b) in respect of an Exempt Issuance. The Corporation shall notify the Holder in writing, no later than the Business Day following the issuance of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents subject to this section, indicating therein the applicable issuance price, or of applicable reset price, exchange price, conversion price and other pricing terms (such notice the “Dilutive Issuance Notice”). For purposes of clarification, whether or not the Corporation provides a Dilutive Issuance Notice pursuant to this Section 7(b), upon the occurrence of any Dilutive Issuance, after the date of such Dilutive Issuance the Holder is entitled to receive a number of Conversion Shares based upon the Base Conversion Price regardless of whether the Holder accurately refers to the Base Conversion Price in the Notice of Conversion.

 

c) Subsequent Rights Offerings. If the Corporation, at any time while the Preferred Stock is outstanding, shall issue rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock (and not to Holders) entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the VWAP at the record date mentioned below, then the Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a fraction, of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of the Common Stock Outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or purchase, and of which the numerator shall be the

 

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number of shares of the Common Stock Outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares so offered (assuming receipt by the Corporation in full of all consideration payable upon exercise of such rights, options or warrants) would purchase at such VWAP. Such adjustment shall be made whenever such rights or warrants are issued, and shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights, options or warrants.

 

d) Pro Rata Distributions. If the Corporation, at any time while Preferred Stock is outstanding, shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to Holders) evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including cash and cash dividends) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any security, then in each such case the Conversion Price shall be adjusted by multiplying such Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the record date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the denominator shall be the VWAP determined as of the record date mentioned above, and of which the numerator shall be such VWAP on such record date less the then fair market value at such record date of the portion of such assets or evidence of indebtedness so distributed applicable to one outstanding share of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith. In either case the adjustments shall be described in a statement provided to the Holder of the portion of assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or such subscription rights applicable to one share of Common Stock. Such adjustment shall be made whenever any such distribution is made and shall become effective immediately after the record date mentioned above.

 

e) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding, (A) the Corporation effects any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another Person, (B) the Corporation effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (C) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Corporation or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, or (D) the Corporation effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (in any such case, a “Fundamental Transaction”), then upon any subsequent conversion of this Preferred Stock, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Conversion Share that would have been issuable upon such conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, the holder of one share of Common Stock (the “Alternate Consideration”). For purposes of any such conversion, the determination of the Conversion Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Corporation shall apportion the Conversion Price among the

 

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Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any conversion of this Preferred Stock following such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Corporation or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall file a new Certificate of Designation with the same terms and conditions and issue to the Holder new preferred stock consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder’s right to convert such preferred stock into Alternate Consideration. The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Fundamental Transaction is effected shall include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this Section 7(e) and insuring that this Preferred Stock (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to a Fundamental Transaction.

 

f) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 7 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 7, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

 

g) Notice to Holders.

 

i. Adjustment to Conversion Price. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any of this Section 7, the Corporation shall promptly mail to each Holder a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

ii. Notice to Allow Conversion by Holder. If (A) the Corporation shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on the Common Stock; (B) the Corporation shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock; (C) the Corporation shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights; (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Corporation shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, of any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property; (E) the Corporation shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation; then, in each case, the Corporation shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of this Preferred Stock, and shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as its shall appear upon the stock books of the Corporation, at least 20 calendar days

 

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prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided, that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. The Holder is entitled to convert the Conversion Amount of this Preferred Stock (or any part hereof) during the 20-day period commencing the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice.

 

Section 8. Forced Conversion.

 

a) Forced Conversion.

 

i. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if after the Effective Date (i) the VWAP for each of any 20 consecutive Trading Days (“Threshold Period”), which 20 consecutive Trading Day period shall have commenced only after the Effective Date, exceeds 120% of the then effective Conversion Price and (ii) the average daily volume for any Threshold Period, which Threshold Period shall have commenced only after the Effective Date, exceeds 50,000 shares of Common Stock per Trading Day, the Corporation may, within one Trading Day after any such Threshold Period, deliver a written notice to all Holders (a “Forced Conversion Notice” and the date such notice is received by the Holders, the “Forced Conversion Notice Date”) to cause each Holder to immediately convert all or part (at the Corporation’s option) of such Holder’s Preferred Stock plus all accrued but unpaid dividends thereon and all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6, it being understood that the “Conversion Date” for purposes of Section 6 shall be deemed to occur on the third Trading Day following the Forced Conversion Notice Date (such third Trading Day being referred to as the “Forced Conversion Date”). The Corporation may not deliver a Forced Conversion Notice, and any Forced Conversion Notice delivered by the Corporation shall not be effective, unless all of the Equity Conditions have been met on each Trading Day occurring during the applicable Threshold Period through and including the later of the Forced Conversion Date and the date that the Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to such conversion are delivered to

 

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the Holder pursuant to the Forced Conversion Notice. Any Forced Conversion Notices shall be applied ratably to all of the Holders in proportion to each Holder’s initial purchases of Preferred Stock hereunder, provided that any voluntary conversions by a Holder shall be applied against such Holder’s pro-rata allocation thereby decreasing the aggregate amount forcibly converted hereunder.

 

ii. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time after the Effective Date the Corporation completes a Qualified Public Offering, the Corporation may, on twenty Trading Day’s prior written notice that the Corporation intends to consummate a Qualified Public Offering, deliver a written notice to all Holders (a “QPO Forced Conversion Notice” and the date such notice is received by the Holders, the “QPO Forced Conversion Notice Date”) to cause each Holder to convert all or part of such Holder’s Preferred Stock plus all accrued but unpaid dividends thereon and all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6, it being understood that the “Conversion Date” for purposes of Section 6 shall be deemed to occur on the date that the Corporation consummates such Qualified Public Offering (such Trading Day being referred to as the “QPO Forced Conversion Date”). The Corporation may not deliver a QPO Forced Conversion Notice, and any QPO Forced Conversion Notice delivered by the Corporation shall not be effective, unless all of the Equity Conditions (other than the conditions set forth in (vii) in the definition of Equity Conditions above) have been met on each Trading Day during the 20 consecutive Trading Day period immediately prior to the QPO Forced Conversion Notice Date through and including the later of the QPO Forced Conversion Date and the date that the Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to such conversion are delivered to the Holder pursuant to the QPO Forced Conversion Notice. Any QPO Forced Conversion Notices shall be applied ratably to all of the Holders in proportion to each Holder’s initial purchases of Preferred Stock hereunder, provided that any voluntary conversions by a Holder shall be applied against such Holder’s pro-rata allocation thereby decreasing the aggregate amount forcibly converted hereunder.

 

Section 9. Redemption Upon Triggering Events.

 

a) “Triggering Event” means any one or more of the following events (whatever the reason and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

i. the failure of a Conversion Shares Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the 180th day after the Original Issue Date;

 

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ii. if, during the Effectiveness Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), the effectiveness of the Conversion Shares Registration Statement lapses for any reason for more than an aggregate of 60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) during any 12 month period, or the Holder shall not be permitted to resell Registrable Securities under the Conversion Shares Registration Statement for more than an aggregate of 60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) during any 12 month period;

 

iii. the Corporation shall fail to deliver certificates representing Conversion Shares issuable upon a conversion hereunder that comply with the provisions hereof prior to the fifth Trading Day after such shares are required to be delivered hereunder, or the Corporation shall provide written notice to any Holder, including by way of public announcement, at any time, of its intention not to comply with requests for conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof;

 

iv. one of the Events (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) described in subsections (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 2(b) of the Registration Rights Agreement shall not have been cured to the satisfaction of the Holders prior to the expiration of 30 days from the Event Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) relating thereto (other than an Event resulting from a failure of a Conversion Shares Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the 180th day after the Original Issue Date, which shall be covered by Section 9(a)(i));

 

v. the Corporation shall fail for any reason to pay in full the amount of cash due pursuant to a Buy-In within five days after notice therefor is delivered hereunder or shall fail to pay all amounts owed on account of an Event within five days of the date due;

 

vi. the Corporation shall fail to have available a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to issue to such Holder upon a conversion hereunder;

 

vii. unless specifically addressed elsewhere in this Certificate of Designation as a Triggering Event, the Corporation shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant, agreement or warranty contained in, or otherwise commit any material breach of the Transaction Documents, and such failure or breach shall not, if subject to the possibility of a cure by the Corporation, have been remedied within 30 calendar days after the date on which written notice of such failure or breach shall have been given;

 

viii. the Corporation shall redeem more than a de minimis number of Junior Securities;

 

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ix. the Corporation shall be party to a Change of Control Transaction;

 

x. there shall have occurred a Bankruptcy Event; or

 

xi. the Common Stock shall fail to be listed or quoted for trading on a Trading Market for more than five Trading Days, which need not be consecutive Trading Days.

 

b) Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event, each Holder shall (in addition to all other rights it may have hereunder or under applicable law) have the right, exercisable at the sole option of such Holder, to require the Corporation to, (i) with respect to the Triggering Events set forth in Sections 9(a)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) (ix)(as to Change of Controls approved by the Board of Directors of the Company) and (x)(as to voluntary filings only), redeem all of the Preferred Stock then held by such Holder for a redemption price, in cash, equal to the Triggering Redemption Amount; or, (ii) at the option of the Holder and with respect to the Triggering Events set forth in Sections 9(a)(i), (ii), (iv), (ix)(as to Change of Controls not approved by the Board of Directors of the Company), (x)(as to involuntary filings only) and (xi), either (A) redeem all of the Preferred Stock then held by such Holder for a redemption price, in shares of Common Stock, equal to a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Triggering Redemption Amount divided by 75% of the average of the 10 VWAPs immediately prior to the date of election hereunder or (B) fix the dividend on all of the outstanding Preferred Stock held by such Holder to equal 18% per annum thereafter. The Triggering Redemption Amount, if in cash or in shares, shall be due and payable or issuable, as the case may be, within five Trading Days of the date on which the notice for the payment therefor is provided by a Holder (the “Triggering Redemption Payment Date”). If the Corporation fails to pay the Triggering Redemption Amount hereunder in full pursuant to this Section on the date such amount is due in accordance with this Section (whether in cash or shares of Common Stock), the Corporation will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser amount permitted by applicable law), accruing daily from such date until the Triggering Redemption Amount, plus all such interest thereon, is paid in full. For purposes of this Section, a share of Preferred Stock is outstanding until such date as the Holder shall have received Conversion Shares upon a conversion (or attempted conversion) thereof that meets the requirements hereof or has been paid the Triggering Redemption Amount plus all accrued but unpaid dividends and all accrued but unpaid liquidated damages in cash.

 

Section 10. Negative Covenants. Except with the written consent of a majority of the shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation will not and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to directly or indirectly:

 

a) except for Permitted Indebtedness, enter into, create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money of any kind, including

 

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but not limited to, a guarantee, on or with respect to any of its property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired or any interest therein or any income or profits therefrom;

 

b) except for Permitted Liens, enter into, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any liens of any kind, on or with respect to any of its property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired or any interest therein or any income or profits therefrom;

 

c) amend its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents so as to materially and adversely affect any rights of any Holder;

 

d) repay, repurchase or offer to repay, repurchase or otherwise acquire more than a de minimis number of shares of its Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (not to exceed one percent of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of Common Stock) other than as to the Conversion Shares to the extent permitted or required under the Transaction Documents or as otherwise permitted by the Transaction Documents;

 

e) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing; or

 

f) pay cash dividends or distributions on any equity securities of the Corporation.

 

Section 11. Miscellaneous.

 

a) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holder hereunder, including, without limitation, any Notice of Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile, sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation, at 13245 Riverside Drive, Suite 450, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, facsimile number 818.907.9936, Attn: Dmitry Beinus or such other address or facsimile number as the Corporation may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders delivered in accordance with this Section. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile, sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the facsimile telephone number or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, or if no such facsimile telephone number or address appears, at the principal place of business of the Holder. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time), (ii) the date after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on such date, (iii) the second Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.

 

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b) Absolute Obligation. Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this Certificate of Designation shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the liquidated damages (if any) on, the shares of Preferred Stock at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

c) Lost or Mutilated Preferred Stock Certificate. If a Holder’s Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated certificate, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, a new certificate for the shares of Preferred Stock so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such certificate, and of the ownership hereof, and indemnity, if requested, all reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation.

 

d) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Certificate of Designation shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, stockholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of San Francisco (the “San Francisco Courts”). Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the San Francisco Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, or such San Francisco Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Certificate of Designation and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Certificate of Designation or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Certificate of Designation, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

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e) Waiver. Any waiver by the Corporation or the Holder of a breach of any provision of this Certificate of Designation shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Certificate of Designation. The failure of the Corporation or the Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Certificate of Designation on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Certificate of Designation. Any waiver must be in writing.

 

f) Severability. If any provision of this Certificate of Designation is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Certificate of Designation shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances. If it shall be found that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder violates applicable laws governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum permitted rate of interest.

 

g) Next Business Day. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

h) Headings. The headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Certificate of Designation and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

*********************

 

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RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Chairman, the president or any vice-president, and the secretary or any assistant secretary, of the Corporation be and they hereby are authorized and directed to prepare and file a Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations in accordance with the foregoing resolution and the provisions of Delaware law.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate this 22nd day of September, 2005.

 

/s/ Dmitry Beinus

   /s/ John D. Hellmann

Name:

  

Dmitry Beinus

   Name:    John D. Hellmann

Title:

  

Chairman of the Board, President

and Chief Executive Officer

   Title:    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

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ANNEX A

 

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

(TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER IN ORDER TO CONVERT SHARES

OF PREFERRED STOCK)

 

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock indicated below, into shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Shoe Pavilion, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates and opinions as reasonably requested by the Corporation in accordance therewith. No fee will be charged to the Holder for any conversion, except for such transfer taxes, if any.

 

Conversion calculations:

 

Date to Effect Conversion:


 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to Conversion:


 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted:


 

Stated Value of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted:


 

Number of shares of Common Stock to be Issued:


 

Applicable Conversion Price:


 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock subsequent to Conversion:

 


 

[HOLDER]

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

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