-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, WXUQl7DriEz8DvUCG2lZk+qEdSRyzpMoy353EeP06G0wPqFr4iyoRHObSO+1Tmeq hP8O62/kdDLkVjBtgZXNNg== 0000912282-04-000054.txt : 20040204 0000912282-04-000054.hdr.sgml : 20040204 20040203185438 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000912282-04-000054 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040203 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20040204 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TARGETED GENETICS CORP /WA/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000921114 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836] IRS NUMBER: 911549568 STATE OF INCORPORATION: WA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-23930 FILM NUMBER: 04564415 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1100 OLIVE WAY STREET 2: STE 100 CITY: SEATTLE STATE: WA ZIP: 98101 BUSINESS PHONE: 2066237612 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1100 OLIVE WAY STREET 2: STE 100 CITY: SEATTLE STATE: WA ZIP: 98101 8-K 1 targeted8k_02022004.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 30, 2004
_______________

Targeted Genetics Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Washington

0-23930

91-1549568




(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

1100 Olive Way, Suite 100
Seattle, Washington
98101


(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

(206) 623-7612

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
 
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





Item 5.         Other Events

        On February 2, 2004, Targeted Genetics Corporation announced a public offering of 10,854,247 shares of its common stock to institutional investors at a price of $2.35 per share, for gross proceeds of $25,507,504. The shares were offered under Targeted Genetics’ shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File 333-107822), as amended.

        Targeted Genetics expects to receive net proceeds from the financing of approximately $23.8 million after deducting placement agent fees and estimated costs associated with the offering. SG Cowen Securities Corporation, or SG Cowen, and Roth Capital Partners, LLC, or Roth, served as placement agents for the transaction.

        Copies of the Placement Agent Agreement between Targeted Genetics and Roth, dated as of January 30, 2004 and the form of the Subscription Agreement among Targeted Genetics and each institutional purchaser, and the press release related to the offering are attached as Exhibits 1.1, 10.1 and 99.1 to this current report and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.          Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)  

Exhibits.


1.1  

Placement Agent Agreement


10.1  

Form of Subscription Agreement


99.1  

Press Release of Targeted Genetics Corporation dated February 2, 2004







SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


Targeted Genetics Corporation
 
Date: February 3, 2004 By:   /s/ Todd E. Simpson                          
Todd E. Simpson
Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer




EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit  
Number

       Description


1.1  

Placement Agent Agreement


10.1  

Form of Subscription Agreement


99.1  

Press Release of Targeted Genetics Corporation dated February 2, 2004






EX-1.1 3 ex1_1.htm PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 1.1


EXECUTION COPY

10,854,257 Shares

TARGETED GENETICS CORPORATION

Shares of Common Stock
($.01 par value)

PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT


January 30, 2004


SG COWEN SECURITIES CORPORATION
ROTH CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
c/o SG Cowen Securities Corporation
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020

Dear Sirs:

        Targeted Genetics Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the Purchasers, pursuant to the terms of this Placement Agent Agreement (this “Agreement”) and the Subscription Agreements in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Subscription Agreements”) entered into with the Purchasers identified therein (each a “Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Purchasers”), an aggregate of 10,854,257 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company. The aggregate of 10,854,257 shares so proposed to be sold is hereinafter referred to as the “Stock.” The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the placement agents named in Schedule I attached hereto (the “Placement Agents”). SG Cowen Securities Corporation is acting as the representative of the Placement Agents and in such capacity is hereinafter referred to as the “Representative.” Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 13 hereof.

1.     AGREEMENT TO ACT AS PLACEMENT AGENTS; PLACEMENT OF SECURITIES. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained, and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement:

  (a)         The Company hereby authorizes the Placement Agents to act as its exclusive agents to solicit offers for the purchase of all or part of the Stock from the Company in connection with the proposed offering of the Stock (the “Offering”). Until the Closing Date, the Company shall not, without the prior consent of the Representative, solicit or accept offers to purchase Stock otherwise than through the Placement Agents.

  (b)         The Placement Agents agree, as agents of the Company, to use their best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Stock from the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Base Prospectus (as defined





  below) and the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below). The Placement Agents shall make reasonable best efforts to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each Purchaser whose offer to purchase Stock has been solicited by the Placement Agents and accepted by the Company, but the Placement Agents shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, be obligated to disclose the identity of any potential purchaser or have any liability to the Company in the event any such purchase is not consummated for any reason. Under no circumstances will the Placement Agents be obligated to purchase any Stock for their own accounts and, in soliciting purchases of Stock, the Placement Agents shall act solely as the Company’s agents and not as principals. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as otherwise provided in Section 1(c), it is understood and agreed that the Placement Agents (or their affiliates) may, solely at their discretion and without any obligation to do so, purchase Stock as principals.

  (c)         Subject to the provisions of this Section 1, offers for the purchase of Stock may be solicited by the Placement Agents as agents for the Company at such times and in such amounts as the Placement Agents deem advisable. Each Placement Agent shall communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to purchase Stock received by it as agent of the Company. The Company shall have the sole right to accept offers to purchase the Stock and may reject any such offer, in whole or in part. Each Placement Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, without notice to the Company, to reject any offer to purchase Stock received by it, in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its agreement contained herein.

  (d)         The purchases of the Stock by the Purchasers shall be evidenced by the execution of the Subscription Agreements by each of the parties thereto.

  (e)         As compensation for services rendered, on the Closing Date (as defined below) the Company shall pay to the Placement Agents by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated by the Representative, an aggregate amount equal to six percent (6.0%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Stock on such Closing Date; 4.2% of such gross proceeds shall be paid to SG Cowen Securities Corporation and 1.8% of such gross proceeds shall be paid to Roth Capital Partners, LLC.

  (f)         No Stock which the Company has agreed to sell pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been purchased and paid for, or sold by the Company, until such Stock shall have been delivered to the Purchaser thereof against payment by such Purchaser. If the Company shall default in its obligations to deliver Stock to a Purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the Company shall indemnify and hold the Placement Agents harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company.


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2.     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES. The Company and its subsidiaries represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Placement Agents and the Purchasers that:

  (a)         The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on such Form (Registration File No. 333-107822), which became effective as of August 21, 2003, for the registration under the Securities Act of the Stock. Such registration statement meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the Securities Act and complies with said Rule. The Company will file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Commission promulgated thereunder, a supplement to the form of prospectus included in such registration statement relating to the placement of the Stock and the plan of distribution thereof and has advised the Representative of all further information (financial and other) with respect to the Company required to be set forth therein. Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement”; such prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the “Base Prospectus”; and the supplemented form of prospectus, in the form in which it will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented) is hereinafter called a “Prospectus Supplement.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”) pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or before the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included,” “described,” “set forth” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, as the case may be. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement has been issued, and no proceeding for any such purpose is pending or has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened by the Commission.


3






  (b)         The Registration Statement (and any further documents to be filed with the Commission) contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations and did not and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, each as of its respective date, comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations. Each of the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, as amended or supplemented, did not and will not contain as of the date thereof any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations, and none of such documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information, if any, contained in or omitted from the Prospectus Supplement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Placement Agent specifically for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus Supplement, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Placement Agents’ Information as defined in Section 15. No post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement reflecting any facts or events arising after the date thereof which represent, individually or in the aggregate, a fundamental change in the information set forth therein is required to be filed with the Commission. There are no documents required to be filed with the Commission in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby that have not been filed as required pursuant to the Securities Act or will not be filed within the requisite time period. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Base Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement, or to be filed as exhibits or schedules to the Registration Statement, which have not been described or filed as required.

  (c)         The Company has delivered, or will as promptly as practicable deliver, to the Representative complete conformed copies of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits) and the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, as amended or


4






  supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representative reasonably requests. Neither the Company nor any of its directors and officers has distributed and none of them will distribute, prior to the Closing Date, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock other than the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement, copies of the documents incorporated by reference therein and any other materials permitted by the Securities Act.

  (d)         The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing as corporations or other legal entities in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if any) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if any) as foreign corporations in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing or have such power or authority would not have, singularly or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”). Emerald Gene Systems, Ltd. (“Emerald”) is a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, which was formed with Elan International Services, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elan Corporation plc. Emerald has no material assets and no operating activities. Any reference to the subsidiaries of the Company does not include Emerald.

  (e)         The Stock to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder and under the Subscription Agreements has been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive or similar rights. The Stock conforms to the description thereof contained in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (f)         The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws, and conform to the description thereof contained in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that have been granted by the Company other than those accurately described in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, as described in the Base


5






  Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement accurately and fairly present the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

  (g)         All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and, except to the extent set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, are owned by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any claim, lien, encumbrance, security interest, defect or restriction upon voting or transfer or any other claim of any kind (“Liens”).

  (h)         The Company has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and each of the Subscription Agreements and to perform and to discharge its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and each of this Agreement and each of the Subscription Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity, regardless of whether asserted in a proceeding at equity or law.

  (i)         The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any statute, law, rule or regulation or any judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets; except for such breach or violation that would not reasonably be expected to, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

  (j)         There is no franchise, contract, lease, instrument or other document of a character required by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations to be described in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which is not described or filed as required; and all statements summarizing any such franchises, contracts, leases, instruments or other documents or legal matters contained in the Registration Statement are accurate and complete in all material respects. Other than as described in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, no such franchise, contract, lease, instrument or other document has been suspended or terminated for convenience or default by the Company or any of the other parties thereto, and the Company has not received notice or any other knowledge of any such pending or threatened suspension or


6






  termination, except for such pending or threatened suspensions or terminations that would not reasonably be expected to, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

  (k)         All existing minute books of the Company and each of its subsidiaries, including all existing records of all meetings and actions of the board of directors (including, Audit, Compensation and Nomination/Corporate Governance Committees) and stockholders of the Company through the date of the latest meeting and action (collectively, the “Corporate Records”) have been made available to the Placement Agents and counsel for the Placement Agents. All such Corporate Records are complete and accurately reflect, in all material respects, all transactions referred to in such Corporate Records.

  (l)         No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of or registration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein and in the Subscription Agreements, except such as have been obtained or made under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and such as may be required under the securities, or blue sky, laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the offer and sale of the Stock by the Company in the manner contemplated herein and in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (m)         Except for Elan International Services, Inc. who may not have received timely notice pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 21, 1999, or as described in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, no person or entity has the right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company because of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or otherwise, except for persons and entities who have expressly waived such right or who have been given timely and proper notice and have failed to exercise such right within the time or times required under the terms and conditions of such right.

  (n)         The financial statements, together with the related notes and schedules, of the Company included in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Registration Statement, or incorporated by reference therein, as the case may be, present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein and subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments).

  (o)         Except as set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, there is no legal or governmental proceeding pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the documents incorporated by reference therein, singularly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company


7






  or any of its subsidiaries, might have a Material Adverse Effect or would prevent or adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; and to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.

  (p)         The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property which are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all Liens that may result in a Material Adverse Effect.

  (q)         Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of any provision of its charter or bylaws, (ii) in default in any respect, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, or condition of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject, or (iii) in violation in any respect of any statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company, its subsidiaries or any of its properties, as applicable (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), except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), any violations or defaults which, singularly or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

  (r)         The contracts described in the Company’s regular reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K, as filed by the Company with the Commission or incorporated by reference therein, that are material to the Company and have not either expired or been terminated are in full force and effect on the date hereof, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to such contracts is in breach of or default under any of such contracts which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

  (s)         No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent, which might be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any subsidiary plans to terminate employment with the Company or any such subsidiary.

  (t)         Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each


8






  plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations) in which employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate and each such plan is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and such regulations and published interpretations. No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA, or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “Code”)) has occurred with respect to any employee benefit plan which could have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has not incurred any unpaid liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (other than for the payment of premiums in the ordinary course) or to any such plan under Title IV of ERISA. Each “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could cause the loss of such qualification.

  (u)         The Company and each of its subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

  (v)         The Company and each of its subsidiaries has made all filings, applications and submissions required by, and possesses all approvals, licenses, certificates, certifications, clearances, consents, exemptions, marks, notifications, orders, permits and other authorizations issued by, the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities (including, without limitation, the FDA, and any other foreign, federal, state or local government or regulatory authorities performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) necessary to conduct its businesses (collectively, “Permits”), except for such Permits which the failure to obtain would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and is in compliance with the material terms and conditions of all such Permits; all of such Permits held by the Company and each of its subsidiaries are valid and in full force and effect; there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding which may cause any such Permit to be limited, revoked, cancelled, suspended, modified or not renewed and the Company and each of its subsidiaries has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the limitation, revocation, cancellation, suspension, modification or non-renewal of any such Permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated by the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement.

  (w)         Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Registration Statement, or incorporated by reference therein, as the case may be, are, to the Company’s


9






  knowledge, independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

  (x)         The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (y)         The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its Subsidiary is made known to the certifying officers by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, is being prepared. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2003 (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) or, to the Company’s knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect the Company’s internal controls.

  (z)         The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability of assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

  (aa)         The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) is in compliance in all material respects with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received and is in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and (iii) has not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any


10






  disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement (exclusive of any supplement thereto). The Company has not been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

  (bb)         There has been no storage, disposal, generation, manufacture, refinement, transportation, handling or treatment of medical wastes, toxic wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances by the Company or its subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their predecessors in interest) at, upon or from any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or its subsidiaries in violation of any applicable Environmental Law which would require remedial action under any applicable Environmental Law, except for any violation or remedial action which would not cause, singularly or in the aggregate with all such violations and remedial actions, a Material Adverse Effect; there has been no material spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release of any kind onto such property or of any medical wastes, toxic wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances due to or caused by the Company or its subsidiaries or with respect to which the Company or its subsidiaries had knowledge, except for any such spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escapes, dumpings or releases which would not cause or would not be reasonably likely to cause, singularly or in the aggregate with all such spills, discharges, leaks, emissions, injections, escapes, dumpings or releases, a Material Adverse Effect; and the terms “hazardous substances,” “toxic wastes,” “hazardous wastes” and “medical wastes” shall have the meanings specified in any applicable Environmental Laws.

  (cc)         In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and each of its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (dd)         Except as set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, the Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use all foreign and domestic patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names,


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  copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, Internet domain names, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as proposed in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement to be conducted. Except as set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement (a) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property except where the exercise of such rights would not result, singularly or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property that is necessary and material to the Company’s business as it is currently being conducted; (c) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (d) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; (e) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company and its subsidiaries infringe or otherwise violate any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (f) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no third-party U.S. patent or published U.S. patent application which contains claims for which an Interference Proceeding could be commenced against any patent or patent application described in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement as being owned by or licensed on an exclusive basis to the Company; and (g) the Company and its subsidiaries have taken all steps reasonably necessary to perfect its ownership of and interest in the Intellectual Property.

  (ee)         The clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Company and its subsidiaries 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), except where failure to comply with such statutes, laws, rules or regulations would not result, singularly or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. The descriptions of the results of clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the published data derived from such studies and tests. During the past three years, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has 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, suspension or modification of such studies or tests following enrollment of patients in such studies.


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  (ff)         The Company has established and administers processes and procedures as is customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar business industries (including written policies) applicable to the Company and which the Company believes is adequate, to assist the Company and the 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).

  (gg)         The Company and its subsidiaries have filed with the applicable regulatory authorities (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) any filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission except where failure to file would not result, singularly or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect; all such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions were in compliance in all material respects 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 which were not resolved prior to enrollment of patients in such study, test or trial.

  (hh)         No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one hand and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company on the other hand which is required to be described in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement and which is not so described.

  (ii)         Neither the Company nor any other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company including, without limitation, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has, directly or indirectly, while acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses, or received or retained any funds, relating to political activity; (ii) made any unlawful payment from corporate funds to, or received or retained any unlawful funds from, foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to or from foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns; (iii) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any other unlawful payment or received or retained any other unlawful funds.

  (jj)         Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Stock and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, will become an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.


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  (kk)         No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

  (ll)         Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the Placement Agents for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock.

  (mm)         Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Registration Statement, or incorporated by reference therein, as the case may be, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, terrorist act or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in or contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement; and, since such date, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (nn)         Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any of their officers, directors or affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company.

  (oo)         There are no affiliations with the NASD among the Company’s officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any five percent or greater stockholder of the Company, except as set forth in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Registration Statement or otherwise disclosed in writing to the Placement Agent.

  (pp)         The Company satisfies the pre-1992 eligibility requirements for the use of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 in connection with the Offering contemplated thereby (the pre-1992 eligibility requirements for the use of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 include (i) having a non-affiliate, public common equity float of at least $150 million or a non-affiliate, public common equity float of at least $100 million and annual trading volume of at least three million shares and (ii) having been subject to the Exchange Act reporting requirements for a period of 36 months).

  (qq)         There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expense in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or


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  indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company, except as disclosed in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Registration Statement.

  (rr)         There are no transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structure finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources required to be described in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Registration Statement, which have not been described as required.

  (ss)         The Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon and at all times after the Nasdaq SmallCap Market shall have approved the Stock for inclusion, it will be in compliance with all applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the Nasdaq SmallCap Marketplace Rules that are then in effect and is actively taking steps to ensure that it will be in compliance with other applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the Nasdaq SmallCap Marketplace Rules not currently in effect upon and all times after the effectiveness of such requirements.

        Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Placement Agents or counsel for the Placement Agents in connection with the offering of the Stock shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company and its subsidiaries, as to the matters covered thereby, to the Placement Agents and the Purchasers.

3.     THE CLOSING. The time and date of closing and delivery of the documents required to be delivered to the Placement Agents pursuant to Section 6 hereof shall be at 10:00 A.M., local time, on February 5, 2004 (the “Closing Date”) at the office of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3400, Seattle, Washington 98101.

4.     FURTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company agrees with the Placement Agents and the Purchasers:

  (a)         (i) to make no further amendment or supplement prior to the Closing Date to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus Supplement without the consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; (ii) for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Stock, to advise the Representative promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus Supplement or any amended Prospectus Supplement has been filed and to furnish the Representative with copies thereof; (iii) to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 15 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus Supplement and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Stock; (iv) to advise the Representative, promptly after it receives notices


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  thereof, (x) of any request by the Commission to amend the Registration Statement or to amend or supplement the Prospectus Supplement or for additional information and (y) of the issuance by the Commission, of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any order directed at any Incorporated Document or any amendment or supplement thereto or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto, of the suspension of the qualification of the Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the institution or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus Supplement or for additional information; and, (v) in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement or suspending any such qualification, promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order.

  (b)         To comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Stock as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus Supplement. If during the period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by a Placement Agent or a dealer in connection with the distribution of Stock contemplated by the Prospectus Supplement, any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Placement Agents or counsel for the Placement Agents, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus Supplement in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus Supplement is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus Supplement to comply with any law, the Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its own expense to the Representative, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus Supplement so that the Prospectus Supplement as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus Supplement will comply with such law. Before amending the Registration Statement or supplementing the Base Prospectus in connection with the Offering, the Company will furnish the Representative with a copy of such proposed amendment or supplement and will not file such amendment or supplement without the consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

  (c)         To furnish promptly to the Representative and to counsel for the Placement Agents a copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.

  (d)         To deliver promptly to the Representative such number of the following documents as the Representative shall reasonably request: (i) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the


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  Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits), (ii) the Base Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus Supplement (not later than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the Business Day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement) and any amendment or supplement thereto (not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Business Day following the date of such amendment or supplement); and (iv) any document incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the Offering.

  (e)         To make generally available to its stockholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Securities Act), an earnings statement of the Company (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).

  (f)         To promptly take from time to time such actions as the Representative may reasonably request to qualify the Stock for offering and sale under the securities, or blue sky, laws of such jurisdictions (including without limitation any post-filing requirements) as the Representative may designate and to continue such qualifications in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Stock, and the Company will pay the fee of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) in connection with its review of the Offering, if applicable. The Company shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

  (g)         Not to directly or indirectly offer, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock for a period of 60 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement without the prior written consent of the Representative, other than the Company’s sale of the Stock, the issuance of shares or options to purchase shares pursuant to qualified stock option plans, currently outstanding options, warrants or rights and the issuance of up to 175,000 shares to Itochu Corporation in connection with dissolution of the joint venture and mutual settlement of claims. The Company will cause each of its executive officers and directors to furnish to the Representative, prior to the Closing Date, a letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to directly or indirectly offer, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock for a period of 60 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement, without the prior written consent of the Representative.

  (h)         Prior to the Closing Date, to furnish to the Representative, as soon as they have been prepared, copies of any unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company for any periods subsequent to the periods covered by the financial statements appearing or incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Registration Statement.


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  (i)         Prior to the Closing Date, not to issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects (except for routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Representative is notified), without the prior written consent of the Representative, unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Representative, such press release or communication is required by law. In such event, the Company shall consult with the Representative as to the contents of such press release.

  (j)         To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Stock as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Use of Proceeds.”

  (k)         To comply in all material respects with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and use its best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

  (l)         To engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Stock.

  (m)         To not take any action prior to the Closing Date which would require the Prospectus Supplement to be amended or supplemented pursuant to Section 4(b).

  (n)         To supply the Representative with copies of all correspondence to and from, and all documents issued to and by, the Commission in connection with the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act.

  (o)         The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market at the Closing Date.

5.     PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company agrees with the Placement Agents to pay (a) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Stock to the Purchasers and any taxes payable in that connection; (b) the costs incident to the Registration of the Stock under the Securities Act; (c) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and distribution of the Registration Statement, Base Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement and any amendments and exhibits thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein, and the costs of printing, reproducing and distributing, this Agreement by mail, telex or other means of communication; (d) the fees and expenses (including related fees and expenses of counsel for the Placement Agents) incurred in connection with filings, if any, made with the NASD, if applicable; (e) any applicable listing or other fees; (f) the fees and expenses of qualifying the Stock under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 4(f) and of preparing, printing and distributing Blue Sky Memoranda (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Placement Agents of up to $10,000); (g) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the



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Stock; and (h) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s independent accountants and the travel and other expenses incurred by Company personnel in connection with any “roadshow” including, without limitation, any expenses advanced by the Placement Agents on the Company’s behalf (which will be promptly reimbursed)); provided that, except as otherwise provided in this Section 5 and in Sections 7 and 9, the Placement Agents shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel.

6.     CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PLACEMENT AGENTS AND THE PURCHASERS, AND THE SALE OF THE STOCK. The respective obligations of the Placement Agents and the Purchasers, and the closing of the sale of the Stock hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and its subsidiaries contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and its subsidiaries made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and its subsidiaries of their obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

  (a)         No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative. Any filings required to be made by the Company in accordance with Section 4(a) shall have been timely filed with the Commission.

  (b)         None of the Placement Agents shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date that the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Placement Agents, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

  (c)         All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form, execution, delivery and validity of each of this Agreement, the Stock, the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Placement Agents, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

  (d)         The Placement Agents shall have received from each of (i) Dorsey & Whitney LLP, corporate counsel for the Company, and (ii) Morrison & Foerster LLP, patent counsel for the Company, such counsel’s written opinion, addressed to the Placement Agents and the Purchasers and dated as of the


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  Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative as set forth in Exhibits C-1, and C-2 attached hereto, respectively.

          Such counsel shall also have furnished to the Placement Agents a written statement, addressed to the Placement Agents and the Purchasers and dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that (x) such counsel has acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, (y) based on such counsel’s examination of the Registration Statement and such counsel’s investigations made in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement and conferences with certain officers and employees of and with auditors for and counsel to the Company, nothing has come to such counsel’s attention that led it to believe that (I) the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (II) any document incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement or any further amendment or supplement to any such incorporated document made by the Company prior to the Closing Date, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which became effective under the Securities Act, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents which were filed under the Exchange Act with the Commission, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial data contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement.

          The foregoing statement may be qualified by a statement to the effect that such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement and takes no responsibility therefor except to the extent specifically set forth in the opinion.

  (e)         The Placement Agents shall have received from Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Placement Agents, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Stock, the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.


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  (f)         The Company shall have furnished to the Placement Agents and the Purchasers a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, executed by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President and its Chief Financial Officer stating that (i) such officers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement and, in their opinion, the Registration Statement (including the Base Prospectus) as of its effective date and the Prospectus Supplement, as of each such effective date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) since the effective date of the Registration Statement no event has occurred which should have been but was not set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, (iii) to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company and its subsidiaries in this Agreement are true and correct and the Company and its subsidiaries have complied with all agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, (iv) subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, there has been no change in the financial position or results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries that would have a Material Adverse Effect, or any change, or any development including a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except as set forth in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, (v) the Registration Statement became effective on August 21, 2003, and to their knowledge, as of the Closing Date (I) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been commenced or are pending before or are contemplated by the Commission and (II) no action has been taken by any governmental agency, body or official, and no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by any federal or state court has been issued, which would prevent the issuance of the Stock.

  (g)         At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, addressed to the Placement Agents and dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and (ii) stating the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (h)         On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a letter (the “bring-down letter”) from Ernst & Young LLP addressed to the Placement Agents, and dated the Closing Date confirming, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial


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  information is given in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement as of a date not more than three Business Days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter delivered to the Representative concurrently with the execution of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6(g).

  (i)         (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, terrorist act or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in or contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, and (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth in or contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in the judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Stock on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (j)         The Stock shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representative.

  (k)         At the Execution Time, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto from each executive officer and director of the Company.

  (l)         Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market, the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or the American Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or minimum or maximum prices or maximum ranges for prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal or state authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, or the subject of an act of terrorism, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred any other calamity or crisis or


22






  any change in general economic, political or financial conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event in clause (iii) or (iv) makes it, in the sole judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Stock on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.

  (m)         No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body which would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Stock or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Stock or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.

  (n)         The Company shall have prepared and filed with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the Offering, including as an exhibit thereto this Agreement and any other documents relating thereto.

  (o)         The Company shall have entered into Subscription Agreements with each of the Purchasers and such agreements shall be in full force and effect.

  (p)         Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Placement Agents such further information, certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

        All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Placement Agents.

7.   INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

  (a)         The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Placement Agent, its officers, employees, representatives and agents and each person, if any, who controls any Placement Agent within the meaning of the Securities Act (collectively the “Placement Agent Indemnified Partiesand each a “Placement Agent Indemnified Party”) against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which that Placement Agent Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Base Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus Supplement or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Base Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus Supplement or in any amendment or supplement thereto a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any breach of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and shall reimburse each Placement Agent Indemnified Party promptly upon demand


23






  for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Placement Agent Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; 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 in or omission or alleged omission from the Base Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus Supplement or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Placement Agent specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Placement Agents’ Information (as defined in Section 15); provided, however, that the foregoing indemnification agreement with respect to the Base Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Placement Agent from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased securities, or any officers, employees, representatives, agents or controlling persons of such Placement Agent, if (i) a copy of the Prospectus Supplement (as then amended or supplemented) was required by law to be delivered to such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of securities to such person, (ii) a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented), excluding documents incorporated by reference therein, was not sent or given to such person by or on behalf of such Placement Agent and such failure was not due to non-compliance by the Company with Section 4(d), and (iii) the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability. This indemnity agreement is not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Company might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Placement Agent Indemnified Party.

  (b)         Each Placement Agent, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company its officers, employees, representatives and agents, each of its directors and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act (collectively the “Company Indemnified Parties” and each a “Company Indemnified Party”) against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Base Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus Supplement or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) 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, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of that Placement Agent specifically for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such parties in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or


24






  defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided that the parties hereto hereby agree that such written information provided by the Placement Agents consists solely of the Placement Agents’ Information. This indemnity agreement is not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Placement Agents and the Purchasers might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to the Company Indemnified Parties. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(b), in no event shall any indemnity by any Placement Agent under this Section 7(b) exceed the total compensation received by such Placement Agent in accordance with Section 1(e).

  (c)         Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided,however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure; and, provided,further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided,however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the indemnifying party in writing, (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party and in the reasonable judgment of such counsel it is advisable for such indemnified party to employ separate counsel or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action in accordance with the terms hereof and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction


25






  arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representative, if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Placement Agent Indemnified Party, or by the Company if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Company Indemnified Parties. Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) shall use best efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or claim. Subject to the provisions of Section 7(d) below, no indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in connection with any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action (other than a judgment entered with the consent of such indemnified party), the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

  (d)         If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by this Section 7 effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

  (e)         If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Placement Agents on the other from the offering of the Stock 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 on the one hand and the Placement Agents on the other with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Placement Agents on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Stock purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to the total compensation received by the Placement Agents with respect to the Stock purchased under this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged


26






  untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Placement Agents on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company by the Representative for use in the Prospectus Supplement consists solely of the Placement Agents’ Information. The Company and the Placement Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 7(e) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(e), the Placement Agents shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total compensation received by such Placement Agents in accordance with Section 1(e) less the amount of any damages which such Placement Agents have otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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. The obligations of the Placement Agents to contribute are several in proportion to their respective obligations and not joint.

8.     TERMINATION. The obligations of the Placement Agents and the Purchasers hereunder and under the Subscription Agreements may be terminated by the Representative, in its absolute discretion by notice given to the Company prior to delivery (including electronic delivery) of and payment for the Stock if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 6(i) or 6(l) have occurred or if the Purchasers shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement.

9.     REIMBURSEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE’S EXPENSES. If the sale of the Stock provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Placement Agents and the Purchasers set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 8 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by the Representative, the Company will reimburse the Representative upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel and any expenses advanced by the Representative on the Company’s behalf) that shall have been incurred by the Representative in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase and sale of the Stock and, upon demand, the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representative.



27






10.     SUCCESSORS; PERSONS ENTITLED TO BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Placement Agents, the Purchasers, the Company, and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person other than the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person; except that the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and indemnities of the Company contained in this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the Placement Agent Indemnified Parties, and the indemnities of the Placement Agents shall also be for the benefit of the Company Indemnified Parties. It is understood that the Placement Agents’ responsibilities to the Company are solely contractual in nature and the Placement Agents do not owe the Company, or any other party, any fiduciary duty as a result of this Agreement.

11.     SURVIVAL OF INDEMNITIES, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, ETC. The respective indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Placement Agents, as set forth in this Agreement or made by them respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Placement Agents, the Company, the Purchasers or any person controlling any of them and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Stock.

12.     NOTICES. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

  (a)         if to the Placement Agents, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to SG Cowen Securities Corporation, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Veronica Iuliano, Esq. (Fax: 212-278-7995), with a copy to: Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP, 900 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Stuart Bressman, Esq. (Fax: 212-895-2900).

  (b)         if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to Targeted Genetics Corporation, 1100 Olive Way, Suite 100, Seattle, Washington 98101, Attention: Todd E. Simpson (Fax: 206-623-7064), with a copy to: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3400, Seattle, Washington 98101, Attention: Kimberley R. Anderson (Fax: 206-903-8820).

13.     DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS. The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

          “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday, a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City or any day on which the Nasdaq SmallCap Market is not open for trading.


28






          “Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement (and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto) became or becomes effective.

          “Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

          “Interference Proceeding” shall have the meaning set forth in 35 U.S.C. § 135.

          “To the Company’s knowledge” and words of similar import (such as “the Company not being aware”) shall mean that which Company directors, officers and employees at the director level and above actually know or should have known using the exercise of reasonable due diligence.

14.     GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

15.     PLACEMENT AGENTS’ INFORMATION. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Placement Agents’ Information consists solely of the statements concerning the Placement Agents contained in the first paragraph under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement.

16.     PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

17.     GENERAL. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. In this Agreement, the masculine, feminine and neuter genders and the singular and the plural include one another. The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and will not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended or modified, and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived, only by a writing signed by the Company and the Representative.

18.     COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

19.     CONSENT TO ACT AS REPRESENTATIVE. Roth Capital Partners, LLC (“Roth”) consents and agrees that SG Cowen Securities Corporation (“SG Cowen”) will act as Representative of the Placement Agents under this Agreement and with respect to the sale of the Stock. Accordingly, Roth authorizes SG Cowen to manage the Offering and sale of the Stock and to take such action in connection therewith as SG Cowen in its sole discretion deems appropriate or desirable, consistent with the provisions of the



29






Agreement Among Underwriters previously entered into between SG Cowen and Roth, taking into account that the Offering of the Stock will be in the form of a best efforts placement and not a firm commitment underwriting.






30






        If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of the agreement between the Company and the Placement Agents, kindly indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

  Very truly yours,

TARGETED GENETICS CORPORATION


By:      /s/ H. Stewart Parker                   
Name:    H. Stewart Parker
Title:     Pres. & CEO


Accepted as of
the date first above written:

SG COWEN SECURITIES CORPORATION


By:       /s/ Richard E. Gormley                         
Name:   Richard E. Gormley
Title:   Managing Director

ROTH CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC


By:       /s/ John M. Delfonse                         
Name:    John M. Delfonse
Title:   Managing Director



31






Schedule I

Placement Agents


SG Cowen Securities Corporation

Roth Capital Partners, LLC




32






Exhibit A

Form of Subscription Agreement




33






Exhibit B

Form of Lock-Up Agreement



34






Exhibit C-1

Legal Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP



35






Exhibit C-2

Legal Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP




36



EX-10.1 4 ex10_1.htm FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.1


SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

     

Targeted Genetics Corporation
1100 Olive Way
Suite 100
Seattle, Washington 98101

The undersigned (the “Investor”) hereby confirms its agreement with you as follows:

1.      This Subscription Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of the date set forth below between Targeted Genetics Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), and the Investor.

2.      The Company has authorized the sale and issuance to certain investors of up to _________ shares (the “Shares”) of its Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), subject to adjustment by the Company’s Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, for a purchase price of $______ per share (the “Purchase Price”).

3.      The offering and sale of the Shares (the “Offering”) are being made pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 (including the Prospectus contained therein (the “Base Prospectus”), the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and a Prospectus Supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) containing certain supplemental information regarding the Shares and terms of the Offering that will be filed with the Commission and delivered to the Investor.

4.      The Company and the Investor agree that the Investor will purchase from the Company and the Company will issue and sell to the Investor the Shares of Common Stock set forth below for the aggregate purchase price set forth below. The Shares shall be purchased pursuant to the Terms and Conditions for Purchase of Shares attached hereto as Annex I and incorporated herein by this reference as if fully set forth herein.

5.      The manner of settlement of the Shares purchased by the Investor shall be determined by such Investor as follows (check one):

[__] A.   Delivery by electronic book-entry at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registered in the Investor’s name and address as set forth below, and released by Mellon Investor Services LLC, the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), to the Investor at the Closing. NO LATER THAN ONE (1) BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT BY THE INVESTOR AND THE COMPANY, THE INVESTOR SHALL:

    (I)   DIRECT THE BROKER-DEALER AT WHICH THE ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS TO BE CREDITED WITH THE SHARES ARE MAINTAINED TO SET UP A DEPOSIT/WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN (“DWAC”) INSTRUCTING THE TRANSFER AGENT TO CREDIT SUCH ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS WITH THE SHARES, AND

    (II)   REMIT BY WIRE TRANSFER THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS EQUAL TO THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY THE INVESTOR TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT:

  THE CITIBANK PRIVATE BANK
153 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10043
ABA # 021-000-089
Account Name: Targeted Genetics Corporation
Account Number: 74684142





      – OR –

[__] B.   Delivery versus payment (“DVP”) through DTC (i.e., the Company shall deliver Shares registered in the Investor’s name and address as set forth below and released by the Transfer Agent to the Investor at the Closing directly to the account(s) at SG Cowen Securities Corporation identified by the Investor and simultaneously therewith payment shall be made from such account(s) to the Company through DTC). NO LATER THAN ONE (1) BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT BY THE INVESTOR AND THE COMPANY, THE INVESTOR SHALL:

    (I)   NOTIFY SG COWEN SECURITIES CORPORATION OF THE ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS AT SG COWEN SECURITIES CORPORATION TO BE CREDITED WITH THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY SUCH INVESTOR, AND

    (II)   CONFIRM THAT THE ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS AT SG COWEN SECURITIES CORPORATION TO BE CREDITED WITH THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY THE INVESTOR HAVE A MINIMUM BALANCE EQUAL TO THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY THE INVESTOR.

IT IS THE INVESTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO (A) MAKE THE NECESSARY WIRE TRANSFER OR CONFIRM THE PROPER ACCOUNT BALANCE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND (B) ARRANGE FOR SETTLEMENT BY WAY OF DWAC OR DVP IN A TIMELY MANNER. IF THE INVESTOR DOES NOT DELIVER THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES OR DOES NOT MAKE PROPER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SETTLEMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER, THE SHARES MAY NOT BE DELIVERED AT CLOSING TO THE INVESTOR OR THE INVESTOR MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM THE CLOSING ALTOGETHER.

6.     The Investor represents that, except as set forth below, (a) it has had no position, office or other material relationship within the past three years with the Company or any of its affiliates and (b) it has no direct or indirect affiliation or association with any NASD member. Exceptions:

______________________________________________________________________________________________
(If no exceptions, write “none.” If left blank, response will be deemed to be “none.”)

7.     The Investor represents that it has received the final Base Prospectus, dated August 8, 2003, which is a part of the Company’s Registration Statement, prior to or in connection with the receipt of this Agreement.




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Number of Shares: _____________________________________

Purchase Price Per Share: $ _______________________________

Aggregate Purchase Price: $ ______________________________

        Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us by signing in the space provided below for that purpose.

  Dated as of: ___________, 2004


________________________________________
INVESTOR

By: _____________________________________
Print Name: _______________________________
Title: ____________________________________
Address: _________________________________
                   ________________________________
                   ________________________________

Agreed and Accepted
this ___ day of ____________, 2004:

TARGETED GENETICS CORPORATION

By:  __________________________________
Title:  _________________________________




-3-






ANNEX I

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PURCHASE OF SHARES

        1.     Authorization and Sale of the Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company has authorized the sale of the Shares.

       2.     Agreement to Sell and Purchase the Shares; Placement Agents.

                2.1     At the Closing (as defined in Section 3.1), the Company will sell to the Investor, and the Investor will purchase from the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the number of Shares set forth on the last page of the Agreement to which these Terms and Conditions for Purchase of Shares are attached as Annex I (the “Signature Page”) for the aggregate purchase price therefor set forth on the Signature Page.

                2.2     The Company proposes to enter into substantially this same form of Subscription Agreement with certain other investors (the “Other Investors”) and expects to complete sales of Shares to them. The Investor and the Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Investors,” and this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements executed by the Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Agreements.”

                2.3     Investor acknowledges that the Company intends to pay SG Cowen Securities Corporation and Roth Capital Partners, LLC (the “Placement Agents”) a fee (the “Placement Fee”) in respect of the sale of Shares to the Investor.

                2.4     The Company has entered into a Placement Agent Agreement (the “Placement Agreement”) with the Placement Agents that contains certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company that may be relied upon by the Investor. A copy of the Placement Agreement is available upon request.

       3.     Closings and Delivery of the Shares and Funds.

                3.1   Closing.     The completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares (the “Closing”) will occur at a place and time (the “Closing Date”) to be specified by the Company and the Placement Agents, and of which the Investors will be notified in advance by the Placement Agents. At the Closing, (a) the Company will cause the Transfer Agent to deliver to the Investor the number of Shares set forth on the Signature Page registered in the name of the Investor or, if so indicated on the Stock Certificate Questionnaire attached hereto as Exhibit A, in the name of a nominee designated by the Investor and (b) the aggregate purchase price for the Shares being purchased by the Investor will be delivered by or on behalf of the Investor to the Company.

                3.2   (a)     Conditions to the Company’s Obligations. The Company’s obligation to issue the Shares to the Investor will be subject to the receipt by the Company of the purchase price for the Shares being purchased hereunder as set forth on the Signature Page and the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Investor and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Investor to be fulfilled prior to the Closing Date.

                          (b)     Conditions to the Investor’s Obligations. The Investor’s obligation to purchase the Shares will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Company and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Company to be fulfilled prior to the Closing Date, including, without limitation, those contained in the Placement Agreement (collectively, the “Company Closing Conditions”). The Investor’s obligations are expressly not conditioned on the purchase by any or all of the other Investors of the Shares that they have agreed to purchase from the Company.



-4-




                3.3     Delivery of Funds.

                                 (a)    Delivery by Electronic Book-Entry at The Depository Trust Company. If the Investor elects to settle the Shares purchased by such Investor through delivery by electronic book-entry at DTC, no later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Investor and the Company, the Investor shall remit by wire transfer the amount of funds equal to the aggregate purchase price for the shares being purchased by the Investor to the following account designated by the Company and the Placement Agents pursuant to the terms of that certain Escrow Agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) dated as of January ___, 2004, by and among the Company, the Placement Agents and Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP (the “Escrow Agent”):

  THE CITIBANK PRIVATE BANK
153 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10043
ABA # 021-000-089
Account Name: Targeted Genetics Corporation
Account Number: 74684142

                                 Such funds shall be held in escrow until the Closing and delivered by the Escrow Agent on behalf of the Investors to the Company upon the satisfaction, in the sole judgment of the Placement Agents, of the Company Closing Conditions. The Placement Agents shall have no rights in or to any of the escrowed funds, unless the Placement Agents and the Escrow Agent are notified in writing by the Company in connection with the Closing that a portion of the escrowed funds shall be applied to the Placement Fee. The Company and the Investor agree to indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from and against any and all losses, costs, damages, expenses and claims (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorneys fees) (“Losses”) arising under this Section 3.3 or otherwise with respect to the funds held in escrow pursuant hereto or arising under the Escrow Agreement, unless it is finally determined that such Losses resulted directly from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Escrow Agent. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Escrow Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

                                 Investor shall also furnish to the Placement Agents a completed W-9 form (or, in the case of an Investor who is not a United States citizen or resident, a W-8 form).

                                 Investor acknowledges that the Escrow Agent acts as counsel to the Placement Agents, and shall have the right to continue to represent the Placement Agents, in any action, proceeding, claim, litigation, dispute, arbitration or negotiation in connection with the Offering, and Investor hereby consents thereto and waives any objection to the continued representation of the Placement Agents by the Escrow Agent in connection therewith based upon the services of the Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement, without waiving any duty or obligation the Escrow Agent may have to any other person.

                                 (b)       Delivery Versus Payment through The Depository Trust Company. If the Investor elects to settle the Shares purchased by such Investor by delivery versus payment through DTC, no later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Investor and the Company, the Investor shall confirm that the account or accounts at SG Cowen Securities Corporation to be credited with the Shares being purchased by the Investor have a minimum balance equal to the aggregate purchase price for the Shares being purchased by the Investor.



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                 3.4     Delivery of Shares.

                                 (a)        Delivery by Electronic Book-Entry at The Depository Trust Company. If the Investor elects to settle the Shares purchased by such Investor through delivery by electronic book-entry at DTC, no later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Investor and the Company, the Investor shall direct the broker-dealer at which the account or accounts to be credited with the Shares being purchased by such Investor are maintained, which broker/dealer shall be a DTC participant, to set up a Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) instructing Mellon Investor Services LLC, the Company’s transfer agent, to credit such account or accounts with the Shares by means of an electronic book-entry delivery. Such DWAC shall indicate the settlement date for the deposit of the Shares, which date shall be provided to the Investor by the Placement Agents. Simultaneously with the delivery to the Company by the Escrow Agent of the funds held in escrow pursuant to Section 3.3 above, the Company shall direct its transfer agent to credit the Investor’s account or accounts with the Shares pursuant to the information contained in the DWAC.

                                 (b)        Delivery Versus Payment through The Depository Trust Company. If the Investor elects to settle the Shares purchased by such Investor by delivery versus payment through DTC, no later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Investor and the Company, the Investor shall notify SG Cowen Securities Corporation of the account or accounts at SG Cowen Securities Corporation to be credited with the Shares being purchased by such Investor. On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver the Shares to the Investor directly to the account(s) at SG Cowen Securities Corporation identified by Investor and simultaneously therewith payment shall be made from such account(s) to the Company through DTC.

       4.     Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Investor.

                4.1     The Investor represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Company that (a) the Investor is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making, and is qualified to make decisions with respect to, investments in shares presenting an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the Shares, including investments in securities issued by the Company and investments in comparable companies, and has requested, received, reviewed and considered all information it deemed relevant in making an informed decision to purchase the Shares, (b) the Investor has answered all questions on the Signature Page for use in preparation of the Prospectus Supplement and the answers thereto are true and correct as of the date hereof and will be true and correct as of the Closing Date, (c) the Investor, in connection with its decision to purchase the number of Shares set forth on the Signature Page, relied only upon the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the documents incorporated therein by reference, and any representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, and (d) the Investor is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2) or (3) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                4.2     The Investor acknowledges, represents and agrees that no action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States by the Company or any Placement Agent that would permit an offering of the Shares, or possession or distribution of offering materials in connection with the issue of the Shares in any jurisdiction outside the United States where action for that purpose is required. Each Investor outside the United States will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Shares or has in its possession or distributes any offering material, in all cases at its own expense. The Placement Agents are not authorized to make and have not made any representation or use any information in connection with the issue, placement, purchase and sale of the Shares, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement.

                4.3     The Investor further represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Company that (a) the Investor has full right, power, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and (b) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Investor



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enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ and contracting parties’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and except as the indemnification agreements of the Investors herein may be legally unenforceable.

                4.4     The Investor understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented to the Investor in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. The Investor has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of Shares.

                4.5     The Investor represents, warrants and agrees that it has not engaged in any short selling of the Company’s securities, or established or increased any “put equivalent position” as defined in Rule 16(a)-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to the Company’s securities, within the past 10 trading days.

       5.     Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement or by the Placement Agents, all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company and the Investor herein will survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery to the Investor of the Shares being purchased and the payment therefor.

       6.     Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder will be in writing, will be mailed (a) if within the domestic United States by first-class registered or certified airmail, or nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or (b) if delivered from outside the United States, by International Federal Express or facsimile, and will be deemed given (i) if delivered by first-class registered or certified mail domestic, three business days after so mailed, (ii) if delivered by nationally recognized overnight carrier, one business day after so mailed, (iii) if delivered by International Federal Express, two business days after so mailed, (iv) if delivered by facsimile, upon electric confirmation of receipt and will be delivered as addressed as follows:

      (a)   if to the Company, to:

  Targeted Genetics Corporation
1100 Olive Way
Suite 100
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attention:  Todd E. Simpson
Phone: 206-623-7612
Telecopy: 206-623-7064

with a copy to:

Dorsey & Whitney LLP
1420 Fifth Avenue
Suite 3400
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attention: Kimberley R. Anderson
Phone: 206-903-8803
Telecopy: 206-903-8820

                                     (b)     if to the Investor, at its address on the Signature Page hereto, or at such other address or addresses as may have been furnished to the Company in writing.



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       7.     Changes. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Investor.

       8.     Headings. The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and will not be deemed to be part of this Agreement.

       9.     Severability. In case any provision contained in this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

       10.     Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

       11.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, will constitute but one instrument, and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties.



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EXHIBIT A

TARGETED GENETICS CORPORATION

STOCK CERTIFICATE QUESTIONNAIRE

        Pursuant to Section 3 of Annex I to the Agreement, please provide us with the following information:

1. The exact name that your Shares are to be registered in (this is the name that will appear on your stock certificate(s)). You may use a nominee name if appropriate:

                                                          


2. The relationship between the Investor and the registered holder listed in response to item 1 above:

                                                          


3. The mailing address of the registered holder listed in response to item 1 above:

                                                          


4. The Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number of the registered holder listed in the response to item 1 above:

                                                          


5. Name of DTC Participant (broker-dealer at which the account or accounts to be credited with the Shares are maintained)

                                                          


6. DTC Participant Number

                                                          


7. Name of Account at DTC Participant being credited with the Shares

                                                          


8. Account Number at DTC Participant being credited with the Shares

                                                          







EX-99.1 5 ex99_1.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED 2/2/2004

EXHIBIT 99.1



TARGETED GENETICS ANNOUNCES $25.5 MILLION PUBLIC
OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK


Seattle, WA—February 2, 2004 – Targeted Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq: TGEN), a developer of gene therapy products for treating acquired and inherited diseases, today announced a public offering of approximately 10.9 million shares of its common stock at a price of $2.35 per share to institutional investors, for gross proceeds of approximately $25.5 million. The shares are being offered under the Company’s shelf registration statement, as amended.

The Company estimates net proceeds from the financing to be approximately $23.7 million after deducting placement agent fees and the estimated costs associated with the offering. The Company plans to use the net proceeds of this financing for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sales of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This offering is being made by means of a prospectus supplement to a prospectus that is part of the company’s shelf registration statement previously filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Copies of the prospectus and the prospectus supplement can be obtained from SG Cowen Securities Corporation, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Roth Capital Partners, LLC, 24 Corporate Plaza, Newport Beach, CA 92660 or by calling the Company.

NOTE: This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the amount of proceeds expected to be received from the public offering, our expected use of these proceeds and other statements about our plans, objectives, intentions and expectations. These statements, involve current expectations, forecasts of future events and other statements that are not historical facts. Inaccurate assumptions and known and unknown risks and uncertainties can affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect our actual results include, but are not limited to, the risk that the offering is not consummated, the possibility that we decide to use the proceeds from the offering for purposes other than those described above, as well as other risk factors described in the section entitled “Factors Affecting Our Operating Results, Our Business and Our Stock Price” in our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003. You should not rely unduly on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this release. We undertake no duty to publicly announce or report revisions to these statements as new information becomes available that may change our expectations.

###






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