EX-10.27
Published on October 19, 2010
Exhibit 10.27
June 16, 2010
Mr. Larry G Stambaugh
Chairman, President & CEO
CryoPort, Inc.
402 West Broadway
Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
Mr. Larry G Stambaugh
Chairman, President & CEO
CryoPort, Inc.
402 West Broadway
Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
RE: Private Placement of Securities
Dear Larry:
This letter confirms our agreement that CryoPort, Inc. (together with its affiliates and
subsidiaries, the Company) has engaged Maxim Group LLC (together with its affiliates and
subsidiaries, Maxim or the Placement Agent) to act as the Companys Lead Placement Agent in
connection with the proposed private placement (the Offering) of equity, debt or equity-linked
securities (the Securities) of the Company. The terms of the Securities and the gross proceeds
of such Offering will be substantially in the form to be negotiated between the Placement Agent and
the Company with one or more accredited investors (described below). The gross proceeds of the
Offering are anticipated to be up to $5,000,000.
Upon acceptance (indicated by your signature below), this letter agreement (the Agreement)
will confirm the terms of the engagement between the Placement Agent and the Company.
1. Appointment.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company hereby retains the
Placement Agent, and the Placement Agent hereby agrees to act, as the Companys exclusive Placement
Agent in connection with the Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Placement Agents
exclusivity is subject to Companys right to engage in connection with the Offering, subject to
Maxims consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), up to two additional investment banks
(each an Approved Sub-Placement Agent). As Placement Agent for the Offering, Maxim will advise
and assist the Company in identifying and assisting the Company in issuing the Securities to, one
or more accredited Investors (Investors) in the Offering. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that the Placement Agent is only required to use its commercially reasonable efforts in
connection with the Offering and that this Agreement does not constitute a commitment by the
Placement Agent to purchase the Securities or introduce the Company to Investors. Maxim will, in
its sole discretion, determine the reasonableness of its efforts, and is under no obligation to
perform at any level other than what it deems reasonable. The Company retains the right to
determine all of the terms and conditions of the Offering and to accept or reject any proposals
submitted to it by the Placement Agent in its sole and absolute discretion.
During the Term of this Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined), and except as
otherwise contemplated by section (a) above, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will,
directly or indirectly, solicit or otherwise encourage the submission of any proposal or offer
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(Investment Proposal) from any person or entity relating to any issuance of the Companys or
any of its subsidiaries equity securities (including debt securities with any equity feature) or
participate in any discussions regarding an Investment Proposal. The term Investment Proposal
shall not include (i) any discussions with or proposal received from or through the Approved
Sub-Placement Agents, (ii) any investment in the equity securities of any other entity, (iii) any
commercial loans to the Company, and (iv) any transaction or agreement with one or more persons,
firms or entities designated as a strategic partner of the Company, as determined in good faith
by the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that each such person, firm or entity is, itself
or through its subsidiaries, an operating company in a business synergistic with the business of
the Company and in which the Company receives benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but
shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities solely for the purpose
of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities. The Company
will immediately cease all contacts, discussions and negotiations with third parties regarding any
Investment Proposal.
2. Information.
(a) The Company recognizes that, in completing its engagement hereunder, the Placement Agent
will be using and relying on publicly available information and on data, material and other
information furnished to Placement Agent by the Company or the Companys affiliates and agents.
The Company will cooperate with Maxim and furnish, and cause to be furnished, to Maxim, any and all
information and data concerning the Company, its subsidiaries and the Offering that Maxim deems
appropriate, including, without limitation, the Companys acquisition plans and plans for raising
capital or additional financing that is reasonably requested by Maxim (the Information),
including a private placement memorandum, if any (the Private Placement Materials). Any
Information and Private Placement Materials forwarded to prospective Investors will be in form
acceptable to Placement Agent and its counsel. The Company represents and warrants that all
Information and Private Placement Materials, including, but not limited to, the Companys financial
statements, will be complete and correct in all material respects and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading.
(b) It is further agreed that Maxim will conduct a due diligence investigation of the Company
and the Company will reasonably cooperate with such investigation as a condition of Maxim
obligations hereunder. The Company recognizes and confirms that the Placement Agent: (i) will use
and rely primarily on the Information, the Private Placement Materials and information available
from generally recognized public sources in performing the services contemplated by this letter
without having independently verified the same; (ii) is authorized as the Placement Agent to
transmit to any prospective investors a copy or copies of the Private Placement Materials, forms of
subscription documents and any other legal documentation supplied to the Placement Agent for
transmission to any prospective investors by or on behalf of the Company or by any of the Companys
officers, representatives or agents, in connection with the performance of the Placement Agents
services hereunder or any transaction contemplated hereby; (iii) does not assume responsibility for
the accuracy or completeness of the Information or the Private Placement Materials and such other
information, if any provided to the Investors; (iv) will not make an appraisal of any assets of the
Company or the Company generally; and
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(v) retains the right to continue to perform due diligence of the Company, its business and
its officers and directors during the course of the engagement.
(c) Until the date that is one year from the date hereof, Maxim will keep all information
obtained from the Company confidential except: (i) Information which is otherwise publicly
available, or previously known to or obtained by, Maxim independently of the Company and without
breach of any of Maxim agreements with the Company; (ii) Maxim may disclose such information to
its officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, and to its other advisors and
financial sources on a need to know basis only and will ensure that all such persons will keep such
information strictly confidential. No such obligation of confidentiality shall apply to
information that: (i) is in the public domain as of the date hereof or hereafter enters the public
domain without a breach by Maxim, (ii) was known or became known by Maxim prior to the Companys
disclosure thereof to Maxim, (iii) becomes known to Maxim from a source other than the Company, and
other than by the breach of an obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company, (iv) is disclosed
by the Company to a third party without restrictions on its disclosure, (v) is independently
developed by Maxim or (vi) is required to be disclosed by Maxim or its officers, directors,
employees, agents, attorneys and to its other advisors and financial sources, pursuant to any order
of a court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental body or as may otherwise be required by
law. Maxim shall obtain from any potential investor to which Maxim disseminates any information
obtained from the Company such investors agreement to keep such information confidential upon
terms substantially similar to those set forth above.
(d) The Company recognizes that in order for Maxim to perform properly its obligations in a
professional manner, the Company will keep Maxim informed of and, to the extent practicable, permit
Maxim to participate in meetings and discussions between the Company and any third party relating
to the matters covered by the terms of Maxim engagement. If at any time during the course of
Maxims engagement, the Company becomes aware of any material change in any of the information
previously furnished to Maxim, it will promptly advise Maxim of the change.
3. Compensation. As compensation for services rendered and to be rendered hereunder by
Placement Agent, the Company agrees to pay Placement Agent the following fees in consideration of
the services rendered by the Placement Agent in connection with the Offering:
(a) The Company agrees to pay Maxim a cash fee payable upon each closing of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement (Closing) equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds received by the
Company from Investors at each Closing (the Placement Fee).
(b) The Company also agrees to pay Maxim a corporate finance fee payable in cash upon each
Closing equal to 1.0% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from Investors at each Closing.
(c) The Company shall deliver a warrant to the Placement Agent (the Agent Warrant) to
purchase shares of the Companys common stock (the Common Stock) equal to 7.0% of the number of
shares of Common Stock underlying the securities issued in the Offering. Such Agent Warrant will
be issued at each Closing and shall provide, among other things, that the Agent Warrant shall
(i) be exercisable at an exercise price equal to the price of the Securities
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(or the exercise price of the Securities) issued to the Investors in the Offering, (ii) expire
five (5) years from the date of issuance, (iii) contain standard anti-dilution protection and such
other anti-dilution protection provided to the Investors, (iv) include customary registration
rights, including the registration rights provided to the Investors, (v) contain provisions for
cashless exercise and (vi) include such other terms as are normal and customary for warrants of
this type.
(d) The Company will reimburse the Placement Agent in a timely manner for all expenses
reasonably incurred relating to the Offering, including, but not limited to, printing, road show,
travel and other related expenses as well as the legal fees incurred by the Placement Agent in
connection with the Offering, up to $50,000. Such reimbursements shall be made promptly (but in no
event more than 10 days after submission of those expenses to the Company) upon submission by the
Placement Agent. In addition, the Company shall also be responsible for (i) the costs and fees
associated with the filing of the offering materials with the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA) (including all required COBRADesk fees), and (ii) legal fees incurred by the
Placement Agent in connection with the COBRADesk filings. Such amounts shall be come from the
proceeds received in the Offering and shall paid at each Closing of the Offering.
(e) The Company shall assist and cooperate with legal counsel to Maxim in effecting a filing
with respect to the public offering contemplated by the Registration Statement to be filed in
connection with the Offering (an Issuer Filing) with FINRAS Corporate Financing Department
pursuant to NASD Rule 2710(b)(10)(A)(i) and the Company shall pay the filing fee required by such
Issuer Filing and the fees and expenses of counsel to Maxim in connection with the Issuer Filing
and clearing such filing with the NASD. The Company shall assist legal counsel to Maxim in
pursuing the Issuer Filing until the NASD issues a letter confirming that it does not object to the
terms of the Offering contemplated by the Registration Statement.
4. Term of Engagement.
(a) This Agreement will remain in effect for three (3) months, after which either party shall
have the right to terminate it on thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other. The date of
termination of this Agreement is referred to herein from time to time as the Termination Date.
The period of time during which this Agreement remains in effect is referred to herein from time to
time as the Term. If, within six (6) months after the Termination Date, the Company completes
any private financing of equity or debt or other capital raising activity of the Company (other
than the exercise by any person or entity of any options, warrants or other convertible securities
other than the warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement) with any of the Investors who were first
introduced to the Company in connection with the financing contemplated hereby by Maxim and
disclosed to the Company in writing prior to its introduction to the Company, the Company will pay
to Maxim upon the closing of such financing the compensation set forth in Sections 3(a), 3(b), 3(c)
and 3(d) as a Source Fee.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, subject to the six (6) month limitation
described in Section 4(a) above, the obligation to pay the compensation and expenses described in
Section 3, this Section 4, Sections 7 and 9-17 and all of Exhibit A attached, hereto (the terms of
which are incorporated by reference hereto), will survive any termination or expiration of this
Agreement. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the Companys
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obligation to pay fees to the extent provided for in Section 3 herein and shall not affect the
Companys obligation to reimburse the expenses accruing prior to such termination to the extent
provided for herein. All such fees and reimbursements due shall be paid to the Placement Agent on
or before the Termination Date (in the event such fees and reimbursements are earned or owed as of
the Termination Date) or upon the closing of the Offering or any applicable portion thereof (in the
event such fees are due pursuant to the terms of Section 3 hereof).
5. SECTION 5 IS INTENTIONALLY OMITTED [
6. Certain Placement Procedures. The Company and the Placement Agent each represents to
the other that it has not taken, and the Company and the Placement Agent each agrees with the other
that it will not take, any action, directly or indirectly, so as to cause the Offering to fail to
be entitled to rely upon the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the Act). In effecting the Offering, the Company and the Placement
Agent each agrees to comply in all material respects with applicable provisions of the Act and any
regulations thereunder and any applicable state laws and requirements. The Company agrees that any
representations and warranties made by it to any Investor in the Offering shall be deemed also to
be made to the Placement Agent for its benefit. The Company agrees that it shall cause any opinion
of its counsel delivered to any Investors in the Offering also to be addressed and delivered to the
Placement Agent, or to cause such counsel to deliver to the Placement Agent a letter authorizing it
to rely upon such opinion.
7. Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify Placement Agent in accordance with the
indemnification and other provisions attached to the Agreement as Exhibit A (the Indemnification
Provisions), which provisions are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the
termination or expiration of the Agreement.
8. Other Activities. The Company acknowledges that Maxim has been, and may in the future
be, engaged to provide services as an underwriter, placement agent, finder, advisor and investment
banker to other companies in the industry in which the Company is involved. Subject to the
confidentiality provisions of Maxim contained in Section 2 hereof, the Company acknowledges and
agrees that nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of Maxim or of
any member, manager, officer, employee, agent or representative of Maxim, to be a member, manager,
partner, officer, director, employee, agent or representative of, investor in, or to engage in, any
other business, whether or not of a similar nature to the Companys business, nor to limit or
restrict the right of Maxim to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm,
individual or association; provided that Maxim and any of its member, manager, officer, employee,
agent or representative shall not use the Information to the detriment of the Company. Maxim may,
but shall not be required to, present opportunities to the Company.
9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement will be governed as
to validity, interpretation, construction, effect and in all other respects by the internal law of
the State of New York. The Company and Maxim each (i) agree that any legal suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be instituted exclusively in the New
York State Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York, (ii) waives any objection to the venue of
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any such suit, action or proceeding, and the right to assert that such forum is an inconvenient
forum, and (iii) irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the New York State Supreme Court,
County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Company and Maxim further agrees to accept and
acknowledge service of any and all process that may be served in any such suit, action or
proceeding in the New York State Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York and agree that service of process upon it
mailed by certified mail to its address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of
process in any such suit, action or proceeding. The parties hereby expressly waive all rights to
trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding arising under this Agreement.
10. Securities Law Compliance. The Company, at its own expense, will use its best efforts
to obtain any registration or qualification required to sell any Securities under the Blue Sky laws
of any applicable jurisdictions.
11. Representations and Warranties. The Company and Maxim each respectively represent and
warrant that: (a) it has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
perform all of its obligations hereunder; (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized and executed
and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of such party enforceable in accordance with
its terms; and (c) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby does not conflict with or result in a breach of (i) such partys
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or (ii) any agreement to which such party is a party or by
which any of its property or assets is bound.
12. Parties; Assignment; Independent Contractor. This Agreement has been and is made
solely for the benefit of Maxim and the Company and each of the persons, agents, employees,
officers, directors and controlling persons referred to in Exhibit A and their respective heirs,
executors, personal representatives, successors and assigns, and nothing contained in this
Agreement will confer any rights upon, nor will this Agreement be construed to create any rights
in, any person who is not party to such Agreement, other than as set forth in this paragraph. The
rights and obligations of either party under this Agreement may not be assigned without the prior
written consent of the other party hereto and any other purported assignment will be null and void.
Maxim has been retained under this Agreement as an independent contractor, and it is understood
and agreed that this Agreement does not create a fiduciary relationship between Maxim and the
Company or their respective Boards of Directors. Maxim shall not be considered to be the agent of
the Company for any purpose whatsoever and Maxim is not granted any right or authority to assume or
create any obligation or liability, express or implied, on the Companys behalf, or to bind the
Company in any manner whatsoever.
13. Validity. In case any term of this Agreement will be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, in whole or in part, the validity of any of the other terms of this Agreement will
not in any way be affected thereby.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and each of such
counterparts will for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts will together
constitute one and the same instrument.
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15. Notices. All notices will be in writing and will be effective when delivered in person
or sent via facsimile and confirmed by letter, to the party to whom it is addressed at the
following addresses or such other address as such party may advise the other in writing:
To the Company:
|
Mr. Larry G Stambaugh | |
Chairman, President & CEO | ||
Cryoport, Inc. | ||
402 West Broadway | ||
Suite 400 | ||
San Diego, CA 92101 | ||
Tel. 949-470-2300 | ||
With a copy to:
|
Mark Ziebell | |
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. | ||
600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1400 | ||
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 | ||
Telephone: (714) 427-7402 | ||
Facsimile: (714) 427-7799 | ||
To Maxim:
|
James Siegel | |
Maxim Group LLC | ||
405 Lexington Avenue | ||
New York, NY 10174 | ||
Attention: James Siegel | ||
Telephone: (212) 895-3508 | ||
Facsimile: (212) 895-3888 | ||
Clifford Teller | ||
Maxim Group LLC | ||
405 Lexington Avenue | ||
New York, NY 10174 | ||
Attention: Clifford Teller | ||
Telephone: (212) 895-3773 | ||
Facsimile: (212) 895-3783 |
16. Best Efforts Engagement for Capital Raising. It is expressly understood and
acknowledged that Maxims engagement for the Offering does not constitute any commitment, express
or implied, on the part of Maxim or of any of its affiliates to purchase or place the Companys
securities or to provide any type of financing and that the Offering will be conducted by Maxim on
a best efforts basis.
17. Press Announcements. The Company agrees that Maxim shall, upon a successful
transaction, have the right to place advertisements in financial and other newspapers and journals
at its own expense describing its services to the Company hereunder, provided that Maxim shall
submit a copy of any such advertisement to the Company for its approval, such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the terms of our engagement as set forth in this letter are satisfactory to you, please
sign and date the enclosed copy of this letter.
Very truly yours, MAXIM GROUP LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Clifford A. Teller | |||
Clifford A. Teller | ||||
Executive Managing Director, Investment Banking | ||||
By: | /s/ Jim Alfaro | |||
Jim Alfaro | ||||
Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking | ||||
Agreed to and accepted this ____ day of June 2010
CryoPort, Inc.
By: | /s/ Catherine Doll | |||
Catherine Doll | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||
[Signature Page to Placement Agent Agreement]
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Exhibit A
INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS
Capitalized terms used in this Exhibit shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the
Agreement to which this Exhibit is attached.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Placement Agent and each of the other
Indemnified Parties (as hereinafter defined) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses and disbursements, and any
and all actions, suits, proceedings and investigations in respect thereof and any and all legal and
other costs, expenses and disbursements in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to
a subpoena or otherwise (including, without limitation, the costs, expenses and disbursements, as
and when incurred, of investigating, preparing, pursing or defending any such action, suit,
proceeding or investigation (whether or not in connection with litigation in which any Indemnified
Party is a party)) (collectively, Losses), directly or indirectly, caused by, relating to, based
upon, arising out of, or in connection with, Placement Agents acting for the Company, including,
without limitation, any act or omission by Placement Agent in connection with its acceptance of or
the performance or non-performance of its obligations under the Agreement between the Company and
Placement Agent to which these indemnification provisions are attached and form a part, any breach
by the Company of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the Agreement
(or in any instrument, document or agreement relating thereto, including any agency agreement), or
the enforcement by Placement Agent of its rights under the Agreement or these indemnification
provisions, except to the extent that any such Losses are found in a final judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) to have resulted primarily and directly from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Party seeking indemnification
hereunder. The Company also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether
direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company for or in connection with the
engagement of Placement Agent by the Company or for any other reason, except to the extent that any
such liability is found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to
further appeal) to have resulted primarily and directly from such Indemnified Partys bad faith,
gross negligence, willful misconduct or violation of the law.
These Indemnification Provisions shall extend to the following persons (collectively, the
Indemnified Parties): Placement Agent, its present and former affiliated entities, managers,
members, officers, employees, legal counsel, agents and controlling persons (within the meaning of
the federal securities laws), and the officers, directors, partners, stockholders, members,
managers, employees, legal counsel, agents and controlling persons of any of them. These
indemnification provisions shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise
have to any Indemnified Party.
If any action, suit, proceeding or investigation is commenced, as to which an Indemnified
Party proposes to demand indemnification, it shall notify the Company with reasonable promptness;
provided, however, that any failure by an Indemnified Party to notify the Company
shall not relieve the Company from its obligations hereunder (except to the extent that the Company
has suffered actual, irreversible and material economic prejudice thereby). An
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Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain counsel of its own choice to represent it,
and the fees, expenses and disbursements of such counsel shall be borne by the Company (provided
that the Company shall not be required to reimburse the expenses and costs of more than one law
firm). Any such counsel shall, to the extent consistent with its professional responsibilities,
cooperate with the Company and any counsel designated by the Company. The Company shall be liable
for any settlement of any claim against any Indemnified Party made with the Companys written
consent. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Placement Agent, settle or
compromise any claim, or permit a default or consent to the entry of any judgment in respect
thereof, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes, as an unconditional term
thereof, the giving by the claimant to all of the Indemnified Parties of an unconditional release
from all liability in respect of such claim, and (ii) does not contain any factual or legal
admission by or with respect to an Indemnified Party or an adverse statement with respect to the
character, professionalism, expertise or reputation of any Indemnified Party or any action or
inaction of any Indemnified Party.
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution, if a claim for indemnification
pursuant to these indemnification provisions is made but it is found in a final judgment by a court
of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case, even though the express provisions hereof provide for indemnification in
such case, then the Company shall contribute to the Losses to which any Indemnified Party may be
subject (i) in accordance with the relative benefits received by the Company and its stockholders,
subsidiaries and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, and
(ii) if (and only if) the allocation provided in clause (i) of this sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as to reflect not only the relative benefits, but also the
relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, in
connection with the statements, acts or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any
relevant equitable considerations. No person found liable for a fraudulent misrepresentation shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who is not also found liable for fraudulent
misrepresentation. The relative benefits received (or anticipated to be received) by the Company
and it stockholders, subsidiaries and affiliates shall be deemed to be equal to the aggregate
consideration payable or receivable by such parties in connection with the transaction or
transactions to which the Agreement relates relative to the amount of fees actually received by
Placement Agent in connection with such transaction or transactions. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall the amount contributed by all Indemnified Parties exceed the amount of
fees previously received by Placement Agent pursuant to the Agreement.
Neither termination nor completion of the Agreement shall affect these Indemnification
Provisions which shall remain operative and in full force and effect. The Indemnification
Provisions shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the
benefit of the Indemnified Parties and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives.
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