<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2000
Registration No. 333-33962
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------------
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
----------------------
ARIEL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
----------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Delaware 3571 13-3137699
(State or other jurisdiction (Primary Standard Industrial (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Classification Code Number) Identification Number)
</TABLE>
----------------------
2540 Route 130
Cranbury, NJ 08512
(609) 860-2900
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)
----------------------
Jay H. Atlas
Chief Executive Officer and President
Ariel Corporation
2540 Route 130
Cranbury, NJ 08512
(609) 860-2900
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
----------------------
Copies to:
Harold Paul, Esq. Danielle Carbone, Esq.
Paul & Rosen Shearman & Sterling
420 Lexington Avenue 599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10170 New York, NY 10022
(212) 661-2727 (212) 848-4000
----------------------
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and from time to
time thereafter as determined by market conditions.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box.|X|
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. |_|
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. |_|
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. |_|
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434
under the Securities Act, please check the following box. |_|
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
Title of Each Class of Amount to Be Offering Price Aggregate Offering Registration
Securities to Be Registered Registered Per Share (2) Price (2) Fee(3)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share(1)............... 4,486,850 shares $7.81 $35,042,299 $9,251
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</TABLE>
(1) Includes 2,335,850 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of
warrants to purchase common stock.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act and based upon the average
of the high and low trading price for the common stock on the Nasdaq
National Market on March 30, 2000.
(3) Ariel Corporation previously paid this registration fee on April 4, 2000.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such
Section 8(a), may determine.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We have
filed a registration statement relating to these shares with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We cannot sell these shares until the registration
statement becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these
shares and we are not soliciting offers to buy these shares in any state where
such offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion
Preliminary Prospectus dated April 18, 2000
4,486,850 Shares
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Common Stock
The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus may offer from
time to time an aggregate of up to 4,486,850 shares of Ariel Corporation's
common stock. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares.
The selling stockholders may offer their shares through public or
private transactions, on or off the Nasdaq National Market, at prevailing market
prices or at privately negotiated prices.
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"ADSP". On March 31, 2000, the last reported sale price of our common stock on
the Nasdaq National Market was $8 1/8 per share.
----------
Investing in our common stock involves risks which are described in the
"Risk Factors" section beginning on page 4 of this prospectus.
----------
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
----------
The date of this prospectus is , 2000
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements.............................1
Where You Can Find More Information...........................................1
Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC.............................2
Ariel.........................................................................3
Risk Factors..................................................................4
Use of Proceeds..............................................................13
Selling Stockholders.........................................................13
Plan of Distribution.........................................................16
Description of Capital Stock.................................................17
Legal Matters................................................................20
Experts......................................................................20
------------------------------------
"Ariel" and "PowerPOP" are our trademarks. All other trademarks or
service marks appearing in this prospectus are trademarks and service marks of
the respective companies that use them.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We have not, and the selling stockholders have
not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If
anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not
rely on it. We are not, and the selling stockholders are not, making an offer to
sell our common stock in any jurisdiction except where the offer or sale is
permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated
by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date
on the front cover of this prospectus or the date of such other documents.
<PAGE>
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements including, without
limitation, statements concerning the future of the industry, product
development, business strategy, financial estimates, continued acceptance of our
products and dependence on significant distributors and customers. In some
cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may",
"will", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated",
"predicts", "potential", "continue" or the negative of such terms or other
comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual
results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
factors include, among other things, those listed under the heading "Risk
Factors" and in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, which
is incorporated by reference herein.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results,
levels of activity, performance, or achievements. We are under no duty to update
any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to
conform to actual results.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and special reports,
proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public
reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at its
regional offices located at Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10007
and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You can
request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the
copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about
the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available
to the public at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, you can
read and copy our SEC filings at the office of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K Street, Washington, D.C. 20006.
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC
covering the common stock offered by this prospectus. We refer you to this
registration statement and its exhibits for additional information about us and
our common stock. Copies of the registration statement may be obtained at the
above referenced SEC offices or on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH THE SEC
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file
with them, which means:
o Incorporated documents are considered part of the prospectus,
o We can disclose important information to you by referring you to
those documents, and
o Information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which were filed
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"):
o Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999, and
o Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 10, 2000.
We also incorporate by reference each of the following documents that
we will file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus but before all the
common stock offered by this prospectus has been sold:
o Reports filed under Sections 13(a) and (c) of the Exchange Act,
o Definitive proxy or information statements filed under Section 14
of the Exchange Act in connection with any subsequent stockholders'
meeting, and
o Any reports filed under the Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
You may request a copy of any filings referred to above (excluding
exhibits), at no cost, by contacting us at the following address:
Ariel Corporation
Attention: Jay H. Atlas
2540 Route 130
Cranbury, NJ 08512
(609) 860-2900
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ARIEL
We are a leading provider of open systems-based digital remote access
equipment to Internet service providers ("ISPs"). Our remote access equipment is
compatible with open systems platforms running a variety of popular operating
systems, including Windows NT and Linux, and enables ISPs to build reliable,
scalable and easy to manage networks at a cost that is significantly below other
available alternatives.
Remote access equipment enables a user dialing in over a standard
telephone line to connect to a computer network. Because of the increasing
number of Internet users, ISPs are faced with the challenge of providing access
to a growing number of subscribers, including those subscribers who are staying
connected to the Internet for longer periods of time. In addition, ISPs must
also find cost effective ways to expand their networks and computer systems to
provide additional services such as Internet telephony, fax and voice over the
Internet and unified messaging. Our products enable ISPs to use standard PC
systems to build remote access server concentrators, which is the equipment used
to connect multiple users simultaneously to the Internet.
We recently introduced a new family of dial-up Internet access
solutions we call PowerPOP(TM) architecture, which leverages industry standard
hardware, software and applications. Using a standard PC system to build a
remote access server concentrator, our remote access solutions enable ISPs to
enhance their network performance while significantly reducing their capital
costs. A typical ISP network architecture is based on a central network
operations center, where servers run the services that the ISP provides,
connected to a number of "dumb" points of presence ("POPs"). Our PowerPOP
architecture, by taking advantage of the increasing performance and low prices
of PC-based systems, allows ISPs to provide key network services at the POP. By
installing intelligence and processing capability at the POP, ISPs can
significantly reduce network traffic which results in a faster response time and
improved customer satisfaction. We sell our products to ISPs primarily through
one distributor.
We recently launched our fourth generation of remote access products
that add SS7 signaling, including voice and fax over the Internet protocol
features, to our PowerPOP architecture. We are currently developing a next
generation product that will extend the PowerPOP architecture into the customer
premises of business enterprises.
We have historically provided and will continue to provide remote
access and digital signal processing ("DSP") products to original equipment
manufacturers ("OEMs") who integrate our components into their products. Because
integration of our complex components involves a significant amount of technical
development and testing by the OEM, our products are generally used for the
duration of the OEM's product-life. We sell our products to OEMs through our
direct sales force. We intend to continue to offer all our component products to
OEMs, including those OEMs who sell products in the ISP market.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 2540 Route 130,
Cranbury, New Jersey 08512 and our telephone number is (609) 860-2900. Our
e-mail address is [email protected] and our website can be accessed at
www.ariel.com. The reference to our website address does not constitute
incorporation by reference of the information contained at the website.
3
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RISK FACTORS
Before you invest in our common stock, you should be aware that there
are risks, including those described below which may affect our business,
financial condition or results of operations. You should consider carefully
these risk factors together with all of the other information included in or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you decide to purchase
shares of our common stock.
Risks Relating to Our Business
We have incurred substantial operating losses and an accumulated deficit. We
expect to continue to have operating losses and a growing accumulated deficit in
the future.
Our business operations have generated operating losses since 1993. For
the year ended December 31, 1999, our business operations generated operating
losses of $12,474,160. We had an accumulated deficit of $26,137,692 at December
31, 1999. We expect to continue to generate net operating losses while we
continue to launch new products and penetrate the ISP market. We can not assure
you that we will obtain a customer base sufficient to support the costs of our
operations.
We cannot assure you that we will become profitable or that our cash
flow will become positive at any time in the foreseeable future, or at all, or
that we will generate sufficient cash flow from product sales to liquidate
liabilities as they become due. In the event that we are unable to liquidate our
liabilities, we may delay or eliminate some expenditures and we may scale back
our planned operations. We may need additional funds to meet our planned
obligations, and we will seek to raise such amounts through a variety of
options, including future cash from operations, borrowings and proceeds from
equity financings. Additional funding may not be available when needed or on
terms acceptable to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we
raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity-linked or debt
securities, those securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior
to those of the rights of our common stock and our stockholders may experience
additional dilution.
We have substantial debt and debt service requirements and this may adversely
affect our financial and operating flexibility.
We have a significant amount of indebtedness. At December 31, 1999, we
had $3.7 million of outstanding indebtedness under our credit agreement, of
which $1.2 million is due on June 12, 2000. The amount of indebtedness we have
could have important consequences to our stockholders. For example, it could:
o make it more difficult for us to meet our obligations;
o increase our vulnerability and limit our ability to react to
general adverse economic and industry conditions;
o limit our ability to use operating cash flow to fund operating
expenses, working capital, research and development and other
general corporate purposes because we must dedicate a substantial
portion of our cash flow to make payments on our debt;
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o place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to some of our
competitors that have less debt; and
o limit our ability to borrow additional funds.
Our ability to pay interest under our credit facility or to refinance
our indebtedness and to satisfy our other debt obligations will depend upon our
future operating performance, which in turn depends upon the successful
implementation of our new business strategy and upon financial, competitive,
regulatory, technical and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
If we are not able to generate sufficient cash from operations to make
payments under our credit agreement or to meet any other debt service
obligations, we will need to refinance our indebtedness. If such refinancing is
not possible, we could be forced to dispose of assets at unfavorable prices or
default on our debt obligations. Even if we obtain such financing, we cannot
assure you that it would be on terms that are favorable to us.
We have recently changed our business strategy to focus on a new class of
products for the ISP market. This represents a new market for us and we have had
limited experience selling our products in this market.
Our ability to successfully execute our new business strategy is
critical to the future performance of our business. During the second quarter of
1999, we changed our business strategy to focus on the ISP market following the
decline of the enterprise remote access market. Historically, we have derived,
and expect to continue to derive in the near term, substantially all of our
revenues from product sales to OEMs and PC manufacturers. As we focus our
efforts on the ISP market, we expect sales to OEMs to represent a declining
percentage of our total revenue in the future if our new business strategy is
successful. Because the ISP market is a new market for us and the equipment we
have developed for that market has only recently been introduced, we have had
limited experience in selling our products. Currently, only a limited number of
ISPs have purchased our products.
Successful execution of our new business strategy will depend on our
ability to:
o penetrate the ISP market;
o achieve market acceptance of our products;
o successfully develop and introduce new products;
o identify, recruit and retain qualified engineers and sales
personnel;
o provide adequate customer care and technical support;
o manage our growth; and
o secure adequate financing.
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We cannot assure you that we will be successful in executing our new
business strategy and, if we are not, our business, financial condition and
results of operations could be adversely affected and the price of our common
stock will likely decline.
Our PowerPOP architecture is new and may not be accepted by our target market.
The market success of our ISP products depends significantly upon the
acceptance of our PowerPOP architecture by the small to mid-sized ISPs we are
targeting. The PowerPOP architecture represents a different approach to
addressing ISP remote access equipment needs. Our approach uses a standard PC
system running Windows NT or Linux to build remote access server concentrators,
in contrast to traditional products that are custom-built for this purpose. ISPs
may not be willing to use our approach which would significantly hinder our
growth potential and would negatively affect our business.
Our OEM sales are concentrated among a small number of customers and in 1998,
our most significant OEM customer discontinued products that used our
components.
Substantially all of our revenue is derived from sales to OEMs. Our
sales are concentrated among a small number of OEM customers. For the year ended
December 31, 1999, approximately 45% of our revenue was generated by three of
our customers. The loss of any of these customers would negatively impact our
revenues. For example, following the decline of the enterprise remote access
market in late 1998, our most significant OEM customer, Compaq, representing 25%
of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 1998, and a number of other
customers discontinued their networking groups. As a result, revenues from
Compaq declined from $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 1998 to zero
for the year ended December 31, 1999. Until we are able to penetrate the ISP
market, we expect that a small number of OEM customers will continue to account
for a substantial portion of our revenue.
We are highly dependent on KeyLink Systems to distribute our products to ISPs
and the ISP market is a new market for KeyLink.
We are highly dependent on KeyLink Systems to distribute our products
to ISPs. Our direct sales efforts have focused principally on OEM customers and
we do not have a direct sales force that focuses on sales to ISPs. Our
arrangement with KeyLink is not set out in a written agreement and does not
include specific commitments undertaken by KeyLink. As a result, KeyLink is not
required to meet any performance criteria or to commit any specific level of
resources to the marketing of our products and is not prohibited from selling
products that compete with ours. In addition, KeyLink has no previous experience
as a distributor in our target market. Any failure by KeyLink to support sales
of our products or failure by KeyLink to establish itself as a distributor in
the ISP market would have a material adverse affect on our ability to penetrate
the ISP market and on the future performance of our business.
If we fail to establish and maintain strategic distribution, marketing or other
collaborative relationships with industry-leading companies, we may not be able
to build our ISP customer base.
Our success depends on our ability to continue to establish and
maintain strategic distribution, marketing and other collaborative relationships
with industry-leading hardware manufacturers, distributors, software vendors and
enterprise solutions providers. These relationships allow us to offer our
products and services to a much larger customer base than we would otherwise be
able to through our direct sales and marketing efforts. Most of our existing
relationships can be terminated on short notice by any party. We cannot assure
you that we will be able to maintain these relationships or replace them on
attractive terms.
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In addition, our existing strategic relationships do not, and any
future strategic relationships may not, afford us any exclusive marketing or
distribution rights. As a result, the companies with which we have strategic
relationships are free to pursue alternative technologies and to develop
alternative products and services in addition to or in lieu of our products and
services, either on their own or in collaboration with others, including our
competitors. Moreover, we cannot guarantee that the companies with which we have
strategic relationships will distribute our products effectively or continue to
devote the resources necessary to provide us with effective sales, marketing and
distribution.
We must accurately forecast our customer demand for our plug-in cards. If there
is unexpected fluctuation in demand for our products, we may incur inventory
write-downs, excessive operating costs or lose product revenues.
We must forecast and place purchase orders for components of our
products several months before we receive purchase orders from our own
customers. This forecasting and order lead time requirements limit our ability
to react to unexpected fluctuations in demand for our products. These
fluctuations can be unexpected and may cause us to have excess inventory, or a
shortage, of a particular product. In the event that our forecasts are
inaccurate, we may need to write down excess inventory. For example, we were
required to write down inventory in the fourth quarter of 1998 in connection
with the termination of our sales to Compaq and a reduction in sales to other
OEM customers. Significant write-downs of excess inventory or declines in
inventory value in the future could adversely affect our financial results.
Similarly, if we fail to purchase sufficient supplies on a timely basis, we may
incur additional rush charges or we may lose product revenues if we are not able
to meet a purchase order. These failures could also adversely affect our
customer relations.
Undetected errors or defects found in our products may result in loss of
customers or delay in market acceptance of our products.
Despite testing by us and by our customers, errors may be found in new
products after commencement of commercial shipments, resulting in loss of
customers, delay in market acceptance of our products and damage to our
reputation. In addition, if errors are discovered, we may have to spend a
significant amount of money to eliminate them and yet may not be able to
successfully correct them in a timely manner, or at all.
Failures in our products may also cause system failures for our
customers who could then assert warranty and other claims for damages against
us. Although our customer agreements typically contain provisions designed to
limit our exposure to potential product liability claims, it is possible that
these provisions may not be effective or enforceable under the laws of some
jurisdictions. Our insurance policies may not adequately limit our exposure to
this type of claim. These claims, even if unsuccessful, could be costly and time
consuming to defend and could divert management's attention from our business.
We cannot assure you that the occurrence of any of these events would not have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Average selling prices of our products may decrease which could hurt our
operating results.
The average selling prices for our products may be lower than expected
as a result of competitive pricing pressures, technological advances,
promotional programs and customers who negotiate price reductions. The pricing
of products depends on the specific features and functions of the product, the
extent to which the product can be integrated within ISPs' and OEMs' existing
hardware and software operating
7
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systems, purchase volumes and the level of sales and service support.
Historically, the trend in our industry has been for prices to decrease as
technological innovations become widespread. We expect this trend and price
competition to continue and possibly increase in the future, both in the OEM and
the ISP remote access equipment markets, and anticipate that the average selling
prices of our current products will decrease. We cannot assure you that we will
be successful in developing and introducing on a timely basis new products with
enhanced features that can be sold at our projected selling prices.
We depend on a limited number of third-party suppliers some of which are the
sole suppliers of the product we purchase from them.
We purchase digital signal processing chips and certain other
components from Texas Instruments, Conexant Systems, Lucent Technologies and
Analog Devices, each of which manufactures and is the sole supplier of the
digital signal processing chips upon which our products have been developed. We
do not have long-term agreements with any of these suppliers. Any reduction or
interruption in supply or manufacturing from these third party contractors would
adversely affect our ability to continue to deliver our products. We also depend
upon development, supply, marketing, licensing and other relationships with
third parties for complementary technologies incorporated in our products. These
cooperative relationships, many of which have been in place for a number of
years, are with hardware and software developers pursuant to which we each make
our technology available to the other for the purpose of achieving compatible
products. Some of these relationships are based upon annually renewable license
agreements under which we obtain technology necessary to produce our products.
These relationships are generally non-exclusive and terminable, in some cases on
short notice or at any time, and there can be no assurance that we will be able
to maintain these relationships or to initiate similar additional relationships.
The loss of certain cooperative relationships, particularly with any of the
digital signal processing chip suppliers, may have a material adverse effect on
our business.
The market for remote access equipment is highly competitive and we compete with
large, well-established companies. If we are unable to compete effectively, the
demand for, or prices of, our products may be reduced.
The remote access equipment market is intensely competitive. We may not
be able to compete successfully against current or potential competitors and our
failure to do so could seriously harm our business, operating results and
financial condition.
In the ISP market, we compete directly with other small companies that
sell remote access equipment as well as large well-established companies such as
Ascend/Lucent, Cisco, and 3Com. These and many of our current and potential
competitors have significantly greater financial, selling and marketing,
technical, manufacturing and other resources than we have. As a result, these
competitors may be able to devote greater resources toward the development,
promotion, sale and support of their products than we can. These companies may
introduce additional products that compete with ours or enter into strategic
relationships to offer complete solutions which we do not currently offer.
In addition, we recently introduced our PowerPOP architecture to the
market and we have not had enough experience selling the product to fully assess
its competitiveness. If we find that our new products are not competitive, our
business could be materially harmed.
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Our financial results may fluctuate from period to period as a result of several
factors which could adversely affect our stock price.
Because of the change in our business strategy, the loss of a major OEM
customer, the sale of our communications systems group and other factors, we
believe that period to period comparisons of our operating results may not be a
good indication of our future performance. It is possible that in some future
periods our operating results may be below the expectations of public market
analysts and investors. In this event, the price of our common stock may fall.
In the past, we have experienced fluctuations in our revenue and operating
results and our revenue and operating results may continue to vary significantly
from period to period due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our
control. These factors include:
o fluctuations in demand for our products and services;
o variations in the timing of orders and shipments of our products;
o the timing of new product and service introductions by us or our
competitors;
o the mix of products sold and the mix of distribution channels
through which they are sold;
o our ability to obtain sufficient supplies of sole or limited
sourced components for our products;
o unfavorable changes in the prices of the components we purchase;
o our ability to achieve cost reductions;
o our ability to maintain quality levels for our products;
o our ability to integrate new technologies we develop or acquire
into our products; and
o timing of acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets.
The amount and timing of our operating results generally will vary from
quarter to quarter depending on the level of actual and anticipated business
activities and as we develop and launch new products. We have experienced
sharply increased revenue in periods that involved new product introductions and
significant sales to OEMs, with equally sharp decreases in revenue in subsequent
periods as distributors and OEMs complete their inventory build-up process.
Furthermore, we have a limited backlog of orders and revenue for any future
quarter is difficult to predict. Supply, manufacturing or testing constraints
could result in delays in the delivery of our products. Any delay in the product
deployment schedule of one or more of our new products would likely adversely
affect our operating results for a particular period.
Our technology is not patented and we will not be protected by patent laws.
We believe that our success is dependent upon our proprietary
technology. However, since we have not in the past actively pursued patent
protection on our products and do not hold patents on any of our current
products, we will not be protected by patent laws in the event competitors are
able to create substantially similar or duplicate products. We principally rely
upon copyright, trade secret and contract law to protect our proprietary
technology. We cannot assure you that we will be able to prevent
misappropriation
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of our technology or that our competitors will not independently develop
technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our technology.
Intellectual property claims against us could be costly and result in the loss
of significant rights.
The telecommunications industry is characterized by the existence of a
large number of patents and frequent litigation based on allegations of patent
infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights. Patent,
trademark and other intellectual property rights are important to us and other
technology companies. Many companies devote significant resources to developing
patents that could affect many aspects of our business. Other parties may assert
infringement or unfair competition claims against us that could relate to any
aspect of our technologies or other intellectual property. We may also be
subject to claims relating to components we purchase from our suppliers and
integrate into our products. We cannot predict whether third parties will assert
claims of infringement against us, the subject matter of any of these claims or
whether these assertions or prosecutions will harm our business. If we are
forced to defend ourselves against any of these claims whether they are with or
without merit or are determined in our favor, then we may face costly
litigation, diversion of technical and management personnel, inability to use
our current technology or product shipment delays. As a result of a dispute, we
may have to develop non-infringing technology or enter into royalty or
licensing agreements. These royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may be
unavailable on terms acceptable to us, or at all. If there is a successful claim
of patent infringement against us and we are unable to develop non-infringing
technology or license the infringed or similar technology on a timely basis, our
business and competitive position may be adversely affected.
We do not have our own manufacturing facilities and we depend on a limited
number of outside companies to manufacture substantially all the equipment we
sell.
We do not have our own manufacturing facilities and we rely on
K-Byte/Hibbing Manufacturing and JRE Inc. in the United States, and to a lesser
extent on FEDD in France, to manufacture substantially all of our equipment.
These agreements can be terminated on short notice by any party. We cannot
assure you that we will be able to maintain these relationships or replace them
on attractive terms. There are risks associated with our relationship with these
third parties, including reduced control over:
o delivery schedules;
o quality assurance;
o manufacturing costs;
o capacity during periods of excess demand; and
o availability of access to process technologies.
We depend on our key personnel and we may be unable to replace key executives if
they leave. Our failure to attract, assimilate and retain other highly qualified
personnel in the future could seriously harm our business.
Our success is largely dependent upon the personal efforts of our
executive officers as well as other key personnel and our future success is also
dependent on our ability to recruit and retain additional experienced
engineering and sales personnel. We intend to appoint additional senior
management personnel
10
<PAGE>
as well as to hire additional engineering, sales and support personnel in the
future. Competition for personnel, especially engineers and sales personnel in
New Jersey, is intense. There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain
or hire other necessary personnel. Loss of the services of, or failure to
recruit, key personnel could materially harm our business.
Our management team may not be able to successfully implement our business
strategy because it has only recently begun to work together.
Our business is highly dependent on the ability of our management to
work together effectively to execute our business strategy. Several members of
our senior management have been employed by us for a relatively short period of
time and we are in the process of recruiting additional senior management. These
individuals have not previously worked together as a management team. In
addition, the members of our management team who have been with us for a longer
period have had only limited experience within our new target markets. The
failure of our management team to work together effectively could prevent
efficient decision making by our executive team, affecting product development
and sales and marketing efforts, which would negatively impact our results of
operations.
Risks Relating to Our Industry
We must keep pace with rapid technological change to remain competitive.
The telecommunications industry is subject to rapid technological
change and frequent new product introductions and enhancements, particularly in
the area of equipment for remote access and related network services. We believe
that our success will depend upon our ability to continuously develop new
products and product enhancements as well as provide quality technical support
services and be in a position to promptly introduce our products and services to
the market. We may experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the
successful development, introduction or marketing of new products and
enhancements, or our new products and enhancements may not adequately meet the
requirements of the marketplace and achieve market acceptance. Announcements of
currently planned or other new product offerings by us or our competitors may
cause customers to defer or cancel the purchase of our existing products. Our
inability to develop on a timely basis new products or enhancements to existing
products, or the failure of our new products or enhancements to achieve market
acceptance, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
The development of new, technologically advanced products is a complex
and uncertain process requiring the accurate anticipation of technological and
market trends. The introduction of new or enhanced products also requires us to
manage the transition from older products in order to minimize disruption in
customer ordering patterns, avoid excessive levels of older product inventories
and ensure that adequate supplies of new products can be delivered to meet
anticipated customer demand. We cannot assure you that we will be able to
successfully develop, introduce or manage the transition to new products.
There can also be no assurance that our competitors will not develop
future generations of competitive products that will offer superior price,
features or performance advantages which would render our products
uncompetitive. There are currently competing technologies that offer alternative
solutions which allow for faster Internet access compared to dial-up access.
These competing technologies include digital subscriber line, wireless and
cable. We cannot assure you that, in order to remain competitive, we will be
successful in developing and introducing on a timely basis new products and
technologies.
11
<PAGE>
Our success in the ISP market depends on the continued growth and use of
Internet and dial-up access technologies.
Demand for our ISP remote access solutions is being driven by the
increase in the use of the Internet. Our future performance depends
substantially upon the continued widespread acceptance and use of the Internet
and other online services. Rapid growth in the use of the Internet and other
online services is a relatively recent phenomenon, and we cannot assure you that
acceptance and use will continue to develop or that a sufficiently broad base of
consumers will adopt, and continue to use, the Internet and other online
services as a medium of communication and commerce. The emergence of alternative
technologies may substantially reduce our potential markets. If dial-up access
technologies become obsolete, we would have to develop and market new products
in order to continue our operations. We cannot be certain that we will succeed
in adapting our product strategies to compete effectively with these alternative
technologies.
Risks Relating to our Common Stock
Exercise of our outstanding warrants and options may affect the price of our
common stock.
As of March 31, 2000, there were outstanding options to purchase
1,811,313 shares of common stock and outstanding warrants to purchase 2,435,850
shares of common stock, including 2,335,850 warrants, the underlying shares of
which are being registered in this offering. The exercise of the outstanding
stock options and warrants will dilute the percentage ownership of our
stockholders. Any sales in the public market of shares of our common stock
underlying the stock options and warrants may adversely affect prevailing market
prices for our common stock.
Our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, our rights plan and
Delaware law contain provisions that could discourage a third party from
acquiring us or limit the price third parties would be willing to pay for our
common stock.
We have an authorized class of 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock
which may be issued by the board of directors with such terms and such rights,
preferences and designations as the board may determine and without any vote of
the stockholders. Our bylaws contain provisions which provide that the board of
directors is divided into three classes, which may have the effect of delaying
or preventing changes in control or changes in our management because less than
a majority of the board of directors can be elected at each annual meeting.
These provisions impose various procedural and other requirements which could
delay or prevent stockholders from effecting corporate actions such as a merger,
asset sale or other change of control and could limit the price that some
investors would be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
We also have a stockholder rights plan in place. The rights which have been
granted under the plan are exercisable on the occurrence of specified events,
including if a person acquires 15% or more of our outstanding stock, and allow a
holder of rights to acquire shares of our common stock and dilute the percentage
holding of any purchaser of our common stock.
We are subject to the provisions of section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly held Delaware
corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested
stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in
which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business
combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
12
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
All of the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock of Ariel
covered by this prospectus will go to the stockholders who offer and sell their
shares. Accordingly, we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sales of
the common stock. Ariel receives net proceeds only upon sales from warrant
conversions and not from the sale of the shares offered by the selling
stockholders. The warrants held by the selling stockholders are exercisable at
$6.875 per share, subject to adjustment on the one year anniversary of the date
of issuance of the warrant. If all warrants are exercised, Ariel will receive
proceeds of $16,058,969 which would be used for general corporate purposes.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
Under a Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated February 24, 2000, we
agreed to register the shares of our common stock issued to the selling
stockholders and the shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by these
stockholders. We have agreed to keep the registration statement effective for
two years, or until all of the registered shares are sold, whichever comes
first. Our registration of the common stock held by the selling stockholders and
the shares issuable upon exercise of warrants held by the selling stockholders
does not necessarily mean that the selling stockholders will sell all or any of
their shares.
The prospectus covers the offer and sale by each selling stockholder of
common stock owned by the selling stockholder. Set forth below are (i) the names
of each selling stockholder, (ii) the nature of any position, office or other
material relationship that the selling stockholder has had within the past three
years with us, (iii) the number of shares of common stock and (if one percent or
more) the percentage of common stock beneficially owned as of February 24, 2000
by each selling stockholder, (iv) the number of shares that may be offered and
sold by or on behalf of each selling stockholder hereunder, and (v) the amount
and (if one percent or more) the percentage of common stock to be owned by each
selling stockholder upon the completion of the offering if all shares offered by
such selling stockholder are sold. Any or all of the shares listed below under
the heading "Shares to be Sold" may be offered for sale by or on behalf of the
selling stockholder.
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Beneficially Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to the Owned After the
Offering (1) Offering (2)
------------ ------------
Shares Which
Selling Stockholders Number Percent May be Offered Number Percent
- -------------------- ------ ------- -------------- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Ben Joseph Partners 50,000 * 50,000 50,000 *
Robert A. Berlacher 50,000 * 50,000 50,000 *
Eric Blachno 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
Thomas O. Lloyd-Butler 2,500 * 2,500 2,500 *
CavDevil Investments LLC 20,000 * 20,000 20,000 *
Dawn Dobras 1,250 * 1,250 1,250 *
Amir L. Ecker 75,000 * 75,000 75,000 *
The Ecker Family Partnership 25,000 * 25,000 25,000 *
EDJ Limited 50,000 * 50,000 50,000 *
David Gencarella 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
Richard Gibbs 25,000 * 25,000 25,000 *
Gruber & McBaine International 60,000 * 60,000 60,000 *
John D. Gruber TTEE FBO
Lindsay D. Gruber Dtd 12/27/96 4,000 * 4,000 4,000 *
Jon D. Gruber TTEE FBO
Jonathan Wyatt Gruber 4,000 * 4,000 4,000 *
Jon D. Gruber 32,000 * 32,000 32,000 *
Richard W. Hubbert 20,000 * 20,000 20,000 *
Clifford J. Kalista, Jr. and
Phyllis D. Kalista JTTEN 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
Anthony J. Kirincic 62,500 * 62,500 62,500 *
Peconic Fund Ltd. 225,000 1.7% 225,000 225,000 1.7%
Pennsylvania Merchant Group
401(k) Plan FBO Phyllis Kalista 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
Lagunitas Partners LP 200,000 1.5% 200,000 200,000 1.5%
Lancaster Investment Partners, LP 125,000 * 125,000 125,000 *
Phillip R. Leicht and
Pamela A Leicht JTTEN 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
David O. Lindner 50,000 * 50,000 50,000 *
J. Patterson McBaine 20,000 * 20,000 20,000 *
Harry Mittelman, TTEE
The Harry Mittelman Revocable Living
Trust Dtd 10/22/96 75,000 * 75,000 75,000 *
Needham & Company, Inc.(3) - * - 87,010 *
Parec Realty Partners 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Beneficially Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to the Owned After the
Offering (1) Offering (2)
------------ ------------
Shares Which
Selling Stockholders Number Percent May be Offered Number Percent
- -------------------- ------ ------- -------------- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Parec Portfolio Partners, LP 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
Pennsylvania Merchant Group, Inc.(3) - * - 97,840 *
Eric Petersen and Ellen Petersen JTTEN 25,000 * 25,000 25,000 *
Porter Partners, LP 50,000 * 50,000 50,000 *
Peter S. Rawlings 25,000 * 25,000 25,000 *
Charles M. Robins 6,250 * 6,250 6,250 *
Leonid M. Roytman 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
Eric B. Swergold 1,250 * 1,250 1,250 *
Special Situations, LLC 450,000 3.4% 450,000 450,000 3.4%
VFT Special Ventures, Ltd. 48,500 * 48,500 48,500 *
Elizabeth R. Watkinson Cust FBO
Kurt J. Watkinson UGMA PA 6,250 * 6,250 6,250 *
A. Morris Williams, Jr. and
Ruth W. Williams JTTEN 25,000 * 25,000 25,000 *
Carolyn Wittenbraker 12,500 * 12,500 12,500 *
Zeke, L.P. 225,000 1.7% 225,000 225,000 1.7%
</TABLE>
----------------------
(1) In connection with a private placement of our common stock in February
2000, each purchaser was issued a warrant to purchase a number of shares of
common stock equal to the number of shares the selling stockholder
purchased in the private placement. These warrants may not be exercised
until September 1, 2000 and will expire on March 1, 2005. The exercise
price of the warrants is $6.875. The exercise price will be reset to the
average market price for the five trading days preceding the one year
anniversary date of the issuance of the warrant provided the average price
is less than $6.875. The number of shares beneficially owned prior to the
offering does not include the 2,335,850 shares of our common stock issuable
upon exercise of the warrants.
(2) Includes shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. Warrants are not
exercisable until September 1, 2000.
(3) The warrants were issued as partial compensation for acting as placement
agent for the private placement and are exercisable at $6.875 per common
share.
15
<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering shares of our common stock on behalf of the selling
stockholders. As used in this prospectus, "selling stockholders" includes donees
and pledgees selling shares received from a named selling stockholder after the
date of this prospectus. We will pay for all costs, expenses and fees in
connection with the registration of the shares. The selling stockholders will
pay for all selling discounts and commissions, if any. The selling stockholders
may offer and sell their shares from time to time in one or more of the
following types of transactions (including block transactions):
o on the Nasdaq National Market
o in the over-the-counter market,
o in privately negotiated transactions,
o through put or call options transactions relating to the shares,
o through short sales of shares, or
o a combination of such methods of sale.
The selling stockholders may sell their shares at prevailing market
prices, or at privately negotiated prices. Such transactions may or may not
involve brokers or dealers. The selling stockholders have advised us that they
have not entered into any agreements, understanding or arrangements with any
underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares, nor is there
an underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed
sale of shares by the selling stockholders.
The selling stockholders may offer and sell their shares directly to
purchasers or to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents or
principals. Such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions, or commissions from the selling stockholders and/or the
purchasers of shares.
We have agreed to indemnify each selling stockholder against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in
open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of
1933, provided they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of such
rule.
Certain of the underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents and their
associates may engage in transactions with and perform other services for Ariel
in the ordinary course of their business for which they receive customary
compensation.
16
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Our authorized capital stock is 22,000,000 shares, consisting of
20,000,000 shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share, and 2,000,000
shares of preferred stock, $.001 par value per share. As of March 31, 2000,
13,088,920 shares of common stock were outstanding, and there were 127 holders
of record. In addition, as of March 31, 2000, there were outstanding stock
options for the purchase of 1,811,313 shares of common stock and outstanding
warrants for the purchase of 2,435,850 shares of common stock. No shares of
preferred stock are currently outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of shares of common stock are entitled to one vote for each
share held of record on any matters to be voted on by stockholders. The election
of directors requires a plurality vote of those shares of common stock
represented at any stockholders meeting. Upon the notice of one or more
stockholders that the stockholder intends to cumulate his votes, and in
accordance with the conditions contained in our bylaws, every stockholder
entitled to vote at an election for directors shall have the right to cumulate
his votes. If cumulative voting is effected, each stockholder will be entitled
to give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of votes to which
the stockholder's shares are normally entitled, or to distribute the
stockholder's votes among as many candidates as the stockholder sees fit. The
holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if
declared by the board of directors out of legally available funds. We have never
paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not plan to do so in the
foreseeable future. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the
holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining
available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after
provision has been made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over
the common stock. Holders of shares of common stock, as such, have no
redemption, preemptive or other subscription rights, and there are no conversion
provisions applicable to the common stock. All of the outstanding shares of our
common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
Preferred Stock
Our authorized shares of preferred stock may be issued in one or more
series and the board of directors is authorized, without further action by the
stockholders, to designate the rights, preferences, limitations of, and
restrictions upon, shares of each series, including dividend, voting, redemption
and conversion rights. We believe that the availability of preferred stock
issuable in series provides increased flexibility for structuring possible
future financings and acquisitions, if any, and in meeting other corporate
needs. We cannot describe the actual effects the issuance of any series of
preferred stock would have on the rights of holders of common stock until the
board of directors determines the specific terms, rights and preferences of a
series of preferred stock. However, such effects might include, among other
things, restricting dividend payments on the common stock, diluting the voting
power of the common stock or impairing the liquidation rights of the common
stock. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of
facilitating, as well as impeding or discouraging, a merger, tender offer, proxy
contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our
securities or the removal of incumbent management. The market price of the
common stock could also be adversely affected by the issuance of preferred
stock.
17
<PAGE>
Pursuant to our rights plan the board of directors declared a dividend
of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of common
stock. Until the occurrence of certain triggering events, the rights will be
evidenced by the outstanding common stock certificates on our books and records
maintained by our transfer agent and will not be separately issued.
Warrants
At March 31, 2000, Transamerica Business Credit Corporation owned
100,000 warrants exercisable at $3.763 per share that were issued as
consideration for certain waivers and amendments to our credit agreement.
On February 24, 2000 we entered into an agreement with a number of
investors to sell 2,151,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of
$4.00 per share in a private placement. We also issued 2,151,000 warrants to
purchase common stock with an exercise price of $6.875. The warrants are not
exercisable until September 1, 2000. The exercise price of the warrants will be
reset to the average market price for the five trading days preceding the one
year anniversary date of the issuance of the warrant provided the average market
price is less than $6.875.
In connection with this private placement, we issued to the placement
agents an aggregate of 184,850 warrants to purchase common stock with an
exercise price of $6.875 as partial compensation for their services.
Delaware Law and Certain Charter and By-Law Provisions and Antitakeover Effects
Delaware Law. We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, which prevents an "interested stockholder" (defined in Section
203, generally, as a person owning 15% or more of a corporation's outstanding
voting stock) from engaging in a "business combination" with a publicly held
Delaware corporation for three years following the date such person became an
interested stockholder, unless: (i) before such person became an interested
stockholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved the transaction
in which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder or approved
the business combination; (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that
resulted in the interested stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the
interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (subject to certain
exceptions); or (iii) following the transaction in which that person became an
interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the board of
directors of the corporation and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by
affirmative vote of the holders of 66% of the outstanding voting stock of the
corporation not owned by the interested stockholder. A "business combination"
includes mergers, stock or asset sales and other transactions resulting in a
financial benefit
18
<PAGE>
to the interested stockholder. The provisions of Section 203 could have the
effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Our restated certificate of
incorporation provides for the division of the board of directors into three
classes with staggered three-year terms. These provisions result in an increase
in the time required for stockholders to change the composition of the board,
and consequently may impede a change of control.
Stockholders Rights Plan. On October 9, 1998, our board of directors
approved and adopted a stockholders rights plan for the newly created series A
of preferred stock, par value $.001 per share. Under the rights plan, each
stockholder of record at October 22, 1998 received a dividend of one preferred
share purchase right per share of common stock owned. Each right entitles the
holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of series A preferred stock, par
value $.001 per share, for a price of $25, subject to adjustment. The rights are
not redeemable or exercisable until a person or group acquires 15% or more of
our common stock or announces a tender offer for 15% or more of the common
stock. If either of these events occurs, each right entitles a holder to
purchase, at the right's exercise price, a number of shares of common stock
having a market value at the time of exercise of twice the right's exercise
price. The rights expire on October 9, 2008, and we may redeem them at any time
at $.01 per right. The right automatically attaches to the common shares being
offered in this prospectus.
Shares of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights will
not be redeemable at the election of holders. Each holder of a share of
preferred stock will be entitled, when and if declared by our board of
directors, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per
share or an aggregate dividend of 100 times the divided declared per share of
common stock, if any. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding
up, the holders of the preferred stock will be entitled to a minimum
preferential payment of $1.00 per share, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends,
or an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share of common stock.
Each share of preferred stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the
common stock and not as a class. Finally, in the event of any consolidation,
merger or other transaction in which outstanding shares of common stock are
converted or exchanged, each share of preferred stock will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per share of common stock.
These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.
Transfer Agent, Warrant Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York.
19
<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the common stock offered with this prospectus has been
passed upon for Ariel by Paul & Rosen LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference
to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 have been
so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
20
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Common Stock
-------------------
P R O S P E C T U S
-------------------
, 2000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance
and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting
compensation, are as set forth below. Except for the registration fee payable to
the Securities and Exchange Commission, all such expenses are estimated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee........................... $ 9,251
Printing and engraving expenses............................................... 12,000
Legal fees and expenses....................................................... 100,000
Accounting fees and expenses.................................................. 15,000
Total....................................................................... $136,251
</TABLE>
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
amended, provides that under certain circumstances a corporation may indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is
or was serving at its request in such capacity in another corporation or
business association, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted
in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's
conduct was unlawful.
The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ariel provides in effect
that, subject to certain limited exceptions, Ariel shall indemnify its directors
and officers to the full extent authorized or permitted by law. The directors
and officers of Ariel are insured under policies of insurance, subject to the
limits of the policies, against certain losses arising from any claim made
against them by reason of being or having been such directors or officers.
Item 16. Exhibits.
See Exhibit Index.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act of 1933.
II-1
<PAGE>
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the registration
statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar
value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form
of the prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
statement.
(iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.
provided, however, that paragraphs 1(a) and 1(b) do not apply if the
Registration Statement is on Form S-3 or S-8 and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to
the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
(5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to Item 15 of this
registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered,
the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-2
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant hereby certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on April 18, 2000.
ARIEL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Jay H. Atlas
------------------------------
Name: Jay H. Atlas
Title: Chief Executive Officer
and President
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Harold W. Paul and Anthony M. Agnello, or
either of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign and file (1) any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith and (2) a registration
statement, and any and all amendments thereto, relating to the offering covered
hereby filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, agent, or their substitutes may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on April 18, 2000.
Signature Title
/s/ Jay H. Atlas
- -----------------------------
Jay H. Atlas Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director
/s/ John R. Loprete
- -----------------------------
John R. Loprete Vice President, Finance
and Chief Accounting Officer
/s/ Anthony M. Agnello
- -----------------------------
Anthony M. Agnello Chairman of the Board
of Directors
<PAGE>
/s/ Esmond T. Goei
- ----------------------------
Esmond T. Goei Director
/s/ Edward D. Horowitz
- ----------------------------
Edward D. Horowitz Director
/s/ Harold W. Paul
- -----------------------------
Harold W. Paul Director
/s/ Charles Strauch
- -----------------------------
Charles Strauch Director
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibits
4.1 Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated February 24, 2000
4.2 Form of Warrant (included as an exhibit to the Common Stock Purchase
Agreement found in Exhibit 4.1)
*5.1 Opinion of Paul & Rosen LLP on the validity of the common stock
registered hereby
*23.1 Consent of Paul & Rosen LLP (included in the opinion delivered under
Exhibit 5.1)
*23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers
*24.1 Powers of Attorney
- -----------------------------
* Previously filed.
<PAGE>
EXECUTION COPY
-----------------------------------------------
ARIEL CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
February 24, 2000
-----------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Common Stock Purchase Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of
the 24th day of February, 2000 between and among Ariel Corporation, a Delaware
corporation with its principal office at 2540 Route 130, Cranbury, New Jersey
08512 (the "Company"), and the persons listed on the Schedule of Purchasers
attached hereto as Schedule I (the "Purchasers").
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement,
the Company and the Purchasers agree as follows:
SECTION 1
AUTHORIZATION AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS
1.1 Authorization. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Company has authorized the sale of up to Two Million One Hundred
and Fifty-one Thousand (2,151,000) shares (the "Shares") of its Common Stock,
par value $.001 per share ("Common Stock"), and Two Million One Hundred and
Fifty-one Thousand (2,151,000) warrants to purchase Common Stock (the
"Warrants"). The Shares and the Warrants are referred to collectively as the
"Securities."
1.2 Sale of the Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each Purchaser and each
Purchaser severally agrees to purchase from the Company the number of Shares set
forth opposite each Purchaser's name on Schedule I for a purchase price of $4.00
per share in cash.
1.3 Issuance of Warrants. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the certificate evidencing the Warrants attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
"Warrant Certificate"), the Company agrees to issue to each Purchaser one
Warrant for each Share purchased by such Purchaser.
1.4 Additional Shares. In the event the Company sells shares of its
Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exercisable for, Common Stock on
or after the Closing Date (as defined below) but prior to the date exactly 24
months following the Closing Date, at a price per share below $4.00 (the
"Selling Per Share Price") (other than (i) the issuance, conversion, exchange or
exercise of options to acquire shares of Common Stock by officers, directors,
employees, consultants, vendors, suppliers, dealers or other service providers
of the Company which are outstanding as of the date hereof or which are or may
be issuable pursuant to stock option or similar equity based plans approved by
the Board of Directors, (ii) options, warrants or other agreements or rights to
purchase capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding prior to the
Closing Date and any issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection therewith,
(iii) securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of the date hereof and any issuance of Common Stock
in connection therewith, (iv) rights to purchase shares of Common Stock in lieu
of cash dividends pursuant to a Company plan for reinvestment of dividends or
interest, (v) a change in the par value of shares of Common Stock (including a
change from par value to no par value or vice versa), (vi) sales of shares of
Common Stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan qualified under Section
423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, approved by the Company'
Board of Directors where such sales are at prices at least equal to 85% of the
fair market value as applicable pursuant to Section 423 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended and (vii) shares of Common Stock issued in good faith
in connection with any business collaboration, including a merger or acquisition
where a company or business is merged with or acquired by the Company or any
<PAGE>
subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that, on the date of determination
of the number of shares of Common Stock to be so issued, the Board of Directors
shall have determined in good faith that the issue price of such shares shall be
at least equal to the current market value of such shares), the Company will
issue to each Purchaser such number of additional shares of Common Stock so that
the number of shares of Common Stock purchased hereunder by such Purchaser plus
such number of additional shares of Common Stock equals the Adjustment Amount.
The Adjustment Amount shall be determined by dividing (i) the aggregate purchase
price of all the shares of Common Stock purchased hereunder by such Purchaser by
(ii) the Selling Price Per Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
shall not be obligated to issue such additional shares if such issuance would
not be permitted by NASD Rule 4460(i)(1) without approval of the Company's
stockholders. If the Company is required to issue additional shares pursuant to
this Section 1.4 in an amount in excess of that permitted by Rule 4460(i)(1),
the Company will use its best efforts to secure stockholder approval of the
issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Purchasers at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholder of the Company following the closing of the transaction that gave
rise to the obligation of the Company to issue additional shares pursuant to
this Section 1.4. Pending stockholder approval, upon the closing of the
transaction which would obligate the Company to issue additional shares pursuant
to this Section 1.4, the Company shall issue additional shares pro rata to the
Purchasers up to the maximum number of additional shares that it is permitted to
issue without approval of the Company's stockholders. If the Company's
stockholders do not approve such issuance of additional shares, the Company will
have no obligation to issue any further additional shares to the Purchasers
pursuant to this Section 1.4.
1.5 Demand Registration Rights. In the event the Company issues
additional shares pursuant to Section 1.4 above and such shares are not covered
by the Registration Statement the Company is required to file pursuant to
Section 7.1(a) hereof, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to file a
registration statement covering such additional shares within 45 days of the
issuance of such shares. The Company agrees to use its best efforts to have the
registration statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and to take all necessary steps to have the registration
statement remain effective for a period of two years from the effective date of
such registration statement.
SECTION 2
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
If at any time after the Closing Date but prior to the date exactly 24
months following the Closing Date, the Company proposes to issue and sell shares
of its Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exercisable for, Common
Stock other than (i) the issuance, conversion, exchange or exercise of options
to acquire shares of Common Stock by officers, directors, employees,
consultants, vendors, suppliers, dealers or other service providers of the
Company which are outstanding as of the date hereof or which are or may be
issuable pursuant to stock option or similar equity based plans approved by the
Board of Directors, (ii) options, warrants or other agreements or rights to
purchase capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding prior to the
Closing Date and any issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection therewith,
(iii) securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of the date hereof and any issuance of Common Stock
in connection therewith, (iv) rights to purchase shares of Common Stock in lieu
of cash dividends pursuant to a Company plan for reinvestment of dividends or
interest, (v) a change in the par value of shares of Common Stock (including a
change from par value to no par value or vice versa), (vi) sales of shares of
Common Stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan qualified under Section
423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, approved by the Company's
Board of Directors where such sales are at prices at least equal to 85% of the
fair market value as applicable pursuant to Section 423 of the Internal Revenue
2
<PAGE>
Code of 1986, as amended and (vii) shares of Common Stock issued in good faith
in connection with any business collaboration, including a merger or acquisition
where a company or business is merged with or acquired by the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that, on the date of determination
of the number of shares of Common Stock to be so issued, the Board of Directors
shall have determined in good faith that the issue price of such shares shall be
at least equal to the current market value of such shares, the Company shall:
(1) give to each Purchaser written notice (the "Notice")
setting forth in reasonable detail the price and other terms of the
proposed sale of such shares of Common Stock and the amount of such
securities proposed to be issued, and
(2) offer to issue and sell to the Purchasers on the same
terms as set out in the Notice such number of additional shares of
Common Stock so that the number of shares of Common Stock purchased
pursuant to the Notice by such Purchaser equals the Adjustment Amount.
Each Purchaser must exercise its purchase rights hereunder within ten
(10) days after receipt of the Notice from the Company. Upon the expiration of
the 10-day offering period, the Company will be free to sell the shares of
Common Stock as set out in the Notice to Purchasers.
SECTION 3
CLOSING DATE; DELIVERY
3.1 Closing Date. The completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares
and the issuance of the Warrants (the "Closing") shall occur as soon as
practicable and as agreed by the parties hereto, at a place and time (the
"Closing Date") to be agreed upon by the Company and the Purchasers. The
Purchasers will be notified by facsimile transmission or otherwise.
3.2 Delivery. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to each
Purchaser one or more stock certificates and one or more Warrant Certificates
registered in the name of such Purchaser, or in such nominee name(s) as
designated by the Purchaser in writing, representing the number of Shares and
Warrants set forth opposite such Purchaser's name on Schedule I attached hereto.
The name(s) in which the stock certificates and Warrant Certificates are to be
registered are set forth in the Certificate Questionnaire attached hereto as
part of Exhibit C. The Company's obligation to complete the purchase and sale of
the Shares and the issuance of the Warrants and deliver such certificates to
each Purchaser at the Closing shall be subject to the following conditions, any
one or more of which may be waived by the Company: (a) receipt by the Company of
same-day funds in the full amount of the purchase price for the Shares being
purchased hereunder; (b) receipt by the Company of a completed copy of each of
Exhibit B, Exhibit C and Exhibit D-1 or D-2, as applicable, attached hereto; and
(c) the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Purchasers
and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Purchasers to be fulfilled
prior to the Closing. Each Purchaser's obligation to accept delivery of such
certificates and to pay for the Shares evidenced thereby shall be subject to the
accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties made by
the Company herein and the fulfillment in all material respects of those
undertakings of the Company to be fulfilled prior to the Closing.
3
<PAGE>
SECTION 4
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
4.1 Incorporation and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware and is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which qualification is required, except where failure to so
qualify would not result in a material adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), properties, business, or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Change").
4.2 Corporate Power; Authorization. The Company has all requisite legal
and corporate power and has taken all requisite corporate action to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to sell and issue the Securities and to carry out and
perform all of its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes
the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (b) as limited by equitable
principles generally. The execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and
the performance of this Agreement and the compliance with the provisions hereof
and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company will not
materially conflict with, or result in a material breach or violation of the
terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any material lien pursuant to the terms
of, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any
applicable statute, law, rule or regulation or any state or federal order,
judgment or decree or any indenture, mortgage, lease or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any of its properties is subject that is
material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
4.3 Authorized Capital Stock. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of (a) Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares of Common Stock,
$.001 par value, of which, as of December 31, 1999, 10,835,320 shares were
outstanding (excluding, as of such date (i) 842,809 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options under the Company's 1992 Stock
Option and Restricted Plan, 1994 Stock Option Plan, 1995 Stock Option Plan and
the 1996 Directors Plan (collectively, the "Stock Option Plans"), (ii) 871,502
options outstanding pursuant to non-plan Options granted in 1998, (iii)
1,145,600 shares of Common Stock reserved for future option grants under the
Stock Option Plans and (iv) approximately 200,000 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants and agreements to issue
warrants and (b) 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, no shares
of which are outstanding. The issued and outstanding shares of the Company's
Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable, were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive
rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities, and conform in
all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Offering
Documents (as defined herein). Other than pursuant to this Agreement, and except
as set forth in Section 1.1, this Section 4.3 or as disclosed or contemplated by
in the Offering Documents, the Company does not have outstanding any options to
purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to
purchase, any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or
commitments to issue or sell, shares of its capital stock or any such options,
rights, convertible securities or obligations. The description of the Company's
stock, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements and the options or
other rights granted and exercised thereunder set forth in the Offering
Documents accurately and fairly describes such plans, arrangements, options and
rights.
4
<PAGE>
4.4 Issuance, Sale and Delivery of the Securities. The Shares have been
duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in the manner set forth
in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No
preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase exist with
respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement. No stockholder of the Company has any right (which has not been
waived or has not expired by reason of lapse of time following notification of
the Company's intent to file a registration statement on behalf of the
Purchasers pursuant to Section 7 hereof (the "Registration Statement")) to
require the Company to register the sale of any securities owned by such
stockholder under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")
in the Registration Statement. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Warrants (the "Warrant Shares") have been duly authorized and, when the
issued, delivered and the exercise price paid in the manner set forth in the
Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. Other than as set forth in this Agreement and the Warrant
Certificate, no further approval or authority of the stockholders or the Board
of Directors of the Company will be required for the issuance and sale of the
Shares to be sold by the Company as contemplated herein or the issuance and sale
of the Warrant Shares as set forth in the Warrant Certificate.
4.5 SEC Documents; Financial Statements. The Company has filed in a
timely manner all documents that the Company was required to file with
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under Sections 13, 14(a) and
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement. As of their
respective filing dates, all documents filed by the Company with the SEC (the
"SEC Documents") complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable. None of the SEC Documents as
of their respective dates contained any untrue statement of material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in
the SEC Documents (the "Financial Statements") comply as to form in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules
and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. The Financial Statements have
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied and fairly present the consolidated financial position of
the Company and any subsidiaries at the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of their operations and consolidated cash flows for the periods then
ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, recurring
adjustments).
4.6 Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have expressed their
opinion with respect to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, are
independent accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
4.7 No Defaults. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, and
except as to defaults, violations and breaches which individually or in the
aggregate would not result in a Material Adverse Change, the Company is not in
violation or default of any provision of its Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws, or in breach of or default with respect to any
agreement, judgment, decree, order, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, franchise,
license, indenture, permit or other instrument to which it is a party or by
which it or any of its properties are bound; and there does not exist any state
of fact which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event
of default on the part of the Company as defined in such documents, except such
defaults which individually or in the aggregate would not result in a Material
Adverse Change.
4.8 No Actions. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, there
are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the
Company's knowledge, threatened to which the Company is a party or of which
5
<PAGE>
property owned or leased by the Company is or may be the subject, which actions,
suits or proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, might prevent or might
reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or result in a Material Adverse Change; and no
labor disturbance by the employees of the Company exists to or, to the Company's
knowledge, is imminent which might reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents, the
Company is not party to or subject to the provisions of any material injunction,
judgment, decree or order of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency
or other governmental body.
4.9 Governmental Consents. No consent, approval, order or authorization
of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any
federal, state, or local governmental authority on the part of the Company is
required in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement except for (a) compliance with the securities and Blue Sky laws
in the states in which Shares are offered and/or sold and (b) the filing of the
Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 7 of this Agreement.
4.10 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Offering Documents and
except as set forth in Schedule 4.10 hereto, there are no actions, suits
proceedings or investigations pending or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its properties before or by
any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official in which
there is a reasonable likelihood (in the judgment of the Company) of an adverse
decision that (a) could result in a Material Adverse Change or (b) could impair
the ability of the Company to perform in any material respect its obligations
under this Agreement.
4.11 No Material Change. Since December 31, 1999 and except as
disclosed in the Offering Documents, (a) the Company has not sustained any
material loss or interference with its businesses or properties from fire,
flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity not covered by insurance; (b) the
Company has not paid or declared any dividends or other distributions with
respect to its capital stock and is not in default in the payment of principal
or interest on any outstanding debt obligations; (c) there has not been any
change in the capital stock of the Company other than the issuance and sale of
the Securities hereunder and shares or options issued pursuant to the Stock
Option Plans, as approved by the Company's Board of Directors; (d) there has not
been any increase in indebtedness material to the Company (other than in the
ordinary course of business); and (e) there has not been a Material Adverse
Change.
4.12 Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the Offering
Documents (a) the Company owns or has obtained valid and enforceable licenses or
options for the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both
registered and unregistered), tradenames, copyrights and trade secrets necessary
for the conduct of the Company's business as currently conducted and as the
Offering Documents indicate the Company contemplates conducting (collectively,
the "Intellectual Property"); and (b) to the Company's knowledge (for each of
the following subsections (i) through (v)): (i) there are no third parties who
have any ownership rights to any Intellectual Property that is owned by, or has
been licensed to, the Company for the products described in the Offering
Documents that would preclude the Company from conducting its business as
currently conducted and as the Offering Documents indicate the Company
contemplates conducting, except for the ownership rights of the owners of the
Intellectual Property licensed or optioned by the Company; (ii) there are
currently no sales of any products that would constitute a material infringement
by third parties of any Intellectual Property owned, licensed or optioned by the
6
<PAGE>
Company; (iii) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or
claim by others challenging the rights of the Company in or to any Intellectual
Property owned, licensed or optioned by the Company, other than non-material
claims; (iv) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim
by others challenging the validity or scope of any Intellectual Property owned,
licensed or optioned by the Company, other than claims which would not result in
a Material Adverse Change; and (v) there is no pending or threatened action,
suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes or otherwise
violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary
right of others, other than non-material claims which would not result in a
Material Adverse Change.
4.13 Compliance. To the Company's knowledge, the Company has not been
advised, nor does it have reason to believe, that it is not conducting business
in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the
jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, including, without limitation,
all applicable local, state and federal environmental laws regulations known to
the Company; except where failure to be so in compliance would not result in a
Material Adverse Change.
4.14 Taxes. The Company has filed all necessary federal, state and
foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued all taxes shown
as due thereon, and the Company has no knowledge of a tax deficiency which has
been or might be asserted or threatened against it which would result in a
Material Adverse Change.
4.15 Transfer Taxes. On the Closing Date, all stock transfer taxes
(other than income taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the
sale and transfer of the Securities to the Purchasers hereunder will be, or will
have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company.
4.16 Investment Company. The Company is not an "investment company" or
an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for an
investment company, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
4.17 Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not
distributed and will not distribute prior to the Closing Date any offering
materials related to the offering and sale of the Securities other than the
Offering Documents or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company will not
take any action independent of the Placement Agent to sell, offer for sale or
solicit offers to buy any securities of the Company which would bring the offer,
issuance or sale of the Securities, as contemplated by this Agreement, within
the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act, unless such offer, issuance
or sale was or shall be within the exemptions of the Securities Act.
4.18 Insurance. The Company maintains insurance of the types and in the
amounts that it reasonably believes is adequate for its business, including, but
not limited to, insurance covering all material real and personal property owned
or leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism,
all of which insurance is in full force and effect.
4.19 Offering Documents. The Company represents and warrants that the
information contained in the following documents (collectively, the "Offering
Documents"), which the Placement Agent has furnished each Purchaser, do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and
warranties of the Company do not apply to statements or omissions in the
Offering Documents based upon information furnished to the Company by the
Placement Agent expressly for use therein:
(1) the Private Placement Memorandum dated November 10, 1999 (the
"PPM"); and
(2) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 1999 filed pursuant to the Exchange Act on November
15, 1999.
7
<PAGE>
4.20 Legal Opinion. At the Closing, Shearman & Sterling, counsel to the
Company, will deliver a legal opinion addressed to the Purchasers named on
Schedule I hereto in a form reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Placement
Agent regarding the due incorporation of the Company, the due authorization,
issuance and delivery of the Shares to be purchased and the due authorization,
execution and delivery of this agreement.
4.21 Certificate. At the Closing, the Company will deliver to each
Purchaser a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
counsel for the Placement Agent, to the effect that the representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Section 4 are true and correct in
all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing
Date, and the Company has complied in all material respects with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions herein on its part to be performed
or satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date.
SECTION 5
Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Purchasers
Each Purchaser hereby severally represents and warrants to the Company,
effective as of the Closing Date, as follows:
5.1 Authorization. Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company
that: (a) Purchaser has all requisite legal and corporate or other power and
capacity and has taken all requisite corporate or other action to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to purchase the Securities to be purchased by it and to
carry out and perform all of its obligations under this Agreement; and (b) this
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar laws relating to or affecting
the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii) as limited by equitable
principles generally.
5.2 Investment Experience. Purchaser is an "accredited investor" as
defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act. Purchaser
is aware of the Company's business affairs and financial condition and has had
access to and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an
informed and knowledgeable decision to acquire the Securities. Purchaser has
such business and financial experience as is required to give it the capacity to
protect its own interests in connection with the purchase of the Securities.
5.3 Investment Intent. Purchaser is purchasing the Securities for its
own account as principal, for investment purposes only, and not with a present
view to, or for, resale, distribution or fractionalization thereof, in whole or
in part, within the meaning of the Securities Act. Purchaser understands that
its acquisition of the Securities has not been registered under the Securities
Act or registered or qualified under any state securities law in reliance on
specific exemptions therefrom, which exemptions may depend upon, among other
things, the bona fide nature of Purchaser's investment intent as expressed
herein. Purchaser has completed or caused to be completed the Registration
Statement Questionnaire attached hereto as Exhibit B, The Certificate attached
hereto as Exhibit C and the Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit D-1 or D-2,
as applicable, and the responses provided therein shall be true and correct as
of the Closing Date and will be true and correct as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement. Purchaser has, in connection with its decision to
purchase the number of shares set forth in Schedule I relied solely upon the
Offering Documents and the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein. Purchaser will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell,
pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase
or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Securities except in
8
<PAGE>
compliance with the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
5.4 Registration or Exemption Requirements. Purchaser further
acknowledges and understands that the Securities may not be resold or otherwise
transferred except in a transaction registered under the Securities Act or
unless an exemption from such registration is available and that the
certificates evidencing the Securities will bear a legend to that effect.
5.5 Restriction on Short Sales. Purchaser represents and warrants to
and covenants with the Company that Purchaser has not engaged and will not
engage in any short sales of the Company's Common Stock prior to the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, except to the extent that any such
short sale is fully covered by shares of Common Stock of the Company other than
the Shares.
5.6 No Legal, Tax or Investment Advice. Purchaser understands that
nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented to Purchaser in
connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities constitutes legal, tax
or investment advice. Purchaser 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 the Securities.
5.7 Certificate. At the Closing, each Purchaser will deliver to the
Company a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
counsel for the Company to the effect that the representations and warranties of
each Purchaser set forth in this Section 5 are true and correct in all material
respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, and the
Purchaser has complied in all material respects will all the agreements and
satisfied all the conditions herein on its part to be performed or satisfied on
or prior to the Closing Date.
SECTION 6
Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement
or by the Placement Agent, all covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Company and the Purchaser herein delivered pursuant
hereto shall survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery to the
Purchaser of the Securities being purchased and the payment therefor.
SECTION 7
Registration of the Shares; Compliance With the Securities Act
7.1 Registration Procedures and Expenses. The Company shall:
(a) as soon as practicable, but in no event later than April
4, 2000, file with the SEC the Registration Statement on an appropriate
form relating to the sale of the Shares and the Warrant Shares by the
Purchasers from time to time on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the
facilities of any national securities exchange on which the Common
Stock is then traded or in privately negotiated transactions, provided,
however, if the Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC by the
above specified date, then the Company, to the extent permitted under
Delaware law, will issue to each Purchaser such number of additional
shares of Common Stock that is equal to one percent (1%) of the
aggregate number of Shares purchased by the Purchaser as set forth in
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<PAGE>
Schedule I hereto for each additional thirty day period that the
registration statement is not filed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event that the Company is prohibited from issuing additional shares
pursuant to NASD Rule 4460(i)(1), then the Company will pay in cash to
the Purchaser one percent (1%) of the aggregate amount of the
commitment of such Purchaser as set forth in Schedule I hereto. The
shares will be issued or the cash payment will be payable on the first
day of each month during which the Registration Statement is not filed;
(b) use its best efforts, subject to receipt of necessary
information from the Purchasers, to cause such Registration Statement
to become effective within 120 days after filing provided however, if
the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC within
120 days of the date on which it is filed, then the Company, to the
extent permitted under Delaware law, will issue to each Purchaser such
number of additional shares of Common Stock that is equal to one
percent (1%) of the aggregate number of shares purchased by the
Purchaser as set forth in Schedule I hereto for each additional thirty
day period that the registration statement is not effective.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company is
prohibited from issuing additional shares pursuant to NASD Rule
4460(i)(1), then the Company will pay in cash to the Purchaser one
percent (1%) of the aggregate amount of the commitment of such
Purchaser as set forth in Schedule I hereto. The shares will be issued
or the cash payment will be payable on the first day of each month
during which the Registration Statement is not effective;
(c) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in
connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration
Statement effective until twenty-four months after the effective date
of the Registration Statement;
(d) furnish to each Purchaser with respect to their Shares and
Warrant Shares registered under the Registration Statement (and to each
underwriter, if any, of such Shares or Warrant Shares) such reasonable
number of copies of prospectuses as such Purchaser may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of
all or any of the Shares and Warrant Shares by the Purchaser;
(e) file documents required of the Company for normal Blue Sky
clearance in states as may reasonably be requested in writing by each
Purchaser; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
qualify to do business or consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or has not so
consented;
(f) advise each Purchaser promptly (i) of the issuance by the
SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state
securities commission of the qualification of the Shares or the Warrant
Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of
any proceeding for any preceding purposes and (ii) of the happening of
any event or discovery of any facts during the period the Registration
Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or which requires the making of any changes in such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statement
therein not misleading; and
(g) bear all expenses in connection with the procedures in
paragraphs (a) through (f) of this Section 7.1 and the registration of
the Shares and Warrant Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement,
other than fees and expenses, if any, of counsel or other advisers to
10
<PAGE>
the Purchasers or underwriting discounts, brokerage fees and
commissions incurred by the Purchasers, if any.
7.2 Transfer of Shares and Warrant Shares After Registration. Each
Purchaser agrees that it will not effect any disposition of the Shares or the
Warrant Shares or of its right to purchase the Shares or the Warrant Shares that
would constitute a sale within the meaning of the Securities Act, except as
contemplated by the Registration Statement referred to in Section 7.1, and that
it will promptly notify the Company of any changes in the information set forth
in the Registration Statement regarding such Purchaser or its plan of
distribution.
7.3 Indemnification. For the purpose of this Section 7.3:
(a) The term "Registration Statement" shall mean the
registration statement filed pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof including
the exhibits thereto, schedules thereto, if any, and the documents
incorporated by reference therein, if any, at the time it became
effective and including any information deemed to be part thereof at
the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 of the
Rules and Regulations. The term Prospectus shall mean the final
prospectus including the documents incorporated by reference therein,
if any, in the form filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations, or filed as part of the Registration Statement at the time
of effectiveness if no Rule 424(b) filing is required.
(b) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of
the Purchasers and each person, if any, who controls any Purchaser
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, joint or several,
to which such Purchasers or such controlling person may become subject,
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise
(including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is
effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the Offering Documents or the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise of or
are based upon the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and will reimburse each Purchaser and each such controlling
person for any reasonable legal and other expenses as such expenses are
incurred by such Purchaser or such controlling person in connection
with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided,
however, that the Company will not be liable with respect to any such
case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
expense arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the
PPM, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Purchaser
expressly for use therein, (ii) the failure of such Purchaser to comply
with the covenants and agreements contained in Section 5 or 7.2 hereof,
(iii) the inaccuracy of any representations made by such Purchaser
herein or (iv) any statement or omission in any Prospectus that is
corrected in any subsequent Prospectus that was delivered to such
Purchaser prior to the pertinent sale or sales by such Purchaser.
(c) Each Purchaser will severally indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
11
<PAGE>
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement or controlling person may become subject, under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or state
statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including
in settlement of any litigation) insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arise out of or are based upon (i) any failure to
comply with the covenants and agreements contained in Section 5 or 7.2
hereof or (ii) the inaccuracy of any representation made by such
Purchaser herein or (iii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the PPM, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or which arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only
to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission was made in the PPM, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of any Purchaser expressly for use therein,
and will reimburse the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signed the Registration Statement or controlling person
for any reasonable legal and other expense incurred by the Company,
each of its directors, each of it officers who signed the Registration
Statement or controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim,
damage, liability, expense or action.
(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7.3 of notice of the threat or commencement of any action, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made
against an indemnifying party under this Section 7.3 promptly notify
the indemnifying party in writing thereof; but the omission so to
notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability
which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section
7.3 or to the extent it is not prejudiced as a result of such failure.
In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and
such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an
indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with all
other indemnifying parties similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party;
provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be an actual
conflict between the positions of the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that
there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to
the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the
right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to
otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such
indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to
assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party
of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 7.3 for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have
employed such counsel in connection with the assumption of legal
defenses in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it
being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be
liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel, approved by
such indemnifying party in the case of paragraph (a), representing the
indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the
indemnified party shall not have employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
12
<PAGE>
party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of action,
in each of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
7.4 Termination of Conditions and Obligations. The restrictions on
transfer set out in Section 5.4 shall cease upon the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or at such time as an opinion of counsel satisfactory in
form and substance to the Company shall have been rendered to the effect that
the Securities can be transferred pursuant to an available exemption under the
Securities Act.
7.5 Information Available. So long as the Registration Statement is
effective covering the resale of Shares and Warrant Shares owned by the
Purchasers, the Company will furnish to each Purchaser as soon as practicable
after available (but in the case of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders,
within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company), one copy of
(i) its Annual Report to Stockholders (which Annual Report shall contain
financial statements audited in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles by a national firm of certified public accountants), (ii) if not
included in substance in the Annual Report to Stockholders, its Annual Report on
Form 10-K, (iii) if not included in substance in its Quarterly Reports to
Stockholders, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and (iv) a full copy of the
Registration Statement covering the Shares and the Warrant Shares (the
foregoing, in each case, excluding exhibits).
SECTION 8
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Broker's Fee. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company intends
to pay to the Placement Agent a fee in respect of the sale of the Securities to
the Purchaser. Each of the parties hereto hereby represents that, on the basis
of any actions and agreements by it, there are no other brokers or finders
entitled to compensation in connection with the sale of the Securities to the
Purchaser.
8.2 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing, shall be mailed by first-class registered or
certified airmail, confirmed facsimile or nationally recognized overnight
express courier postage prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so mailed and
shall be delivered as addressed as follows:
(a) if to the Company, to:
Ariel Corporation
2540 Route 130
Cranbury, NJ 08512
Attention: Mr. Jay H. Atlas, Chief Executive Officer and President
Facsimile: (609) 860-1674
with a copy to:
Shearman & Sterling
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Danielle Carbone
Facsimile: (212) 848-7179
13
<PAGE>
or to such other person at such other place as the Company shall
designate to each Purchaser in writing; and
(b) if to a Purchaser, at its address as set forth at the end
of this Agreement for such purchaser, or at such other address or
addresses as may have been furnished to the Company in writing.
8.3 Changes. With the exception of Section 7 hereof, this Agreement may
not be modified or amended except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by
the Company and each Purchaser. With respect to Section 7 hereof, with the
written consent of the Company and holders of more than sixty-six and two-thirds
percent (66 2/3%) of the Shares then outstanding and held by Purchasers, the
terms of the Agreement may be waived or amended and any such waiver or amendment
shall be binding upon the Company and all holders of Shares.
8.4 Headings. The headings of the various sections of this Agreement
have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to
be part of this Agreement.
8.5 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 shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
8.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the federal law of the
United States of America.
8.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when
taken together, shall constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective
when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and
delivered to the other parties.
14
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first
above written.
ARIEL CORPORATION
By ____________________________________________
Name:
Title:
_______________________________________________
Printed Name of Purchaser
(Individual or Institution):
_______________________________________________
Printed Name of Individual representing
Purchaser (if an Institution):
_______________________________________________
Title of Individual representing Purchaser
(if an Institution):
_______________________________________________
Signature of Individual Purchaser or Individual
representing Purchaser
Address: _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Telephone: ____________________________
Telecopier: ____________________________
15
<PAGE>
_______________________________________________
Printed Name of Purchaser
(Individual or Institution):
_______________________________________________
Printed Name of Individual representing
Purchaser (if an Institution):
_______________________________________________
Title of Individual representing Purchaser
(if an Institution):
_______________________________________________
Signature of Individual Purchaser or Individual
representing Purchaser
Address: _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Telephone: ____________________________
Telecopier: ____________________________
16
<PAGE>
_______________________________________________
Printed Name of Purchaser
(Individual or Institution):
_______________________________________________
Printed Name of Individual representing
Purchaser (if an Institution):
_______________________________________________
Title of Individual representing Purchaser
(if an Institution):
_______________________________________________
Signature of Individual Purchaser or Individual
representing Purchaser
Address: _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Telephone: ____________________________
Telecopier: ____________________________
17
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 4.10
The Company has contacted Alis Technologies, Inc., a Canadian
corporation ("Alis"), regarding indemnification for an alleged breach of
representation and warranty claim under the Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement
dated November 23, 1998 between the Company and Alis. Under the agreement, the
Company purchased Solutions for Communications and International ISDN, a French
corporation. The Company may pursue arbitration to enforce its rights under the
agreement.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF PURCHASERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Purchaser Commitment Number of Shares Number of Warrants
- --------- ---------- ---------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Special Situations, LLC $1,800,000 450,000 450,000
Zeke, L.P. $ 900,000 225,000 225,000
Anthony J. Kirincic $ 250,000 62,500 62,500
David O. Lindner $ 200,000 50,000 50,000
Peconic Fund Limited $ 900,000 225,000 225,000
Pennsylvania Merchant
Group, on behalf of
its institutional and
individual purchasers $4,554,000 1,138,500 1,138,500
Total $8,604,000 2,151,000 2,151,000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
THE WARRANTS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE
UPON EXERCISE THEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED,
PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHWERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH
REGISTRATION OF UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.
ARIEL CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
EXPIRATION DATE: ________, 2005
Warrant to Purchase _______ Issued as of ________, 2000
Shares of Common Stock
For value received, ________________, or registered assigns, is entitled
to subscribe for and purchase from ARIEL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
(hereinafter called the "Company"), at the price of $____ per share, which
represents the closing price of the Company's common stock on February 23, 2000
plus a premium of 1/8 (the "Warrant Purchase Price"), at any time beginning six
months after the date hereof until 5:00 p.m. New York City time on __________,
2005 (the "Expiration Date"), up to that number of fully paid and non-assessable
shares of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value (the "Common Stock") as is
specified, above, subject, however, to the provisions and upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
1. Exercise of Warrant. The rights represented by this Warrant may be
exercised by the holder hereof, in whole or in part (but not as to a fractional
share of Common Stock), by the surrender of this Warrant (properly endorsed if
required) at the office of any duly appointed transfer agent for the Common
Stock or at the office of the Company at 2540 Route 130, Cranbury, New Jersey
08512, and upon payment to the Company, or for the account of the Company, by
cash, or by means of transferring to the Company that number of shares of Common
Stock which, when multiplied by the difference between the closing price of the
Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq National Market on the trading day
immediately preceding exercise of this Warrant and the Warrant Purchase Price
equals, the aggregate Warrant Purchase Price for such shares. The Company agrees
that the shares so purchased shall be, and be deemed to be, issued to the holder
hereof as the record owner of such shares as of the close of business on the
date on which this Warrant shall have been surrendered and payment made for such
shares as aforesaid. Certificates for the shares so purchased shall be delivered
to the holder hereof within a reasonable time, not exceeding 10 business days,
after the rights represented by this Warrant shall have been so exercised, and,
unless this Warrant has expired, a new Warrant representing the number of
shares, if any, with respect to which this Warrant shall not then have been
exercised shall also be issued to the holder hereof within such time.
2. Shares to be Issued; Reservation of Shares. The Company covenants and
agrees that all shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the rights
represented by this Warrant will, upon
A-1
<PAGE>
issuance, be validly authorized, duly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The
Company further covenants and agrees that, during the period within which the
rights represented by this Warrant may be exercised, the Company will at times
have authorized and reserved a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock
to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, and will
at its expense expeditiously upon each exercise of this Warrant procure the
listing of the shares so acquired (subject to issuance or notice of issuance) on
the Nasdaq or stock exchanges, if any, on which the Common Stock may then be
listed.
3. Adjustments.
(a) Adjustments on the First Anniversary of Issuance. On the first
anniversary of the date hereof, if the average closing price on the Nasdaq
National Market for the five trading days immediately preceding the first
anniversary of the date hereof is lower than the Warrant Purchase Price, the
Warrant Purchase Price will be reset to such average closing price.
(b) Adjustments for Consolidations, Split-Ups. If the Company
shall at any time prior to the expiration of this Warrant subdivide its
outstanding securities for which this Warrant is exercisable, by split-up or
otherwise, or combine or consolidate by reclassification, reverse split or
otherwise such outstanding securities, the amount of securities issuable on the
exercise of the unexercised portion of this Warrant shall forthwith be
proportionately increased in the case of a subdivision or stock dividend, or
proportionately decreased in the case of a combination or consolidation, and the
Warrant Purchase Price then applicable to securities covered by the unexercised
portion of this Warrant shall forthwith be proportionately decreased in the case
of a subdivision or stock dividend, or proportionately increased in the case of
a combination or consolidation.
(c) Reorganizations. If any capital reorganization or
reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, or consolidation or merger
of the Company with another corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all
of its assets to another corporation shall be effected, then, as a condition of
such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale, lawful and
adequate provision shall be made whereby the holder hereof shall thereafter have
the right to purchase and receive upon the basis and upon the terms and
conditions specified herein and in lieu of the shares of the Common Stock of the
Company immediately theretofore issuable upon exercise of the rights represented
hereby, such shares of stock, securities or assets as may be issued or payable
with respect to or in exchange for a number of outstanding shares of such Common
Stock equal to the number of shares of such Common stock immediately theretofore
issuable upon exercise of the rights represented hereby had such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale not taken place; and in any such
case appropriate provisions shall be made with respect to the rights and
interests of each holder hereof to the end that the provisions hereof (including
without limitation provisions for adjustment of the Warrant Purchase Price and
of the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be, in relation to any shares of
stock, securities or assets thereafter deliverable upon the exercise hereof. The
Company shall not effect any such consolidation, merger or sale unless prior to
or simultaneously with the consummation thereof the corporation (if other than
the Company) resulting from such consolidation or merger or the corporation
purchasing such assets shall assume (by a written instrument executed and mailed
by registered mail or delivered to each registered holder hereof at the last
address of such holder appearing on the books of the Company) the obligation of
the Company to deliver to such holder such shares of stock, securities or assets
as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such holder may be entitled to
purchase.
(d) Adjustments for Issuances of Stock at a Price below the
Current Market Price. If the Company shall at any time prior to the expiration
of this Warrant issue and sell shares of its Common
A-2
<PAGE>
Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock,
at a price lower than the average closing price for the Common Stock on the
Nasdaq National Market for the five trading days immediately preceding the date
of issuance and sale of such shares (the "Current Market Price"), then the
Warrant Purchase Price will be adjusted downward to equal the Current Market
Price.
(e) Exceptions to Adjustment Provisions. Without limiting any
other exception contained in this Section 3, and in addition thereto, no
adjustment need be made for (i) the issuance, conversion, exchange or exercise
of options to acquire shares of Common Stock by officers, directors, employees,
consultants, vendors, suppliers, dealers or other service providers of the
Company which are outstanding as of the date hereof or which are or may be
issuable pursuant to stock option or similar equity based plans approved by the
Board of Directors, (ii) options, warrants or other agreements or rights to
purchase capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding prior to the
Closing Date and any issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection therewith,
(iii) securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of the date hereof and any issuance of Common Stock
in connection therewith, (iv) rights to purchase shares of Common Stock in lieu
of cash dividends pursuant to a Company plan for reinvestment of dividends or
interest, (v) a change in the par value of shares of Common Stock (including a
change from par value to no par value or vice versa), (vi) sales of shares of
Common Stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan qualified under Section
423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, approved by the Company's
Board of Directors where such sales are at prices at least equal to 85% of the
fair market value as applicable pursuant to Section 423 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended and (vii) shares of Common Stock issued in good faith
in connection with any business collaboration, including a merger or acquisition
where a company or business is merged with or acquired by the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that, on the date of determination
of the number of shares of Common Stock to be so issued, the Board of Directors
shall have determined in good faith that the issue price of such shares shall be
at least equal to the current market value of such shares.
(f) Notice of Adjustment. Upon each adjustment of the
aforementioned adjustments, the Company shall give prompt written notice thereof
addressed to the registered holder hereof at the address of such holder as shown
on the records of the Company, which notice shall state the change, if any, in
the Warrant Purchase Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or
decrease, if any, in the number of shares of Common Stock (or, other securities
or assets) issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, setting forth in
reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such
calculation is based. Any determination that the Company or the Board of
Directors makes pursuant to this Section 3 shall be conclusive.
4. Notice of Capital Changes. In case at any time: (a) the Company shall
pay any dividend payable in stock upon its Common Stock or make any distribution
to the holders of its Common Stock; (b) the Company shall offer for subscription
pro rata to the holders of its Common Stock any additional shares of stock of
any class or other rights; (c) there shall be any capital reorganization or
reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, or consolidation or merger
of the Company with, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to,
another corporation; or (d) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company; then, in any one or more
of such cases, the Company shall give to the holder of this Warrant: (i) at
least 10 days' prior written notice of the date on which the books of the
Company shall close or a record shall be taken for such dividend, distribution
or subscription rights or for determining rights to vote in respect of any such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up, and (ii) in the case of any such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or
winding up, at least 20 days' prior written notice of the date when the same
shall take place. Such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause (i) shall
also specify, in the case of any such dividend, distribution or subscription
rights, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled thereto,
and such notice in
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<PAGE>
accordance with the foregoing clause (ii) shall also specify the date on which
the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for
securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or
winding up, as the case may be. Each such written notice shall be given by first
class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holder of this Warrant at the
address of such holder as shown on the books of the Company.
5. Common Stock. As used herein in the term "Common Stock" shall mean
and include the Company's Common Stock authorized on the date of the original
issue of the Warrants and shall also include any capital stock of any class of
the Company thereafter authorized which shall not be limited to a fixed sum or
percentage in respect of the rights of the holders thereof to participate in
dividends and in the distribution of assets upon the voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; provided that the shares
which may be purchased pursuant to this Warrant shall include only shares of the
class of Common Stock, $.001 par value referred to at the beginning of this
agreement or, in the case of any reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger or sale of assets of the character referred to in
subparagraph 3(b) hereof, the stock, securities or assets provided for in such
subparagraph.
6. Transfer. Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, this Warrant
and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, at the offices
referred to in paragraph 1 hereof by the holder hereof in person or by duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Warrant properly endorsed. Each
taker and holder of this Warrant, by taking or holding the same, consents and
agrees that this Warrant, when endorsed for transfer by the attachment of stock
powers or otherwise, shall be deemed negotiable and that when this Warrant is so
endorsed, the holder hereof may be treated by the Company and all other persons
dealing with this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for any purposes and as
the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by this Warrant or to the
transfer hereof on the books of the Company, any notice to the contrary
notwithstanding; but until each transfer on such books, the Company may treat
the registered holder hereof as the owner hereof for all purposes.
7. Exchange. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon its surrender at the
offices referred to in paragraph 1, for new Warrants of like tenor representing
in the aggregate the right to subscribe for and purchase the number of shares
which may be subscribed for and purchased hereunder, each of such new Warrants
to represent the right to subscribe for and purchase such number of shares as
shall be designated by the holder hereof at the time of such surrender. Upon
receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft or
destruction, upon delivery of a bond of indemnity satisfactory to the Company,
or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender or cancellation of this
Warrant, the Company will issue to the holder hereof a new warrant of like
tenor, in lieu of this Warrant, representing the right to subscribe for and
purchase the number of shares which may be subscribed for and purchased
hereunder.
8. Rights of the Holder. The Warrant holder shall not, by virtue hereof,
be entitled to any rights of a stockholder in the Company, either at law or
equity, and the rights of the Warrant holder are limited to those expressed in
the Warrant Certificate and the Common Stock Purchase Agreement and are not
enforceable against the Company except to the extent set forth herein.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ariel Corporation has caused this Warrant to be
signed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.
ARIEL CORPORATION
By:________________________________________
Jack R. Loprete, Vice President, Finance
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<PAGE>
SUMMARY INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR PURCHASER
(to be read in conjunction with the entire Common Stock Purchase Agreement)
A. Complete the following items in the Common Stock Purchase Agreement:
1. Signature Page - Provide the information regarding the Purchaser
requested on the signature page. The agreement must be executed by an
individual authorized to bind the Purchaser.
2. Exhibit B - Registration Statement Questionnaire: Provide the
information requested by the Registration Statement Questionnaire.
3. Exhibit C - Stock Certificate Questionnaire: Provide the information
requested by the Stock Certificate Questionnaire.
3. Exhibit D-1 and D-2 - Purchaser Certificate: Provide the information
requested by the Certificate for individual Purchasers or the
Certificate for Corporate, Partnership, Trust, Foundation and Joint
Purchasers, as applicable.
B. Return the properly completed and signed Common Stock Purchase Agreement
signature pages and Exhibits B, C and D-1 or D-2, as applicable, to:
Ms. Nathalie M. Garagnon, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
C. Instructions regarding the transfer of funds for the purchase of Shares will
be sent by facsimile to the Purchaser by the Placement Agent at a later date.
D. Upon the resale of the Shares or the Warrant Shares by the Purchasers after
the Registration Statement covering the Shares is effective, as described in the
Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser:
1. must deliver a current prospectus of the Company to the buyer
(prospectuses must be obtained from the Company at the Purchaser's
request); and
2. must send a letter in the form of Exhibit E to the Company so that the
Shares or the Warrant Shares may be properly transferred.
B-1
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
REGISTRATION STATEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE
In connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement,
please provide us with the following information:
1. Registration, please state your or your organization's name exactly as
it should appear in the "Selling Stockholder" section of the
Registration Statement:
___________________________________________________________________
2. Please provide the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock that
you or your organization will own immediately after Closing, including
those purchased by you or your organization pursuant to this Agreement
and those shares of Common Stock purchased by you or your organization
through other transactions:
___________________________________________________________________
3. Have you or your organization had any position, office or other
material relationship within the past three years with the Company or
its affiliates?
_____ Yes _____ No
If yes, please indicate the nature of any such relationships below:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
B-2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
CERTIFICATE QUESTIONNAIRE
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Agreement, please provide us with the
following information:
1. The exact name that your Shares and Warrant are to be registered in
(this is the name that will appear on your stock or Warrant
certificate(s)). You may use a nominee name if appropriate:
_________________________________________________________________
2. The relationship between the Purchaser 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 response to item 1 above:
C-1
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D-1
CERTIFICATE FOR CORPORATE, PARTNERSHIP,
TRUST, FOUNDATION AND JOINT PURCHASERS
If the investor is a corporation, partnership, trust, pension plan,
foundation, joint purchasers (other than a married couple) or other entity, an
authorized officer, partner, or trustee must complete, date and sign this
Certificate.
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned certifies that the representations and responses below
are true and accurate.
(a) The investor has been duly formed and is validly existing and has
full power and authority to invest in the Company. The person signing on behalf
of the undersigned has the authority to exercise and deliver the Common Stock
Purchase Agreement on behalf of the Purchaser, and to take other sections with
respect thereto.
(b) Indicate the form of entity of the undersigned:
________ Limited Partnership
________ General Partnership
________ Corporation
________ Revocable Trust (identify each grantor and indicate under what
circumstances the trust is revocable by the grantor _______________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
(Continue on a separate piece of paper, if necessary.)
____________ Other Type of Trust (indicate type of trust and, for
trusts other than pension trust, name the guarantors and
beneficiaries:____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
(Continue on a separate piece of paper, if necessary.)
D-1-1
<PAGE>
____________ Other form of organization (indicate form of
organization (_______)
(c) Indicate the approximate date the undersigned entity was
formed: ________
(d) In order for the Company to offer and sell the Shares in
conformance with state and federal securities laws, the following information
must be obtained regarding your investor sums. Please initial each category
applicable to you as an investor in the Company.
____ 1. A bank as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or
any savings and loan association or other institution as defined in Section
3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act whether acting in its individual or fiduciary
capacity;
____ 2. A broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
____ 3. An insurance company as defined in Section 2(13) of the
Securities Act;
____ 4. As investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 or a business development company as defined in Section
2(a)(48) of that Act;
____ 5. A Small Business Investment Company licensed by the U.S. Small
Business Administration under Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business
Investment Act of 1958;
____ 6. A plan established and maintained by a state, its political
subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political
subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in
excess of $5,000,000;
____ 7. An employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, if the investment decision is made by a
plan fiduciary, as defined in Section 3(21) of such act, which is either a bank,
savings and loan association, insurance company, or registered investment
adviser, or if the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of
$5,000,000 or, if a self-directed plan, with investment decisions made solely by
persons that are accredited investors;
____ 8. A private business development company as defined in
Section 202(a)(23) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
____ 9. An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, a corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or
partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares, with
total assets in excess of $5,000,000;
____ 10. A trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed
for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares, whose purchase is directed by
a sophisticated person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters that such person is capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of investing in the Company;
____ 11. An entity in which all of the equity owners qualify under any
of the above subparagraphs. If the undersigned belongs to this investor category
only, list the equity owners of the undersigned, and the investor category which
each such equity owner satisfies:
D-1-2
<PAGE>
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(Combine on a separate piece of paper, if necessary.)
Dated: _________________________ , 2000
_______________________________________
Name of investors
_______________________________________
Signature and title of authorized
officer, partner or trustee
D-1-3
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D-2
CERTIFICATE FOR INDIVIDUAL PURCHASERS
If the investor is an individual Purchaser (or married couple) the
Purchaser must complete, date and sign the Certificate.
CERTIFICATE
I certify that the representations and responses below are
true and accurate:
In order for the Company to offer and sell the Shares in
conformance with state and federal securities laws, the following information
must be obtained regarding your investor status. Please initial each category
applicable to you as an investor in the Company.
(1) A natural person whose net worth, either individually or jointly with
such person's spouse exceeds $1,000,000.
(2) A natural person who had an income in excess of $200,000, or joint
income with the person's spouse in excess of $300,000, in 1996, 1997 and 1998,
and reasonable expects to have individual income reaching the same level in
1999.
(3) An executive officer or director of the Company.
Dated: ___________________________
Name(s) of Purchaser
__________________________________
Signature
__________________________________
Signature
D-2-1
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E
PURCHASER'S CERTIFICATE OF SUBSEQUENT SALE
Attention:
PURCHASER'S CERTIFICATE OF SUBSEQUENT SALE
The undersigned, ___________________ of _________________ hereby
certify that I am the Purchaser of the shares evidenced by the attached
certificate or I am the authorized representative of the Purchaser of the shares
evidenced by the attached certificate, and as such, have sold such shares on
_____________ in accordance with Registration Statement No. 333-_____ dated
______________ and the requirement of delivering a current prospectus by the
Company has been complied with in connection with such sale.
Print or Type:
Name of Purchaser
(Individual or Institution):
____________________________________
Name of Individual
representing
Purchaser, if an Institution:
____________________________________
Title of Individual
representing
Purchaser, if an Institution:
____________________________________
Signature by:
Individual or Individual
representing Purchaser:
____________________________________
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<PAGE>
PURCHASER'S CERTIFICATE FOR
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
I, __________________, certify that I am_____________________ of
___________________ (the "Purchaser"), and that, as such, I am authorized to
execute this certificate on behalf of the Purchaser pursuant to Section 5.7 of
the Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 24, 2000 (the "Purchase
Agreement") among Ariel Corporation and the Purchasers party thereto, and DO
HEREBY FURTHER CERTIFY THAT:
1. as of the date hereof, the representations and warranties of the
Purchaser contained in the Purchase Agreement are true and correct in all
material respects, and
2. the Purchaser has complied in all material respects with all of the
agreements and satisfied all of the conditions set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Purchaser's
Certificate on this 1st day of March, 2000.
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
PURCHASER'S CERTIFICATE FOR
INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
I, __________________, (the "Purchaser") pursuant to Section 5.7 of the
Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February ___, 2000 (the "Purchase
Agreement") among Ariel Corporation and the Purchasers party thereto, and DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THAT:
1. as of the date hereof, the representations and warranties of the
Purchaser contained in the Purchase Agreement are true and correct in all
material respects, and
2. the Purchaser has complied in all material respects with all of the
agreements and satisfied all of the conditions set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Purchaser's Certificate on this
___ day of February, 2000.
By: _______________________________
Name:
