UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 14, 2026
Allbirds, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-40963 | 47-3999983 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
530 Washington St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(628) 225-4848
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
||
| Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value | BIRD | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Facility Matters
Securities Purchase Agreement
As previously disclosed, on April 14, 2026, Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Investor”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investor senior secured convertible notes in an aggregate original principal amount of up to $50.0 million (the “Convertible Notes”), convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (the “Facility”). The proceeds of the Facility are anticipated to be used primarily for the purchase of Electronics Assets (as defined herein) by a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, NewBird AI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NewBird Subsidiary”) and the costs and expenses of the private placements. On April 19, 2026, the Purchase Agreement was amended and restated (as so amended and restated, the “A&R Purchase Agreement”).
In connection with entry into the A&R Purchase Agreement and related transactions, on April 14, 2026, the Company filed a preliminary proxy statement (“Preliminary Proxy Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), for a special meeting of stockholders (“Special Meeting”) in which the Company has included a proposal asking stockholders to approve, among other matters, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our Class A common stock representing more than 19.99% upon the conversion of the Convertible Notes (the “Nasdaq Proposal”).
The A&R Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants. Pursuant to the A&R Purchase Agreement, for the twenty-four months immediately following the date on which the Convertible Notes are first issued, the Investor has the right to co-invest for at least 55% of any of the Company’s future financing deals on the same terms with other investors.
GPU Lease
Using proceeds from the initial tranche of the Convertible Notes, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary (the
“Lessor”), escrowed funds for Lessor’s initial purchase of server equipment utilizing current-generation NVIDIA Blackwell
GPUs (the “Purchased GPU Assets”). The escrowed funds are subject to release upon delivery of final invoices, which is
expected within 14 days. Simultaneously, the Lessor entered into an approximately $2.75 million, three-year lease agreement
with a subsidiary of QumulusAI, Inc. (the “Lessee”) for the Purchased GPU Assets, with an end-of-term purchase option
provided to the Lessee. This lease agreement represents the Company’s first transaction within its new business line and marks the initial step towards executing its pivot into the compute infrastructure space.
Convertible Notes
The Convertible Notes contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including certain limitations on debt, liens, restricted payments, asset transfers, changes in the business and transactions with affiliates. The Convertible Notes also contain standard and customary events of default.
The Convertible Notes, if issued, will be issued in multiple closings. The initial $5.25 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes would be issued as follows: $3.25 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes at the initial closing, and an additional $2.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions and the approval of the Nasdaq Proposal. The remaining additional tranches, in an aggregate principal amount of up to $44.75 million in Convertible Notes, may be sold at the option of the Investor.
Unless earlier converted, or redeemed, the Convertible Notes will mature on the second anniversary of the date of issuance (the “Maturity Date”), and we are required to pay, on the Maturity Date, all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid late charges on such principal and interest, if any
The Convertible Notes bear interest at the rate of 12.0% per annum which (a) will commence accruing on the date of issuance, (b) will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months and (c) will be payable, subject to the satisfaction of customary equity conditions, in shares of our Class A common stock or, at our option, in cash, in arrears on the first calendar day of each calendar quarter, commencing on the three month anniversary of the issuance date (each an “Interest Date”). If a holder elects to convert or redeem all or any portion of a Convertible Note prior to the Maturity Date, all accrued and unpaid interest on the amount being converted or redeemed will also be payable. The Convertible Notes are issued with a 5% original issue discount. We are required to pay a late charge not in excess of 17% on any amount of principal or other amounts that are not paid when due.
The Convertible Notes will be senior secured obligations of the Company (subject only to certain permitted indebtedness, including the indebtedness of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries under the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined herein) to be paid in full concurrently with the closing of the Asset Sale, as defined herein), which will be secured by the Electronics Assets and the Company’s equity in the NewBird Subsidiary, and upon the closing of the Asset Sale, all the other assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. Subject to the foregoing, until such date no Convertible Notes remain outstanding, all payments due under the Convertible Notes will be senior to all of our other indebtedness and other indebtedness of any of our subsidiaries.
Each holder of Convertible Notes may convert all, or any part, of the outstanding principal of the Convertible Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, any make-whole amount and any late charges thereon, at any time, at such holder’s option, into our Class A common stock at the “Conversion Price” of 120% of the lower of (x) the closing bid price of our Class A common stock on the Trading Day ended immediately prior to the time of initial filing of the initial preliminary proxy with respect to the Asset Sale and (y) the closing bid price on the trading day ended immediately preceding the closing date of such applicable tranche (subject to proportional adjustment upon the occurrence of any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination and/or similar transactions). Each holder of Convertible Notes may also convert all, or any part, of the outstanding principal of the Convertible Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, any make-whole amount and any late charges thereon (subject to an additional 25% premium if an Event of Default then exists), at any time, at such holder’s option, into our Class A common stock at the “Alternate Conversion Price” calculated as follows: the lower of: (i) the Conversion Price then in effect; and (ii) either, (x) if no event of default then exists, 93% of the lowest volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock during the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice; or (y) if an event of default then exists, 85% of the lowest volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock during the fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Days ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice.
Conversions and issuance of our Class A common stock pursuant to the Convertible Notes are prohibited if such conversion or issuance would cause the applicable holder (together with its affiliates) to beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the outstanding our Class A common stock (which percentage is subject to increase to 9.99% or decrease, at the option of such holder, except that any increase will only be effective upon 61-days’ prior notice to us).
The Convertible Notes contain standard and customary events of default including but not limited: (i) the suspension from trading or the failure to list our Class A common stock within certain time periods; (ii) failure to make payments when due under the Convertible Notes; and (iii) bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company. If an event of default occurs, each holder may require us to redeem all or any portion of the Convertible Notes (including all accrued and unpaid interest and late charges thereon), in cash, at a 25% redemption premium to the greater of the face value and the equity value of our Class A common stock underlying the Convertible Notes.
The Convertible Notes prohibit us from entering specified fundamental transactions (including, without limitation, mergers, business combinations and similar transactions) unless we (or our successor) is a public company that assumes in writing all of our obligations under the Convertible Notes.
In connection with a change of control of the Company, each holder may require us to redeem in cash all, or any portion, of the Convertible Notes at a 25% redemption premium to the greater of (i) the face value of the Convertible Notes to be redeemed, (ii) the equity value of our Class A common stock underlying such Convertible Notes, and (iii) the equity value of the change of control consideration payable to the holder of our Class A common stock underlying such Convertible Notes.
The holders of the Convertible Notes may require us to redeem the Convertible Notes, in whole or in part, upon the occurrence of certain offerings of equity or equity-linked securities and/or any asset transfer or sale. In such an event, we would be required to redeem Convertible Notes using 25% of the gross proceeds of any Subsequent Placement and 100% of the gross proceeds of any asset transfer or sale (other than the Asset Sale), as applicable.
Registration Rights Agreement
On April 19, 2026, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investor (“Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has granted to the Investor customary registration rights with respect to the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes.
The foregoing descriptions of the A&R Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Notes and the Registration Rights Agreements are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of those agreements, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in such agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific date, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.
Support Matters
As previously disclosed, on April 8, 2026, the Company entered into Support Agreements with certain stockholders of the Company. The form of Support Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Credit Agreement Matters
On April 19, 2026, the Company, Allbirds International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), the Lenders party thereto, and Second Avenue Capital Partners LLC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (in such capacities, the “Agent”) entered into a Second Amendment to Credit Agreement and Other Loan Documents (the “Second Amendment to Credit Agreement”), which Second Amendment to Credit Agreement amends that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025 (the “Existing Credit Agreement”, and as amended by the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Guarantor, the other Persons from time to time party thereto as “Guarantors,” the Lenders party thereto, and the Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined in the paragraphs found under the subheading “Second Amendment to Credit Agreement” have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Amended Credit Agreement. The Second Amendment to Credit Agreement among other things, amends the Existing Credit Agreement to expressly permit the Company to enter into the Purchase Agreement, Issue the Convertible Notes and the grant liens on the Company’s assets (including on the Electronics Assets) in favor of the Investor.
In connection with the Second Amendment to Credit agreement, on April 19, 2026, the Company, the Guarantor, the Agent, the Investor and the NewBird Subsidiary entered into a Subordination Agreement (the “Subordination Agreement”), to among other things, provide for the subordination of (i) the Company’s obligations to the Investor arising under the Facility to all of the Company’s obligations owing to the Agent arising under Amended Credit Agreement and (ii) the Investor’s security interests in the Company’s assets and property (other than the Company’s equity in the NewBird Subsidiary) to all of the Agent’s security interests in the Company’s assets and property. The foregoing descriptions of the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement and the Subordination Agreement are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of those agreements, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.5 and 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in such agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific date, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.
| Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information under the heading “Credit Agreement Matters” in Item 1.01 is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
| Item 3.02 | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
The information under the heading “Facility Matters” in Item 1.01 is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On April 15, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the Facility and related matters. A copy of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
The information set forth in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section. The information in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, may not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing to this Current Report.
| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
Amended Business Plan
As previously disclosed, on March 29, 2026, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with Allbirds IP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company affiliated with American Exchange Group (the “Purchaser” and the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement, the “Asset Sale”), to sell the Purchased Assets of the Company, which relate to the Company’s existing footwear business and represent a significant amount of our assets.
We have been operating these footwear assets at a material loss and do not believe that continuing to operate these footwear assets is sustainable or beneficial to our stockholders. Following the closing of the Asset Sale, the Buyer in the Asset Sale will own the “Allbirds” tradename and all related intellectual property, and the brand and footwear business will continue under the stewardship of the Buyer.
Following the closing of the Asset Sale, which includes the rights to the use of the name “Allbirds,” we intend to continue operating Allbirds, Inc. under a new corporate name. With respect to the renamed corporate entity, we are investigating potential opportunities in the computing infrastructure market, including (either directly or through its subsidiaries) the acquisition and monetization of graphics processing units, related high-performance computing infrastructure capable to support high workloads (whether from artificial intelligence and machine learning or other needs of potential future customers) and other related assets (which we refer to collectively, as “Electronics Assets,” and such anticipated business, the “Electronics Infrastructure Business”). In support of such business, we have entered into the Facility (as defined herein), the proceeds of which would permit the Company, through the NewBird Subsidiary, to purchase Electronics Assets and develop and expand the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business. These arrangements, which may include, without limitation, sales, leases, sale/lease-back transactions and other monetization structures, are anticipated to be capital-efficient and scalable, with customers bearing substantially all operating, maintenance, and infrastructure costs, allowing us to grow our asset base and revenue without a commensurate increase in operating overhead.
Supplemental Risk Factors
In connection with the Facility and expansion of the business of the Company, the Company is filing supplemental risk factors (“Supplemental Risk Factors”) pertaining to the diversification of its business strategy to update disclosures contained in the Company’s prior public filings, including those discussed under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in (i) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. The supplemental risk factors are filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Special Meeting
In the Preliminary Proxy Statement, the Company disclosed that the Special Meeting was scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on May 18, 2026 and that the record date for the Special Meeting was April 13, 2026. The Special Meeting may be postponed for a later date, and the meeting date and record date of the Special Meeting will be announced when determined by the board of directors of the Company.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking” statements, as the term is defined under federal securities laws, that are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding or implying the Company’s expectations and intentions regarding the completion or effects of entry into the Facility, the issuance of the Convertible Notes, whether the Investor will invest in additional tranches of the Convertible Notes, the use of proceeds from the Facility, its expectations and intentions regarding the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, expectations and intentions regarding the completion or effects of the Asset Sale, expectations and intentions regarding the continuing business of the Company, the renaming of the corporate entity, expectations and intentions regarding the Electronics Infrastructure Business, and other statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “designed,” “objective,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or facts to differ materially from those statements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment in which new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make.
A further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our actual outcomes and results to differ materially from any results, performance, or achievements anticipated, expressed, or implied by these forward-looking statements is included in the filings we make with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Supplemental Risk Factors, and other reports we may file with the SEC from time to time.
The forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K relate only to events as of the date stated or, if no date is stated, as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this Current Report on Form 8-K to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Allbirds, Inc. | ||||||
| Dated: April 20, 2026 | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Joe Vernachio |
|||||
| Joe Vernachio | ||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
Exhibit 10.1
[Certain portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K and, where applicable, have been marked with “[*]” to indicate where omissions have been made. The marked information has been omitted because it is (i) not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.]
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of April 19, 2026, is by and among Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices located at 530 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 (the “Company”), and each of the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a “Buyer” and collectively, the “Buyers”).
RECITALS
A. On April 14, 2026, the Company entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Original Securities Purchase Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Buyers, pursuant to which the Company contemplated issuing the Notes (as defined below).
B. The Company and the Buyers desire to amend and restate the Original Securities Purchase Agreement in the form hereof.
C. The Company and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the 1933 Act.
D. The Company has authorized a new series of senior secured convertible notes of the Company, in the aggregate original principal amount of up to $50,000,000, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Notes”), which Notes shall be convertible into shares of Common Stock (as defined below) (the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes, including, without limitation, upon conversion or otherwise, collectively, the “Conversion Shares”), in accordance with the terms of the Notes.
E. Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, at the Initial Closing (as defined below), a Note in the aggregate original principal amount as set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate principal amount for all Buyers shall not exceed $3,250,000) (each, an “Initial Note”, and collectively, the “Initial Notes”)(the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Initial Notes, upon conversion or otherwise, collectively, the “Initial Conversion Shares”).
F. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company may require each Buyer (or one or more Buyers, severally, may require the Company, as applicable) to participate in one or more Additional Closings (as defined below) for the purchase by such Buyer, and the sale by the Company, of (a) with respect to the Additional Mandatory Closing (as defined below), a Note in the aggregate original principal amount not to exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount as set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate principal amount for all Buyers participating in the Additional Mandatory Closing shall not exceed $2,000,000 (or such other amount as the Company and each Buyer shall mutually agree in writing)) and (b) with respect to any Additional Optional Closings (as defined below), one or more Notes with an aggregate original principal amount for all Additional Optional Closings not to exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount as set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate principal amount for all Buyers for all Additional Optional Closings shall not exceed $44,750,000 (or such other amount as the Company and each Buyer shall mutually agree in writing)) (each Note issued at an Additional Closing, an “Additional Note”, and collectively, the “Additional Notes”) (the Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Additional Notes, upon conversion or otherwise, collectively, the “Additional Conversion Shares”).
G. At the Initial Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.
H. The Notes and the Conversion Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities”.
I. The Notes will rank senior to all outstanding and future indebtedness of the Company, and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) other than Permitted Indebtedness (as defined in the Notes) secured by Permitted Liens (as defined in the Notes) and will be secured by a first priority perfected security interest in all of the existing and future assets of the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Collateral (as defined in Security Agreement (as defined below))) as evidenced by (a) a security agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holders (as defined below), in their sole discretion (as amended, restated, supplemented and modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”), (b) the Controlled Account Agreements (as defined in the Security Agreement) (the “Control Agreements”, and together with the Security Agreement, the Perfection Certificate(s) (as defined below) and the other security documents and agreements entered into in connection with this Agreement and each of such other documents and agreements, as each may be amended or modified from time to time, collectively, the “Security Documents”), and (c) a guaranty executed by NewBird AI, LLC, a Subsidiary of the Company (the “New Subsidiary”), in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holders, in their sole discretion (the “Guaranty”), pursuant to which the New Subsidiary guarantees the obligations of the Company under the Transaction Documents (as defined below).
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J. The Company has entered into agreements to consummate the Shoe Business Sale (as defined in the Notes) and related transactions described in the Preliminary Proxy Statement (as defined below), all of which are permitted under the Transaction Documents, and related agreements without notice, consent, penalty, or further obligation.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES.
(a) Purchase of Notes.
(i) Purchase of Initial Notes. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6(a) and 7(a) below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company on the Initial Closing Date an Initial Note in the original principal amount as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers (the “Initial Closing”).
(ii) Purchase of Additional Notes. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 1(b)(ii), 6(b) and 7(b) below, the Company shall issue and sell to such Buyer, and such Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company certain Additional Notes on the applicable Additional Closing Date (as defined below) in such aggregate original principal amount as is set forth in such applicable Additional Closing Notice (as defined below) (each such closing of the purchase of such Additional Notes, each, an “Additional Closing”).
(b) Closing. Each of the Initial Closing and any Additional Closings (collectively, the “Closings”) of the purchase of the Notes by the Buyers shall occur at the offices of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007.
(i) Initial Closing. The date and time of the Initial Closing (the “Initial Closing Date”) shall be 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the first (1st) Business Day on which the conditions to the Initial Closing set forth in Sections 6(a) and 7(a) below are satisfied or waived (or such other date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and each Buyer). As used herein “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
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(ii) Additional Closings.
(A) Additional Closings at Buyers’ Election. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to closing set forth in this Section 1(b)(ii)(A) and Section 6(b) and Section 7(b) below (Sections 6(b) and 7(b), collectively, the “Additional Closing Conditions”), at any time after the Initial Closing Date, each Buyer, severally, shall have the right, exercisable by e-mail delivery of a written notice to the Company (each, an “Additional Optional Closing Notice”, and the date of such Additional Optional Closing Notice, each, an “Additional Optional Closing Notice Date”) to purchase, and to require the Company to sell to such Buyer, at one or more Additional Closings (such Closing, each, an “Additional Optional Closing”, and the date of any such Additional Optional Closing, each, an “Additional Optional Closing Date”), up to such maximum aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes equal to the sum of the amounts set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in columns (4) and (5) on the Schedule of Buyers (subject to reduction, on a dollar-for-dollar basis for the aggregate principal amount of any Additional Notes issued in any Additional Closing prior to such applicable Additional Optional Closing Date)(each, an “Additional Optional Closing Maximum Amount”). Each Additional Optional Closing Notice shall specify (x) the proposed date and time of the applicable Additional Closing (which, if unspecified in such Additional Optional Closing Notice, shall be the first (1st) Trading Day (as defined in the Notes) after such Additional Optional Closing Notice or such other date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and each Buyer) and (y) the aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes to be purchased by each Buyer at such applicable Additional Optional Closing, which shall not exceed the Additional Optional Closing Maximum Amount of such applicable Buyer (or such other amount as the Company and such Buyer shall mutually agree). The Buyers’ rights to effect any Additional Optional Closings hereunder shall automatically terminate on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Initial Closing Date (or such earlier date as the Buyers shall determine, in their sole discretion, by delivery of a written notice to the Company)(the “Additional Closing Expiration Date”).
(B) Additional Mandatory Closings at Company’s Election. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to closing set forth in this Section 1(b)(ii)(B) and the Additional Closing Conditions and only to the extent no Equity Conditions Failure (as defined in the Notes) then exists, at any time on or after the latest to occur of (x) the Effective Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) of such applicable Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) registering the resale of the Required Registration Amount (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) of Registrable Securities issued or issuable pursuant to the Notes, (y) the Stockholder Approval Date (as defined below), and (z) the Shoe Sale Closing Time (as defined in the Notes), the Company shall have the right to require each Buyer to purchase at such Additional Closing (such Additional Closing, the “Additional Mandatory Closing”, and the date of such Additional Mandatory Closing, the “Additional Mandatory Closing Date” and together with each Additional Optional Closing Date, each, an “Additional Closing Date”, and together with the Initial Closing Date, each, a “Closing Date”) up to such maximum aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes equal to the amount as set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4)
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on the Schedule of Buyers (less any aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes issued in any Additional Optional Closing on or prior to such date of determination)(each, an “Additional Mandatory Closing Maximum Amount”) by delivering a written notice by e-mail and overnight courier to each Buyer (each, an “Additional Mandatory Closing Notice”, and together with each Additional Optional Closing Notice, each, an “Additional Closing Notice”, and the date of such Additional Mandatory Closing Notice, each, a “Additional Mandatory Closing Notice Date”, and together with each Additional Optional Closing Notice Date, each, an “Additional Closing Notice Date”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Trading Day period above shall be extended by the number of Trading Days during such period and any extension thereof contemplated by this provision on which any Buyer is restricted from trading due to such Buyer’s possession of material non-public information of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries. Each Additional Mandatory Closing Notice shall be irrevocable. Each Additional Mandatory Closing Notice shall (x) certify that no Event of Default (as defined in the Notes) then exists and, other than with respect to deliverables to be delivered to each Buyer at the Additional Mandatory Closing, all the conditions to closing set forth in this Section 1(b)(ii)(B) and the Additional Closing Conditions have been satisfied in full as of such applicable Additional Mandatory Closing Notice Date, (y) specify the proposed Additional Mandatory Closing Date (which shall be no less than one (1) Business Days nor more than twenty (20) Business Days after such Additional Mandatory Closing Notice Date, subject to the right of each Buyer, by written notice to the Company, to accelerate such applicable Additional Closing Date to an earlier date, not less than one (1) Trading Days after such applicable Additional Mandatory Closing Notice Date (or such other date as such Buyer and the Company shall mutually agree)), and (z) specify the aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes to be purchased by each Buyer at the Additional Mandatory Closing, which shall not exceed the individual or aggregate, as applicable, Additional Mandatory Closing Maximum Amount of such applicable Buyer (or such other amount as the Company and such Buyer shall mutually agree). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be entitled to effect the Additional Mandatory Closing if on the Additional Mandatory Closing Date there is an Event of Default or if the Company fails to satisfy any of the other conditions to closing herein (unless waived in writing by the applicable Buyer participating in the Additional Mandatory Closing). The Company’s rights to effect the Additional Mandatory Closing hereunder shall terminate upon the Additional Closing Expiration Date.
(c) Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price for the Initial Notes to be purchased by each Buyer (the “Initial Purchase Price”) shall be the amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (6) on the Schedule of Buyers. The aggregate purchase price for the Additional Notes to be purchased by each Buyer at any given Additional Closing (each, an “Additional Purchase Price”, and together with the Initial Purchase Price, each, a “Purchase Price”) which together with the Additional Purchase Price of each prior Additional Closing, shall not exceed the aggregate amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (7) of the Schedule of Buyers. The aggregate purchase price for the Notes to be purchased by each Buyer at any given Closing shall be $950 for each $1,000 of aggregate principal amount of Notes.
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(d) Form of Payment.
(i) Initial Closing. On the Initial Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its respective Initial Purchase Price (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) to the Company for the Initial Notes to be issued and sold to such Buyer at the Initial Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Initial Flow of Funds Letter (as defined below) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer an Initial Note in the aggregate original principal amount as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) of the Schedule of Buyers, in each case, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.
(ii) Additional Closing. On each Additional Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its respective applicable Additional Purchase Price for such Additional Closing (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) to the Company for the Additional Notes to be issued and sold to such Buyer at each Additional Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the applicable Additional Flow of Funds Letter (as defined below) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer an Additional Note in the aggregate original principal amount as is set forth in the applicable Additional Closing Notice to be issued to such Buyer, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.
(e) Rank. Each party hereto acknowledges that the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be part of a single series of notes and shall rank pari passu with each other.
2. BUYER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
Each Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company with respect to only itself that, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date:
(a) Organization; Authority. Such Buyer is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(b) No Public Sale or Distribution. Such Buyer (i) is acquiring its Note, and (ii) upon conversion of its Note will acquire the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion thereof, in each case, for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof in violation of applicable securities laws, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided, however, by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree, or make any representation or warranty, to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption from registration under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities in violation of applicable securities laws. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and any Governmental Entity (as defined below) or any department or agency thereof.
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(c) Accredited Investor Status. Such Buyer is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.
(d) Reliance on Exemptions. Such Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Buyer’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer to acquire the Securities.
(e) Information. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities that have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.
(f) No Governmental Review. Such Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(g) Transfer or Resale. Such Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement and Section 4(h) hereof: (i) the resale of the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) the Securities are subsequently registered for resale pursuant to an effective registration statement, (B) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company (if requested by the Company) an opinion of counsel, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) such Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”); (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144, and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Securities may be pledged in connection with a bona fide margin account or other loan or financing arrangement secured by the Securities and such pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, this Section 2(g).
(h) Validity; Enforcement. This Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which such Buyer is a party has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.
(i) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which such Buyer is a party and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.
(j) No Group. Other than affiliates of such Buyer who are also Buyers under this Agreement, such Buyer is not under common control with or acting in concert with any other Buyer and is not part of a “group” for purposes of the 1934 Act Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).
(k) Residency. Such Buyer is a resident of (or formed under the laws of, applicable) that jurisdiction specified below its address on the Schedule of Buyers.
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3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date:
(a) Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are entities duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authority to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations (including results thereof), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects (other than with respect to prospects in connection with Shoe Business Sale) of the Company or any Subsidiary, individually or taken as a whole, (ii) the transactions contemplated hereby or in any of the other Transaction Documents or any other agreements or instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith or (iii) the authority or ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to perform any of their respective obligations under any of the Transaction Documents (as defined below). Other than the Persons (as defined below) set forth on Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the “Form 10-K”), which shall be liquidated and dissolved in connection with the Shoe Business Sale, and the New Subsidiary, the Company has no Subsidiaries. “Subsidiaries” means any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, (I) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (II) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and each of the foregoing, is individually referred to herein as a “Subsidiary.”
(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. Each Subsidiary has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the consummation by the Company and its Subsidiaries of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes and the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes) have been duly authorized by the Company’s board of directors and each of its Subsidiaries’ board of directors or other governing body, as applicable, and (other than (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, (B) a Form D, (C) the 8-K Filing (as defined below), and (D) preliminary and definitive proxy materials for the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Stockholder Approval, (ii) the Stockholder Approval, (iii) the filing of a listing of additional shares application with Nasdaq, and (iv) any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies (collectively, the “Required Approvals”)) no further filing, consent or authorization is required by the Company, its Subsidiaries, their respective boards of directors or their stockholders or other governing body. This Agreement has been, and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party will be prior to such Closing, duly executed and delivered by the Company, and each constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies and except as rights to indemnification and to contribution may be limited by federal or state securities law.
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Prior to such Closing, the Transaction Documents to which each Subsidiary is a party will be duly executed and delivered by each such Subsidiary, and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of each such Subsidiary, enforceable against each such Subsidiary in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies and except as rights to indemnification and to contribution may be limited by federal or state securities law. “Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, the Administrative Fee Letter (as defined below), the Security Documents, the Guaranty, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Support Agreements (as defined below), the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (as defined below) and each of the other agreements and instruments entered into or delivered by any of the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, as may be amended from time to time.
(c) Issuance of Securities. The issuance of the Notes are duly authorized and upon issuance and payment in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, mortgages, defects, claims, liens, pledges, charges, taxes, rights of first refusal, encumbrances, security interests and other encumbrances (collectively “Liens”) with respect to the issuance thereof. As of each Closing, the Company shall have reserved from its duly authorized capital stock not less than the Required Reserve Amount (as defined below). Upon issuance or conversion in accordance with the Notes, the Conversion Shares, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights or Liens with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Buyers in this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Securities is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.
(d) No Conflicts. After giving effect to the Required Approvals, the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and its Subsidiaries and the consummation by the Company and its Subsidiaries of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes and the Conversion Shares and the reservation for issuance of the Conversion Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below) (including, without limitation, any certificate of designation contained therein), Bylaws (as defined below), certificate of formation, memorandum of association, articles of association, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 3(d), conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) in any respect under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including, without limitation, foreign, federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of The Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Principal Market”) and including all applicable foreign, federal and state laws, rules and regulations) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected.
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(e) Consents. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(e) (collectively, the “Required Consents”), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is required to obtain any consent from, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than the Required Approvals), any Governmental Entity (as defined below) or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its respective obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company or any Subsidiary is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence (including, without limitation, the Required Consents) have been or will be obtained or effected on or prior to the applicable Closing Date, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries are aware of any facts or circumstances which might prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company is not in violation of the requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which could reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock in the foreseeable future. “Governmental Entity” means any nation, state, county, city, town, village, district, or other political jurisdiction of any nature, federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, or other government, governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal), multi-national organization or body; or body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, including any entity or enterprise owned or controlled by a government or a public international organization or any of the foregoing.
(f) Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) to its knowledge, a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the shares of Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act). The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each Buyer that the Company’s and each Subsidiary’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents to which it is a party has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company, each Subsidiary and their respective representatives.
(g) No General Solicitation; Placement Agent’s Fees. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers’ commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, placement agent fees payable to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, as placement agent (the “Placement Agent”), in connection with the sale of the Securities.
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The fees and expenses of the Placement Agent to be paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are as set forth on Schedule 3(g) attached hereto. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such claim. The Company acknowledges that it has engaged the Placement Agent in connection with the sale of the Securities. Other than the Placement Agent, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged any placement agent or other agent in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
(h) No Integrated Offering. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of stockholders of the Company for purposes of the 1933 Act or under any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of the Principal Market or any other exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated for quotation. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings of securities of the Company.
(i) Dilutive Effect. The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Conversion Shares will increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of the Notes in accordance with this Agreement and the Notes is, in each case, absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.
(j) Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, interested stockholder, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement), stockholder rights plan or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or otherwise which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Buyer’s ownership of the Securities. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(k) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. During the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, proxy statements, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits and appendices included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “SEC Documents”).
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The Company has delivered or has made available to the Buyers or their respective representatives true, correct and complete copies of each of the SEC Documents not available on the EDGAR system. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect as of the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments, which will not be material, either individually or in the aggregate). The reserves, if any, established by the Company or the lack of reserves, if applicable, are reasonable based upon facts and circumstances known by the Company on the date hereof and there are no loss contingencies that are required to be accrued by the Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board which are not provided for by the Company in its financial statements or otherwise. No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to any of the Buyers which is not included in the SEC Documents (including, without limitation, information referred to in Section 2(e) of this Agreement or in the disclosure schedules to this Agreement) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstance under which they are or were made. The Company is not currently contemplating to amend or restate any of the financial statements (including, without limitation, any notes or any letter of the independent accountants of the Company with respect thereto) included in the SEC Documents (the “Financial Statements”), nor is the Company currently aware of facts or circumstances which would require the Company to amend or restate any of the Financial Statements, in each case, in order for any of the Financial Statements to be in compliance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Company has not been informed by its independent accountants that they recommend that the Company amend or restate any of the Financial Statements or that there is any need for the Company to amend or restate any of the Financial Statements.
(l) Absence of Certain Changes. Since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements contained in a Form 10-K, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development in the business, assets, liabilities, properties, operations (including results thereof), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects (other than with respect to prospects in connection with Shoe Business Sale) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements contained in a Form 10-K, or as disclosed in the proxy statement filed by the Company on April 15, 2026 (the “Preliminary Proxy Statement”), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets, individually or in the aggregate, outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) made any capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, outside of the ordinary course of business.
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Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any law or statute relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or winding up, nor does the Company or any Subsidiary have any knowledge or reason to believe that any of their respective creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at such Closing, will not be Insolvent (as defined below). For purposes of this Section 3(l), “Insolvent” means, (i) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (A) the present fair saleable value of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets is less than the amount required to pay the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ total Indebtedness (as defined below), (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries are unable to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured or (C) the Company and its Subsidiaries intend to incur or believe that they will incur debts that would be beyond their ability to pay as such debts mature; and (ii) with respect to the Company and each Subsidiary, individually, (A) the present fair saleable value of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s (as the case may be) assets is less than the amount required to pay its respective total Indebtedness, (B) the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) is unable to pay its respective debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured or (C) the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its respective ability to pay as such debts mature. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any business or in any transaction, and is not about to engage in any business or in any transaction, for which the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s remaining assets constitute unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.
(m) No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities, Developments or Circumstances. Except as disclosed in the Preliminary Proxy Statement, no event, liability, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or is reasonably expected to exist or occur with respect to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or condition (financial or otherwise), that (i) would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws on a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC relating to an issuance and sale by the Company of its Common Stock and which has not been publicly announced, (ii) could have a material adverse effect on any Buyer’s investment hereunder or (iii) could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. After giving effect to the Required Approvals, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designation, preferences or rights of any other outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Bylaws or their Certificate of Incorporation, organizational charter, certificate of formation, memorandum of association, articles of association, Certificate of Incorporation or certificate of incorporation or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except in all cases for possible violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company is not in violation of any of the rules, regulations or requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock by the Principal Market in the foreseeable future. During the two years prior to the date hereof, (i) the Common Stock has been listed or designated for quotation on the Principal Market, (ii) trading in the Common Stock has not been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market and (iii) the Company has received no communication, written or oral, from the SEC or the Principal Market regarding the suspension or delisting of the Common Stock from the Principal Market, except as disclosed in the SEC Documents. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit. Other than as set forth on Schedule 3(n), there is no agreement, commitment, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the conduct of business by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted other than such effects, individually or in the aggregate, which have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(o) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, the Company’s subsidiary or any director, officer, agent, employee, nor any other person acting for or on behalf of the foregoing (individually and collectively, a “Company Affiliate”) have violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”) or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, nor has any Company Affiliate offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money, or offered, given, promised to give, or authorized the giving of anything of value, to any officer, employee or any other person acting in an official capacity for any Governmental Entity to any political party or official thereof or to any candidate for political office (individually and collectively, a “Government Official”) or to any person under circumstances where such Company Affiliate knew or was aware of a high probability that all or a portion of such money or thing of value would be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official, for the purpose of:
(i) (A) influencing any act or decision of such Government Official in his/her official capacity, (B) inducing such Government Official to do or omit to do any act in violation of his/her lawful duty, (C) securing any improper advantage, or (D) inducing such Government Official to influence or affect any act or decision of any Governmental Entity, or
(ii) assisting the Company or its Subsidiaries in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, the Company or its Subsidiaries.
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(p) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
(q) Transactions With Affiliates. Except as disclosed in the Form 10-K under the section titled “Transactions with Related Persons,” no current or former employee, partner, director, officer or stockholder (direct or indirect) of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any associate, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any affiliate of any thereof, or any relative with a relationship no more remote than first cousin of any of the foregoing, is presently (i) a party to any transaction with the Company or its Subsidiaries (including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services by, or rental of real or personal property from, or otherwise requiring payments to, any such director, officer or stockholder or such associate or affiliate or relative Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries)) or (ii) the direct or indirect owner of an interest in any corporation, firm, association or business organization which is a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries (except for a passive investment (direct or indirect) in less than 5% of the common stock of a company whose securities are traded on or quoted through an Eligible Market (as defined in the Notes)), nor does any such Person receive income from any source other than the Company or its Subsidiaries which relates to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or should properly accrue to the Company or its Subsidiaries. No employee, officer, stockholder or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or member of his or her immediate family is indebted to the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries indebted (or committed to make loans or extend or guarantee credit) to any of them, other than (i) for payment of salary for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, and (iii) for other standard employee benefits made generally available to all employees or executives (including stock option agreements outstanding under any stock option plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Company).
(r) Equity Capitalization.
(i) Definitions:
(A) “Common Stock” means (x) the Company’s shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and (y) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
(B) “Preferred Stock” means (x) the Company’s blank check preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, the terms of which may be designated by the board of directors of the Company in a certificate of designations and (y) any capital stock into which such preferred stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such preferred stock (other than a conversion of such preferred stock into Common Stock in accordance with the terms of such certificate of designations).
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(ii) Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company is 2,220,000,000 shares, consisting of (A) 2,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which, 6,220,796 are issued and outstanding and 5,589,253 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to Common Stock Equivalents (as defined below) (other than the Notes) exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock, (B) 200,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and collectively with the Common Stock, the “Consolidated Common Stock”), of which, 2,540,381 are issued and outstanding and 267,877 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to Common Stock Equivalents exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, shares of Class B Common Stock, and (C) 0 shares of Preferred Stock. 10,999 shares of Common Stock are held in the treasury of the Company. “Common Stock Equivalents” means any capital stock or other security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is at any time and under any circumstances directly or indirectly convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any capital stock or other security of the Company (including, without limitation, Common Stock) or any of its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Valid Issuance; Available Shares; Affiliates. All of such outstanding shares are duly authorized and have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Schedule 3(r)(iii) sets forth the number of shares of Consolidated Common Stock that are (A) reserved for issuance pursuant to Common Stock Equivalents (other than the Notes) and (B) that are, as of the date hereof, owned by Persons who are “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act and calculated based on the assumption that only officers, directors and holders of at least 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Consolidated Common Stock are “affiliates” without conceding that any such Persons are “affiliates” for purposes of federal securities laws) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To the Company’s knowledge, no Person owns 10% or more of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Consolidated Common Stock (calculated based on the assumption that all Common Stock Equivalents, whether or not presently exercisable or convertible, have been fully exercised or converted (as the case may be) taking account of any limitations on exercise or conversion (including “blockers”) contained therein without conceding that such identified Person is a 10% stockholder for purposes of federal securities laws).
(iv) Existing Securities; Obligations. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents: (A) none of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s assets, shares, interests or capital stock is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or Liens suffered or permitted by the Company or any Subsidiary; (B) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (C) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act (except pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement); (D) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (E) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; and (F) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement.
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(v) Organizational Documents. The Company has furnished to the Buyers true, correct and complete copies of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation ”), and the Company’s bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), and the terms of all Common Stock Equivalents and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto.
(s) Indebtedness and Other Contracts. Except for any indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries that shall remain outstanding as of the Shoe Sale Closing Time as set forth on Schedule 3(s), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, (i) has any outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound, (ii) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than such contract, agreement or instrument transferred or satisfied in full in connection with the consummation of the Shoe Business Sale), (iii) has any financing statements securing obligations in any amounts filed in connection with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv) is in violation of any term of, or in default under, any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (v) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company’s officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents which are not so disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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For purposes of this Agreement: (x) “Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, “capital leases” in accordance with GAAP) (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with GAAP, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; and (y) “Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.
(t) Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(t), there is no action, suit, arbitration, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by the Principal Market, any court, public board, other Governmental Entity, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Common Stock or any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ officers or directors, whether of a civil or criminal nature or otherwise, in their capacities as such. No director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has willfully violated 18 U.S.C. §1519 or engaged in spoliation in reasonable anticipation of litigation. Without limitation of the foregoing, there has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the SEC involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any current or former director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The SEC has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act. After reasonable inquiry of its employees, the Company is not aware of any fact which might result in or form the basis for any such action, suit, arbitration, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Entity.
(u) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will be unable to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(v) Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. The Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relations with their employees are good. No current (or former) executive officer (as defined in Rule 501(f) promulgated under the 1933 Act) or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has notified the Company or any such Subsidiary that such officer intends to leave the Company or any such Subsidiary or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with the Company or any such Subsidiary. No current (or former) executive officer or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer or other key employee (as the case may be) does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Title.
(i) Real Property. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries holds good title to all real property, leases in real property, facilities or other interests in real property owned or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Real Property”) owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as applicable). The Real Property is free and clear of all Liens and is not subject to any rights of way, building use restrictions, exceptions, variances, reservations, or limitations of any nature except for (a) Liens for current taxes not yet due and (b) zoning laws and other land use restrictions that do not impair the present or anticipated use of the property subject thereto. Any Real Property held under lease by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(ii) Fixtures and Equipment. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as applicable) has good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the tangible personal property, equipment, improvements, fixtures, and other personal property and appurtenances that are used by the Company or its Subsidiary in connection with the conduct of its business (the “Fixtures and Equipment”). The Fixtures and Equipment are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, are not in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs and are sufficient for the conduct of the Company’s and/or its Subsidiaries’ businesses (as applicable) in the manner as conducted prior to such Closing. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns all of its Fixtures and Equipment free and clear of all Liens except for (a) liens for current taxes not yet due, (b) Permitted Liens, and (c) zoning laws and other land use restrictions that do not impair the present or anticipated use of the property subject thereto.
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(x) Intellectual Property Rights. Other than any Intellectual Property Rights (as defined below) of the Company or its Subsidiaries to be sold, assigned or transferred in connection with the Shoe Business Sale, if any (collectively, the “Shoe Business IP”), the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, original works of authorship, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights and all applications and registrations therefor (“Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted and presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the patents owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are listed on Schedule 3(x)(i) (other than the Shoe Business IP). Except as set forth in Schedule 3(x)(ii), none of the Company’s Intellectual Property Rights have expired or terminated or have been abandoned or are expected to expire or terminate or are expected to be abandoned, within three years from the date of this Agreement (other than the Shoe Business IP). The Company does not have any knowledge of any infringement by the Company or its Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property Rights of others. There is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought, or to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, being threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries regarding its Intellectual Property Rights. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing infringements or claims, actions or proceedings. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their Intellectual Property Rights.
(y) Environmental Laws. (i) The Company and its Subsidiaries (A) are in compliance with any and all Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them, if any, under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (C) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where, in each of the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The term “Environmental Laws” means all federal, state, local or foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.
(ii) No Hazardous Materials:
(A) have been disposed of or otherwise released from any Real Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in violation of any Environmental Laws; or
(B) are present on, over, beneath, in or upon any Real Property or any portion thereof in quantities that would constitute a violation of any Environmental Laws. No prior use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Real Property has occurred that violates any Environmental Laws, which violation would have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(iii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries knows of any other person who or entity which has stored, treated, recycled, disposed of or otherwise located on any Real Property any Hazardous Materials, including, without limitation, such substances as asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls.
(iv) None of the Real Properties are on any federal or state “Superfund” list or Liability Information System (“CERCLIS”) list or any state environmental agency list of sites under consideration for CERCLIS, nor subject to any environmental related Liens.
(z) Subsidiary Rights. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary.
(aa) Tax Status. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has timely made or filed all applicable foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has timely paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries know of no basis for any such claim. The Company is not operated in such a manner as to qualify as a passive foreign investment company, as defined in Section 1297 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) for United States federal income tax purposes of the consolidated group of which the Company is the common parent, if any, shall not be adversely effected by the transactions contemplated hereby. The transactions contemplated hereby do not constitute an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code, thereby preserving the Company’s ability to utilize such NOLs.
(bb) Internal Accounting and Disclosure Controls. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the 1934 Act) that is effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 1934 Act)
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that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant, Governmental Entity or other Person relating to any potential material weakness or significant deficiency in any part of the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(cc) Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its 1934 Act filings and is not so disclosed or that otherwise could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(dd) Investment Company Status. The Company is not, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities will not be, an “investment company,” an affiliate of an “investment company,” a company controlled by an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(ee) Acknowledgement Regarding Buyers’ Trading Activity. It is understood and acknowledged by the Company that (i) following the public disclosure of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in accordance with the terms thereof, none of the Buyers have been asked by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to agree, nor has any Buyer agreed with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to desist from effecting any transactions in or with respect to (including, without limitation, purchasing or selling, long and/or short) any securities of the Company, or “derivative” securities based on securities issued by the Company or to hold any of the Securities for any specified term; (ii) any Buyer, and counterparties in “derivative” transactions to which any such Buyer is a party, directly or indirectly, presently may have a “short” position in the Common Stock which was established prior to such Buyer’s knowledge of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents; (iii) each Buyer shall not be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm’s length counterparty in any “derivative” transaction; and (iv) each Buyer may rely on the Company’s obligation to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange, as applicable, of the Securities as and when required pursuant to the Transaction Documents for purposes of effecting trading in the Common Stock of the Company. The Company further understands and acknowledges that following the public disclosure of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents pursuant to the Press Release (as defined below) one or more Buyers may engage in hedging and/or trading activities (including, without limitation, the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock) at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, including, without limitation, during the periods that the value and/or number of the Conversion Shares deliverable with respect to the Securities are being determined and such hedging and/or trading activities (including, without limitation, the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock), if any, can reduce the value of the existing stockholders’ equity interest in the Company both at and after the time the hedging and/or trading activities are being conducted. The Company acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging and/or trading activities do not constitute a breach of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Transaction Document or any of the documents executed in connection herewith or therewith.
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(ff) Manipulation of Price. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities (other than the Placement Agent), (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) paid or agreed to pay any Person for research services with respect to any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(gg) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has ever been, and so long as any of the Securities are held by any of the Buyers, shall become, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code, and the Company and each Subsidiary shall so certify upon any Buyer’s request.
(hh) Registration Eligibility. The Company is eligible to register the Registrable Securities for resale by the Buyers using Form S-3 promulgated under the 1933 Act.
(ii) Transfer Taxes. On each Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income or similar taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the issuance, sale and transfer of the Securities to be sold to each Buyer hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company, and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been complied with.
(jj) Bank Holding Company Act; Regulation T, U or X.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.
(ii) The sale of the Notes, the use of proceeds thereof and the other transactions contemplated thereby or by the other Transaction Documents, will not violate or be inconsistent with the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
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(kk) Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in, or subject to, Rule 144(i).
(ll) Illegal or Unauthorized Payments; Political Contributions. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge (after reasonable inquiry of its officers and directors), any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or other representatives of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other business entity or enterprise with which the Company or any Subsidiary is or has been affiliated or associated, has, directly or indirectly, made or authorized any payment, contribution or gift of money, property, or services, whether or not in contravention of applicable law, (i) as a kickback or bribe to any Person or (ii) to any political organization, or the holder of or any aspirant to any elective or appointive public office except for personal political contributions not involving the direct or indirect use of funds of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(mm) Money Laundering. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and all other applicable U.S. and non-U.S. anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the laws, regulations and Executive Orders and sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, including, but not limited, to (i) Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 entitled, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism” (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)); and (ii) any regulations contained in 31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V.
(nn) Management. During the past five-year period, no current or former officer or director or, to the knowledge of the Company, no current ten percent (10%) or greater stockholder of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been the subject of:
(i) a petition under bankruptcy laws or any other insolvency or moratorium law or the appointment by a court of a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer for such Person, or any partnership in which such person was a general partner at or within two years before the filing of such petition or such appointment, or any corporation or business association of which such person was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of the filing of such petition or such appointment;
(ii) a conviction in a criminal proceeding or a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations that do not relate to driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence);
(iii) any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining any such person from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities:
(A) Acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity; (B) Engaging in any particular type of business practice; or
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(C) Engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of securities laws or commodities laws;
(iv) any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than sixty (60) days the right of any such person to engage in any activity described in the preceding sub paragraph, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;
(v) a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC or other authority to have violated any securities law, regulation or decree and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC or any other authority has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated; or
(vi) a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated.
(oo) Stock Option Plans. Each stock option granted by the Company was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the applicable stock option plan of the Company and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.
(pp) No Disagreements with Accountants and Lawyers. There are no material disagreements of any kind presently existing, or reasonably anticipated by the Company to arise, between the Company and the accountants and lawyers formerly or presently employed by the Company and the Company is current with respect to any fees owed to its accountants and lawyers which could affect the Company’s ability to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. In addition, on or prior to the date hereof, the Company had discussions with its accountants about its financial statements previously filed with the SEC. Based on those discussions, the Company has no reason to believe that it will need to restate any such financial statements or any part thereof.
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(qq) No Disqualification Events. With respect to Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506(b) under the 1933 Act (“Regulation D Securities”), none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering contemplated hereby, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person” and, together, “Issuer Covered Persons”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the 1933 Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Buyers a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
(rr) Other Covered Persons. The Company is not aware of any Person (other than the Placement Agent) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of Buyers or potential purchasers in connection with the sale of any Regulation D Securities.
(ss) No Additional Agreements. The Company does not have any agreement or understanding with any Buyer with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Transaction Documents.
(tt) Public Utility Company Holding Act. None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company,” as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Company Holding Act of 2005.
(uu) Federal Power Act. None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation as a “public utility” under the Federal Power Act, as amended.
(vv) Ranking of Notes. Other than the Permitted Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Notes) on or prior to the Shoe Sale Closing Time, no Indebtedness of the Company, at any Closing, will be senior to, or pari passu with, the Notes in right of payment, whether with respect to payment or redemptions, interest, damages, upon liquidation or dissolution or otherwise.
(ww) Cybersecurity. The Company and its Subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company’s business. The Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable physical, technical and administrative controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data, including “Personal Data,” used in connection with their businesses. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679); (iv) any information which would qualify as “protected health information” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (collectively, “HIPAA”); and (v) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation.
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There have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person or such, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same except in each case, where such would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification except in each case, where such would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xx) Compliance with Data Privacy Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in compliance with all applicable state and federal data privacy and security laws and regulations, including without limitation HIPAA, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to prepare to comply with, and since May 25, 2018, have been and currently are in compliance with, the GDPR (EU 2016/679) (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”) except in each case, where such would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and its Subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). The Company and its Subsidiaries have at all times made all disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have, to the knowledge of the Company, been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any Subsidiary: (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.
(yy) Disclosure. The Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Buyers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, non-public information concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than the existence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. The Company understands and confirms that each of the Buyers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
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All disclosure provided to the Buyers regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, their businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. All of the written information furnished after the date hereof by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to each Buyer pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, taken as a whole, will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date on which such information is so provided and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each press release issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement did not at the time of release contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. No event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or conditions (financial or otherwise), which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure at or before the date hereof or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly disclosed. All financial projections and forecasts that have been prepared by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and made available to the Buyers have been prepared in good faith based upon reasonable assumptions and represented, at the time each such financial projection or forecast was delivered to each Buyer, the Company’s best estimate of future financial performance (it being recognized that such financial projections or forecasts are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by any such financial projections or forecasts may differ from the projected or forecasted results). The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Buyer makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 2.
4. COVENANTS.
(a) Best Efforts. Each Buyer shall use its best efforts to timely satisfy each of the covenants hereunder and conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Section 6 of this Agreement. The Company shall use its best efforts to timely satisfy each of the covenants hereunder and conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Section 7 of this Agreement.
(b) Form D and Blue Sky. The Company shall file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and provide a copy thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company shall, on or before each Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to, qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyers at the applicable Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyers on or prior to each Closing Date. Without limiting any other obligation of the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall timely make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, all applicable federal securities laws and all applicable “Blue Sky” laws), and the Company shall comply with all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations and the like relating to the offering and sale of the Securities to the Buyers.
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(c) Reporting Status. Until the date on which the Buyers shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities (the “Reporting Period”), the Company shall timely file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would no longer require or otherwise permit such termination. From the time Form S-3 is available to the Company for the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall take all actions necessary to maintain its eligibility to register the Registrable Securities for resale by the Buyers on Form S-3.
(d) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities, (i) with respect to the Initial Closing, for transaction expenses and to purchase GPU assets and related ancillary equipment for AI model training and (ii) with respect to each Additional Closing, for working capital purposes and as set forth in the applicable Additional Closing Notice and/or confirmation thereof, as applicable, but not, in each case, directly or indirectly, for (x) the satisfaction of any indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the repayment of Notes), (y) the redemption or repurchase of any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (z) the settlement of any outstanding litigation.
(e) Financial Information. The Company agrees to send the following to each Investor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) during the Reporting Period (i) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR and are available to the public through the EDGAR system, within one (1) Business Day after the filing thereof with the SEC, a copy of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any interim reports or any consolidated balance sheets, income statements, stockholders’ equity statements and/or cash flow statements for any period other than annual, any Current Reports on Form 8-K and any registration statements (other than on Form S-8) or amendments filed pursuant to the 1933 Act, (ii) unless the following are either filed with the SEC through EDGAR or are otherwise widely disseminated via a recognized news release service (such as PR Newswire), on the same day as the release thereof, e-mail copies of all press releases issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (iii) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR, copies of any notices and other information made available or given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the making available or giving thereof to the stockholders.
(f) Listing. The Company shall promptly secure the listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all of the Underlying Securities (as defined below) upon each national securities exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as the case may be) (subject to official notice of issuance) and shall maintain such listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all Underlying Securities from time to time issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents on such national securities exchange or automated quotation system. The Company shall maintain the Common Stock’s listing or authorization for quotation (as the case may be) on The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Global Select Market (each, an “Eligible Market”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action which could be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on an Eligible Market.
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The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 4(f). “Underlying Securities” means (i) the Conversion Shares, and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares or the Notes, respectively, including, without limitation, (1) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2) shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged and shares of capital stock of a Successor Entity (as defined in the Notes) into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, in each case, without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Notes.
(g) Fees. The Company shall reimburse the lead Buyer (i) at the Initial Closing, a non-accountable amount of $150,000.00 for the fees and expenses of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, securities counsel to the lead Buyer, Blank Rome LLP, special collateral counsel to the lead Buyer, and Flexible Consulting, (ii) at each Additional Closing, (A) a non-accountable amount of $35,000.00, in each case, for legal fees of outside counsel and disbursements of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, securities counsel to the lead Buyer, (B) a non-accountable amount of $10,000.00, in each case, for legal fees of outside counsel and disbursements of Blank Rome LLP, special collateral counsel to the lead Buyer, and (C) $10,000.00 to Flexible Consulting for expenses of the lead Buyer, and (iii) costs and expenses incurred by it or its affiliates in connection with the structuring, documentation, diligence, negotiation, and applicable closing and post-closing, as applicable, of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, as applicable,all legal fees of outside counsel and disbursements of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP and Blank Rome LLP, any other reasonable fees and expenses in connection with the structuring, documentation, negotiation and closing of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and due diligence and regulatory filings in connection therewith) (collectively, the “Transaction Expenses”) and shall be withheld by the lead Buyer from its applicable Purchase Price at the applicable Closing, and with respect to the Initial Closing, less $75,000 previously paid by the Company to the lead Buyer; provided, that the Company shall promptly reimburse Kelley Drye & Warren LLP and Blank Rome LLP on demand for all Transaction Expenses not so reimbursed through such withholding at such Closing. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, transfer agent fees, Controlled Account Bank (as defined in the Security Agreement) fees, DTC (as defined below) fees or broker’s commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, any fees or commissions payable to the Placement Agent, who is the Company’s sole placement agent in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement). The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment. Except as otherwise set forth in the Transaction Documents, each party to this Agreement shall bear its own expenses in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Buyers.
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(h) Pledge of Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Securities may be pledged by an Investor in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities. The pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Investor effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, Section 2(g) hereof; provided that an Investor and its pledgee shall be required to comply with the provisions of Section 2(g) hereof in order to effect a sale, transfer or assignment of Securities to such pledgee. The Company hereby agrees to execute and deliver such documentation as a pledgee of the Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge of the Securities to such pledgee by a Buyer.
(i) Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information.
(A) Initial Closing. The Company shall, on or before 9:30 a.m., New York time, on the first (1st) Business Day after the date of this Agreement, issue a press release (the “Initial Press Release”) reasonably acceptable to the Buyers disclosing all the material terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. On or before 9:30 a.m., New York time, on the first (1st) Business Day after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K describing all the material terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching all the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement (and all schedules to this Agreement), the form of Notes, the form of Support Agreement, and the form of the Registration Rights Agreement) (the “Initial 8-K Filing”). From and after the filing of the Initial 8-K Filing, the Company shall have disclosed all material, non-public information (if any) provided to any of the Buyers by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. In addition, effective upon the filing of the Initial 8-K Filing, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates, employees or agents, on the one hand, and any of the Buyers or any of their affiliates, on the other hand, shall terminate.
(B) Additional Closings. The Company shall, on or before 9:30 a.m., New York time, on the first (1st) Business Day after the Company delivers to the Buyers participating (or receives from a Buyer electing to participate, as applicable) in such Additional Closing an Additional Closing Notice, either issue a press release (each, an “Additional Press Release”, and together with the Initial Press Release, the “Press Releases”) or file a Current Report on Form 8-K (each, an “Additional 8-K Filing”, and together with the Initial 8-K Filing, the “8-K Filings”), in each case reasonably acceptable to such Buyer participating in such Additional Closing, disclosing that “an institutional investor” has elected to deliver an Additional Closing Notice to the Company or the Company has elected to effect an Additional Closing, as applicable. From and after the filing of the Additional Press Release or Additional 8-K Filing, solely to the extent such Additional Closing Notice constitutes material non-public information (as specified by the Company in such applicable Additional Closing Notice), the Company shall have disclosed all material, non-public information (if any) provided to any of the Buyers by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
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In addition, effective upon the filing of the Additional 8-K Filing, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates, employees or agents, on the one hand, and any of the Buyers or any of their affiliates, on the other hand, shall terminate.
(i) Limitations on Disclosure. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and each of its and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents not to, provide any Buyer with any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the date hereof without the express prior written consent of such Buyer (which may be granted or withheld in such Buyer’s sole discretion). In the event of a breach of any of the foregoing covenants, including, without limitation, Section 4(o) of this Agreement, or any of the covenants or agreements contained in any other Transaction Document, by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (as determined in the reasonable good faith judgment of such Buyer), in addition to any other remedy provided herein or in the Transaction Documents, such Buyer shall have the right to make a public disclosure, in the form of a press release, public advertisement or otherwise, of such breach or such material, non-public information, as applicable, without the prior approval by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents. No Buyer shall have any liability to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, stockholders or agents, for any such disclosure. To the extent that the Company delivers any material, non-public information to a Buyer without such Buyer’s consent, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that such Buyer shall not have any duty of confidentiality with respect to, or a duty not to trade on the basis of, such material, non-public information. Subject to the foregoing, neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any Buyer shall issue any press releases or any other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of any Buyer, to make the Press Releases and any press release or other public disclosure with respect to such transactions (i) in substantial conformity with the 8-K Filings and contemporaneously therewith and (ii) as is required by applicable law and regulations (provided that in the case of clause (i) each Buyer shall be consulted by the Company in connection with any such press release or other public disclosure prior to its release). Without the prior written consent of the applicable Buyer (which may be granted or withheld in such Buyer’s sole discretion), the Company shall not (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and affiliates to not) disclose the name of such Buyer in any filing, announcement, release or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary and without implication that the contrary would otherwise be true, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no Buyer shall have (unless expressly agreed to by a particular Buyer after the date hereof in a written definitive and binding agreement executed by the Company and such particular Buyer (it being understood and agreed that no Buyer may bind any other Buyer with respect thereto)), any duty of confidentiality with respect to, or a duty not to trade on the basis of, any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(ii) Other Confidential Information. Disclosure Failures; Disclosure Delay Payments. In addition to other remedies set forth in this Section 4(i), and without limiting anything set forth in any other Transaction Document, at any time after each Closing Date if the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents, provides any Buyer with material non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, the “Confidential Information”), the Company shall, on or prior to the applicable Required Disclosure Date (as defined below), publicly disclose such Confidential Information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise (each, a “Disclosure”). From and after such Disclosure, the Company shall have disclosed all Confidential Information provided to such Buyer by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. In addition, effective upon such Disclosure, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates, employees or agents, on the one hand, and any of the Buyers or any of their affiliates, on the other hand, shall terminate. In the event that the Company fails to effect such Disclosure on or prior to the Required Disclosure Date and such Buyer shall have possessed Confidential Information for at least ten (10) consecutive Trading Days (each, a “Disclosure Failure”), then, as partial relief for the damages to such Buyer by reason of any such delay in, or reduction of, its ability to buy or sell shares of Common Stock after such Required Disclosure Date (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity), the Company shall pay to such Buyer an amount in cash equal to the greater of (I) two percent (2%) of the aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased buy such Buyer and (II) the applicable Disclosure Restitution Amount (as defined below), on each of the following dates (each, a “Disclosure Delay Payment Date”): (i) on the date of such Disclosure Failure and (ii) on every thirty (30) day anniversary such Disclosure Failure until the earlier of (x) the date such Disclosure Failure is cured and (y) such time as all such non-public information provided to such Buyer shall cease to be Confidential Information (as evidenced by a certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company to the foregoing effect) (such earlier date, as applicable, a “Disclosure Cure Date”). Following the initial Disclosure Delay Payment for any particular Disclosure Failure, without limiting the foregoing, if a Disclosure Cure Date occurs prior to any thirty (30) day anniversary of such Disclosure Failure, then such Disclosure Delay Payment (prorated for such partial month) shall be made on the second (2nd) Business Day after such Disclosure Cure Date. The payments to which a Buyer shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 4(i)(ii) are referred to herein as “Disclosure Delay Payments.” In the event the Company fails to make Disclosure Delay Payments in a timely manner in accordance with the foregoing, such Disclosure Delay Payments shall bear interest at the rate of two percent (2%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
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(iii) For the purpose of this Agreement the following definitions shall apply:
(A) “Disclosure Failure Market Price” means, as of any Disclosure Delay Payment Date, the price computed as the quotient of (I) the sum of the five (5) highest VWAPs (as defined in the Notes) of the Common Stock during the applicable Disclosure Restitution Period (as defined below), divided by (II) five (5) (such period, the “Disclosure Failure Measuring Period”). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any share dividend, share split, share combination, reclassification or similar transaction that proportionately decreases or increases the Common Stock during such Disclosure Failure Measuring Period.
(B) “Disclosure Restitution Amount” means, as of any Disclosure Delay Payment Date, the product of (x) difference of (I) the Disclosure Failure Market Price less (II) the lowest purchase price, per share of Common Stock, of any Common Stock issued or issuable to such Buyer pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents, multiplied by (y) 10% of the aggregate daily dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg (as defined in the Notes)) of the Common Stock on the Principal Market for each Trading Day either (1) with respect to the initial Disclosure Delay Payment Date, during the period commencing on the applicable Required Disclosure Date through and including the Trading Day immediately prior to the initial Disclosure Delay Payment Date or (2) with respect to each other Disclosure Delay Payment Date, during the period commencing the immediately preceding Disclosure Delay Payment Date through and including the Trading Day immediately prior to such applicable Disclosure Delay Payment Date (such applicable period, the “Disclosure Restitution Period”).
(iv) “Required Disclosure Date” means (x) if such Buyer authorized the delivery of such Confidential Information, either (I) if the Company and such Buyer have mutually agreed upon a date (as evidenced by an e-mail or other writing) of Disclosure of such Confidential Information, such agreed upon date or (II) otherwise, the seventh (7th) calendar day after the date such Buyer first received any Confidential Information or (y) if such Buyer did not authorize the delivery of such Confidential Information, the first (1st) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of such Confidential Information.
(j) Additional Registration Statements. Until the Applicable Date (as defined below) and at any time thereafter while any Registration Statement is not effective or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use or any Current Public Information Failure (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) exists, the Company shall not file a registration statement or an offering statement under the 1933 Act relating to securities that are not the Underlying Securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or such supplements or amendments to registration statements that are outstanding and have been declared effective by the SEC as of the date hereof (solely to the extent necessary to keep such registration statements effective and available and not with respect to any Subsequent Placement (as defined below))). “Applicable Date” means, with respect to any given Closing, the later of (i) the applicable Closing Date and (ii) the earlier of (x) the first date on which the resale by the Buyers of all the Registrable Securities required to be filed on the initial Registration Statement with respect to such Closing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is declared effective by the SEC (and each prospectus contained therein is available for use on such date) or (y) the first date on which all of the Registrable Securities with respect to the Securities issued at such Closing are eligible to be resold by the Buyers pursuant to Rule 144 (or, if a Current Public Information Failure has occurred and is continuing, such later date after which the Company has cured such Current Public Information Failure).
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(k) Additional Issuance of Securities. Until the later of (x) the Additional Closing Expiration Date and (y) such date no Notes remain outstanding (such later date, the “Covenant Defeasance Date”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, issue any Notes (other than to the Buyers as contemplated hereby) and the Company shall not issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Note. The Company agrees that (A) for the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date immediately following the fortieth (40th)Trading Day after the Applicable Date with respect to the Initial Closing Date, and (B) for each period commencing on the applicable Additional Closing Notice Date for such applicable Additional Closing and ending on the twentieth (20th) Trading Day after the Applicable Date for such Additional Closing; provided, that, each such period in clause (A) and (B) above, shall be extended by the number of calendar days during such period and any extension thereof contemplated by this proviso on which any Registration Statement is not effective or any prospectus contained therein is not available for use or any Current Public Information Failure exists (each, a “Restricted Period”), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly issue, offer, sell, grant any option or right to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any issuance, offer, sale, grant of any option or right to purchase or other disposition of) any equity security or any equity-linked or related security (including, without limitation, any “equity security” (as that term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the 1933 Act), any Common Stock Equivalents, any debt, any preferred stock or any purchase rights) (any such issuance, offer, sale, grant, disposition or announcement (whether occurring during the Restricted Period or at any time thereafter) is referred to as a “Subsequent Placement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4(k) shall not apply in respect of the issuance of (i) shares of Common Stock or standard options to purchase Common Stock to directors, officers or employees of the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan (as defined below), provided that (1) all such issuances (taking into account the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such options) after the date hereof pursuant to this clause (i) do not, in the aggregate, exceed more than 10% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date hereof and (2) the exercise price of any such options is not lowered, none of such options are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such options are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (ii) shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) issued prior to the date hereof, provided that the conversion, exercise or other method of issuance (as the case may be) of any such Common Stock Equivalent is made solely pursuant to the conversion, exercise or other method of issuance (as the case may be) provisions of such Common Stock Equivalent that were in effect on the date immediately prior to the date of this Agreement, the conversion, exercise or issuance price of any such Common Stock Equivalents (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) is not lowered, none of such Common Stock Equivalents (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above)
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are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such Common Stock Equivalents (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (iii) the Conversion Shares; and (iv) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to a Permitted VRT (as defined below) (each of the foregoing in clauses (i) through (iv), collectively the “Excluded Securities”). For the purpose of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply: (i) “Approved Stock Plan” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the board of directors of the Company prior to or subsequent to the date hereof pursuant to which shares of Common Stock and standard options to purchase Common Stock may be issued to any employee, officer or director for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such; and (ii) “Permitted VRT” means (x) any at-the-market offering of the Company in an arms-length transaction with a bona fide broker-dealer acceptable to the Required Holders, in their sole discretion (each, a “Permitted ATM”) and (y) any equity line of credit entered into by the Company on terms and conditions acceptable to the Required Holders, in their sole discretion (each, a “Permitted Equity Line”).
(l) Reservation of Shares. Until the Covenant Defeasance Date, the Company shall take all action necessary to at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, no less than 100% of the maximum number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes then outstanding (assuming for purposes hereof that (w) all Additional Notes issuable hereunder shall have been issued at an Additional Closing on the Initial Closing Date, (x) the Notes are convertible at the Floor Price (as defined in the Notes) as of such applicable date of determination, (y) interest on the Notes shall accrue through the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the Initial Closing Date and will be converted into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price equal to the Floor Price as of such applicable date of determination and (z) any such conversion shall not take into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes set forth in the Notes), (collectively, the “Required Reserve Amount”); provided that at no time shall the number of shares of Common Stock reserved pursuant to this Section 4(l) be reduced other than proportionally in connection with any conversion, exercise, required issuance, and/or redemption, as applicable, of Notes. If at any time the number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance is not sufficient to meet the Required Reserve Amount, the Company will promptly take all corporate action necessary to authorize and reserve a sufficient number of shares, including, without limitation, calling a special meeting of stockholders to authorize additional shares to meet the Company’s obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents, in the case of an insufficient number of authorized shares, obtain stockholder approval of an increase in such authorized number of shares, and voting the management shares of the Company in favor of an increase in the authorized shares of the Company to ensure that the number of authorized shares is sufficient to meet the Required Reserve Amount.
(m) Conduct of Business. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity, except where such violations would not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(n) Other Notes; Variable Securities. Until the Covenant Defeasance Date, the Company and each Subsidiary shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any Subsequent Placement involving a Variable Rate Transaction (other than a Permitted VRT). “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company or any Subsidiary (i) issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents either (A) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such Common Stock Equivalents, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such Common Stock Equivalents or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock, other than pursuant to a customary “weighted average” anti-dilution provision or (ii) enters into any agreement (including, without limitation, an equity line of credit or an “at-the-market” offering) whereby the Company or any Subsidiary may sell securities at a future determined price (other than standard and customary “preemptive” or “participation” rights). Each Buyer shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company and its Subsidiaries to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.
(o) Participation Right. At any time on or prior to the second (2nd) anniversary of the Initial Closing Date (or, if later, the date no Notes remain outstanding), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, effect any Subsequent Placement unless the Company shall have first complied with this Section 4(o). The Company acknowledges and agrees that the right set forth in this Section 4(o) is a right granted by the Company, separately, to each Buyer.
(i) At least five (5) Trading Days prior to any proposed or intended Subsequent Placement, the Company shall deliver to each Buyer a written notice (each such notice, a “Pre-Notice”), which Pre-Notice shall not contain any information (including, without limitation, material, non-public information) other than: (A) if the proposed Offer Notice (as defined below) constitutes or contains material, non-public information, a statement asking whether the Investor is willing to accept material non-public information or (B) if the proposed Offer Notice does not constitute or contain material, non-public information, (x) a statement that the Company proposes or intends to effect a Subsequent Placement, (y) a statement that the statement in clause (x) above does not constitute material, non-public information and (z) a statement informing such Buyer that it is entitled to receive an Offer Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Subsequent Placement upon its written request. Upon the written request of a Buyer within three (3) Trading Days after the Company’s delivery to such Buyer of such Pre-Notice, and only upon a written request by such Buyer, the Company shall promptly, but no later than one (1) Trading Day after such request, deliver to such Buyer an irrevocable written notice (the “Offer Notice”) of any proposed or intended issuance or sale or exchange (the “Offer”) of the securities being offered (the “Offered Securities”) in a Subsequent Placement, which Offer Notice shall (A) identify and describe the Offered Securities, (B) describe the price and other terms upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and the number or amount of the Offered Securities to be issued, sold or exchanged, (C) identify the Persons (if known) to which or with which the Offered Securities are to be offered, issued, sold or exchanged and (D) offer to issue and sell to or exchange with such Buyer in accordance with the terms of the Offer such Buyer’s pro rata portion of 55% of the Offered Securities, provided that the number of Offered Securities which such Buyer shall have the right to subscribe for under this Section 4(o) shall be (x) based on such Buyer’s pro rata portion of the aggregate original principal amount of the Notes purchased hereunder by all Buyers (the “Basic Amount”), and (y) with respect to each Buyer that elects to purchase its Basic Amount, any additional portion of the Offered Securities attributable to the Basic Amounts of other Buyers as such Buyer shall indicate it will purchase or acquire should the other Buyers subscribe for less than their Basic Amounts (the “Undersubscription Amount”), which process shall be repeated until each Buyer shall have an opportunity to subscribe for any remaining Undersubscription Amount.
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(ii) To accept an Offer, in whole or in part, such Buyer must deliver a written notice to the Company prior to the end of the fifth (5th) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of the Offer Notice (the “Offer Period”), setting forth the portion of such Buyer’s Basic Amount that such Buyer elects to purchase and, if such Buyer shall elect to purchase all of its Basic Amount, the Undersubscription Amount, if any, that such Buyer elects to purchase (in either case, the “Notice of Acceptance”). If the Basic Amounts subscribed for by all Buyers are less than the total of all of the Basic Amounts, then each Buyer who has set forth an Undersubscription Amount in its Notice of Acceptance shall be entitled to purchase, in addition to the Basic Amounts subscribed for, the Undersubscription Amount it has subscribed for; provided, however, if the Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for exceed the difference between the total of all the Basic Amounts and the Basic Amounts subscribed for (the “Available Undersubscription Amount”), each Buyer who has subscribed for any Undersubscription Amount shall be entitled to purchase only that portion of the Available Undersubscription Amount as the Basic Amount of such Buyer bears to the total Basic Amounts of all Buyers that have subscribed for Undersubscription Amounts, subject to rounding by the Company to the extent it deems reasonably necessary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company desires to modify or amend the terms and conditions of the Offer prior to the expiration of the Offer Period, the Company may deliver to each Buyer a new Offer Notice and the Offer Period shall expire on the fifth (5th) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of such new Offer Notice.
(iii) The Company shall have five (5)Business Days from the expiration of the Offer Period above (A) to offer, issue, sell or exchange all or any part of such Offered Securities as to which a Notice of Acceptance has not been given by a Buyer (the “Refused Securities”) pursuant to a definitive agreement(s) (the “Subsequent Placement Agreement”), but only to the offerees described in the Offer Notice (if so described therein) and only upon terms and conditions (including, without limitation, unit prices and interest rates) that are not more favorable to the acquiring Person or Persons or less favorable to the Company than those set forth in the Offer Notice and (B) to publicly announce (x) the execution of such Subsequent Placement Agreement, and (y) either (I) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Subsequent Placement Agreement or (II) the termination of such Subsequent Placement Agreement, which shall be filed with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K with such Subsequent Placement Agreement and any documents contemplated therein filed as exhibits thereto.
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(iv) In the event the Company shall propose to sell less than all the Refused Securities (any such sale to be in the manner and on the terms specified in Section 4(o)(iii) above), then each Buyer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, withdraw its Notice of Acceptance or reduce the number or amount of the Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance to an amount that shall be not less than the number or amount of the Offered Securities that such Buyer elected to purchase pursuant to Section 4(o)(ii) above multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number or amount of Offered Securities the Company actually proposes to issue, sell or exchange (including Offered Securities to be issued or sold to Buyers pursuant to this Section 4(o) prior to such reduction) and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the original amount of the Offered Securities. In the event that any Buyer so elects to reduce the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance, the Company may not issue, sell or exchange more than the reduced number or amount of the Offered Securities unless and until such securities have again been offered to the Buyers in accordance with Section 4(o)(i) above.
(v) Upon the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all or less than all of the Refused Securities, such Buyer shall acquire from the Company, and the Company shall issue to such Buyer, the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance, as reduced pursuant to Section 4(o)(iv) above if such Buyer has so elected, upon the terms and conditions specified in the Offer. The purchase by such Buyer of any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the preparation, execution and delivery by the Company and such Buyer of a separate purchase agreement relating to such Offered Securities reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such Buyer and its counsel.
(vi) Any Offered Securities not acquired by a Buyer or other Persons in accordance with this Section 4(o) may not be issued, sold or exchanged until they are again offered to such Buyer under the procedures specified in this Agreement.
(vii) The Company and each Buyer agree that if any Buyer elects to participate in the Offer, (A) neither the Subsequent Placement Agreement with respect to such Offer nor any other transaction documents related thereto (collectively, the “Subsequent Placement Documents”) shall include any term or provision whereby such Buyer shall be required to agree to any restrictions on trading as to any securities of the Company or be required to consent to any amendment to or termination of, or grant any waiver, release or the like under or in connection with, any agreement previously entered into with the Company or any instrument received from the Company, (B) the Subsequent Placement Documents shall not include any representation, warranty or covenant more adverse to such Buyer than as set forth in the Transaction Documents, (C) if the Offered Securities to be acquired by a Buyer would result in such Buyer’s (together with its Attribution Parties (as defined in the Notes)) beneficial ownership of Common Stock to exceed the Maximum Percentage (as defined in the Notes), such Buyer shall be permitted to receive Offered Securities (whether as an Common Stock Equivalent or otherwise) with a beneficial ownership limitation in the form of Section 3(d) of the Notes, mutatis mutandis, and (D) any registration rights set forth in such Subsequent Placement Documents shall be similar in all material respects to the registration rights contained in the Registration Rights Agreement.
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(viii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(o) and unless otherwise agreed to by such Buyer, the Company shall either confirm in writing to such Buyer that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Placement has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the Offered Securities, in either case, in such a manner such that such Buyer will not be in possession of any material, non-public information, by the fifth (5th) Business Day following delivery of the Offer Notice. If by such fifth (5th) Business Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Offered Securities has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Buyer, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Buyer shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Should the Company decide to pursue such transaction with respect to the Offered Securities, the Company shall provide such Buyer with another Offer Notice and such Buyer will again have the right of participation set forth in this Section 4(o). The Company shall not be permitted to deliver more than one such Offer Notice to such Buyer in any sixty (60) day period, except as expressly contemplated by the last sentence of Section 4(o)(ii).
(ix) The restrictions contained in this Section 4(o) shall not apply in connection with the issuance of any Excluded Securities. The Company shall not circumvent the provisions of this Section 4(o) by providing terms or conditions to one Buyer that are not provided to all.
(p) Dilutive Issuances. Until the Covenant Defeasance Date, the Company shall not, in any manner, enter into or affect any Dilutive Issuance (as defined in the Notes) if the effect of such Dilutive Issuance is to cause the Company to be required to issue upon conversion of any Notes any shares of Common Stock in excess of that number of shares of Common Stock which the Company may issue upon conversion of the Notes without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Principal Market.
(q) Passive Foreign Investment Company. The Company shall conduct its business, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses, in such a manner as will ensure that the Company will not be deemed to constitute a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code.
(r) Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends. Until the Covenant Defeasance Date, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, redeem, or declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on, any securities of the Company (other than with respect to the Shoe Business Sale) without the prior express written consent of the Buyers.
(s) Corporate Existence. Until the Covenant Defeasance Date, the Company shall not be party to any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Notes) unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Notes (other than with respect to the Shoe Business Sale and as described in the Preliminary Proxy Statement).
(t) [Reserved].
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(u) Conversion Procedures. The form of Conversion Notice (as defined in the Notes) included in the Notes sets forth the totality of the procedures required of the Buyers in order to convert the Notes. Except as provided in Section 5(d), no additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of the Buyers to convert their Notes. The Company shall honor conversions of the Notes and shall deliver the Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Notes.
(v) Collateral Agent. Each Buyer hereby (i) appoints [*], as the collateral agent hereunder and under the other Security Documents (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), and (ii) authorizes the Collateral Agent (and its officers, directors, employees and agents) to take such action on such Buyer’s behalf in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The Collateral Agent shall not have, by reason hereof or any of the other Security Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Buyer. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall have any liability to any Buyer for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection hereof or any other Security Document except to the extent caused by its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, and each Buyer agrees to defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Collateral Agent and all of its officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Collateral Agent Indemnitees”) from and against any losses, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) incurred by such Collateral Agent Indemnitee, whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising from or in connection with the performance by such Collateral Agent Indemnitee of the duties and obligations of Collateral Agent pursuant hereto or any of the Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Holders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all holders of Notes; provided, however, that the Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action which, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, exposes the Collateral Agent to liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or applicable law. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any written notices, statements, certificates, orders or other documents or any telephone message believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and with respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents and its duties hereunder or thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by it.
(w) Successor Collateral Agent.
(i) The Collateral Agent may resign from the performance of all its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents at any time by giving at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Company and each holder of Notes. Such resignation shall take effect upon the acceptance by a successor Collateral Agent of appointment pursuant to clauses (ii) and (iii) below or as otherwise provided below. If at any time the Collateral Agent (together with its affiliates) beneficially owns less than $100,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes, the Required Holders may, by written consent, remove the Collateral Agent from all its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents.
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(ii) Upon any such notice of resignation or removal, the Required Holders shall appoint a successor collateral agent. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor agent, such successor collateral agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the collateral agent, and the Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. After the Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as the collateral agent, the provisions of this Section 4(w) shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(iii) If a successor collateral agent shall not have been so appointed within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of a written notice of resignation or removal, the Collateral Agent shall then appoint a successor collateral agent who shall serve as the Collateral Agent until such time, if any, as the Required Holders appoint a successor collateral agent as provided above.
(iv) In the event that a successor Collateral Agent is appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4(w) that is not a Buyer or an affiliate of any Buyer (or the Required Holders or the Collateral Agent (or its successor), as applicable, notify the Company that they or it wants to appoint such a successor Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Section 4(w)), the Company and each Subsidiary thereof covenants and agrees to promptly take all actions reasonably requested by the Required Holders or the Collateral Agent (or its successor), as applicable, from time to time, to secure a successor Collateral Agent satisfactory to the requesting part(y)(ies), in their sole discretion, including, without limitation, by paying all reasonable and customary fees and expenses of such successor Collateral Agent, by having the Company and each Subsidiary thereof agree to indemnify any successor Collateral Agent pursuant to reasonable and customary terms and by each of the Company and each Subsidiary thereof executing a collateral agency agreement or similar agreement and/or any amendment to the Security Documents reasonably requested or required by the successor Collateral Agent.
(x) Regulation M. The Company will not take any action prohibited by Regulation M under the 1934 Act, in connection with the distribution of the Securities contemplated hereby.
(y) General Solicitation. None of the Company, any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act) or any person acting on behalf of the Company or such affiliate will solicit any offer to buy or offer or sell the Securities by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Regulation D, including: (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio; and (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.
(z) Integration. None of the Company, any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act), or any person acting on behalf of the Company or such affiliate will sell, offer for sale, or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the 1933 Act) which will be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner which would require the registration of the Securities under the 1933 Act or require stockholder approval under the rules and regulations of the Principal Market and the Company will take all action that is appropriate or necessary to assure that its offerings of other securities will not be integrated for purposes of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the Principal Market, with the issuance of Securities contemplated hereby.
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(aa) Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Buyers in writing, prior to each Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person.
(bb) Subsidiary Guarantee. For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, upon any entity becoming a direct, or indirect, Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall cause each such Subsidiary to become party to the Guaranty by executing a joinder to the Guaranty reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Holders.
(cc) Stockholder Approval. The Company shall provide each stockholder entitled to vote at a special meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Stockholder Meeting”), which shall be promptly called and held not later than July 1, 2026 (the “Stockholder Meeting Deadline”), a proxy statement, substantially in the form of the Preliminary Proxy Statement, with such revisions and updates as are permitted by the SEC and reasonably acceptable to the Buyers (the “Proxy Statement”). The Proxy Statement shall solicit each of the Company’s stockholder’s affirmative vote at the Stockholder Meeting for approval of proposals set forth therein (“Stockholder Resolutions”), which shall include, without limitation, a proposal soliciting the approval of the issuance of all of the Securities in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Principal Market (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth in the Notes) (such affirmative approval being referred to herein as the “Stockholder Approval”, and the date such Stockholder Approval is obtained, the “Stockholder Approval Date”), and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such proposals and to cause the Board of Directors of the Company to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposals. The Company shall be obligated to seek to obtain the Stockholder Approval by the Stockholder Meeting Deadline. If, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts the Stockholder Approval is not obtained on or prior to the Stockholder Meeting Deadline, the Company shall cause subsequent Stockholder Meetings to be held on or prior to the sixty (60) day anniversary of the prior Stockholder Meeting thereafter until such Stockholder Approval is obtained.
(dd) No Waiver of Support Agreement. The Company shall not amend, waive, modify or fail to use reasonable best efforts to enforce any provision of any of the Support Agreements, if any. For the avoidance of doubt, no Buyer shall be a third-party beneficiary of any Support Agreement.
(ee) Closing Documents. On or prior to fourteen (14) calendar days after each Closing Date, the Company agrees to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Buyer and Kelley Drye & Warren LLP a complete closing set of the executed Transaction Documents, Securities and any other document required to be delivered to any party pursuant to Section 7 hereof or otherwise.
(ff) Post Closing Transfer Agent Instruction Letter. On or prior to the earlier of (x) the record date of the Shoe Business Sale Dividend (as defined in the Notes) and (y) June 1, 2026, the Company shall duly execute and deliver to each Buyer a copy of the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, in the form acceptable to such Buyer, which instructions shall have been delivered to and acknowledged and agreed to in writing by the Transfer Agent.
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5. REGISTER; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS; LEGEND.
(a) Register. The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to each holder of Securities), a register for the Notes in which the Company shall record the name and address of the Person in whose name the Notes have been issued (including the name and address of each transferee), the principal amount of the Notes held by such Person and the number of Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes held by such Person. The Company shall keep the register open and available at all times during business hours for inspection of any Buyer or its legal representatives.
(b) Transfer Agent Instructions. The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to its transfer agent and any subsequent transfer agent (as applicable, the “Transfer Agent”) in a form acceptable to each of the Buyers (the “Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions”) to issue certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registered in the name of each Buyer or its respective nominee(s), for the Conversion Shares in such amounts as specified from time to time by each Buyer to the Company upon conversion of the Notes. The Company represents and warrants that no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to in this Section 5(b), and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(g) hereof, will be given by the Company to the Transfer Agent with respect to the Securities, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company, as applicable, to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. If a Buyer effects a sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities in accordance with Section 2(g), the Company shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct the Transfer Agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer to effect such sale, transfer or assignment. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves Conversion Shares sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or in compliance with Rule 144, the transfer agent shall issue such shares to such Buyer, assignee or transferee (as the case may be) without any restrictive legend in accordance with Section 5(d) below. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to a Buyer. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section 5(b) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 5(b), that a Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall cause its counsel to issue the legal opinion referred to in the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions to the Transfer Agent on each Effective Date. Any fees (with respect to the Transfer Agent, counsel to the Company or otherwise) associated with the issuance of such opinion or the removal of any legends on any of the Securities shall be borne by the Company.
(c) Legends. Each Buyer understands that the Securities have been issued (or will be issued in the case of the Conversion Shares) pursuant to an exemption from registration or qualification under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, and except as set forth below, the Securities shall bear any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such stock certificates):
[NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN][THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN] REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
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THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
(d) Removal of Legends. Certificates evidencing Securities shall not be required to contain the legend set forth in Section 5(c) above or any other legend (i) while a registration statement (including a Registration Statement) covering the resale of such Securities is effective under the 1933 Act, (ii) following any sale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming the transferor is not an affiliate of the Company), (iii) if such Securities are eligible to be sold, assigned or transferred under Rule 144 (provided that a Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurances that such Securities are eligible for sale, assignment or transfer under Rule 144 which shall not include an opinion of Buyer’s counsel), (iv) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer (other than under Rule 144), provided that such Buyer provides the Company with an opinion of counsel to such Buyer, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act or (v) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the 1933 Act (including, without limitation, controlling judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the SEC). If a legend is not required pursuant to the foregoing, the Company shall no later than one (1) Trading Days (or such earlier date as required pursuant to the 1934 Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation for the settlement of a trade initiated on the date such Buyer delivers such legended certificate representing such Securities to the Company) following the delivery by a Buyer to the Company or the Transfer Agent (with notice to the Company) of a legended certificate representing such Securities (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer, if applicable), together with any other deliveries from such Buyer as may be required above in this Section 5(d), as directed by such Buyer, either: (A) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (“FAST”) and such Securities are Conversion Shares, credit the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which such Buyer shall be entitled to such Buyer’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system or (B) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to such Buyer, a certificate representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive and other legends, registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee (the date by which such credit is so required to be made to the balance account of such Buyer’s or such Buyer’s designee with DTC or such certificate is required to be delivered to such Buyer pursuant to the foregoing is referred to herein as the “Required Delivery Date”, and the date such shares of Common Stock are actually delivered without restrictive legend to such Buyer or such Buyer’s designee with DTC, as applicable, the “Share Delivery Date”).
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The Company shall be responsible for any transfer agent fees or DTC fees with respect to any issuance of Securities or the removal of any legends with respect to any Securities in accordance herewith.
(e) Failure to Timely Deliver; Buy-In. If the Company fails, for any reason or for no reason, to issue and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to a Buyer (or its designee) by the Required Delivery Date, either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, a certificate for the number of Conversion Shares to which such Buyer is entitled and register such Conversion Shares on the Company’s share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, to credit the balance account of such Buyer or such Buyer’s designee with DTC for such number of Conversion Shares submitted for legend removal by such Buyer pursuant to Section 5(d) above or (II) if the Registration Statement covering the resale of the Conversion Shares submitted for legend removal by such Buyer pursuant to Section 5(d) above (the “Unavailable Shares”) is not available for the resale of such Unavailable Shares and the Company fails to promptly, but in no event later than as required pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (x) so notify such Buyer and (y) deliver the Conversion Shares electronically without any restrictive legend by crediting such aggregate number of Conversion Shares submitted for legend removal by such Buyer pursuant to Section 5(d) above to such Buyer’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian system (the event described in the immediately foregoing clause (II) is hereinafter referred as a “Notice Failure” and together with the event described in clause (I) above, a “Delivery Failure”), then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, the Company shall pay in cash to such Buyer on each day after the Share Delivery Date and during such Delivery Failure an amount equal to 2% of the product of (A) the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to such Buyer on or prior to the Required Delivery Date and to which such Buyer is entitled, and (B) any trading price of the Common Stock selected by such Buyer in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the date of the delivery by such Buyer to the Company of the applicable Conversion Shares and ending on the applicable Share Delivery Date. In addition to the foregoing, if on or prior to the Required Delivery Date either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, the Company shall fail to issue and deliver a certificate to a Buyer and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, credit the balance account of such Buyer or such Buyer’s designee with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such Buyer submitted for legend removal by such Buyer pursuant to Section 5(d) above (ii) below or (II) a Notice Failure occurs, and if on or after such Trading Day such Buyer acquires (in an open market transaction, stock loan or otherwise) shares of Common Stock corresponding to all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock submitted for legend removal by such Buyer pursuant to Section 5(d) above (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall, within two (2) Trading Days after such Buyer’s request and in such Buyer’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to such Buyer’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, stock loan costs and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so acquired (including, without limitation, by any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so deliver such certificate or credit such Buyer’s balance account shall terminate and such shares shall be cancelled, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to so deliver to such Buyer a certificate or certificates or credit the balance account of such Buyer or such Buyer’s designee with DTC representing such number of shares of Common Stock that would have been so delivered if the Company timely complied with its obligations hereunder and pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Conversion Shares that the Company was required to deliver to such Buyer by the Required Delivery Date multiplied by (B) the lowest Closing Sale Price (as defined in the Notes) of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the delivery by such Buyer to the Company of the applicable Conversion Shares and ending on the date of such delivery and payment under this clause (ii).
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Nothing shall limit such Buyer’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock (or to electronically deliver such shares of Common Stock) as required pursuant to the terms hereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to any given Notice Failure and/or Delivery Failure, this Section 5(e) shall not apply to the applicable Buyer the extent the Company has already paid such amounts in full to such Buyer with respect to such Notice Failure and/or Delivery Failure, as applicable, pursuant to the analogous sections of the Note held by such Buyer.
(f) FAST Compliance. While any Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain a transfer agent that participates in FAST.
6. CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY’S OBLIGATION TO SELL.
(a) The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Initial Notes to each Buyer at the Initial Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Initial Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:
(i) Such Buyer shall have executed each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.
(ii) Such Buyer and each other Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Initial Purchase Price (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) for the Initial Notes being purchased by such Buyer at the Initial Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Initial Flow of Funds Letter.
(iii) The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Initial Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the Initial Closing Date.
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(b) The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Additional Notes to each Buyer at each Additional Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the applicable Additional Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:
(i) Such Buyer shall have executed each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.
(ii) Such Buyer and each other Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Additional Purchase Price (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) for the Additional Note being purchased by such Buyer at the Additional Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Additional Flow of Funds Letter.
(iii) The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Additional Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the Additional Closing Date.
7. CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.
(a) The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase its Initial Note at the Initial Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Initial Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:
(i) The Company and the New Subsidiary (as the case may be) shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer an Initial Note, in such original principal amount as is set forth across from such Buyer’s name in column (3) of the Schedule of Buyers, being purchased by such Buyer at the Initial Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
(ii) Such Buyer shall have received the opinion of Holland and Hart LLP, the Company’s counsel, dated as of the Initial Closing Date, in the form acceptable to such Buyer.
(iii) [Reserved].
(iv) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of the Company and the New Subsidiary in each such entity’s jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction of formation as of a date within ten (10) days of the Initial Closing Date.
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(v) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the Company’s and the New Subsidiary’s qualification as a foreign corporation and good standing issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of each jurisdiction in which the Company and the New Subsidiary conducts business and is required to so qualify, as of a date within ten (10) days of the Initial Closing Date.
(vi) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation as certified by the Delaware Secretary of State within ten (10) days of the Initial Closing Date.
(vii) The New Subsidiary shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of its Certificate of Incorporation (or such equivalent organizational document) as certified by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of the New Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation within ten (10) days of the Initial Closing Date.
(viii) The Company and the New Subsidiary shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, in the form acceptable to such Buyer, executed by the Secretary of the Company and the New Subsidiary and dated as of the Initial Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company’s and the New Subsidiary’s board of directors in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the organizational documents of the New Subsidiary and (iii) the Bylaws of the Company and the bylaws of the New Subsidiary, each as in effect at the Initial Closing.
(ix) Each and every representation and warranty of the Company shall be true and correct as of the date when made and as of the Initial Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date) and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Initial Closing Date. Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the Initial Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form acceptable to such Buyer.
(x) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a letter from the Transfer Agent certifying the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Initial Closing Date immediately prior to the Initial Closing.
(xi) The Common Stock (A) shall be designated for quotation or listed (as applicable) on the Principal Market and (B) shall not have been suspended, as of the Initial Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor shall suspension by the SEC or the Principal Market have been threatened, as of the Initial Closing Date, either (I) in writing by the SEC or the Principal Market or (II) by falling below the minimum maintenance requirements of the Principal Market.
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(xii) The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Securities, including without limitation, those required by the Principal Market, if any.
(xiii) No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(xiv) Since the date of execution of this Agreement, no event or series of events shall have occurred that reasonably would have or result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than as described in the Preliminary Proxy Statement).
(xv) The Company shall have obtained approval of the Principal Market to list or designate for quotation (as the case may be) the Conversion Shares.
(xvi) In accordance with the terms of the Security Documents, the Company shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent (A) original certificates (I) representing the New Subsidiary’s shares of capital stock to the extent such subsidiary is a corporation or otherwise has certificated equity and (II) representing all other equity interests and all promissory notes required to be pledged thereunder, in each case, accompanied by undated stock powers and allonges executed in blank and other proper instruments of transfer and (B) appropriate financing statements on Form UCC-1 to be duly filed in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by each Security Document.
(xvii) Within two (2) Business Days prior to the Initial Closing, the Company shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to each Buyer and the Collateral Agent (A) certified copies of requests for copies of information on Form UCC-11, listing all effective financing statements which name as debtor the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and which are filed in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent or the Buyers, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the Security Agreement, together with copies of such financing statements, none of which, except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Collateral Agent, shall cover any of the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement), and the results of searches for any tax Lien and judgment Lien filed against such Person or its property, which results, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Collateral Agent and the Buyers, shall not show any such Liens; and (B) a perfection certificate, duly completed and executed by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyers (the “Perfection Certificate”), dated as of the Initial Closing Date.
(xviii) The Collateral Agent shall have received the Security Agreement, duly executed by the Company and the New Subsidiary, together with the original stock certificates representing all of the equity interests and all promissory notes required to be pledged thereunder, accompanied by undated stock powers and allonges executed in blank and other proper instruments of transfer.
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(xix) The Company shall have delivered the GPU Lease (as defined in the Notes), duly executed by the Company and the Lessee (as defined in the GPU Lease), to such Buyer.
(xx) The Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer those certain support agreements, each attached hereto as Exhibit C (as amended, modified or waived prior to the Initial Closing Date, each, a “Support Agreement”), by and between the Company and each of the stockholders, which, in the aggregate, have the requisite voting power over the Common Stock to obtain Stockholder Approval (collectively, the “Stockholders”) and each of the Stockholders, severally, shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer a Support Agreement.
(xxi) Such Buyer shall have received a letter on the letterhead of the Company (the “Initial Flow of Funds Letter”) duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, setting forth the wire amounts of each Buyer and the wire transfer instructions of the Company.
(xxii) The Company shall have duly executed and delivered the administrative fee letter, with StructureCo Opportunities LLC, in form and substance satisfactory to such Buyer, in its sole discretion (the “Administrative Fee Letter”).
(xxiii) The Company shall have obtained the Required Consents.
(xxiv) No bona fide dispute shall exist, by and between (or among) any of the Buyers, any holder of Notes and/or the Company, which dispute is reasonably related to this Agreement, any of the Securities and/or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, as applicable.
(xxv) The Company and the New Subsidiary shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents, instruments or certificates relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.
(b) The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the applicable Additional Note at any Additional Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the applicable Additional Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:
(i) The Company and each Subsidiary (as the case may be) shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to each applicable Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer such Additional Note being purchased by such Buyer at such Additional Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
(ii) Such Buyer shall have received the opinion of Holland and Hart LLP, the Company’s counsel, dated as of such Additional Closing Date, in the form acceptable to such Buyer.
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(iii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a copy of the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, in the form acceptable to such Buyer, which instructions shall have been delivered to and acknowledged in writing by the Company’s transfer agent and shall remain in full force and effect as of such Additional Closing Date.
(iv) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in each such entity’s jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction of formation as of a date within ten (10) days of such Additional Closing Date.
(v) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the Company’s and each Subsidiary’s qualification as a foreign corporation and good standing issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of each jurisdiction in which the Company and each Subsidiary conducts business and is required to so qualify, as of a date within ten (10) days of such Additional Closing Date.
(vi) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation as certified by the Delaware Secretary of State within ten (10) days of the Additional Closing Date.
(vii) Each Subsidiary shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of its Certificate of Incorporation (or such equivalent organizational document) as certified by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation within ten (10) days of such Additional Closing Date.
(viii) The Company and each Subsidiary shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, in the form acceptable to such Buyer, executed by the Secretary of the Company and each Subsidiary and dated as of such Additional Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company’s and each Subsidiary’s board of directors in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the organizational documents of each Subsidiary and (iii) the Bylaws of the Company and the bylaws of each Subsidiary, each as in effect at such Additional Closing.
(ix) Each and every representation and warranty of the Company shall be true and correct as of the date when made and as of such Additional Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to such Additional Closing Date. Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of such Additional Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form acceptable to such Buyer.
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(x) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a letter from the Company’s transfer agent certifying the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such Additional Closing Date immediately prior to such Additional Closing.
(xi) The Common Stock (A) shall be designated for quotation or listed (as applicable) on the Principal Market and (B) shall not have been suspended, as of such Additional Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor shall suspension by the SEC or the Principal Market have been threatened, as of such Additional Closing Date, either (I) in writing by the SEC or the Principal Market or (II) by falling below the minimum maintenance requirements of the Principal Market.
(xii) The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third-party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Securities, including without limitation, those required by the Principal Market, if any.
(xiii) No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(xiv) Since the date of execution of this Agreement, no event or series of events shall have occurred that reasonably would have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xv) The Company shall have obtained approval of the Principal Market to list or designate for quotation (as the case may be) the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of such Additional Notes to be sold in such Additional Closing.
(xvi) In accordance with the terms of the Security Documents, the Company shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent (A) original certificates (I) representing the Subsidiaries’ shares of capital stock to the extent such subsidiary is a corporation or otherwise has certificated equity and (II) representing all other equity interests and all promissory notes required to be pledged thereunder, in each case, accompanied by undated stock powers and allonges executed in blank and other proper instruments of transfer and (B) appropriate financing statements on Form UCC-1 to be duly filed in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by each Security Document.
(xvii) Within two (2) Business Days prior to such Additional Closing, the Company shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to each Buyer and the Collateral Agent certified copies of requests for copies of information on Form UCC-11, listing all effective financing statements which name as debtor the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and which are filed in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent or the Buyers, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the Security Agreement, together with copies of such financing statements, none of which, except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Collateral Agent, shall cover any of the Collateral, and the results of searches for any tax Lien and judgment Lien filed against such Person or its property, which results, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Collateral Agent and the Buyers, shall not show any such Liens.
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(xviii) The Collateral Agent shall have received amended and restated schedules to the Security Agreement, if applicable.
(xix) Each Controlled Account Bank and the Collateral Agent shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer a Controlled Account Agreement (as defined in the Security Agreement) with respect to each account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries held at such Controlled Account Bank and each such Controlled Account Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as of such Additional Closing Date.
(xx) Such Buyer shall have received a letter on the letterhead of the Company (the “Additional Flow of Funds Letter”) duly executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, setting forth the wire amounts of each Buyer and the wire transfer instructions of the Company.
(xxi) The Administrative Fee Letter shall remain in full force and effect.
(xxii) The Company shall have obtained the Required Consents.
(xxiii) Solely with respect to the Additional Mandatory Closing, the Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(xxiv) Solely with respect to the Additional Mandatory Closing, on such Additional Closing Date: (A) the Registration Statement shall be effective and the prospectus contained therein shall be available for the resale of all of the Registrable Securities by the Investors, (B) no Grace Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall have occurred and be continuing, and (C) no Current Public Information Failure shall have occurred and be continuing.
(xxv) No bona fide dispute shall exist, by and between (or among) any of the Buyers, any holder of Notes and/or the Company, which dispute is reasonably related to this Agreement, any of the Securities and/or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, as applicable.
(xxvi) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents, instruments or certificates relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.
8. TERMINATION.
In the event that the Initial Closing shall not have occurred with respect to a Buyer within five (5) Business Days of the date hereof, then such Buyer shall have the right to terminate its obligations under this Agreement with respect to itself at any time on or after the close of business on such date without liability of such Buyer to any other party; provided, however, (i) the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8 shall not be available to such Buyer if the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to have been consummated by such date is the result of such Buyer’s breach of this Agreement and (ii) the abandonment of the sale and purchase of the Notes shall be applicable only to such Buyer providing such written notice, provided further that no such termination shall affect any obligation of the Company under this Agreement to reimburse such Buyer for the expenses described in Section 4(g) above.
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Nothing contained in this Section 8 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any provision of law or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Wilmington, Delaware, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or under any of the other Transaction Documents or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude any Buyer from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to such Buyer or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of such Buyer. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
(b) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
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(c) Headings; Gender. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
(d) Severability; Maximum Payment Amounts. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (and without implication that the following is required or applicable), it is the intention of the parties that in no event shall amounts and value paid by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries (as the case may be), or payable to or received by any of the Buyers, under the Transaction Documents (including without limitation, any amounts that would be characterized as “interest” under applicable law) exceed amounts permitted under any applicable law. Accordingly, if any obligation to pay, payment made to any Buyer, or collection by any Buyer pursuant the Transaction Documents is finally judicially determined to be contrary to any such applicable law, such obligation to pay, payment or collection shall be deemed to have been made by mutual mistake of such Buyer, the Company and its Subsidiaries and such amount shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by the applicable law. Such adjustment shall be effected, to the extent necessary, by reducing or refunding, at the option of such Buyer, the amount of interest or any other amounts which would constitute unlawful amounts required to be paid or actually paid to such Buyer under the Transaction Documents. For greater certainty, to the extent that any interest, charges, fees, expenses or other amounts required to be paid to or received by such Buyer under any of the Transaction Documents or related thereto are held to be within the meaning of “interest” or another applicable term to otherwise be violative of applicable law, such amounts shall be pro-rated over the period of time to which they relate.
(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf, including, without limitation, any transactions by any Buyer with respect to Common Stock or the Securities, and the other matters contained herein and therein, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein contain the entire understanding of the parties solely with respect to the matters covered herein and therein; provided, however, nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on any agreements any Buyer has entered into with, or any instruments any Buyer has received from, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior investment made by such Buyer in the Company or (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect any obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any rights of or benefits to any Buyer or any other Person, in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or among the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and any Buyer, or any instruments any Buyer received from the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof, and all such agreements and instruments shall continue in full force and effect.
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Except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. For clarification purposes, the Recitals are part of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Required Holders, and any amendment to any provision of this Agreement made in conformity with the provisions of this Section 9(e) shall be binding on all Buyers and holders of Securities, as applicable; provided that no such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it (A) applies to less than all of the holders of the Securities then outstanding or (B) imposes any obligation or liability on any Buyer without such Buyer’s prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in such Buyer’s sole discretion); and provided further that the provisions of Sections 4(v) and 4(w) above cannot be amended or waived without the additional prior written approval of the Collateral Agent or its successor. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party, provided that the Required Holders may waive any provision of this Agreement, and any waiver of any provision of this Agreement made in conformity with the provisions of this Section 9(e) shall be binding on all Buyers and holders of Securities, as applicable, provided that no such waiver shall be effective to the extent that it (1) applies to less than all of the holders of the Securities then outstanding (unless a party gives a waiver as to itself only) or (2) imposes any obligation or liability on any Buyer without such Buyer’s prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in such Buyer’s sole discretion). No consideration (other than reimbursement of legal fees) shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents, all holders of the Notes. From the date hereof and while any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall not be permitted to receive any consideration from a Buyer or a holder of Notes that is not otherwise contemplated by the Transaction Documents in order to, directly or indirectly, induce the Company or any Subsidiary (i) to treat such Buyer or holder of Notes in a manner that is more favorable than to other similarly situated Buyers or holders of Notes, or (ii) to treat any Buyer(s) or holder(s) of Notes in a manner that is less favorable than the Buyer or holder of Notes that is paying such consideration; provided, however, that the determination of whether a Buyer has been treated more or less favorably than another Buyer shall disregard any securities of the Company purchased or sold by any Buyer. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreements with any Buyers relating to the terms or conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents except as set forth in the Transaction Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company confirms that, except as set forth in this Agreement, no Buyer has made any commitment or promise or has any other obligation to provide any financing to the Company, any Subsidiary or otherwise.
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As a material inducement for each Buyer to enter into this Agreement, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (x) no due diligence or other investigation or inquiry conducted by a Buyer, any of its advisors or any of its representatives shall affect such Buyer’s right to rely on, or shall modify or qualify in any manner or be an exception to any of, the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document and (y) unless a provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document is expressly preceded by the phrase “except as disclosed in the SEC Documents,” nothing contained in any of the SEC Documents shall affect such Buyer’s right to rely on, or shall modify or qualify in any manner or be an exception to any of, the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. “Required Holders” means (I) prior to the Additional Closing Expiration Date, [*] and (II) on or after the Additional Closing Expiration Date, holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities as of such time (excluding any Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of such time) issued or issuable hereunder or pursuant to the Notes (or the Buyers, with respect to any waiver or amendment of Section 4(o)).
(f) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by electronic mail (provided that such sent email is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s email server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The mailing addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Allbirds, Inc.
530 Washington St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
E-Mail: legal@allbirds.com
With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
Holland & Hart LLP
555 17th St., Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Amy L. Bowler
E-Mail: abowler@hollandhart.com
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If to the Transfer Agent:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
150 Royall St., 2nd Floor
Canton, MA 02021
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Akinola Marinho
E-Mail: Akinola.Marinho@computershare.com
If to a Buyer, to its mailing address and e-mail address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers,
with a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
3 World Trade Center
175 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Michael A. Adelstein, Esq.
E-mail: madelstein@kelleydrye.com
and to:
Blank Rome LLP
130 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Heather Sonnenberg
E-Mail: heather.sonnenberg@blankrome.com
or to such other mailing address and/or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change, provided that Kelley Drye & Warren LLP and Blank Rome LLP shall only be provided copies of notices sent to the lead Buyer. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s e-mail containing the time, date and recipient’s e-mail or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by e-mail or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any purchasers of any of the Notes. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, including, without limitation, by way of a Fundamental Transaction (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Notes). A Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder in connection with any transfer of any of its Securities without the consent of the Company, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights.
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(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, other than the Indemnitees (as defined below) referred to in Section 9(k).
(i) Survival. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants shall survive each Closing. Each Buyer shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.
(j) Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(k) Indemnification. In consideration of each Buyer’s execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of the Company’s other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and each holder of any Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing Persons’ agents or other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements (the “Indemnified Liabilities”), incurred by any Indemnitee as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (i) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any of the Transaction Documents, (ii) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary contained in any of the Transaction Documents or (iii) any cause of action, suit, proceeding or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary) or which otherwise involves such Indemnitee that arises out of or results from (A) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents, (B) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities, (C) any disclosure properly made by such Buyer pursuant to Section 4(i), or (D) the status of such Buyer or holder of the Securities either as an investor in the Company pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or as a party to this Agreement (including, without limitation, as a party in interest or otherwise in any action or proceeding for injunctive or other equitable relief). To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the mechanics and procedures with respect to the rights and obligations under this Section 9(k) shall be the same as those set forth in Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
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(l) Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. No specific representation or warranty shall limit the generality or applicability of a more general representation or warranty. Each and every reference to share prices, shares of Common Stock and any other numbers in this Agreement that relate to the Common Stock shall be automatically adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions that occur with respect to the Common Stock after the date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty against, or a prohibition of, any actions with respect to the borrowing of, arrangement to borrow, identification of the availability of, and/or securing of, securities of the Company in order for such Buyer (or its broker or other financial representative) to effect short sales or similar transactions in the future.
(m) Remedies. Each Buyer and in the event of assignment by Buyer of its rights and obligations hereunder, each holder of Securities, shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all rights and remedies which such holders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such holders have under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, the Company recognizes that in the event that it or any Subsidiary fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its or such Subsidiary’s (as the case may be) obligations under the Transaction Documents, any remedy at law would inadequate relief to the Buyers. The Company therefore agrees that the Buyers shall be entitled to specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The remedies provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief).
(n) Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Buyer exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company or any Subsidiary does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Buyer may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.
(o) Payment Set Aside; Currency. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Buyer hereunder or pursuant to any of the other Transaction Documents or any of the Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, foreign, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.
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Unless otherwise expressly indicated, all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”), and all amounts owing under this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents shall be paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies (if any) shall be converted into the U.S. Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “Exchange Rate” means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. Dollars pursuant to this Agreement, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation.
(p) Judgment Currency.
(i) If for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Company in connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document in any court in any jurisdiction it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 9(p) referred to as the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due in US Dollars under this Agreement, the conversion shall be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Trading Day immediately preceding:
(A) the date actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of Delaware or in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give effect to such conversion being made on such date: or
(B) the date on which the foreign court determines, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction (the date as of which such conversion is made pursuant to this Section 9(p)(i)(A) being hereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Conversion Date”).
(ii) If in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in Section 9(p)(i)(A) above, there is a change in the Exchange Rate prevailing between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the applicable party shall pay such adjusted amount as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of US Dollars which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date.
(iii) Any amount due from the Company under this provision shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts due under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
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(q) Independent Nature of Buyers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Buyer under the Transaction Documents are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and no Buyer shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Buyers as, and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity, and the Company shall not assert any such claim with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or any matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The decision of each Buyer to purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such Buyer independently of any other Buyer. Each Buyer acknowledges that no other Buyer has acted as agent for such Buyer in connection with such Buyer making its investment hereunder and that no other Buyer will be acting as agent of such Buyer in connection with monitoring such Buyer’s investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents. The Company and each Buyer confirms that each Buyer has independently participated with the Company and its Subsidiaries in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. Each Buyer shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Buyer to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The use of a single agreement to effectuate the purchase and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of any Buyer, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Buyer. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company, each Subsidiary and a Buyer, solely, and not between the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Buyers collectively and not between and among the Buyers.
[signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| ALLBIRDS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Joe Vernachio | |
| Name: Joe Vernachio | ||
| Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary | ||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| BUYER: | ||
| [*] | ||
| By: | /s/ [*] | |
| Name: [*] | ||
| Title: [*] | ||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| BUYER: | ||
| [*] | ||
| By: | /s/ [*] | |
| Name: [*] | ||
| Title: [*] | ||
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
| (1) |
(2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Buyer |
Mailing Address and E-mail Address |
Original Principal Amount of Initial Notes |
Original Principal Amount of Additional Notes for the Additional Mandatory Closing |
Aggregate Maximum Original Principal Amount of Additional Notes for Additional Optional Closings |
Initial Purchase Price |
Aggregate Maximum Additional Purchase Price |
Legal Representative’s Mailing Address and E-mail Address |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| [*] |
[ | *] | $ | 3,250,000 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 44,750,000 | $ | 3,087,500 | $ | 42,512,500 | [ | *] | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL |
$ | 3,250,000 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 44,750,000 | $ | 3,087,500 | $ | 42,512,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
Exhibit 10.2
[FORM OF SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE]
NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 3(c)(iii) AND 20(a) HEREOF. THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(c)(iii) OF THIS NOTE.
THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBORDINATE TO THE SENIOR DEBT (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF APRIL 19, 2026, BY AND AMONG THE HOLDER, THE COMPANY AND SECOND AVENUE CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC (THE “SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT”). THE HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, SHALL BE BOUND BY THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT.
THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. PURSUANT TO TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1), JOE VERNACHIO, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY HEREOF WILL, BEGINNING TEN DAYS AFTER THE ISSUANCE DATE OF THIS NOTE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE HOLDER UPON REQUEST THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1)(i). JOE VERNACHIO MAY BE REACHED AT TELEPHONE NUMBER [•].
ALLBIRDS, INC.
SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE
| Issuance Date: [•] 20__ | Original Principal Amount: U.S. $[•] |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to the order of [BUYER] or its registered assigns (“Holder”) the amount set forth above as the Original Principal Amount (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption, conversion or otherwise, the “Principal”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date, or upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“Interest”) on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate (as defined below) from the date set forth above as the Issuance Date (the “Issuance Date”) until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date or upon acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof).
This Senior Secured Convertible Note (including all Senior Secured Convertible Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this “Note”) is one of an issue of Senior Secured Convertible Notes issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2026 (the “Subscription Date”), by and among the Company and the investors (the “Buyers”) referred to therein, as amended from time to time (collectively, the “Notes”, and such other Senior Secured Convertible Notes, the “Other Notes”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 33.
1. PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL. On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges (as defined in Section 26(c)) on such Principal and Interest. Other than as specifically permitted by this Note, the Company may not prepay any portion of the outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest or accrued and unpaid Late Charges on Principal and Interest, if any.
2. INTEREST; INTEREST RATE.
(a) Interest on this Note shall commence accruing on the Issuance Date and shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months and shall be payable in arrears for on the first calendar day of each calendar quarter (each, an “Interest Date”) with the first Interest Date being [ ]1. Interest shall be payable on each Interest Date, to the record holder of this Note on the applicable Interest Date, in shares of Common Stock (“Interest Shares”) so long as there has been no Equity Conditions Failure; provided however, that the Company may, at its option following notice to the Holder, pay Interest on any Interest Date in cash (“Cash Interest”) or in a combination of Cash Interest and Interest Shares. The Company shall deliver a written notice (each, an “Interest Election Notice”) to each holder of the Notes on or prior to the Interest Notice Due Date (the date such notice is delivered to all of the holders, the “Interest Notice Date”) which notice (i) either (A) confirms that Interest to be paid on such Interest Date shall be paid entirely in Interest Shares or (B) elects to pay Interest as Cash Interest or a combination of Cash Interest and Interest Shares and specifies the amount of Interest that shall be paid as Cash Interest and the amount of Interest, if any, that shall be paid in Interest Shares and (ii) certifies that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure. If an Equity Conditions Failure has occurred as of the Interest Notice Date, then unless the Company has elected to pay such Interest as Cash Interest, the Interest Election Notice shall indicate that unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions Failure, the Interest shall be paid as Cash Interest. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if no Equity Conditions Failure has occurred as of the Interest Notice Date but an Equity Conditions Failure occurs at any time prior to the Interest Date, (A) the Company shall provide the Holder a subsequent notice to that effect and (B) unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions Failure, the Interest shall be paid in cash. Interest to be paid on an Interest Date in Interest Shares shall be paid
| 1 | Insert in Initial Notes the three month anniversary of the Initial Closing Date |
Insert in Additional Notes the first calendar day of the calendar quarter immediately following Applicable Closing Date of such Additional Note in a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares (rounded to the nearest whole share in accordance with Section 3(a)) of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (1) the amount of Interest payable on such Interest Date less any Cash Interest paid and (2) the Alternate Conversion Price in effect on the applicable Interest Date.
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(b) When any Interest Shares are to be paid on an Interest Date, the Company shall (i) (A) provided that the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) is participating in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit such aggregate number of Interest Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system, or (B) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (“FAST”), issue and deliver on the applicable Interest Date, to the address set forth in the register maintained by the Company for such purpose pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement or to such address as specified by the Holder in writing to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the applicable Interest Date, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Interest Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled and (ii) with respect to each Interest Date, pay to the Holder, in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the amount of any Cash Interest.
(c) Prior to the payment of Interest on an Interest Date, Interest on this Note shall accrue at the Interest Rate and be payable by way of inclusion of the Interest in the Conversion Amount on each Conversion Date in accordance with Section 3(b)(i) or upon any redemption in accordance with Section 13 or any required payment upon any Bankruptcy Event of Default. From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Interest Rate shall automatically be increased to seventeen percent (17.0%) per annum (the “Default Rate”). In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured (and no other Event of Default then exists, including, without limitation, for the Company’s failure to pay such Interest at the Default Rate on the applicable Interest Date), the adjustment referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the calendar day immediately following the date of such cure; provided that the Interest as calculated and unpaid at such increased rate during the continuance of such Event of Default shall continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after the occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the date of such cure of such Event of Default.
3. CONVERSION OF NOTES. At any time after the earlier of (x) the record date for the Shoe Business Sale Dividend and (y) June 15, 2026, this Note shall be convertible into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (as defined below), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.
(a) Conversion Right. Subject to the provisions of Section 3(d), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, the Holder shall be entitled to convert any portion of the outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount (as defined below) into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 3(c), at the Conversion Rate (as defined below). The Company shall not issue any fraction of a share of Common Stock upon any conversion. If the issuance would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round such fraction of a share of Common Stock up to the nearest whole share.
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The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp, issuance and similar taxes, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent (as defined below)) that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Common Stock upon conversion of any Conversion Amount.
(b) Conversion Rate. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be determined by dividing (x) such Conversion Amount by (y) the Conversion Price (the “Conversion Rate”).
(i) “Conversion Amount” means the sum of (A) the portion of the Principal of this Note to be converted, redeemed or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being made, (B) accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such Principal of this Note, (D) accrued and unpaid Late Charges with respect to such Principal of this Note and Interest, and (E) any other unpaid amounts pursuant to the Transaction Documents, if any.
(ii) “Conversion Price” means, as of any Conversion Date or other date of determination, $[ ]2, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(c) Mechanics of Conversion.
(i) Optional Conversion. To convert any Conversion Amount into shares of Common Stock on any date (a “Conversion Date”), the Holder shall deliver (whether via electronic mail or otherwise), for receipt on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York time, on such date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (each, a “Conversion Notice”) to the Company. If required by Section 3(c)(iii), within one (1) Trading Day following a conversion of this Note as aforesaid, the Holder shall surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Company (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 20(b)). On the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall transmit by electronic mail an acknowledgment, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit II, of confirmation of receipt of such Conversion Notice and representation as to whether such shares of Common Stock may then be resold pursuant to Rule 144 or an effective and available registration statement (each, an “Acknowledgement”) to the Holder and the Transfer Agent which confirmation shall constitute an instruction to the Transfer Agent to process such Conversion Notice in accordance with the terms herein. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received a Conversion Notice (or such earlier date as required pursuant to the 1934 Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation for the settlement of a trade initiated on the
| 2 | Insert 120% of the lower of (x) the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day ended immediately prior to the time of initial filing of the initial preliminary proxy with respect to the Shoe Business Sale and (y) the Closing Bid Price on the Trading Day ended immediately preceding the Initial Closing Date. |
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applicable Conversion Date of such shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such Conversion Notice) (the “Share Delivery Deadline”), the Company shall (1) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled pursuant to such conversion to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system or (2) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, upon the request of the Holder, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to the address as specified in the Conversion Notice, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled pursuant to such conversion. If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion pursuant to Section 3(c)(iii) and the outstanding Principal of this Note is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than one (1) Business Day after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not converted; provided, that during such period the Holder shall be permitted to convert such new Note regardless of the date the actual certificate evidencing such new Note is delivered to the Holder (or its designee). The Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on the Conversion Date; provided, that the Holder shall be deemed to have waived any voting rights of any such Common Stock, that may arise with respect to the period commencing on such Conversion Date, through, and including, such applicable Share Delivery Deadline (each, an “Conversion Period”), as necessary, such that the aggregate voting rights of any Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and/or any Attribution Parties, collectively, on any date of determination shall not exceed the Maximum Percentage (as defined below) as a result of any such conversion of this Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note or the Registration Rights Agreement, after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) and prior to the Holder’s receipt of the notice of a Grace Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), the Company shall cause the Transfer Agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to the Holder (or its designee) in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to which the Holder has entered into a contract for sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the particular Registration Statement to the extent applicable, and for which the Holder has not yet settled.
(ii) Company’s Failure to Timely Convert.
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If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Deadline, either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, to issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, to credit the balance account of the Holder or the Holder’s designee with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion of this Note (as the case may be) or (II) if the Registration Statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock that are the subject of the Conversion Notice (the “Unavailable Conversion Shares”) is not available for the resale of such Unavailable Conversion Shares and the Company fails to promptly, but in no event later than as required pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (x) so notify the Holder and (y) deliver the shares of Common Stock electronically without any restrictive legend by crediting such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such conversion to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian system (the event described in the immediately foregoing clause (II) is hereinafter referred as a “Notice Failure” and together with the event described in clause (I) above, a “Conversion Failure”), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, (1) the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder on each day after such Share Delivery Deadline that the issuance of such shares of Common Stock is not timely effected an amount equal to 2% of the product of (A) the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on or prior to the Share Delivery Deadline and to which the Holder is entitled, multiplied by (B) any trading price of the Common Stock selected by the Holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable Conversion Date and ending on the applicable Share Delivery Deadline and (2) the Holder, upon written notice to the Company, may void its Conversion Notice with respect to, and retain or have returned (as the case may be) any portion of this Note that has not been converted pursuant to such Conversion Notice, provided that the voiding of a Conversion Notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice pursuant to this Section 3(c)(ii) or otherwise. In addition to the foregoing, if on or prior to the Share Delivery Deadline either (A) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, the Company shall fail to issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a certificate and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, the Transfer Agent shall fail to credit the balance account of the Holder or the Holder’s designee with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder or pursuant to the Company’s obligation pursuant to clause (II) below or (B) a Notice Failure occurs, and if on or after such Share Delivery Deadline the Holder acquires (in an open market transaction, stock loan or otherwise) shares of Common Stock corresponding to all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion that the Holder is entitled to receive from the Company and has not received from the Company in connection with such Conversion Failure or Notice Failure, as applicable (a “Buy-In”), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either: (I) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, stock loan costs and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so acquired (including, without limitation, by any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so issue and deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) or credit the balance account of such Holder or such Holder’s designee, as applicable, with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (II) promptly honor its obligation to so issue and deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the balance account of such Holder or such Holder’s designee, as applicable, with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (x) such number of shares of Common Stock multiplied by (y) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the applicable Conversion Notice and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this clause (II) (the “Buy-In Payment Amount”).
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Nothing shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock (or to electronically deliver such shares of Common Stock) upon the conversion of this Note as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
(iii) Registration; Book-Entry. The Company shall maintain a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the holders of each Note and the principal amount of the Notes held by such holders (the “Registered Notes”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The Company and the holders of the Notes shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner of a Note for all purposes (including, without limitation, the right to receive payments of Principal and Interest hereunder) notwithstanding notice to the contrary. A Registered Note may be assigned, transferred or sold in whole or in part only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register. Upon its receipt of a written request to assign, transfer or sell all or part of any Registered Note by the holder thereof, the Company shall record the information contained therein in the Register and issue one or more new Registered Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Note to the designated assignee or transferee pursuant to Section 20, provided that if the Company does not so record an assignment, transfer or sale (as the case may be) of all or part of any Registered Note within two (2) Business Days of such a request, then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such assignment, transfer or sale (as the case may be). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 3, following conversion of any portion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Company unless (A) the full Conversion Amount represented by this Note is being converted (in which event this Note shall be delivered to the Company following conversion thereof as contemplated by Section 3(c)(i)) or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with prior written notice (which notice may be included in a Conversion Notice) requesting reissuance of this Note upon physical surrender of this Note. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the Principal, Interest and Late Charges converted and/or paid (as the case may be) and the dates of such conversions, and/or payments (as the case may be) or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and the Company, so as not to require physical surrender of this Note upon conversion.
7
If the Company does not update the Register to record such Principal, Interest and Late Charges converted and/or paid (as the case may be) and the dates of such conversions, and/or payments (as the case may be) within two (2) Business Days of such occurrence, then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such occurrence.
(iv) Pro Rata Conversion; Disputes. In the event that the Company receives a Conversion Notice from more than one holder of Notes for the same Conversion Date and the Company can convert some, but not all, of such portions of the Notes submitted for conversion, the Company, subject to Section 3(d), shall convert from each holder of Notes electing to have Notes converted on such date a pro rata amount of such holder’s portion of its Notes submitted for conversion based on the principal amount of Notes submitted for conversion on such date by such holder relative to the aggregate principal amount of all Notes submitted for conversion on such date. In the event of a dispute as to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holder in connection with a conversion of this Note, the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock not in dispute and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 25.
(d) Limitations on Conversions.
(i) Beneficial Ownership. The Company shall not effect the conversion of any portion of this Note, and the Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of this Note pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Note and any such conversion shall be null and void and treated as if never made, to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion, the Holder together with the other Attribution Parties collectively would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and the other Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Holder and all other Attribution Parties plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) conversion of the remaining, nonconverted portion of this Note beneficially owned by the Holder or any of the other Attribution Parties and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) beneficially owned by the Holder or any other Attribution Party subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained in this Section 3(d)(i). For purposes of this Section 3(d)(i), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. For purposes of determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock the Holder may acquire upon the conversion of this Note without exceeding the Maximum Percentage, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (x) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the SEC, as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (z) any other written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent, if any, setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (the “Reported Outstanding Share Number”).
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If the Company receives a Conversion Notice from the Holder at a time when the actual number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is less than the Reported Outstanding Share Number, the Company shall notify the Holder in writing of the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding and, to the extent that such Conversion Notice would otherwise cause the Holder’s beneficial ownership, as determined pursuant to this Section 3(d)(i), to exceed the Maximum Percentage, the Holder must notify the Company of a reduced number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to such Conversion Notice. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day confirm orally and in writing or by electronic mail to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Note, by the Holder and any other Attribution Party since the date as of which the Reported Outstanding Share Number was reported. In the event that the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon conversion of this Note results in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties being deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than the Maximum Percentage of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (as determined under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act), the number of shares so issued by which the Holder’s and the other Attribution Parties’ aggregate beneficial ownership exceeds the Maximum Percentage (the “Excess Shares”) shall be deemed null and void and shall be cancelled ab initio, and the Holder shall not have the power to vote or to transfer the Excess Shares. Upon delivery of a written notice to the Company, the Holder may from time to time increase (with such increase not effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after delivery of such notice) or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% as specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase in the Maximum Percentage will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder and the other Attribution Parties and not to any other holder of Notes that is not an Attribution Party of the Holder. For purposes of clarity, the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of this Note in excess of the Maximum Percentage shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Holder for any purpose including for purposes of Section 13(d) or Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the 1934 Act. No prior inability to convert this Note pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of convertibility. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 3(d)(i) to the extent necessary to correct this paragraph (or any portion of this paragraph) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation contained in this Section 3(d)(i) or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitation contained in this paragraph may not be waived or amended and shall apply to a successor holder of this Note.
9
(ii) [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTE ONLY: Principal Market Regulation The Company shall not issue any shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note, if the issuance of such shares of Common Stock would exceed the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which the Company may issue upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note (as the case may be) without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Principal Market (the number of shares which may be issued without violating such rules and regulations, including rules related to the aggregate of offerings under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(d), the “Exchange Cap”), except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Company (A) obtains the approval of its stockholders as required by the applicable rules of the Principal Market for issuances of shares of Common Stock in excess of such amount or (B) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Company that such approval is not required, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder. Until such approval or such written opinion is obtained, no Buyer shall be issued in the aggregate, upon conversion of any Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes, shares of Common Stock in an amount greater than the product of (i) the Exchange Cap as of the Issuance Date multiplied by (ii) the quotient of (1) the original principal amount of Notes issued to such Buyer pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Initial Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) divided by (2) the aggregate original principal amount of all Notes issued to the Buyers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Initial Closing Date (with respect to each Buyer, the “Exchange Cap Allocation”). In the event that any Buyer shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such Buyer’s Notes, the transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such Buyer’s Exchange Cap Allocation with respect to such portion of such Notes so transferred, and the restrictions of the prior sentence shall apply to such transferee with respect to the portion of the Exchange Cap Allocation so allocated to such transferee. Upon conversion in full of a holder’s Notes, the difference (if any) between such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation and the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to such holder upon such holder’s conversion in full of such Notes shall be allocated, to the respective Exchange Cap Allocations of the remaining holders of Notes on a pro rata basis in proportion to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes then held by each such holder of Notes.][INSERT IN ADDITIONAL NOTES: [Intentionally Omitted]]
(e) Right of Alternate Conversion.
(i) General.
(1) Alternate Optional Conversion. Subject to Section 3(d), at any time, at the option of the Holder, the Holder may convert (each, an “Alternate Optional Conversion”, and the date of such Alternate Optional Conversion, an “Alternate Optional Conversion Date”) all, or any part, of this Note into shares of Common Stock (such portion of the Conversion Amount subject to such Alternate Optional Conversion, the “Alternate Optional Conversion Amount”) at the Alternate Conversion Price.
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(2) Alternate Conversion Upon an Event of Default. Subject to Section 3(d), at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default (regardless of whether such Event of Default has been cured, or if the Company has delivered an Event of Default Notice to the Holder or if the Holder has delivered an Event of Default Redemption Notice to the Company or otherwise notified the Company that an Event of Default has occurred), the Holder may, at the Holder’s option, convert (each, an “Alternate Event of Default Conversion” and together with each Alternate Optional Conversion, each, an “Alternate Conversion”, and the date of such Alternate Event of Default Conversion, each, an “Alternate Event of Default Conversion Date”, and together with each Alternate Optional Conversion Date, each, an “Alternate Conversion Date”) all, or any part of, the Conversion Amount (such portion of the Conversion Amount subject to such Alternate Conversion, the “Alternate Event of Default Conversion Amount” and together with each Alternate Optional Conversion Amount, each, an “Alternate Conversion Amount”) into shares of Common Stock at the Alternate Conversion Price.
(ii) Mechanics of Alternate Conversion. On any Alternate Conversion Date, the Holder may voluntarily convert any Alternate Conversion Amount pursuant to Section 3(c) (with “Alternate Conversion Price” replacing “Conversion Price” for all purposes hereunder with respect to such Alternate Conversion and, solely with respect to the calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount in an Alternate Event of Default Conversion, with “Redemption Premium of the Conversion Amount” replacing “Conversion Amount” in clause (x) of the definition of Conversion Rate above with respect to such Alternate Conversion) by designating in the Conversion Notice delivered pursuant to this Section 3(e) of this Note that the Holder is electing to use the Alternate Conversion Price for such conversion; provided that in the event of the Conversion Floor Price Condition, on the applicable Alternate Conversion Date the Company shall also deliver to the Holder the applicable Alternate Conversion Floor Amount. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3(e), but subject to Section 3(d), until the Company delivers shares of Common Stock representing the applicable Alternate Conversion Amount to the Holder, such Alternate Conversion Amount may be converted by the Holder into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3(c) without regard to this Section 3(e). In the event of an Alternate Conversion pursuant to this Section 3(e) of all, or any portion, of this Note, the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 3(e), together the Alternate Conversion Price used in such Alternate Conversion, as applicable, is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of, the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.
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4. RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.
(a) Event of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default” and each of the events in clauses (ix), (x) and (xi) shall constitute a “Bankruptcy Event of Default”:
(i) the failure of the applicable Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) to be filed with the SEC on or prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days after the applicable Filing Deadline (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or the failure of the applicable Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days after the applicable Effectiveness Deadline (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement);
(ii) while the applicable Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order) or such Registration Statement (or the prospectus contained therein) is unavailable to any holder of Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) for sale of all of such holder’s Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days or for more than an aggregate of ten (10) Trading Days in any 365-day period (excluding days during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement));
(iii) the suspension (or threatened suspension) from trading or the failure (or threatened failure) of the Common Stock to be trading or listed (as applicable) on an Eligible Market for a period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days;
(iv) the Company’s (A) failure to cure a Conversion Failure by delivery of the required number of shares of Common Stock within five (5) Trading Days after the applicable Conversion Date or exercise date (as the case may be) or (B) notice, written or oral, to any holder of the Notes, including, without limitation, by way of public announcement or through any of its agents, at any time, of its intention not to comply, as required, with a request for conversion of any Notes into shares of Common Stock that is requested in accordance with the provisions of the Notes, other than pursuant to Section 3(d);
(v) except to the extent the Company is in compliance with Section 12(b) below, at any time following the tenth (10th) consecutive day that the Holder’s Authorized Share Allocation (as defined in Section 12(a) below) is less than the number of shares of Common Stock that the Holder would be entitled to receive upon a conversion of the full Conversion Amount of this Note (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth in Section 3(d) or otherwise);
(vi) the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Interest, Late Charges or other amounts when and as due under this Note (including, without limitation, the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay any redemption payments or amounts hereunder) or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or any other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except, in the case of a failure to pay Interest and Late Charges when and as due, in which case only if such failure remains uncured for a period of at least two (2) Trading Days;
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(vii) the Company fails to remove any restrictive legend on any certificate or any shares of Common Stock issued to the Holder upon conversion or exercise (as the case may be) of any Securities (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) acquired by the Holder under the Securities Purchase Agreement (including this Note) as and when required by such Securities or the Securities Purchase Agreement, unless otherwise then prohibited by applicable federal securities laws, and any such failure remains uncured for at least five (5) Trading Days;
(viii) the occurrence of any default under, redemption of or acceleration prior to maturity of at least an aggregate of (A) if on or prior to the Shoe Business Sale, $50,000 or (B) after the Shoe Business Sale, $125,000 (as applicable, the “Applicable Default Dollar Threshold”) of Indebtedness (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than with respect to any Other Notes;
(ix) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the Company or any Subsidiary and, if instituted against the Company or any Subsidiary by a third party, shall not be dismissed within thirty (30) days of their initiation;
(x) the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal, state or foreign law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the execution of a composition of debts, or the occurrence of any other similar federal, state or foreign proceeding, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action or the taking of any action by any Person to commence a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure sale or any other similar action under federal, state or foreign law; (xi) the entry by a court of (i) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (ii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary under any applicable federal, state or foreign law or (iii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree, order, judgment or other similar document or any such other decree, order, judgment or other similar document unstayed and in effect for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;
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(xii) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold are rendered against the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged, settled or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; provided, however, any judgment which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a credit worthy party shall not be included in calculating the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the Holder a written statement from such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity within thirty (30) days of the issuance of such judgment;
(xiii) the Company and/or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, fails to pay, when due, or within any applicable grace period, any payment with respect to any Indebtedness in excess of the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold due to any third party (other than, with respect to unsecured Indebtedness only, payments contested by the Company and/or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP) or is otherwise in breach or violation of any agreement for monies owed or owing in an amount in excess of the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold, which breach or violation permits the other party thereto to declare a default or otherwise accelerate amounts due thereunder;
(xiv) other than as specifically set forth in another clause of this Section 4(a), the Company or any Subsidiary breaches any representation or warranty, or any covenant or other term or condition of any Transaction Document, except, in the case of a breach of a covenant or other term or condition that is curable, only if such breach remains uncured for a period of two (2) consecutive Trading Days;
(xv) a false or inaccurate certification (including a false or inaccurate deemed certification) by the Company that either (A) the Equity Conditions are satisfied, (B) there has been no Equity Conditions Failure, or (C) as to whether any Event of Default has occurred; (xvi) any breach or failure in any respect by the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any provision of Section 15 of this Note;
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(xvii) the Shoe Business Sale fails to occur on or prior to June 30, 2026;
(xviii) immediately following the Shoe Sale Closing Time (as defined below) no more than $5 million of indebtedness (including, without limitation, Indebtedness, but excluding the Notes and the Other Notes) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, remains outstanding;
(xix) any breach of the GPU Lease (including, without limitation, the failure to sweep all, or any part, of any payment amounts thereunder into the Blocked Controlled Account (as defined in the Security Agreement) and/or the failure by the lessee to make any payments as and when required thereunder and/or); or
(xx) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) occurs;
(xxi) any provision of any Transaction Document (including, without limitation, the Security Documents and the Guaranties) shall at any time for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the parties thereto, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any Subsidiary or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or the Company or any Subsidiary shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Transaction Document (including, without limitation, the Security Documents and the Guaranties);
(xxii) any Security Document shall for any reason fail or cease to create a separate valid and perfected and, except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof or thereof, first priority Lien (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) on the Collateral (as defined in the Security Documents) in favor of the Collateral Agent (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or any material provision of any Security Document shall at any time for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the Company or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof;
(xxiii) any material damage to, or loss, theft or destruction of, any Collateral, whether or not insured, or any strike, lockout, labor dispute, embargo, condemnation, act of God or public enemy, or other casualty which causes, for more than fifteen (15) consecutive days, the cessation or substantial curtailment of revenue producing activities at any facility of the Company or any Subsidiary, if any such event or circumstance would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (xxiv) any Event of Default (as defined in the Other Notes) occurs with respect to any Other Notes.
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(b) Notice of an Event of Default; Redemption Right. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Note or any Other Note, the Company shall within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence of such Event of Default deliver written notice thereof via electronic mail and overnight courier (with next day delivery specified) (an “Event of Default Notice”) to the Holder. At any time after the earlier of the Holder’s receipt of an Event of Default Notice and the Holder becoming aware of an Event of Default, the Holder may require the Company to redeem (regardless of whether such Event of Default has been cured) all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “Event of Default Redemption Notice”) to the Company, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Holder is electing to redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Company pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount to be redeemed multiplied by (B) the Redemption Premium and (ii) the product of (X) the Conversion Rate with respect to the Conversion Amount in effect at such time as the Holder delivers an Event of Default Redemption Notice multiplied by (Y) the product of (1) the Redemption Premium multiplied by (2) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Event of Default and ending on the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under this Section 4(b) (the “Event of Default Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 4(b) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 4(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3(e), but subject to Section 3(d), until the Event of Default Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 4(b) (together with any Late Charges thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Note. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 4(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 4(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty. Any redemption upon an Event of Default shall not constitute an election of remedies by the Holder, and all other rights and remedies of the Holder shall be preserved.
(c) Mandatory Redemption upon Bankruptcy Event of Default.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, and notwithstanding any conversion that is then required or in process, upon any Bankruptcy Event of Default, whether occurring prior to or following the Maturity Date, the Company shall immediately pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing (i) all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges on such Principal and Interest, multiplied by (ii) the Redemption Premium, in addition to any and all other amounts due hereunder, without the requirement for any notice or demand or other action by the Holder or any other person or entity, provided that the Holder may, in its sole discretion, waive such right to receive payment upon a Bankruptcy Event of Default, in whole or in part, and any such waiver shall not affect any other rights of the Holder hereunder, including any other rights in respect of such Bankruptcy Event of Default, any right to conversion, and any right to payment of the Event of Default Redemption Price or any other Redemption Price, as applicable.
5. RIGHTS UPON FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTION.
(a) Assumption. The Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless (i) the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(a) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to each holder of Notes in exchange for such Notes a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to the Notes, including, without limitation, having a principal amount and interest rate equal to the principal amounts then outstanding and the interest rates of the Notes held by such holder, having similar conversion rights as the Notes and having similar ranking and security to the Notes, and satisfactory to the Holder and (ii) the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) is a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market. Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Note and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of a Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon conversion or redemption of this Note at any time after the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 6 and 17, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the conversion or redemption of the Notes prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of the publicly traded common stock (or their equivalent) of the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental Transaction had this Note been converted immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Note. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may elect, at its sole option, by delivery of written notice to the Company to waive this Section 5(a) to permit the Fundamental Transaction without the assumption of this Note. The provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note.
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(b) Notice of a Change of Control; Redemption Right. No sooner than twenty (20) Trading Days nor later than ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of a Change of Control (the “Change of Control Date”), but not prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof via electronic mail and overnight courier to the Holder (a “Change of Control Notice”). At any time during the period beginning after the Holder’s receipt of a Change of Control Notice or the Holder becoming aware of a Change of Control if a Change of Control Notice is not delivered to the Holder in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence (as applicable) and ending on twenty (20) Trading Days after the later of (A) the date of consummation of such Change of Control or (B) the date of receipt of such Change of Control Notice or (C) the date of the announcement of such Change of Control, the Holder may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (“Change of Control Redemption Notice”) to the Company, which Change of Control Redemption Notice shall indicate the Conversion Amount the Holder is electing to redeem. The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 5 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the greatest of (i) the product of (w) the Change of Control Redemption Premium multiplied by (y) the Conversion Amount being redeemed, (ii) the product of (x) the Change of Control Redemption Premium multiplied by (y) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient determined by dividing (I) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the shares of Common Stock during the period beginning on the date immediately preceding the earlier to occur of (1) the consummation of the applicable Change of Control and (2) the public announcement of such Change of Control and ending on the date the Holder delivers the Change of Control Redemption Notice by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect and (iii) the product of (y) the Change of Control Redemption Premium multiplied by (z) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient of (I) the aggregate cash consideration and the aggregate cash value of any non-cash consideration per share of Common Stock to be paid to the holders of the shares of Common Stock upon consummation of such Change of Control (any such non-cash consideration constituting publicly-traded securities shall be valued at the highest of the Closing Sale Price of such securities as of the Trading Day immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of such proposed Change of Control and the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the Trading Day immediately prior to the public announcement of such proposed Change of Control) divided by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect (the “Change of Control Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 5 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 and shall have priority to payments to stockholders in connection with such Change of Control. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 5(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5, but subject to Section 3(d), until the Change of Control Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 5(b) (together with any Late Charges thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.
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In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 5(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 5(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.
6. RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS AND OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.
(a) Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Sections 7 or 17 below, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all or substantially all of the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note and assuming for such purpose that the Note was converted at the Alternate Conversion Price as of the applicable record date) immediately prior to the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to the extent of the Maximum Percentage (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right (and beneficial ownership) to the extent of any such excess) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance (and, if such Purchase Right has an expiration date, maturity date or other similar provision, such term shall be extended by such number of days held in abeyance, if applicable) for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such right (and any Purchase Right granted, issued or sold on such initial Purchase Right or on any subsequent Purchase Right held similarly in abeyance (and, if such Purchase Right has an expiration date, maturity date or other similar provision, such term shall be extended by such number of days held in abeyance, if applicable)) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).
(b) Other Corporate Events.
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In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a “Corporate Event”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to ensure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon a conversion of this Note, at the Holder’s option (i) in addition to the shares of Common Stock receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets to which the Holder would have been entitled with respect to such shares of Common Stock had such shares of Common Stock been held by the Holder upon the consummation of such Corporate Event (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note) or (ii) in lieu of the shares of Common Stock otherwise receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets received by the holders of shares of Common Stock in connection with the consummation of such Corporate Event in such amounts as the Holder would have been entitled to receive had this Note initially been issued with conversion rights for the form of such consideration (as opposed to shares of Common Stock) at a conversion rate for such consideration commensurate with the Conversion Rate. Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Holder. The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Corporate Events and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion or redemption of this Note.
7. RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF OTHER SECURITIES.
(a) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Issuance of Common Stock. If and whenever on or after the Subscription Date the Company grants, issues or sells (or enters into any agreement to grant, issue or sell), or in accordance with this Section 7(a) is deemed to have granted, issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the granting, issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding any Excluded Securities granted, issued or sold or deemed to have been granted, issued or sold) for a consideration per share (the “New Issuance Price”) less than a price equal to the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such granting, issuance or sale or deemed granting, issuance or sale (such Conversion Price then in effect is referred to herein as the “Applicable Price”) (the foregoing a “Dilutive Issuance”), then, immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Conversion Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For all purposes of the foregoing (including, without limitation, determining the adjusted Conversion Price and the New Issuance Price under this Section 7(a)), the following shall be applicable:
(i) Issuance of Options. If the Company in any manner grants, issues or sells (or enters into any agreement to grant, issue or sell) any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting, issuance or sale of such Option for such price per share.
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For purposes of this Section 7(a)(i), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting, issuance or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest exercise price set forth in such Option for which one share of Common Stock is issuable (or may become issuable assuming all possible market conditions) upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof, minus (2) the sum of all amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Option (or any other Person) with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting, issuance or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof plus the value of any other consideration (including, without limitation, consideration consisting of cash, debt forgiveness, assets or any other property) received or receivable by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Option (or any other Person). Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such share of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.
(ii) Issuance of Convertible Securities. If the Company in any manner issues or sells (or enters into any agreement to issue or sell) any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale (or the time of execution of such agreement to issue or sell, as applicable) of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 7(a)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale (or pursuant to the agreement to issue or sell, as applicable) of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest conversion price set forth in such Convertible Security for which one share of Common Stock is issuable (or may become issuable assuming all possible market conditions) upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof minus (2) the sum of all amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person) with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale (or the agreement to issue or sell, as applicable) of such Convertible Security plus the value of any other consideration received or receivable (including, without limitation, any consideration consisting of cash, debt forgiveness, assets or other property) by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person).
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Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof, and if any such issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of the Conversion Price has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 7(a), except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made by reason of such issuance or sale.
(iii) Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion. If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time (other than proportional changes in conversion or exercise prices, as applicable, in connection with an event referred to in Section 7(b) below), the Conversion Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate (as the case may be) at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 7(a)(i), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security (including, without limitation, any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Subscription Date) are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Conversion Price then in effect.
(iv) Calculation of Consideration Received. If any Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right is issued in connection with the issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of any other securities of the Company (as determined by the Holder, the “Primary Security”, and such Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right, the “Secondary Securities”), together comprising one integrated transaction (or one or more transactions if such issuances or sales or deemed issuances or sales of securities of the Company either (A) have at least one investor or purchaser in common, (B) are consummated in reasonable proximity to each other and/or (C) are consummated under the same plan of financing), the aggregate consideration per share of Common Stock with respect to such Primary Security shall be deemed to be equal to the difference of (x) the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock was issued (or was deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 7(a)(i) or 7(a)(ii) above, as applicable) in such integrated transaction solely with respect to such Primary Security, minus (y) with respect to such Secondary Securities, the sum of (I) the Black Scholes Consideration Value of each such Option, if any, (II) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder in good faith) or the Black Scholes Consideration Value, as applicable, of such Adjustment Right, if any, and (III) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder) of such Convertible Security, if any, in each case, as determined on a per share basis in accordance with this Section 7(a)(iv).
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If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the net amount of consideration received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the VWAPs of such security for each of the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities (as the case may be). The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Holder. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “Valuation Event”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10th) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Holder. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company.
(v) Record Date. If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issuance or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase (as the case may be).
(b) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. Without limiting any provision of Section 6, Section 17 or Section 7(a), if the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced.
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Without limiting any provision of Section 6, Section 17 or Section 7(a), if the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date combines (by any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this Section 7(b) occurs during the period that a Conversion Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Conversion Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event.
(c) Holder’s Right of Adjusted Conversion Price. In addition to and not in limitation of the other provisions of this Section 7, if the Company in any manner issues or sells or enters into any agreement to issue or sell, any Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities (any such securities, “Variable Price Securities”), after the Subscription Date that are issuable pursuant to such agreement or convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the shares of Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to a fixed price, but exclusive of such formulations reflecting customary anti-dilution provisions (such as share splits, share combinations, share dividends and similar transactions) (each of the formulations for such variable price being herein referred to as, the “Variable Price”), the Company shall provide written notice thereof via electronic mail and overnight courier to the Holder on the date of such agreement and the issuance of such Common Stock, Convertible Securities or Options. From and after the date the Company enters into such agreement or issues any such Variable Price Securities, the Holder shall have the right, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion to substitute the Variable Price for the Conversion Price upon conversion of this Note by designating in the Conversion Notice delivered upon any conversion of this Note that solely for purposes of such conversion the Holder is relying on the Variable Price rather than the Conversion Price then in effect. The Holder’s election to rely on a Variable Price for a particular conversion of this Note shall not obligate the Holder to rely on a Variable Price for any future conversion of this Note.
(d) Stock Combination Event Adjustments. If at any time and from time to time on or after the Subscription Date there occurs any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination recapitalization or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock (each, a “Stock Combination Event”, and such date thereof, the “Stock Combination Event Date”) and the Event Market Price is less than the Conversion Price then in effect (after giving effect to the adjustment in Section 7(b) above), then on the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day immediately following such Stock Combination Event Date, the Conversion Price then in effect on such sixteenth (16th) Trading Day (after giving effect to the adjustment in Section 7(b) above) shall be reduced (but in no event increased) to the Event Market Price. For the avoidance of doubt, if the adjustment in the immediately preceding sentence would otherwise result in an increase in the Conversion Price hereunder, no adjustment shall be made.
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(e) Other Events. In the event that the Company (or any Subsidiary) shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 7 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Conversion Price so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(e) will increase the Conversion Price as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 7, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding absent manifest error and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.
(f) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 7 shall be made by rounding to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.
(g) Voluntary Adjustment by Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Principal Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Note, with the prior written consent of the Required Holders (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), reduce the then current Conversion Price of each of the Notes to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.
8. SUBSEQUENT PLACEMENT OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
(a) General. At any time from and after the earlier of (x) the date the Holder (the “Holder Subsequent Placement Notice Date”) becomes aware of the occurrence of a Subsequent Placement (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) (in each case, other than with respect to Excluded Securities (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) (each, an “Eligible Subsequent Placement”), and (y) the time of consummation of such Eligible Subsequent Placement, the Holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem (each, a “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption”) all, or any portion, of the Outstanding Amount under this Note not in excess of (together with any Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount (as defined in the applicable other Note of the Holder) of any other Notes of the Holder) the Holder’s Holder Pro Rata Amount of 25% of the net proceeds of such Eligible Subsequent Placement (the “Eligible Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount”) by delivering written notice thereof (an “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice”) to the Company. The Company shall notify the Holder in writing no later than five (5) Trading Days after the occurrence of any Eligible Subsequent Placement, which notice shall include (i) the sale price of each Eligible Subsequent Placement, (ii) the date of each Eligible Subsequent Placement and (iii) the aggregate gross proceeds of each Eligible Subsequent Placement.
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(b) Mechanics. Each Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice shall indicate that all, or such applicable portion, as set forth in the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice, of the Outstanding Amount of this Note (with a Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price not in excess of such applicable Eligible Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount) the Holder is electing to have redeemed (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount”) and the date of such Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date”), which shall be the later of (x) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice and (y) the date of the consummation of such Eligible Subsequent Placement. The portion of the Outstanding Amount of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 8 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to 100% of the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed as of the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 8 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.
9. ASSET SALE OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
(a) General. At any time from and after the earlier of (x) the date the Holder becomes aware of the occurrence of an Asset Sale (as defined below)(including any insurance and condemnation proceeds thereof) (each, a “Holder Asset Sale Notice Date”) and (y) the time of consummation of an Asset Sale (other than sales of inventory and product in the ordinary course of business) (each, an “Eligible Asset Sale”), the Holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem (each an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption”) all, or any portion, of the Outstanding Amount under this Note not in excess of (together with any Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount (as defined in the applicable other Note of the Holder) of any other Notes of the Holder) the Holder’s Holder Pro Rata Amount of 100% of the net proceeds (including any insurance and condemnation proceeds with respect thereto) of such Eligible Asset Sale (each, an “Eligible Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount”) by delivering written notice thereof (each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice”, and each date thereof, an “Asset Sale Redemption Notice Date”) to the Company.
(b) Mechanics. Each Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice shall indicate that all, or such applicable portion, as set forth in the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice, of the Outstanding Amount of this Note (with an Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price not in excess of such applicable Eligible Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount) the Holder is electing to have redeemed (each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount”) and the date of such Asset Sale Optional Redemption (each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date”), which shall be the later of (x) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice and (y) the date of the consummation of such Eligible Asset Sale. The portion of the Outstanding Amount of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 9 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the greater of (i) the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed as of the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date and (ii) the product of (1) the quotient of (A) the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed divided by (b) the Alternate Conversion Price then in effect as of the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date multiplied by (2) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Asset Sale Redemption Notice Date and ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under this Section 9 (each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price”).
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Redemptions required by this Section 9 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.
10. REDEMPTIONS AT THE COMPANY’S ELECTION.
(a) Company Optional Redemption. At any time after Shoe Sale Closing Time (as defined below), the Company shall have the right to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Conversion Amount then remaining under this Note (the “Company Optional Redemption Amount”) on the Company Optional Redemption Date (each as defined below) (a “Company Optional Redemption”). The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 10(a) shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price (the “Company Optional Redemption Price”) equal to 120% of the greater of (i) the Conversion Amount being redeemed as of the Company Optional Redemption Date and (ii) the product of (1) the Conversion Rate (assuming an Alternate Conversion) with respect to the Conversion Amount being redeemed as of the Company Optional Redemption Date multiplied by (2) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Company Optional Redemption Notice Date and ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under this Section 10(a). The Company may exercise its right to require redemption under this Section 10(a) by delivering a written notice thereof by electronic mail and overnight courier to all, but not less than all, of the holders of Notes (the “Company Optional Redemption Notice” and the date all of the holders of Notes received such notice is referred to as the “Company Optional Redemption Notice Date”). The Company may deliver only one Company Optional Redemption Notice hereunder and such Company Optional Redemption Notice shall be irrevocable. The Company Optional Redemption Notice shall (x) state the date on which the Company Optional Redemption shall occur (the “Company Optional Redemption Date”) which date shall not be less than ninety (90) Trading Days nor more than one hundred (100) Trading Days following the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date, (y) certify that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure and (z) state the aggregate Conversion Amount of the Notes which is being redeemed in such Company Optional Redemption from the Holder and all of the other holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 10(a) (and analogous provisions under the Other Notes) on the Company Optional Redemption Date. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if no Equity Conditions Failure has occurred as of the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date but an Equity Conditions Failure occurs at any time prior to the Company Optional Redemption Date, (A) the Company shall provide the Holder a subsequent notice to that effect and (B) unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions Failure, the Company Optional Redemption shall be cancelled and the applicable Company Optional Redemption Notice shall be null and void and (ii) at any time prior to the date the Company Optional Redemption Price is paid, in full, the Company Optional Redemption Amount may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.
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All Conversion Amounts converted by the Holder after the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date shall reduce the Company Optional Redemption Amount of this Note required to be redeemed on the Company Optional Redemption Date. Redemptions made pursuant to this Section 10(a) shall be made in accordance with Section 13. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 10(a), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 10(a) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall have no right to effect a Company Optional Redemption if any Event of Default has occurred and continuing, but any Event of Default shall have no effect upon the Holder’s right to convert this Note in its discretion.
(b) Pro Rata Redemption Requirement. If the Company elects to cause a Company Optional Redemption of this Note pursuant to Section 10(a), then it must simultaneously take the same action with respect to all of the Other Notes.
11. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), Bylaws (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any other provision of this Note or the other Transaction Documents, the Company (a) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon conversion of this Note above the Conversion Price then in effect, and (b) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of this Note. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if after the sixty (60) calendar day anniversary of the Issuance Date, the Holder is not permitted to convert this Note in full for any reason (other than pursuant to restrictions set forth in Section 3(d) hereof), the Company shall use its best efforts to promptly remedy such failure, including, without limitation, obtaining such consents or approvals as necessary to permit such conversion into shares of Common Stock.
12. RESERVATION OF AUTHORIZED SHARES.
(a) Reservation. So long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall at all times reserve at least 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the conversion, including without limitation, Alternate Conversions, of all of the Notes then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on conversions and assuming such Notes remain outstanding until the Maturity Date) at the Floor Price then in effect (the “Required Reserve Amount”).
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The Required Reserve Amount (including, without limitation, each increase in the number of shares so reserved) shall be allocated pro rata among the holders of the Notes based on the original principal amount of the Notes held by each holder on the Applicable Closing Date or increase in the number of reserved shares, as the case may be (the “Authorized Share Allocation”). In the event that a holder shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder’s Notes, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such holder’s Authorized Share Allocation. Any shares of Common Stock reserved and allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Notes shall be allocated to the remaining holders of Notes, pro rata based on the principal amount of the Notes then held by such holders.
(b) Insufficient Authorized Shares. If, notwithstanding Section 12(a), and not in limitation thereof, at any time while any of the Notes remain outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon conversion of the Notes at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Reserve Amount (an “Authorized Share Failure”), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for the Notes then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. In the event that the Company is prohibited from issuing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Note due to the failure by the Company to have sufficient shares of Common Stock available out of the authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (such unavailable number of shares of Common Stock, the “Authorized Failure Shares”), in lieu of delivering such Authorized Failure Shares to the Holder, the Company shall pay cash in exchange for the redemption of such portion of the Conversion Amount convertible into such Authorized Failure Shares at a price equal to the sum of (i) the product of (x) such number of Authorized Failure Shares and (y) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date the Holder delivers the applicable Conversion Notice with respect to such Authorized Failure Shares to the Company and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this Section 12(a); and (ii) to the extent the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of Authorized Failure Shares, any brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any, of the Holder incurred in connection therewith. Nothing contained in Section 12(a) or this Section 12(b) shall limit any obligations of the Company under any provision of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
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13. REDEMPTIONS.
(a) Mechanics. The Company shall deliver the applicable Event of Default Redemption Price to the Holder in cash within five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s Event of Default Redemption Notice. If the Holder has submitted a Change of Control Redemption Notice in accordance with Section 5(b), the Company shall deliver the applicable Change of Control Redemption Price to the Holder in cash concurrently with the consummation of such Change of Control if such notice is received prior to the consummation of such Change of Control and within five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of such notice otherwise. The Company shall deliver the applicable Company Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Company Optional Redemption Date. The Company shall deliver the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date. The Company shall deliver the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in connection with any redemption hereunder at a time the Holder is entitled to receive a cash payment under any of the other Transaction Documents, at the option of the Holder delivered in writing to the Company, the applicable Redemption Price hereunder shall be increased by the amount of such cash payment owed to the Holder under such other Transaction Document and, upon payment in full or conversion in accordance herewith, shall satisfy the Company’s payment obligation under such other Transaction Document. In the event of a redemption of less than all of the Conversion Amount of this Note, the Company shall promptly cause to be issued and delivered to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) representing the outstanding Principal which has not been redeemed. In the event that the Company does not pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holder within the time period required, at any time thereafter and until the Company pays such unpaid Redemption Price in full, the Holder shall have the option, in lieu of redemption, to require the Company to promptly return to the Holder all or any portion of this Note representing the Conversion Amount that was submitted for redemption and for which the applicable Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) has not been paid. Upon the Company’s receipt of such notice, (x) the applicable Redemption Notice shall be null and void with respect to such Conversion Amount, (y) the Company shall immediately return this Note, or issue a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)), to the Holder, and in each case the principal amount of this Note or such new Note (as the case may be) shall be increased by an amount equal to the difference between (1) the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be, and as adjusted pursuant to this Section 13, if applicable) minus (2) the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption and (z) the Conversion Price of this Note or such new Notes (as the case may be) shall be automatically adjusted with respect to each conversion effected thereafter by the Holder to the lowest of (A) the Conversion Price as in effect on the date on which the applicable Redemption Notice is voided, (B) greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) 75% of the lowest Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on and including the date on which the applicable Redemption Notice is delivered to the Company and ending on and including the date on which the applicable Redemption Notice is voided and (C) greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) 75% of the quotient of (I) the sum of the five (5) lowest VWAPs of the Common Stock during the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the applicable Conversion Date divided by (II) five (5) (it being understood and agreed that all such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period).
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The Holder’s delivery of a notice voiding a Redemption Notice and exercise of its rights following such notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments of Late Charges which have accrued prior to the date of such notice with respect to the Conversion Amount subject to such notice.
(b) Redemption by Other Holders. Upon the Company’s receipt of notice from any of the holders of the Other Notes for redemption or repayment as a result of an event or occurrence substantially similar to the events or occurrences described in Section 4(b) or Section 5(b) (each, an “Other Redemption Notice”), the Company shall immediately, but no later than one (1) Business Day of its receipt thereof, forward to the Holder by facsimile or electronic mail a copy of such notice. If the Company receives a Redemption Notice and one or more Other Redemption Notices, during the seven (7) Business Day period beginning on and including the date which is two (2) Business Days prior to the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s applicable Redemption Notice and ending on and including the date which is two (2) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s applicable Redemption Notice and the Company is unable to redeem all principal, interest and other amounts designated in such Redemption Notice and such Other Redemption Notices received during such seven (7) Business Day period, then the Company shall redeem a pro rata amount from each holder of the Notes (including the Holder) based on the principal amount of the Notes submitted for redemption pursuant to such Redemption Notice and such Other Redemption Notices received by the Company during such seven (7) Business Day period.
14. VOTING RIGHTS. The Holder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by law (including, without limitation, the Delaware General Corporation Law) and as expressly provided in this Note.
15. COVENANTS. Until all of the Notes have been converted, redeemed or otherwise satisfied in accordance with their terms:
(a) Rank. All payments due under this Note (a) shall rank pari passu with all Other Notes and (b) shall be senior to all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Permitted Senior Indebtedness solely with respect to Permitted Senior Indebtedness Collateral).
(b) Incurrence of Indebtedness. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness (other than (i) the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes and (ii) other Permitted Indebtedness).
(c) Existence of Liens. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, allow or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Liens”) other than Permitted Liens.
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(d) Restricted Payments and Investments. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, defease, repurchase, repay or make any payments in respect of, by the payment of cash or cash equivalents (in whole or in part, whether by way of open market purchases, tender offers, private transactions or otherwise), all or any portion of any Indebtedness (other than the Notes or the Permitted Senior Indebtedness) whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness or make any Investment, as applicable, if at the time such payment with respect to such Indebtedness and/or Investment, as applicable, is due or is otherwise made or, after giving effect to such payment, (i) an event constituting an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) an event that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
(e) Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, repurchase or declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock (other than as contemplated by the Shoe Business Sale).
(f) Restriction on Transfer of Assets. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, spin-off, split-off, close, convey or otherwise dispose of any assets or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary owned or hereafter acquired whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than (i) sales, leases, licenses, assignments, transfers, conveyances and other dispositions of such assets or rights by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with its past practice, (ii) any of (x) the Shoe Business Sale, (y) the sale or disposition of inventory of the shoe business and (z) other assets related to the shoe business as specified on Schedule 15(f) and (iii) sales of inventory and product in the ordinary course of business (each, an “Asset Sale”).
(g) Maturity of Indebtedness. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, permit any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to mature or accelerate prior to the Maturity Date.
(h) Change in Nature of Business. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by or publicly contemplated to be conducted by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries on the Subscription Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, modify its or their corporate structure or purpose.
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(i) Preservation of Existence, Etc. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its existence, rights and privileges, and become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary.
(j) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time (or as of the Issuance Date with respect to assets purchased with the proceeds of the Initial Notes), the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with the provisions of all leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it occupies property, so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder.
(k) Maintenance of Intellectual Property. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] the Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take all action necessary or advisable to maintain all of the Intellectual Property Rights (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries that are necessary or material to the conduct of its business in full force and effect.
(l) Maintenance of Insurance. The Company shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated.
(m) Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services of any kind) with any affiliate, except transactions disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the period ended December 31, 2025 under the section titled “Transactions with Related Persons.”, and transactions in the ordinary course of business in a manner and to an extent consistent with past practice and necessary or desirable for the prudent operation of its business, for fair consideration and on terms no less favorable to it or its Subsidiaries than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an affiliate thereof.
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(n) Restricted Issuances. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), (i) issue any Notes (other than as contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Notes) or (ii) issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes.
(o) New Subsidiaries. Simultaneously with the acquisition or formation of each New Subsidiary, the Company shall cause such New Subsidiary to execute, and deliver to each holder of Notes, all Security Documents (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and Guaranties (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) as requested by the Collateral Agent or the Required Holders, as applicable. The Company shall also deliver to the Collateral Agent an opinion of counsel to such New Subsidiary that is reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holders covering such legal matters with respect to such New Subsidiary becoming a guarantor of the Company’s obligations, executing and delivering the Security Document and the Guaranties and any other matters that the Collateral Agent or the Required Holders may reasonably request. The Company shall deliver, or cause the applicable Subsidiary to deliver to the Collateral Agent, each of the physical stock certificates of such New Subsidiary, along with undated stock powers for each such certificates, executed in blank (or, if any such shares of capital stock are uncertificated, confirmation and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holders that the security interest in such uncertificated securities has been transferred to and perfected by the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Sections 8-313, 8-321 and 9-115 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other similar or local or foreign law that may be applicable).
(p) Change in Collateral; Collateral Records. The Company shall (i) give the Collateral Agent not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of any change in the location of any Collateral (as defined in the Security Documents), other than to locations set forth in the Perfection Certificate (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) hereto and with respect to which the Collateral Agent has filed financing statements and otherwise fully perfected its Liens thereon, (ii) advise the Collateral Agent promptly, in sufficient detail, of any material adverse change relating to the type, quantity or quality of the Collateral or the Lien granted thereon and (iii) execute and deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holder and holders of the Other Notes from time to time, solely for the Collateral Agent’s convenience in maintaining a record of Collateral, such written statements and schedules as the Collateral Agent or any Holder may reasonably require, designating, identifying or describing the Collateral.
(q) Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. To the extent that it may lawfully do so, the Company (A) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Note; and (B) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Holder by this Note, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
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(r) Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall pay when due all taxes, fees or other charges of any nature whatsoever (together with any related interest or penalties) now or hereafter imposed or assessed against the Company and its Subsidiaries or their respective assets or upon their ownership, possession, use, operation or disposition thereof or upon their rents, receipts or earnings arising therefrom (except where the failure to pay would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). The Company and its Subsidiaries shall file on or before the due date therefor all personal property tax returns (except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries may contest, in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, taxes for which they maintain adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP.
(s) Financial Covenants; Announcement of Operating Results.
(i) Minimum Liquidity Test. At any time any Notes remain outstanding, the Company’s Available Cash as of the last calendar day in each Fiscal Quarter (each, a “Fiscal Period Measuring Date”) shall equal or exceed $1,000,000 (the “Minimum Liquidity Test”).
(ii) Working Capital Test. As of the time immediately following the time of consummation of the Shoe Business Sale (“Shoe Sale Closing Time”), the Company shall have, in a segregated account subject to an account control agreement of the Collateral Agent, Available Cash of at least $2.5 million (the “Working Capital Test”, and together with the Minimum Liquidity Test, each a “Financial Test”).
(iii) Operating Results Announcement. Commencing on the date hereof, the Company shall publicly disclose and disseminate (such date, the “Announcement Date”), if the Working Capital Test has not been satisfied as of the Shoe Sale Closing Time or if the Minimum Liquidity Test has not been satisfied as of any Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, a statement to that effect no later than the tenth (10th) day after the end of such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, and such announcement shall include a statement to the effect that the Company is (or is not, as applicable) in breach of any Financial Test for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable. On the Announcement Date, the Company shall also provide to the Holder a certification, executed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying that the Company satisfied each Financial Test for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, if that is the case. If the Company has failed to meet one or more Financial Tests for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, (each a “Financial Covenant Failure”), on or prior to the Announcement Date, the Company shall provide to the Holders a written certification, executed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying which Financial Test(s) have not been met for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable (a “Financial Covenant Failure Notice”).
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Concurrently with the delivery of each Financial Covenant Failure Notice to the Holders, the Company shall also make publicly available (as part of a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K or on a Current Report on Form 8-K, or otherwise) the Financial Covenant Failure Notice and the fact that an Event of Default has occurred under the Notes.
(t) Independent Investigation. At the request of the Holder either (x) at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (y) upon the occurrence of an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default or (z) at any time the Holder reasonably believes an Event of Default may have occurred or be continuing, the Company shall hire an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder to investigate as to whether any breach of this Note has occurred (the “Independent Investigator”). If the Independent Investigator determines that such breach of this Note has occurred, the Independent Investigator shall notify the Company of such breach and the Company shall deliver written notice to each holder of a Note of such breach. In connection with such investigation, the Independent Investigator may, during normal business hours, inspect all contracts, books, records, personnel, offices and other facilities and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the extent available to the Company after the Company uses reasonable efforts to obtain them, the records of its legal advisors and accountants (including the accountants’ work papers) and any books of account, records, reports and other papers not contractually required of the Company to be confidential or secret, or subject to attorney-client or other evidentiary privilege, and the Independent Investigator may make such copies and inspections thereof as the Independent Investigator may reasonably request. The Company shall furnish the Independent Investigator with such financial and operating data and other information with respect to the business and properties of the Company as the Independent Investigator may reasonably request. The Company shall permit the Independent Investigator to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company with, and to make proposals and furnish advice with respect thereto to, the Company’s officers, directors, key employees and independent public accountants or any of them (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss with such Independent Investigator the finances and affairs of the Company and any Subsidiaries), all at such reasonable times, upon reasonable notice, and as often as may be reasonably requested.
16. SECURITY. This Note and the Other Notes are secured to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the Security Agreement, the other Security Documents and the Guaranties).
17. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS.
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In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Sections 6(a) or 7, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distributions of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to any or all holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction), but excluding any Shoe Business Sale Dividend (the “Distributions”), then the Holder will be entitled to such Distributions as if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note and assuming for such purpose that the Note was converted at the Alternate Conversion Price as of the applicable record date) immediately prior to the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for such Distributions (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the extent of the Maximum Percentage (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution (and beneficial ownership) to the extent of any such excess) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such Distribution (and any Distributions declared or made on such initial Distribution or on any subsequent Distribution held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).
18. AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE. Except for Section 3(d) and this Section 18, which may not be amended, modified or waived by the parties hereto, the prior written consent of the Holder shall be required for any change, waiver or amendment to this Note.
19. TRANSFER. This Note and any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of this Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder without the consent of the Company, subject only to the provisions of Section 2(g) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
20. REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.
(a) Transfer. If this Note is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Note to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) to the Holder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of Section 3(c)(iii) following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.
(b) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.
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(c) Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 20(d) and in principal amounts of at least $1,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.
(d) Issuance of New Notes. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 20(a) or Section 20(c), the Principal designated by the Holder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest and Late Charges on the Principal and Interest of this Note, from the Issuance Date.
21. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note. No failure on the part of the Holder to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Holder of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. In addition, the exercise of any right or remedy of the Holder at law or equity or under this Note or any of the documents shall not be deemed to be an election of Holder’s rights or remedies under such documents or at law or equity. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 7).
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22. PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the purchase price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.
23. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the initial Holder and shall not be construed against any such Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Note instead of just the provision in which they are found. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, all section references are to sections of this Note. Terms used in this Note and not otherwise defined herein, but defined in the other Transaction Documents, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Applicable Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
24. FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 24 shall permit any waiver of any provision of Section 3(d).
25. DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
(a) Submission to Dispute Resolution.
(i) In the case of a dispute relating to a Closing Bid Price, a Closing Sale Price, a Conversion Price, an Alternate Conversion Price, a Black-Scholes Consideration Value, a VWAP or a fair market value or the arithmetic calculation of a Conversion Rate, or the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be) (including, without limitation, a dispute relating to the determination of any of the foregoing), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the dispute to the other party via electronic mail (A) if by the Company, within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute or (B) if by the Holder at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute.
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If the Holder and the Company are unable to promptly resolve such dispute relating to such Closing Bid Price, such Closing Sale Price, such Conversion Price, such Alternate Conversion Price, such Black-Scholes Consideration Value, such VWAP or such fair market value, or the arithmetic calculation of such Conversion Rate or such applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be), at any time after the second (2nd) Business Day following such initial notice by the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) of such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Holder may, at its sole option, select an independent, reputable investment bank to resolve such dispute.
(ii) The Holder and the Company shall each deliver to such investment bank (A) a copy of the initial dispute submission so delivered in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 25 and (B) written documentation supporting its position with respect to such dispute, in each case, no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) by the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Holder selected such investment bank (the “Dispute Submission Deadline”) (the documents referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B) are collectively referred to herein as the “Required Dispute Documentation”) (it being understood and agreed that if either the Holder or the Company fails to so deliver all of the Required Dispute Documentation by the Dispute Submission Deadline, then the party who fails to so submit all of the Required Dispute Documentation shall no longer be entitled to (and hereby waives its right to) deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank with respect to such dispute and such investment bank shall resolve such dispute based solely on the Required Dispute Documentation that was delivered to such investment bank prior to the Dispute Submission Deadline). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both the Company and the Holder or otherwise requested by such investment bank, neither the Company nor the Holder shall be entitled to deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank in connection with such dispute (other than the Required Dispute Documentation).
(iii) The Company and the Holder shall cause such investment bank to determine the resolution of such dispute and notify the Company and the Holder of such resolution no later than ten (10) Business Days immediately following the Dispute Submission Deadline. The fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be borne solely by the Company, and such investment bank’s resolution of such dispute shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error.
(b) Miscellaneous. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Section 25 constitutes an agreement to arbitrate between the Company and the Holder (and constitutes an arbitration agreement) under the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act, as amended, (ii) a dispute relating to a Conversion Price includes, without limitation, disputes as to (A) whether an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Common Stock occurred under Section 7(a), (B) the consideration per share at which an issuance or deemed issuance of Common Stock occurred, (C) whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Common Stock was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities, (D) whether an agreement, instrument, security or the like constitutes and Option or Convertible Security and (E) whether a Dilutive Issuance occurred, (iii) the terms of this Note and each other applicable Transaction Document shall serve as the basis for the selected investment bank’s resolution of the applicable dispute, such investment bank shall be entitled (and is hereby expressly authorized) to make all findings, determinations and the like that such investment bank determines are required to be made by such investment bank in connection with its resolution of such dispute and in resolving such dispute such investment bank shall apply such findings, determinations and the like to the terms of this Note and any other applicable Transaction Documents, (iv) the Holder (and only the Holder), in its sole discretion, shall have the right to submit any dispute described in this Section 25 to any state or federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware in lieu of utilizing the procedures set forth in this Section 25 and (v) nothing in this Section 25 shall limit the Holder from obtaining any injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (including, without limitation, with respect to any matters described in this Section 25).
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26. NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.
(a) Notices. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 9(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.
(b) Currency. All dollar amounts referred to in this Note are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”), and all amounts owing under this Note shall be paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies (if any) shall be converted into the U.S. Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “Exchange Rate” means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. Dollars pursuant to this Note, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation (it being understood and agreed that where an amount is calculated with reference to, or over, a period of time, the date of calculation shall be the final date of such period of time).
(c) Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by a certified check drawn on the account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to such Person at such address as previously provided to the Company in writing (which address, in the case of each of the Buyers, shall initially be as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement), provided that the Holder may elect to receive a payment of cash via wire transfer of immediately available funds by providing the Company with prior written notice setting out such request and the Holder’s wire transfer instructions.
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Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day. Any amount of Principal or other amounts due under the Transaction Documents which is not paid when due shall result in a late charge being incurred and payable by the Company in an amount equal to interest on such amount at the rate of seventeen percent (17%) per annum from the date such amount was due until the same is paid in full (“Late Charge”).
27. CANCELLATION. After all Principal, accrued Interest, Late Charges and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation and shall not be reissued.
28. WAIVER OF NOTICE. To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Securities Purchase Agreement.
29. GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware. Except as otherwise required by Section 25 above, the Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Wilmington Delaware, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein (i) shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder or (ii) shall limit, or shall be deemed or construed to limit, any provision of Section 25. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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30. JUDGMENT CURRENCY.
(a) If for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Company in any court in any jurisdiction it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 30 referred to as the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due in U.S. dollars under this Note, the conversion shall be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Trading Day immediately preceding:
(i) the date actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of Delaware or in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give effect to such conversion being made on such date: or
(ii) the date on which the foreign court determines, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction (the date as of which such conversion is made pursuant to this Section 30(a)(ii) being hereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Conversion Date”).
(b) If in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in Section 30(a)(ii) above, there is a change in the Exchange Rate prevailing between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the applicable party shall pay such adjusted amount as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of US dollars which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date.
(c) Any amount due from the Company under this provision shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts due under or in respect of this Note.
31. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
32. MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Without limiting Section 9(d) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Company to the Holder and thus refunded to the Company.
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33. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(b) “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) “Adjusted Floor Price” means as determined on each six month anniversary of the Issuance Date (each, a “Six Month Anniversary Date”) hereunder, the lower of (i) the Floor Price then in effect and (ii) 20% of the lower of (x) the closing price of the Common Stock of the Principal Market (as reported by the Principal Market) as of the Trading Day ended immediately prior to such applicable Six Month Anniversary Date and (y) the quotient of (I) the sum of each the closing price of the Common Stock of the Principal Market (as reported by the Principal Market) on each Trading Day of the five (5) Trading Day period ended on, and including, the Trading Day ended immediately prior to such applicable Six Month Anniversary Date, divided by (II) five (5). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any share split, share dividend, share combination or other similar transaction during any such measuring period.
(d) “Adjustment Right” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 7) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 6(a) hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).
(e) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, it being understood for purposes of this definition that “control” of a Person means the power directly or indirectly either to vote 10% or more of the stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
(f) “Alternate Conversion Floor Amount” means an amount in cash, to be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to wire instructions delivered to the Company by the Holder in writing, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) higher of (I) the highest price that the Common Stock trades at on the Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Alternate Conversion Date and (II) the applicable Alternate Conversion Price and (B) the difference obtained by subtracting (I) the number of shares of Common Stock delivered (or to be delivered) to the Holder on the applicable Share Delivery Deadline with respect to such Alternate Conversion from (II) the quotient obtain by dividing (x) the applicable Conversion Amount that the Holder has elected to be the subject of the applicable Alternate Conversion, by (y) the applicable Alternate Conversion Price without giving effect to clause (x) of such definition.
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(g) “Alternate Conversion Price” means, with respect to any Alternate Conversion that price which shall be the lower of (i) the applicable Conversion Price as in effect on the applicable Conversion Date of the applicable Alternate Conversion, and (ii) the greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) either (A) if an Event of Default then exists and is continuing, 85% of the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock of any Trading Day during the fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice or (B) otherwise, 93% of the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock of any Trading Day during the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice (such applicable period, the “Alternate Conversion Measuring Period”). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction that proportionately decreases or increases the Common Stock during such Alternate Conversion Measuring Period.
(h) “Applicable Closing Date” means the applicable date the Company initially issued this Note pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(i) “Approved Stock Plan” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the board of directors of the Company prior to or subsequent to the Subscription Date pursuant to which shares of Common Stock and standard options to purchase Common Stock may be issued to any employee, officer or director for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such.
(j) “Attribution Parties” means, collectively, the following Persons and entities: (i) any investment vehicle, including, any funds, feeder funds or managed accounts, currently, or from time to time after the Issuance Date, directly or indirectly managed or advised by the Holder’s investment manager or any of its Affiliates or principals, (ii) any direct or indirect Affiliates of the Holder or any of the foregoing, (iii) any Person acting or who could be deemed to be acting as a Group together with the Holder or any of the foregoing and (iv) any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock would or could be aggregated with the Holder’s and the other Attribution Parties for purposes of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. For clarity, the purpose of the foregoing is to subject collectively the Holder and all other Attribution Parties to the Maximum Percentage.
(k) “Available Cash” means, with respect to any date of determination, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the Cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding for this purpose cash held in restricted accounts or otherwise unavailable for unrestricted use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason) as of such date of determination held in bank accounts of financial banking institutions in the United States of America.
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(l) “Black Scholes Consideration Value” means the value of the applicable Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance thereof calculated using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg utilizing (i) an underlying price per share equal to the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (ii) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (iii) a zero cost of borrow and (iv) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the “HVT” function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the date of issuance of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be).
(m) “Bloomberg” means Bloomberg, L.P.
(n) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
(o) “Cash” of the Company and its Subsidiaries on any date shall be determined from such Persons’ books maintained in accordance with GAAP, and means, without duplication, cash, cash equivalents (excluding any cryptocurrencies or any other digital currencies) and treasury bonds issued by the United States of America, accrued by the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on such date, and the aggregate amount of any accounts receivable (to the extent less than 30 days from invoice date).
(p) “Change of Control” means any Fundamental Transaction other than (i) any merger of the Company or any of its, direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries with or into any of the foregoing Persons, (ii) any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of the shares of Common Stock in which holders of the Company’s voting power immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification continue after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification to hold publicly traded securities and, directly or indirectly, are, in all material respects, the holders of the voting power of the surviving entity (or entities with the authority or voting power to elect the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other than a corporation) of such entity or entities) after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification, (iii) pursuant to a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) the Shoe Business Sale and the Shoe Business Sale Dividend or (v) the liquidation, dissolution, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of any Current Subsidiary (other than the New Subsidiary (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)).
(q) “Change of Control Redemption Premium” means 125%.
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(r) “Closing Bid Price” and “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price (as the case may be) then the last bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices). If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price (as the case may be) of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 25. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions during such period.
(s) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
(t) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.
(u) “Conversion Floor Price Condition” means that the relevant Alternate Conversion Price is being determined based on clause (x) of such definition.
(v) “Current Subsidiary” means any Person in which the Company on the Subscription Date, directly or indirectly, (i) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “Current Subsidiaries”.
(w) “Eligible Market” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Principal Market.
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(x) “Equity Conditions” means, with respect to an given date of determination: (i) on each day during the period beginning thirty calendar days prior to such applicable date of determination and ending on and including such applicable date of determination (or, with respect to any Additional Closing (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) determination in the Securities Purchase Agreement, as of the applicable Additional Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) either (x) one or more Registration Statements filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall be effective and the prospectus contained therein shall be available on such applicable date of determination (with, for the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Common Stock previously sold pursuant to such prospectus deemed unavailable) for the resale of all shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring this determination (or issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount being redeemed, as applicable, in the event requiring this determination at the Alternate Conversion Price then in effect (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth herein)) (each, a “Required Minimum Securities Amount”), in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and there shall not have been during such period any Grace Periods (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or (y) all Registrable Securities shall be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) without the need for registration under any applicable federal or state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes) and no Current Public Information Failure (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) exists or is continuing; (ii) on each day during the period beginning thirty calendar days prior to the applicable date of determination and ending on and including the applicable date of determination (the “Equity Conditions Measuring Period”), the Common Stock (including all Registrable Securities) is listed or designated for quotation (as applicable) on an Eligible Market and shall not have been suspended from trading on an Eligible Market (other than suspensions of not more than two (2)Trading Days and occurring prior to the applicable date of determination due to business announcements by the Company) nor shall delisting or suspension by an Eligible Market have been threatened (with a reasonable prospect of delisting occurring after giving effect to all applicable notice, appeal, compliance and hearing periods) or reasonably likely to occur or pending as evidenced by (A) a writing by such Eligible Market or (B) the Company falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as applicable); (iii) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company shall have delivered all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note on a timely basis as set forth in Section 3 hereof and all other shares of capital stock required to be delivered by the Company on a timely basis as set forth in the other Transaction Documents; (iv) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination (or issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount being redeemed in the event requiring this determination) may be issued in full without violating Section 3(d) hereof; (v) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination (or issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount being redeemed in the event requiring this determination (without regards to any limitations on conversion set forth herein)) may be issued in full without violating the rules or regulations of the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as applicable); (vi) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, no public announcement of a pending, proposed or intended Fundamental Transaction shall have occurred which has not been abandoned, terminated or consummated; (vii) the Company shall have no knowledge of any fact that would reasonably be expected to cause (1) any Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to not be effective or the prospectus contained therein to not be available for the resale of the applicable Required Minimum Securities Amount of Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement or (2) any Registrable Securities to not be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 without the need for registration under any applicable federal or state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes) and no Current Public Information Failure exists or is continuing; (viii) the Holder shall not be in (and no other holder of Notes shall be in) possession of any material, non-public information provided to any of them by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates, employees, officers, representatives, agents or the like; (ix) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company otherwise shall have been in compliance with each, and shall not have breached any representation or warranty in any material respect (other than representations or warranties subject to material adverse effect or materiality, which may not be breached in any respect) or any covenant or other term or condition of any Transaction Document, including, without limitation, the Company shall not have failed to timely make any payment pursuant to any Transaction Document; (x) on each Trading Day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred any Volume Failure or Price Failure as of such applicable date of determination; (xi) on the applicable date of determination (A) no Authorized Share Failure shall exist or be continuing and the applicable Required Minimum Securities Amount of shares of Common Stock are available under the certificate of incorporation of the Company and reserved by the Company to be issued pursuant to the Notes and (B) all shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring this determination (or issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount being redeemed in the event requiring this determination (without regards to any limitations on conversion set forth herein)) may be issued in full without resulting in an Authorized Share Failure; (xii) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred and there shall not exist an Event of Default or an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default; (xiii) no bone fide dispute shall exist, by and between any of holder of Notes, the Company, the Principal Market (or such applicable Eligible Market in which the Common Stock of the Company is then principally trading) and/or FINRA with respect to any term or provision of any Note or any other Transaction Document and (xiv) the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant the event requiring the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions are duly authorized and listed and eligible for trading without restriction on an Eligible Market.
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(y) “Equity Conditions Failure” means that on any day during the period commencing twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the applicable date of determination (or, with respect to any Additional Closing determination in the Securities Purchase Agreement, as of the applicable Additional Closing Date), the Equity Conditions have not been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder).
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(z) “Event Market Price” means, with respect to any Stock Combination Event Date, the quotient determined by dividing (x) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock for each of the five (5) Trading Days with the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock during the fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day after such Stock Combination Event Date, divided by (y) five (5).
(aa) “Excluded Securities” means (i) shares of Common Stock or standard options to purchase Common Stock issued to directors, officers or employees of the Company for services rendered to the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan (as defined above), provided that (A) all such issuances (taking into account the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such options) after the Subscription Date pursuant to this clause (i) do not, in the aggregate, exceed more than 5% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Subscription Date and (B) the exercise price of any such options is not lowered, none of such options are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such options are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (ii) shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exercise of Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) issued prior to the Subscription Date, provided that the conversion price of any such Convertible Securities (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) is not lowered, none of such Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; and (iii) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes; provided, that the terms of the Notes are not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date (other than antidilution adjustments pursuant to the terms thereof in effect as of the Subscription Date).
(bb) “Fiscal Quarter” means each of the fiscal quarters adopted by the Company for financial reporting purposes that correspond to the Company’s fiscal year as of the date hereof that ends on December 31.
(cc) “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year adopted by the Company for financial reporting purposes as of the date hereof that ends on December 31.
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(dd) “Floor Price” means $[__]3 (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, share combinations, recapitalizations and similar events) provided that if on the six month anniversary of the Issuance Date (each, an “Adjustment Date”), the Floor Price then in effect is higher than the Adjusted Floor Price with respect to the Adjustment Date, on the Adjustment Date the Floor Price shall be automatically lowered to such applicable Adjusted Floor Price.
(ee) “Fundamental Transaction” means (A) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Subject Entity, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its “significant subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) to one or more Subject Entities, or (iii) make, or allow one or more Subject Entities to make, or allow the Company to be subject to or have its Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Subject Entities making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either (x) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Subject Entities whereby all such Subject Entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire in any transaction or series or related transactions, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all the Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that the Subject Entities become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock, (B) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, allow any Subject Entity individually or the Subject Entities in the aggregate to be or become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, whether through acquisition, purchase, assignment, conveyance, tender, tender offer, exchange, reduction in outstanding shares of Common Stock, merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification or otherwise in any manner whatsoever, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock not held by all such Subject Entities as of the date of this Note calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all such Subject Entities were not outstanding, or (z) a percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or other equity
| 3 | Insert 20% of the Nasdaq Minimum Price as of the Trading Day ended immediately prior to the applicable Closing Date. |
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securities of the Company sufficient to allow such Subject Entities to effect a statutory short form merger or other transaction requiring other stockholders of the Company to surrender their shares of Common Stock without approval of the stockholders of the Company or (C) directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, the issuance of or the entering into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction.
(ff) “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
(gg) “GPU Lease” means that certain Master Lease Agreement, #0001, dated on or about the date hereof, by and between NewBird AI, LLC, as lessor, and SPRE NKC MO, LLC, as lessee, as the same may be amended, restated, amended restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or otherwise modified from time to time, together with each Lease Schedule attached thereto or delivered pursuant to the terms thereof.
(hh) “Group” means a “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder.
(ii) “Holder Pro Rata Amount” means a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the original Principal amount of this Note on the Applicable Closing Date and (ii) the denominator of which is the aggregate original principal amount of all Notes issued to the initial purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Applicable Closing Date.
(jj) “Indebtedness” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(kk) “Interest Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a) of this Note.
(ii) “Interest Notice Due Date” means, with respect to any given Interest Date, the twenty-first (21st) Trading Day immediately prior to such Interest Date.
(ll) “Interest Rate” means twelve percent (12%) per annum, as may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 2.
(mm) “Investment” means any beneficial ownership (including stock, partnership or limited liability company interests) of or in any Person, or any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person or the acquisition of all, or substantially all, of the assets of another Person or the purchase of any assets of another Person for greater than the fair market value of such assets.
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(nn) “Maturity Date” shall mean [ ]4; provided, however, the Maturity Date may be extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that, and for so long as, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or any event shall have occurred and be continuing that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an Event of Default or (ii) through the date that is twenty (20) Business Days after the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction in the event that a Fundamental Transaction is publicly announced or a Change of Control Notice is delivered prior to the Maturity Date, provided further that if a Holder elects to convert some or all of this Note pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and the Conversion Amount would be limited pursuant to Section 3(d) hereunder, the Maturity Date shall automatically be extended until such time as such provision shall not limit the conversion of this Note.
(oo) “New Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, any Person in which the Company after the Subscription Date, directly or indirectly, (i) owns or acquires any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “New Subsidiaries”.
(pp) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(qq) “Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.
(rr) “Permitted Indebtedness” means (i) Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes, (ii) on or prior to the Shoe Business Sale, Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 3(s) to the Securities Purchase Agreement, as in effect as of the Subscription Date, (iii) Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens or unsecured but as described in clauses (iv) and (v) of the definition of Permitted Liens and (iv) prior to the Shoe Business Sale, Permitted Senior Indebtedness.
(ss) “Permitted Liens” means (i) any Lien for taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent, (iii) any Lien created by operation of law, such as materialmen’s liens, mechanics’ liens and other similar liens, arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iv) Liens (A) upon or in any equipment acquired or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to secure the purchase price of such equipment or Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition or lease of such equipment, or (B) existing on such equipment at the time of its acquisition, provided that
| 4 | Insert second anniversary of the Issuance Date. |
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the Lien is confined solely to the property so acquired and improvements thereon, and the proceeds of such equipment, in either case, with respect to Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold, (v) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of the Indebtedness secured by Liens of the type described in clause (iv) above, provided that any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed or refinanced does not increase, (vi) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payments of custom duties in connection with the importation of goods, and (vii) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 4(a)(xii) and (viii) prior to the Shoe Business Sale, Liens with respect to the Permitted Senior Indebtedness Collateral.
(tt) “Permitted Senior Indebtedness” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 30th, 2025, by and between the Company, Allbirds International, Inc. and Second Avenue Capital Partners LLC, as in effect as of the Subscription Date, provided, however, that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness permitted hereunder does not at any time exceed the amount of the Senior Debt Cap (as defined in that certain Subordination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Second Avenue Capital Partners LLC, [*], the Company, Allbirds International, Inc. and Newbird AI, LLC, the “Subordination Agreement”) plus the Excluded Obligations (as defined in the Subordination Agreement).
(uu) “Permitted Senior Indebtedness Collateral” means any Excluded Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) secured by Permitted Liens by the holders of Permitted Senior Indebtedness as in effect as of the Subscription Date.
(vv) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(ww) “Price Failure” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, the VWAP of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the twenty (20) Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date of determination fails to exceed $1.00 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions occurring after the Subscription Date). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions during any such measuring period.
(xx) “Principal Market” means The Nasdaq Global Select Market.
(yy) “Redemption Notices” means, collectively, the Event of Default Redemption Notices, the Company Optional Redemption Notices, the Asset Sale Redemption Notices, the Subsequent Placement Redemption Notices and the Change of Control Redemption Notices, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Notice.”
(zz) “Redemption Premium” means 125%.
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(aaa) “Redemption Prices” means, collectively, Event of Default Redemption Prices, the Company Optional Redemption Prices, the Asset Sale Redemption Prices, the Subsequent Placement Redemption Prices and the Change of Control Redemption Prices, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Price.”
(bbb) “Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain registration rights agreement, dated as of the Initial Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), by and among the Company and the initial holders of the Notes relating to, among other things, the registration of the resale of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes, as may be amended from time to time.
(ccc) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the successor thereto.
(ddd) “Securities Purchase Agreement” means that certain amended and restated securities purchase agreement, dated as of the Subscription Date, by and among the Company and the initial holders of the Notes pursuant to which the Company issued the Notes, as may be amended from time to time.
(eee) “Security Agreement” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(fff) “Shoe Business Sale” means the sale of assets as contemplated in the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated March 29, 2026, as may be amended from time to time, by and between Allbirds, Inc. and Allbirds IP, LLC, and as described in the proxy statement filed by the Company on April 14, 2026 (the “Proxy Statement”)
(ggg) “Shoe Business Sale Dividend” means the dividend or distribution contemplated to paid to stockholders following the consummation of the Shoe Business Sale as described in the Proxy Statement.
(hhh) “Subscription Date” means April 19, 2026.
(iii) “Subsidiaries” means, as of any date of determination, collectively, all Current Subsidiaries and all New Subsidiaries, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Subsidiary.”
(jjj) “Subject Entity” means any Person, Persons or Group or any Affiliate or associate of any such Person, Persons or Group.
(kkk) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.
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(lll) “Trading Day” means, as applicable, (x) with respect to all price or trading volume determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder or (y) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which The New York Stock Exchange (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.
(mmm) “Volume Failure” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, the aggregate daily dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg) of the Common Stock on the Principal Market on any Trading Day during the twenty (20) Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date of determination (such period, the “Volume Failure Measuring Period”), is less than $300,000.
(nnn) “VWAP” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market (or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for such security, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded), during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “VAP” function (set to 09:30 start time and 16:00 end time) or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices). If the VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 25. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction during such period.
34. DISCLOSURE. Upon delivery by the Company to the Holder (or receipt by the Company from the Holder) of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company shall on or prior to 9:00 am, New York city time on the Business Day immediately following such notice delivery date, publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to the Holder explicitly in writing in such notice (or immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder, as applicable), and in the absence of any such written indication in such notice (or notification from the Company immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder), the Holder shall be entitled to presume that information contained in the notice does not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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Nothing contained in this Section 34 shall limit any obligations of the Company, or any rights of the Holder, under Section 4(i) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
35. ABSENCE OF TRADING AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holder is not a fiduciary or agent of the Company and that the Holder shall have no obligation to (a) maintain the confidentiality of any information provided by the Company or (b) refrain from trading any securities while in possession of such information in the absence of a written non-disclosure agreement signed by an officer of the Holder that explicitly provides for such confidentiality and trading restrictions. In the absence of such an executed, written non-disclosure agreement, the Company acknowledges that the Holder may freely trade in any securities issued by the Company, may possess and use any information provided by the Company in connection with such trading activity, and may disclose any such information to any third party.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.
| Allbirds, Inc. |
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Senior Convertible Note - Signature Page
EXHIBIT I
ALLBIRDS, INC.
CONVERSION NOTICE
Reference is made to the Senior Secured Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued to the undersigned by Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, as of the date specified below. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.
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Please confirm the following information:
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☐ If this Conversion Notice is being delivered with respect to an Alternate Conversion, check here if Holder is electing to use the following Alternate Conversion Price:____________
Please issue the Common Stock into which the Note is being converted to Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:
| ☐ | Check here if requesting delivery as a certificate to the following name and to the following address: |
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Exhibit II
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Company hereby (a) acknowledges this Conversion Notice, (b) certifies that the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock [are][are not] eligible to be resold by the Holder either (i) pursuant to Rule 144 (subject to the Holder’s execution and delivery to the Company of a customary 144 representation letter) or (ii) an effective and available registration statement and (c) hereby directs _________________ to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated _____________, 20__ from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by ________________________.
| ALLBIRDS, INC. |
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Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 19, 2026, is by and among Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices located at 530 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 (the “Company”), and the undersigned buyers (each, a “Buyer,” and collectively, the “Buyers”).
RECITALS
A. In connection with the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto, dated as of April 19, 2026 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each Buyer the Notes (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) which will be convertible into Conversion Shares (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Notes.
B. To induce the Buyers to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “1933 Act”), and applicable state securities laws.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
(b) “Effective Date” means the date that the applicable Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
(c) “Effectiveness Deadline” means (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the earlier of the (A) 45th calendar day after the Initial Closing Date and (B) 2nd Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the earlier of the (A) 45th calendar day following the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement and (B) 2nd Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review.
(d) “Filing Deadline” means (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the 15th calendar day after the Initial Closing Date and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(e) “Initial Closing Date” shall mean the date of the first Closing (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) at which the Company issues and sells Notes to the Buyers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(f) “Investor” means a Buyer or any transferee or assignee of any Registrable Securities or Notes, as applicable, to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee of any Registrable Securities or Notes, as applicable, assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.
(g) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(h) “register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and the declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.
(i) “Registrable Securities” means (i) the Conversion Shares, and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares or the Notes, including, without limitation, (1) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2) shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Notes) are converted or exchanged and shares of capital stock of a Successor Entity (as defined in the Notes) into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, in each case, without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Notes.
(j) “Registration Statement” means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering Registrable Securities.
(k) “Required Holders” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
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(l) “Required Registration Amount” means, as of any time of determination, 150% of the maximum number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes (assuming for purposes hereof that (w) all Additional Notes (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement shall have been issued at an Additional Closing (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) on the Initial Closing Date, (x) the Notes are convertible at the Floor Price (as defined in the Notes) assuming an Conversion Date (as defined in the Notes) as of such time of determination, (y) interest on the Notes shall accrue through the twenty four (24) month anniversary of the Initial Closing Date and will be converted into shares of Common Stock at the Floor Price assuming a Conversion Date as of such time of determination, and (z) any such conversion shall not take into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes set forth in the Notes, all subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(d) and/or Section 2(f).
(m) “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration.
(n) “Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
(o) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
2. Registration.
(a) Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare and, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Filing Deadline, file with the SEC an initial Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, provided that such initial Registration Statement shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Registration Amount as of the date such Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC; provided further that if Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is required by Section 2(c). Such initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the “Selling Stockholders” and “Plan of Distribution” sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Company shall use its best efforts to have such initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement.
(b) Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, counsel solely to the lead investor (“Legal Counsel”) shall review and oversee any registration, solely on behalf of the lead investor, pursuant to this Section 2.
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(c) Ineligibility to Use Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders and (ii) undertake to register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of all Registration Statements then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC and the prospectus contained therein is available for use.
(d) Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the number of shares available under any Registration Statement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement or an Investor’s allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(h), the Company shall amend such Registration Statement (if permissible), or file with the SEC a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover at least the Required Registration Amount as of the Trading Day (as defined in the Notes) immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises (but taking account of any Staff position with respect to the date on which the Staff will permit such amendment to the Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to be filed with the SEC). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such amendment to such Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof with the SEC, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed “insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities” if at any time the number of shares of Common Stock available for resale under the applicable Registration Statement is less than the product determined by multiplying (i) the Required Registration Amount as of such time by (ii) 0.90. The calculation set forth in the foregoing sentence shall be made without regard to any limitations on conversion, amortization and/or redemption of the Notes (and such calculation shall assume (A) that the Notes are then convertible in full into shares of Common Stock at the then prevailing Conversion Rate (as defined in the Notes) and (B) the initial outstanding principal amount of the Notes remains outstanding through the scheduled Maturity Date (as defined in the Notes) and no redemptions of the Notes occur prior to the scheduled Maturity Date).
(e) Effect of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
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If (i) a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby (disregarding any reduction pursuant to Section 2(f)) and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the Filing Deadline for such Registration Statement (a “Filing Failure”) (it being understood that if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording each Investor and Legal Counsel the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(c) hereof, the Company shall be deemed to not have satisfied this clause (i)(A) and such event shall be deemed to be a Filing Failure) or (B) not declared effective by the SEC on or before the Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement (an “Effectiveness Failure”) (it being understood that if on the Business Day immediately following the Effective Date for such Registration Statement the Company shall not have filed a “final” prospectus for such Registration Statement with the SEC under Rule 424(b) in accordance with Section 3(b) (whether or not such a prospectus is technically required by such rule), the Company shall be deemed to not have satisfied this clause (i)(B) and such event shall be deemed to be an Effectiveness Failure), (ii) other than during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined below), on any day after the Effective Date of a Registration Statement sales of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement (disregarding any reduction pursuant to Section 2(f)) cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement (including, without limitation, because of a failure to keep such Registration Statement effective, a failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to such Registration Statement, a suspension or delisting of (or a failure to timely list) the shares of Common Stock on the Principal Market (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or any other limitations imposed by the Principal Market, or a failure to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or by reason of a stop order) or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use for any reason (a “Maintenance Failure”), or (iii) if a Registration Statement is not effective for any reason or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use for any reason, and either (x) the Company fails for any reason to satisfy the requirements of Rule 144(c)(1), including, without limitation, the failure to satisfy the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c) or (y) the Company has ever been an issuer described in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) or becomes such an issuer in the future, and the Company shall fail to satisfy any condition set forth in Rule 144(i)(2) (a “Current Public Information Failure”) as a result of which any of the Investors are unable to sell Registrable Securities without restriction under Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions), then, as partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in, or reduction of, its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity, including, without limitation, specific performance), the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash equal to two percent (2%) of such Investor’s original principal amount stated in such Investor’s Note on the Initial Closing Date (1) on the date of such Filing Failure, Effectiveness Failure, Maintenance Failure or Current Public Information Failure, as applicable, and (2) on every thirty (30) day anniversary of (I) a Filing Failure until such Filing Failure is cured; (II) an Effectiveness Failure until such Effectiveness Failure is cured; (III) a Maintenance Failure until such Maintenance Failure is cured; and (IV) a Current Public Information Failure until the earlier of (i) the date such Current Public Information Failure is cured and (ii) such time that such public information is no longer required pursuant to Rule 144 (in each case, prorated for periods totaling less than thirty (30) days). The payments to which a holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(e) are referred to herein as “Registration Delay Payments.” Following the initial Registration Delay Payment for any particular event or failure (which shall be paid on the date of such event or failure, as set forth above), without limiting the foregoing, if an event or failure giving rise to the Registration Delay Payments is cured prior to any thirty (30) day anniversary of such event or failure, then such Registration Delay Payment shall be made on the third (3rd) Business Day after such cure. In the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner in accordance with the foregoing, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at the rate of two percent (2%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Registration Delay Payments shall be owed to an Investor (other than with respect to a Maintenance Failure resulting from a suspension or delisting of (or a failure to timely list) the shares of Common Stock on the Principal Market) with respect to any period during which all of such Investor’s Registrable Securities may be sold by such Investor without restriction under Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable).
(f) Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, but subject to the payment of the Registration Delay Payments pursuant to Section 2(e), in the event the staff of the SEC (the “Staff”) or the SEC seeks to characterize any offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement as constituting an offering of securities by, or on behalf of, the Company, or in any other manner, such that the Staff or the SEC do not permit such Registration Statement to become effective and used for resales in a manner that does not constitute such an offering and that permits the continuous resale at the market by the Investors participating therein (or as otherwise may be acceptable to each Investor) without being named therein as an “underwriter,” then the Company shall reduce the number of shares to be included in such Registration Statement by all Investors until such time as the Staff and the SEC shall so permit such Registration Statement to become effective as aforesaid. In making such reduction, the Company shall reduce the number of shares to be included by all Investors on a pro rata basis (based upon the number of Registrable Securities otherwise required to be included for each Investor) unless the inclusion of shares by a particular Investor or a particular set of Investors are resulting in the Staff or the SEC’s “by or on behalf of the Company” offering position, in which event the shares held by such Investor or set of Investors shall be the only shares subject to reduction (and if by a set of Investors on a pro rata basis by such Investors or on such other basis as would result in the exclusion of the least number of shares by all such Investors); provided, that, with respect to such pro rata portion allocated to any Investor, such Investor may elect the allocation of such pro rata portion among the Registrable Securities of such Investor. In addition, in the event that the Staff or the SEC requires any Investor seeking to sell securities under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement to be specifically identified as an “underwriter” in order to permit such Registration Statement to become effective, and such Investor does not consent to being so named as an underwriter in such Registration Statement, then, in each such case, the Company shall reduce the total number of Registrable Securities to be registered on behalf of such Investor, until such time as the Staff or the SEC does not require such identification or until such Investor accepts such identification and the manner thereof. Any reduction pursuant to this paragraph will first reduce all Registrable Securities other than those issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. In the event of any reduction in Registrable Securities pursuant to this paragraph, an affected Investor shall have the right to require, upon delivery of a written request to the Company signed by such Investor, the Company to file a registration statement within twenty (20) days of such request (subject to any restrictions imposed by Rule 415 or required by the Staff or the SEC) for resale by such Investor in a manner acceptable to such Investor, and the Company shall following such request cause to be and keep effective such registration statement in the same manner as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement for registration statements hereunder, in each case until such time as: (i) all Registrable Securities held by such Investor have been registered and sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement in a manner acceptable to such Investor or (ii) all Registrable Securities may be resold by such Investor without restriction (including, without limitation, volume limitations) pursuant to Rule 144 (taking account of any Staff position with respect to “affiliate” status) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or (iii) such Investor agrees to be named as an underwriter in any such Registration Statement in a manner acceptable to such Investor as to all Registrable Securities held by such Investor and that have not theretofore been included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement (it being understood that the special demand right under this sentence may be exercised by an Investor multiple times and with respect to limited amounts of Registrable Securities in order to permit the resale thereof by such Investor as contemplated above).
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(g) Piggyback Registrations. Without limiting any obligation of the Company hereunder or under the Securities Purchase Agreement, if there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement or offering statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the 1933 Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the Company’s stock option or other employee benefit plans), then the Company shall deliver to each Investor a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement or offering statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2(g) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or that are the subject of a then-effective Registration Statement.
(h) Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and any increase in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time such Registration Statement covering such initial number of Registrable Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such Investor’s Registrable Securities, each transferee or assignee (as the case may be) that becomes an Investor shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the then-remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for such transferor or assignee (as the case may be). Any shares of Common Stock included in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors which are covered by such Registration Statement.
(i) No Inclusion of Other Securities. The Company shall in no event include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement filed in accordance herewith without the prior written consent of the Required Holders. Until the Applicable Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), the Company shall not enter into any agreement providing any registration rights to any of its security holders, except as otherwise permitted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.
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3. Related Obligations.
The Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
(a) The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to all the Registrable Securities (but in no event later than the applicable Filing Deadline) and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline). Subject to Allowable Grace Periods, the Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective (and the prospectus contained therein available for use) pursuant to Rule 415 for resales by the Investors on a delayed or continuous basis at then-prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices) at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which all of the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement (disregarding any reduction pursuant to Section 2(f)) without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or (ii) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (the “Registration Period”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall ensure that, when filed and at all times while effective, each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) and the prospectus (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) used in connection with such Registration Statement (1) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading and (2) will disclose (whether directly or through incorporation by reference to other SEC filings to the extent permitted) all material information regarding the Company and its securities. The Company shall submit to the SEC, within one (1) Business Day after the later of the date that (i) the Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the Staff or that the Staff has no further comments on a particular Registration Statement (as the case may be) and (ii) the consent of Legal Counsel is obtained pursuant to Section 3(c) (which consent shall be immediately sought), a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than twenty-four (24) hours after the submission of such request. The Company shall respond in writing to comments made by the SEC in respect of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the SEC that an amendment is required in order for a Registration Statement to be declared effective.
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(b) Subject to Section 3(r) of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to each Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with each such Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep each such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period for such Registration Statement, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company required to be covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement; provided, however, by 8:30 a.m. (New York time) on the Business Day immediately following each Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement (whether or not such a prospectus is technically required by such rule). In the case of amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q or Form 10-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the Company shall, if permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.
(c) The Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel and legal counsel for each other Investor to review and comment upon (i) each Registration Statement at least five (5) Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, the prospectus contained therein) (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any similar or successor reports) within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which Legal Counsel or any legal counsel for any other Investor reasonably objects. The Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or to any prospectus contained therein without the prior consent of Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall promptly furnish to Legal Counsel and legal counsel for each other Investor, without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the Staff to the Company or its representatives relating to each Registration Statement, provided that such correspondence shall not contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), (ii) after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits and (iii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one (1) copy of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel and legal counsel for each other Investor in performing the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Section 3.
(d) The Company shall promptly furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time) and (iii) such other documents, including, without limitation, copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
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(e) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
(f) The Company shall notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, may include an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement and such prospectus contained therein to correct such untrue statement or omission and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor by e-mail on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), and when the Company receives written notice from the SEC that a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment will be reviewed by the SEC, (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; and (iv) of the receipt of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for any additional information relating to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any related prospectus.
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The Company shall respond as promptly as practicable to any comments received from the SEC with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto (it being understood and agreed that the Company’s response to any such comments shall be delivered to the SEC no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the receipt thereof).
(g) The Company shall (i) use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of each Registration Statement or the use of any prospectus contained therein, or the suspension of the qualification, or the loss of an exemption from qualification, of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and (ii) notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
(h) If any Investor may be required under applicable securities law to be described in any Registration Statement as an underwriter and such Investor consents to so being named an underwriter, at the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company’s independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors.
(i) If any Investor may be required under applicable securities law to be described in any Registration Statement as an underwriter and such Investor consents to so being named an underwriter, upon the written request of such Investor, the Company shall make available for inspection by (i) such Investor, (ii) legal counsel for such Investor and (iii) one (1) firm of accountants or other agents retained by such Investor (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, each Inspector shall agree in writing to hold in strict confidence and not to make any disclosure (except to such Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (1) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (2) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (3) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement). Such Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential.
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Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and such Investor, if any) shall be deemed to limit any Investor’s ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
(j) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required to be disclosed in such Registration Statement pursuant to the 1933 Act, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at such Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
(k) Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, (ii) secure designation and quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement on an Eligible Market (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), or (iii) if, despite the Company’s best efforts to satisfy the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) or (ii), without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its best efforts to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) as such with respect to such Registrable Securities. In addition, the Company shall cooperate with each Investor and any broker or dealer through which any such Investor proposes to sell its Registrable Securities in effecting a filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 as requested by such Investor. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 3(k).
(l) The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts (as the case may be) as the Investors may reasonably request from time to time and registered in such names as the Investors may request.
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(m) If requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as practicable after receipt of notice from such Investor and subject to Section 3(r) hereof, (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement or prospectus contained therein if reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable Securities.
(n) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
(o) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of each Registration Statement.
(p) The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.
(q) Within one (1) Business Day after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(r) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (but subject to the last sentence of this Section 3(r)), at any time after the Effective Date of a particular Registration Statement, the Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors of the Company, in the best interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise required (a “Grace Period”), provided that the Company shall promptly notify the Investors in writing of the (i) existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each such notice the Company shall not disclose the content of such material, non-public information to any of the Investors) and the date on which such Grace Period will begin and (ii) date on which such Grace Period ends, provided further that (I) no Grace Period shall exceed ten (10) consecutive days and during any three hundred sixty five (365) day period all such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of thirty (30) days, (II) the first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5) Trading Days after the last day of any prior Grace Period and (III) no Grace Period may exist during the sixty (60) Trading Day period immediately following the Effective Date of such Registration Statement (provided that such sixty (60) Trading Day period shall be extended by the number of Trading Days during such period and any extension thereof contemplated by this proviso during which such Registration Statement is not effective or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use) (each, an “Allowable Grace Period”).
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For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, such Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (i) above and shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) above and the date referred to in such notice. The provisions of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during the period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of each Grace Period, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3(r), the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has entered into a contract for sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the particular Registration Statement to the extent applicable, prior to such Investor’s receipt of the notice of a Grace Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
(s) The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by each Investors of its Registrable Securities pursuant to each Registration Statement.
(t) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall identify any Investor as an underwriter in any public disclosure or filing with the SEC, the Principal Market or any Eligible Market and any Buyer being deemed an underwriter by the SEC shall not relieve the Company of any obligations it has under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from including the disclosure found in the “Plan of Distribution” section attached hereto as Exhibit B in the Registration Statement.
(u) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Buyers in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
4. Obligations of the Investors.
(a) At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of each Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from each such Investor with respect to such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect and maintain the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.
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(b) Each Investor, by such Investor’s acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of each Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor’s election to exclude all of such Investor’s Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until such Investor’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(c), the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor’s receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which such Investor has not yet settled.
5. Expenses of Registration.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, FINRA filing fees (if any) and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall reimburse Legal Counsel for its fees and disbursements in connection with registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement which amount shall be limited to $10,000 for each such registration, filing or qualification.
6. Indemnification.
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(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor and each of its directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) and each Person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act and each of the directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling Persons (each, an “Indemnified Person”), against any losses, obligations, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including, without limitation, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of defense and investigation), amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, “Claims”) incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an Indemnified Person is or may be a party thereto (“Indemnified Damages”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (“Blue Sky Filing”), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively, “Violations”). Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d); and (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is participating, such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an “Indemnified Party”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case, to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c) and the below provisos in this Section 6(b), such Investor will reimburse an Indemnified Party any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided further that such Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the applicable sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
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Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including, without limitation, any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party (as the case may be); provided, however, an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party if: (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Claim and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) in any such Claim; or (iii) the named parties to any such Claim (including, without limitation, any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) and the indemnifying party, and such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party (in which case, if such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party), provided further that in the case of clause (iii) above the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one (1) separate legal counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be). The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto.
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No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent; provided, however, the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) of a release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(d) The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
(e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. Contribution.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however: (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement, (ii) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the applicable sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Investor shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Investor from the applicable sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that such Investor has otherwise been required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(b), by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
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8. Reports Under the 1934 Act.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144, the Company agrees to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood and agreed that nothing herein shall limit any obligations of the Company under the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
(c) furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting, submission and posting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the SEC if such reports are not publicly available via EDGAR, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. Assignment of Registration Rights.
All or any portion of the rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee or assignee (as the case may be) of all or any portion of such Investor’s Registrable Securities or Notes if: (i) such Investor agrees in writing with such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) to assign all or any portion of such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be); (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be), furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee (as the case may be), and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned (as the case may be); (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) the further disposition of such securities by such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws if so required; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; (v) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Notes (as the case may be); and (vi) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been conducted in accordance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
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10. Amendment of Registration Rights.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders; provided that any such amendment or waiver that complies with the foregoing, but that disproportionately, materially and adversely affects the rights and obligations of any Investor relative to the comparable rights and obligations of the other Investors shall require the prior written consent of such adversely affected Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company, provided that no such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it (1) applies to less than all of the holders of Registrable Securities or (2) imposes any obligation or liability on any Investor without such Investor’s prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in such Investor’s sole discretion). No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration (other than the reimbursement of legal fees) also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Solely for purposes of this Agreement, a Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns, or is deemed to own, of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from such record owner of such Registrable Securities.
(b) Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by electronic mail (provided that such sent email is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s email server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The mailing addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Allbirds, Inc.
530 Washington St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
E-Mail: legal@allbirds.com
With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
Holland & Hart LLP
555 17th St., Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Amy L. Bowler
E-Mail: abowler@hollandhart.com
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If to the Transfer Agent:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
150 Royall St., 2nd Floor
Canton, MA 02021
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Akinola Marinho
E-Mail: Akinola.Marinho@computershare.com
E-Mail: If to Legal Counsel:
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
3 World Trade Center
175 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Michael A. Adelstein, Esq.
E-mail: madelstein@kelleydrye.com
and to:
Blank Rome LLP
130 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: [*]
Attention: Heather Sonnenberg
E-Mail: heather.sonnenberg@blankrome.com
If to a Buyer, to its mailing address and/or email address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or to such other mailing address and/or email address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change, provided that Kelley Drye & Warren LLP shall only be provided notices sent to the lead investor. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s e-mail containing the time, date and recipient’s e-mail or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by e-mail or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
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(c) Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof. The Company and each Investor acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that each party hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by any other party hereto and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required), this being in addition to any other remedy to which any party may be entitled by law or equity.
(d) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any provision of law or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Wilmington, Delaware, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(e) If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
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(f) This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto solely with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto solely with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on any agreements any Investor has entered into with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior investment made by such Investor in the Company, (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect any obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any rights of or benefits to any Investor or any other Person in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or among the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and any Investor and all such agreements shall continue in full force and effect or (iii) limit any obligations of the Company under any of the other Transaction Documents.
(g) Subject to compliance with Section 9 (if applicable), this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto. This Agreement is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any Person, other than the parties hereto, their respective permitted successors and assigns and the Persons referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof.
(h) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
(i) This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an email which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
(j) Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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(k) The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10, terms used in this Agreement but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Initial Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by each Investor.
(l) All consents and other determinations required to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, by the Required Holders, determined as if all of the outstanding Notes then held by the Investors have been converted for Registrable Securities without regard to any limitations on redemption, amortization and/or conversion of the Notes then held by Investors.
(m) This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
(n) The obligations of each Investor under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or any matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other the Transaction Documents. Each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The use of a single agreement with respect to the obligations of the Company contained herein was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of any Investor, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Investor. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company and an Investor, solely, and not between the Company and the Investors collectively and not between and among Investors.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| ALLBIRDS, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: |
||
| Title: |
||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| BUYERS: | ||
| [LEAD BUYER] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: |
||
| Title: |
||
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Attention: ____________
Re: Allbirds, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
[We are][I am] counsel to Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) entered into by and among the Company and the buyers named therein (collectively, the “Holders”) pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders senior secured convertible notes (the “Notes”) convertible into the Company’s shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). In connection with the Company’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on ____________ ___, 20__, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form [S-1][S-3] (File No. 333-_____________) (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling stockholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that [a member of the SEC’s staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that [the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS]] [an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS]] has been posted on the web site of the SEC at www.sec.gov] and [we][I] have no knowledge, after a review of information posted on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov/litigation/stoporders.shtml, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.
This letter shall serve as our standing opinion to you that the shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any future legend-free issuance or reissuance of such shares of Common Stock to the Holders as contemplated by the Company’s Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated _________ __, 20__.
| Very truly yours, |
||
| [ISSUER’S COUNSEL] |
||
| By: | ||
CC: [BUYERS]
EXHIBIT B
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders are those issuable to the selling stockholders upon conversion of the notes. For additional information regarding the issuance of the notes, see “Private Placement of Notes” above. We are registering the shares of common stock in order to permit the selling stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the notes issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the selling stockholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
The table below lists the selling stockholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder) of the shares of common stock held by each of the selling stockholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders, based on their respective ownership of shares of common stock and notes, as of ________, 20__, assuming conversion of the notes held by each such selling stockholder on that date but taking account of any limitations on conversion set forth therein.
The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling stockholders and does not take in account any limitations on conversion of the notes set forth therein.
In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the holders of the notes, this prospectus generally covers the resale of 150% of the maximum number of shares of common stock issued or issuable pursuant to the Notes (assuming for purposes hereof that all additional notes issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement shall have been issued as of such time of determination), including payment of interest on the notes through [DATE], determined as if the outstanding notes (including interest on the notes through [DATE]) were converted in full (without regard to any limitations on conversion contained therein solely for the purpose of such calculation) at the floor price in effect on the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC. Because the conversion price and floor price of the notes may be adjusted, the number of shares that will actually be issued may be more or less than the number of shares being offered by this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus.
Under the terms of the notes, a selling stockholder may not convert the notes to the extent (but only to the extent) such selling stockholder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own a number of shares of our common stock which would exceed 4.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company. The number of shares in the second column reflects these limitations. The selling stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution.”
| Name of Selling Stockholder | Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to Offering |
Maximum Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus |
Number of Shares of Common Stock of Owned After Offering |
[BUYERS] (1)
| (1) | [BUYERS] |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the notes from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.
The selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock held by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions, pursuant to one or more of the following methods:
| • | on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
| • | in the over-the-counter market; |
| • | in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; |
| • | through the writing or settlement of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; |
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| • | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| • | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| • | privately negotiated transactions; |
| • | short sales made after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; |
| • | broker-dealers may agree with a selling security holder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
| • | a combination of any such methods of sale; and |
| • | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, if available, rather than under this prospectus. In addition, the selling stockholders may transfer the shares of common stock by other means not described in this prospectus. If the selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short and deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the notes or shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
To the extent required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the selling stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed, which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to broker-dealers.
Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
There can be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.
The selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholders and any other participating person. To the extent applicable, Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.
We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, estimated to be $[ ] in total, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, a selling stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act in accordance with the registration rights agreements or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholder specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.
Exhibit 10.4
SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This Support Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 8, 2026, is made by and between the undersigned stockholder and Allbirds, Inc. (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed in the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated March 29, 2026, by and between the Company and Allbirds IP LLC (the “APA”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into the APA, which is subject to stockholder approval at the special meeting of stockholders anticipated to be held in May 2026 (as such meeting may be delayed or adjourned (the “Special Meeting”)); and
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the undersigned is a holder of record and the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of [ ] shares of Class A and [ ] shares of Class B common stock, which entitles the undersigned to consideration described in the APA in the event that the APA is consummated.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Vote. The undersigned hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that from the date hereof until the earlier of (a) the Closing, and (b) the valid termination of the APA in accordance with its terms or the termination of this Agreement, (i) to vote (or cause to be voted) or execute and deliver a written consent (or cause a written consent to be executed and delivered) at the Special Meeting or any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstance in which the vote, consent or other approval of the stockholders of the Company is sought (and appear at any such meeting, in person or by proxy), all of the undersigned’s voting securities (collectively, the “Subject Equity Securities”), (A) as recommended by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) on the matters identified in the proxy statement filed in connection with the Special Meeting and any other matters necessary or reasonably requested by the Company for the consummation or implementation of such matters (collectively, the “Stockholder Matters”), (B) against any proposal in opposition to the Stockholder Matters recommended by the Board, and (C) against any proposal, action or agreement that would impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any Stockholder Matter recommended by the Board.
2. No Transfer. The undersigned agrees that the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (x) the termination of the APA in accordance with its terms, or (y) the approval of the Stockholder Matters, (i) sell, assign, transfer (including by operation of Law), gift, pledge, dispose of or otherwise encumber any of the Subject Equity Securities or otherwise agree to do any of the foregoing, (ii) deposit any Subject Equity Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement or grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Agreement, or (iii) enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or undertaking with respect to the direct or indirect acquisition or sale, assignment, transfer (including by operation of Law) or other disposition of any Subject Equity Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Subject Equity Securities a controlled Affiliate, family member, or estate-planning entity, provided that the Subject Equity Securities remain subject to the terms of this Agreement.
3. Adjustments. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend or distribution, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or the like of the capital stock of the Company affecting the undersigned’s Subject Equity Securities, the terms of this Agreement will apply to the resulting securities to the same extent as if such securities constituted the Subject Equity Securities owned by the undersigned as of the date hereof.
4. Waiver of Appraisal Rights. The undersigned hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to exercise any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Stockholder Matters that the undersigned may have with respect to the Subject Equity Securities, subject to and conditioned upon, the occurrence of the Closing.
5. Representations and Warranties. The undersigned represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
(a) The undersigned has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform the undersigned’s obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved and no other action on the part of the undersigned is necessary to authorize this Agreement or the undersigned’s performance hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the undersigned and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned enforceable against the undersigned in accordance with its terms. The undersigned has full voting power with respect to all of the Subject Equity Securities and full power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement.
(b) The undersigned is the record and beneficial owner (as defined in the Securities Act) of, and has good and marketable title to, all of the undersigned’s Subject Equity Securities, and there exist no Encumbrances or any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such shares (other than transfer restrictions under the Securities Act) affecting any such shares.
(c) The undersigned understands and acknowledges that the Company is submitting the Stockholder Matters for approval, filing the related proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and disclosing stockholder support for the APA, in reliance on the undersigned’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
6. Termination. This Agreement will automatically terminate, without any notice or other action by any party, and be void ab initio on the earlier of the valid termination of the APA in accordance with its terms or the approval of the Stockholder Matters. On termination of this Agreement, none of the parties will have any further obligations or liabilities under, or with respect to, this Agreement.
7. Fiduciary Duties. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) the undersigned makes no agreement or understanding herein in any capacity other than in the undersigned’s capacity as a record holder or beneficial owner of the Subject Equity Securities, and (b) nothing herein will be construed to limit or affect any action or inaction by the undersigned, or any representative of the undersigned, as a member of the Board acting in such person’s capacity as a director or fiduciary of the Company.
8. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the Company’s request and without further consideration, the undersigned will execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or reasonably requested to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
9. Amendment/Waiver/Assignment. This Agreement may be amended, modified in whole or in part, or waived, only in a writing executed by each of the parties. No party may assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement will be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of the terms of this Agreement will be null and void, ab initio.
10. Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement, will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal substantive Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts entered into and to be performed solely within such state, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.
11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties or any of their Affiliates relating to the subject matter hereof.
12. Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur if the parties do not perform their obligations under this Agreement, and that (a) the Company is entitled to an injunction, specific performance, or other equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without proof of damages, this being in addition to any other remedy to which the Company is entitled under this Agreement, and (b) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without that right, none of the parties would have entered into this Agreement. Each party agrees that it will not oppose the granting of specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other parties have an adequate remedy at Law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or equity. The parties acknowledge and agree that, in connection with seeking an injunction or specific performance, the Company will not be required to provide any bond or other security.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf as of the day and year first above written.
| Allbirds, Inc |
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| By |
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| Joe Vernachio |
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| Chief Executive Officer |
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| [Stockholder] |
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| By |
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Exhibit 10.5
[Certain portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K and, where applicable, have been marked with “[*]” to indicate where omissions have been made. The marked information has been omitted because it is (i) not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.]
SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS
This SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (this “Amendment”) is made as of April 19, 2026, by and among Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors party hereto, the Lenders party hereto and Second Avenue Capital Partners LLC, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (in such capacities, the “Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H :
A. Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2025 (as amended by that certain Consent and First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2026, the “Existing Credit Agreement”, and as amended by this Amendment and as may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented and in effect from time to time, the “Amended Credit Agreement”) by and among, among others, the Borrower, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and the Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Amended Credit Agreement.
B. The Borrower has requested that the Agent and the Lenders agree to amend certain provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement, as more fully set forth herein, and the Agent and the Lenders are willing to do the foregoing, subject to the terms and conditions expressly set forth herein.
C. The Borrower has informed the Agent that the Borrower intends to enter into that certain Senior Secured Convertible Note, dated as of April 19, 2026 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, the “Subordinated Loan Agreement”), made by the Borrower in favor of [*] (together with their successors and assigns, the “Subordinated Creditor”), in an aggregate initial principal amount equal to $3,250,000 on the terms and conditions set forth therein. The Subordinated Loan Agreement is not permitted under Section 7.03 of the Existing Credit Agreement and, as such, the Loan Parties have requested that the Agent and the Lenders consent to the consummation of the Subordinated Loan Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
| 1. | Amendments. Upon the Second Amendment Effective Date and in reliance on the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 below: |
| (a) | the Existing Credit Agreement (excluding the schedules and exhibits thereto, which shall remain in full force and effect) is hereby amended, as set forth in the conformed Credit Agreement attached hereto as Annex A, to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: ), to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text), and to move from its location the stricken text in green (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: ) and to move into its new location the double-underlined text in green (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: moved to text); and |
| (b) | the definition of “Excluded Property” set forth in Section 1.1 of the Security Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: |
“Excluded Property” shall mean the following:
(a) any license, permit, lease, contract, property rights, or agreement held by any Grantor (i) if the grant of such security interest shall constitute or result in (A) the abandonment, invalidation or unenforceability of any right, title or interest of such Grantor therein or result in such Grantor’s loss of use of such asset or (B) a breach or termination pursuant to the terms of, or a default under, any such license, permit, lease, contract, property rights or agreement (in each case, other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9- 406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC (or any successor provision or provisions) of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable Law (including any Debtor Relief Law) or principles of equity) or (ii) to the extent that applicable Law prohibits the creation of a security interest therein or thereon (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9- 406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC (or any successor provision or provisions) of any relevant jurisdictions or any other applicable Law (including any Debtor Relief Law) or principles of equity); (b) all Intellectual Property consisting of intent-to-use trademark applications, for which statement of use has not been filed (but only until such statement is filed and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office so that the interests of a Grantor in such mark is no longer on an intent-to-use basis);
(c) Excluded Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock;
(d) all assets of, and all Equity Interests of, an Alternate Business Subsidiary; and
(e) any Excluded Account described in clause (b) or (c) of the definition thereof;
provided, however, that in each case described in clauses (a) and (b) of this definition, such property shall constitute “Excluded Property” only to the extent and for so long as such license, permit, lease, contract, property rights or agreement or applicable Law validly prohibits the creation of a Lien on such property in favor of the Agent and, upon the termination of such prohibition (howsoever occurring), such property shall cease to constitute “Excluded Property”; provided further, that “Excluded Property” shall not include (i) any assets that are of the type that may be eligible for inclusion in the Borrowing Base, or (ii) the right to receive any proceeds arising therefrom or any other rights referred to in Sections 9-406(f), 9-407(a) or 9-408(a) of the UCC, any other applicable Law (including the Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended or any other Debtor Relief Laws) or principles of equity, or any Proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Property (unless such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements would otherwise constitute Excluded Property).
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| 2. | Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall not be effective until each of the following conditions precedent has been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Agent (unless otherwise waived by the Agent in writing in its sole discretion) (the date of satisfaction of such conditions, the “Second Amendment Effective Date”): |
| (a) | the Agent shall have received the following: |
| (i) | this Amendment, duly executed and delivered by the Agent, the Lenders and the Loan Parties; |
| (ii) | such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Agent may require evidencing the authority of such party to enter into this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which such Person is a party or is to become a party; |
| (iii) | the Subordinated Loan Agreement, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and the Subordinated Creditor; and |
| (iv) | that certain Subordination Agreement, duly executed and delivered by the Agent and the Subordinated Creditor and acknowledged by the Loan Parties; |
| (b) | the Borrower shall have paid in full all fees and expenses for which invoices have been presented (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent); |
| (c) | the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 hereof shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the Second Amendment Effective Date; and |
| (a) | no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment |
| 3. | Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that: |
| (a) | the representations and warranties of such Loan Party contained in Article V of the Amended Credit Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection therewith, are true and correct (i) in the case of the representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, in all respects and (ii) otherwise, in all material respects, in each case, on and as of the Second Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct (i) in the case of the representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, in all respects, and (ii) otherwise, in all material respects, in each case, as of such earlier date; |
| (b) | such Loan Party has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Amendment; |
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| (c) | the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of this Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and does not and will not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Loan Party’s Organization Documents; (ii) conflict with or result in any breach, termination, or contravention of, or constitute a default under, or require any payment to be made under (x) any Material Contract or any Material Indebtedness to which such Loan Party is a party or affecting such Loan Party or the properties of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Loan Party or its property is subject; or (iii) violate any Law except where such violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
| (d) | this Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; and |
| (e) | no Default or Event of Default exists and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment. |
| 4. | Effect on Loan Documents; Ratification. The Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, after giving effect to this Amendment, shall be and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms and hereby are ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as expressly set forth herein, the execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power, or remedy of the Agent or any other Credit Party under the Existing Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, as in effect prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date. After giving effect to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereunder, each Loan Party hereby ratifies and confirms in all respects all of its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and any prior grant of a security interest under the Loan Documents to which it is party. This Amendment is not a novation or discharge of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. |
| 5. | No Present Claims; Release. Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that as of the date hereof: (a) it does not have any claim or cause of action against the Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates (or any of the Agent’s, any Lender’s or any of their respective Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries, attorneys, attorneys’ consultants, predecessors, successors or assigns) (collectively, the “Released Parties”); and (b) it does not have any offset right, counterclaim, or defense of any kind against the Obligations or any portion thereof. The Agent and each Lender intends (and each Loan Party agrees) to eliminate any possibility that any past conditions, acts, omissions, events, or circumstances would impair or otherwise adversely affect any of the rights, interests, security and/or remedies of the Agent and each Lender. For and in consideration of the agreements contained in this Amendment and other good and valuable consideration, each Loan Party unconditionally and irrevocably releases, waives, and forever discharges the Released Parties from the following (each a “Claim”): (x) any and all liabilities, obligations, duties, promises, or indebtedness of any kind (if any) of the Released Parties to any one or more of the Loan Parties, which existed, arose, or occurred at any time from the beginning of the world to the date of this Amendment, and (y) all claims, offsets, causes of action, suits, or defenses of any kind whatsoever (if any), which any one or more of the Loan Parties might otherwise have against the Released Parties, or any of them, in either case under clause (x) or (y) on account of any condition, act, omission, event, contract, liability, obligation, indebtedness, |
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| claim, cause of action, defense, circumstance, or matter of any kind, which existed, arose, or occurred at any time from the beginning of the world to the date of this Amendment in connection with the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. In entering into this Amendment, each Loan Party (i) acknowledges and agrees that it has had the opportunity to consult with counsel, (ii) acknowledges and agrees that the releases set forth herein were separately bargained for and expressly consents that these releases shall be given full force and effect in accordance with each and all of their express terms and provisions, (iii) expressly disclaims any reliance on any representations, acts or omissions by the Agent, any Lender or any other Released Party, and (iv) agrees and acknowledges that the validity and effectiveness of the releases set forth herein do not depend in any way on any such representation, acts and/or omissions or the accuracy, completeness or validity thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary and unless otherwise agreed to by the Loan Parties after the date hereof, the Loan Parties are not releasing the Released Parties with respect to their obligations to be performed on and after the date of this Amendment arising under this Amendment, the Amended Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document. The provisions of this Section 5 shall survive payment in full of all Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. |
| 6. | Miscellaneous. |
| (a) | Except as expressly set forth herein, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents. Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing contained in this Amendment and no action by, or inaction on the part of, any Lender or the Agent shall, or shall be deemed to, directly or indirectly constitute a consent to or waiver of any past, present or future violation of any provisions of any Loan Document. |
| (b) | This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy, pdf., or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment. |
| (c) | This Amendment and the other Loan Documents (as amended hereby) constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. |
| (d) | If any provision of this Amendment is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (i) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Amendment shall not be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. |
| (e) | The terms and provisions of this Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns. |
| (f) | This Amendment is and shall constitute a Loan Document. |
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| (g) | Headings and captions used in this Amendment are included for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect. |
| (h) | THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF, BUT INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. |
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by its proper and duly authorized officer as of the date set forth below.
| LOAN PARTIES: | ||
| ALLBIRDS, INC., as the Borrower | ||
| By: | /s/ Joe Vernachio |
|
| Name: | Joe Vernachio | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| ALLBIRDS INTERNATIONAL, INC., as a Guarantor | ||
| By: | /s/ Joe Vernachio |
|
| Name: | Joe Vernachio | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement and Other Loan Documents]
| AGENT AND LENDERS: | ||
| SECOND AVENUE CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC, as the Agent and a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Mark Gallivan |
|
| Name: | Mark Gallivan | |
| Title: | Authorized Signer | |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement and Other Loan Documents]
ANNEX A
Conformed Credit Agreement
[attached]
Exhibit 10.6
[Certain portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K and, where applicable, have been marked with “[*]” to indicate where omissions have been made. The marked information has been omitted because it is (i) not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.]
SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT
This Subordination Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of April 19, 2026, by and between [*], as collateral agent for the holders of the Subordinated Loan Documents (“Creditor”), and SECOND AVENUE CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Senior Loan Agreement referred to below, “Agent”).
Recitals
A. ALLBIRDS, INC., a Delaware public benefit corporation (“Borrower”), the Guarantors (as defined in the Senior Loan Agreement) from time to time party thereto (together with Borrower, each, a “Loan Party” and collectively, the “Loan Parties”; for avoidance of doubt, New Subsidiary (as defined below) shall not be a Loan Party), each Lender (as defined in the Senior Loan Agreement) from time to time party thereto and the Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2025 (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, in accordance with Section 10, the “Senior Loan Agreement”), pursuant to which the Agent and the Lenders have committed to make loans and provide other financial accommodations to Borrower on the terms and conditions set forth therein. The term “Senior Loan Documents” shall mean the Senior Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Senior Loan Agreement). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Senior Loan Agreement.
B. Borrower and Creditor have entered into that certain Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2026 (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with Section 10, the “Subordinated Loan Agreement”), pursuant to which Borrower may issue certain Senior Secured Convertible Notes to Creditor, in an aggregate initial principal amount of up to $50,000,000 (the “Subordinated Convertible Notes”). The term “Subordinated Loan Documents” shall mean the Subordinated Loan Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Subordinated Loan Agreement). The term “Company” shall mean, collectively, Borrower and each Guarantor (as defined in the Subordinated Loan Documents) from time to time party to any Subordinated Loan Document, except for NEWBIRD AI, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“New Subsidiary”). Borrower and New Subsidiary have executed that certain Security and Pledge Agreement in favor of Creditor, dated as of even date herewith, which grants to Creditor a lien on, among other things, Borrower’s Equity Interests in New Subsidiary (the “New Subsidiary Equity”) and all the assets of New Subsidiary (the “New Subsidiary Assets” and, together with the New Subsidiary Equity, collectively, the “Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral”; the Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral together with all other assets on which the Creditor has a lien pursuant to the Subordinated Loan Documents, the “Subordinated Loan Collateral”).
C. In order to induce Agent and Lenders to extend credit to Borrower and, at any time or from time to time at Agent’s option, to make such further loans, extensions of credit or other accommodations to or for the account of Borrower, or to purchase or extend credit upon any instrument or writing in respect of which Borrower may be liable in any capacity, or to grant such renewals or extension of any such loan, extension of credit, purchase or other accommodation as Agent may deem advisable, Creditor is willing to subordinate: (i) all of Company’s indebtedness and obligations to Creditor arising under the Subordinated Loan Documents (the “Subordinated Debt”) to all of each Loan Party’s indebtedness and obligations to Agent arising under the Senior Debt (as defined below); and (ii) all of Creditor’s security interests in Company’s assets and property (other than the New Subsidiary Equity), to all of Agent’s security interests in each Loan Party’s assets and property.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Creditor subordinates to Agent any security interest or lien that Creditor may have in any property of the Loan Parties (other than the Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral). Agent acknowledges and agrees that Agent has no lien on or security interest in any of the Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral. Notwithstanding the respective dates, order or time of attachment or perfection of the security interest of Creditor and the security interest of Agent, the security interest of Agent in the Collateral (as defined in the Senior Loan Agreement) shall at all times be prior to the security interest of Creditor. The lien priorities set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any failure to perfect Agent’s security interest in the Collateral or Creditor’s security interest in the Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral, by the avoidance or invalidation of Agent’s or Creditor’s security interest or by any other action or inaction which Agent or Creditor, as applicable, may take or fail to take with respect to the Collateral or Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral, as applicable.
2. (a) Other than to the extent set forth herein, all Subordinated Debt is subordinated in right of payment to all obligations of the Loan Parties to Agent constituting Senior Debt (as defined below). “Senior Debt” means any and all indebtedness and obligations for borrowed money (including, without limitation, principal, premium (if any), interest, fees, charges, expenses, costs, professional fees and expenses, and reimbursement obligations) at any time owing by any Loan Party to Agent under the Senior Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the Obligations), including but not limited to any post-petition interest, post-petition fees and other charges accruing after the filing of any Insolvency Proceeding relating to any Loan Party, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest, fees and charges is allowed in such Insolvency Proceeding and such amounts as may accrue or be incurred before or after a default or workout or the commencement of any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy, receivership or reorganization case by or against any Loan Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or anything to the contrary herein, the aggregate principal amount of Senior Debt shall not exceed Fifty-Five Million Dollars ($55,000,000) (the “Senior Debt Cap”). For the avoidance of doubt, (x) interest, fees, premium (if any), charges, expenses, costs, professional fees and expenses, and reimbursement obligations (collectively, “Excluded Obligations”) shall not be subject to the Senior Debt Cap, (y) Excluded Obligations shall be treated as Senior Debt for purposes of this Agreement and (z) nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the payment of the Subordinated Debt by the New Subsidiary.
(b) Notwithstanding the date, manner or order of grant, attachment of perfection of any lien of Agent on Collateral securing any Senior Debt or any lien of Creditor on the Subordinated Loan Collateral securing any Subordinated Debt and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC, any applicable law or any Senior Loan Documents or Subordinated Loan Documents, Agent and Creditor hereby agree that (i) the liens in favor of Agent securing the Senior Debt in respect of the Collateral, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be and shall remain senior and prior to any liens in favor of Creditor securing the Subordinated Debt in respect of the Collateral, (ii) any liens in favor of Creditor securing the Subordinated Debt in respect of the Collateral, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and subordinate in all respects to the liens in favor of Agent securing the Senior Debt in respect of the Collateral and (iii) Agent has no lien on the Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is expressly agreed that all proceeds of (i) Collateral received by Agent or Creditor shall be paid over to Agent for application to the Senior Debt until the Senior Debt (other than each Loan Party’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Senior Loan Agreement) is finally paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Agreement have terminated and (ii) Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral received by Agent or Creditor shall be paid over to Creditor for application to the Subordinated Debt until the Subordinated Debt (other than each Company’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Subordinated Loan Agreement) is finally paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Subordinated Loan Agreement have terminated. The foregoing shall apply regardless of the order of filing of any such liens (or the exercise of control over or possession of any Collateral) or perfection of any such security interest (or failure to make any such filing or perfect any such security interest), or the avoidance of any such security interest.
(c) Creditor agrees that it shall not, and hereby waives any right to, contest, or support any other in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Proceeding by or against a Loan Party), the priority, validity, perfection or enforceability of any liens in favor of Agent securing the Senior Debt in respect of the Collateral. Agent agrees that it shall not, and hereby waives any right to contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Proceeding by or against a Loan Party), the priority, validity, perfection or enforceability of liens in favor of Creditor securing the Subordinated Debt in respect of the Collateral, but nothing in this section will impair the rights of Agent or Creditor to enforce this Agreement, including the priority of the liens securing the Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or the provisions for exercise of remedies.
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3. Notwithstanding the terms of the Subordinated Loan Documents, Creditor will not demand or receive from any Loan Party (and no Loan Party will pay to Creditor) all or any part of the Subordinated Debt, by way of payment, prepayment, setoff, lawsuit or otherwise, until the Senior Debt (other than each Loan Party’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Senior Loan Agreement) is finally paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Agreement have terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as a Payment Blockage Period (as defined below) is not in effect, Creditor shall be entitled to receive each Permitted Payment. For purposes of the foregoing, “Permitted Payments” means (i) regularly scheduled payments of interest on the Subordinated Debt due and payable on a non-accelerated basis in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Convertible Notes to the extent paid in kind (and not in cash) and (ii) the cashless conversion of the Subordinated Debt into Common Stock (as defined under the Subordinated Convertible Notes) in accordance with Section 3 of the Subordinated Convertible Notes, so long as such conversion does not result in a Change of Control (as defined in the Senior Loan Agreement). For avoidance of doubt, the New Subsidiary may make payments in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Convertible Notes. In the event that Agent releases or agrees to release any of its liens or security interests in any portion of the Collateral in connection with the sale or other disposition thereof or in a Proceeding, or any of the Collateral is sold or retained pursuant to a foreclosure or similar action, Creditor shall (x) be deemed to automatically and simultaneously have (i) consented to such sale or other disposition and (ii) released its lien on such Collateral, and (y) promptly execute and deliver to Agent any such consent to such sale or other disposition, termination statements and releases as Agent reasonably requests to effect the release of the liens and security interests of Creditor in such Collateral. In the event of any sale, transfer, or other disposition (including a casualty loss or taking through eminent domain) of the Collateral, the proceeds resulting therefrom (including insurance proceeds) shall be applied in accordance with the terms of the Senior Loan Agreement until such time as the Senior Debt (other than each Loan Party’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Senior Loan Agreement) are finally paid in full in cash. Furthermore, in the event Agent consents to Store closures, and any related sales or other dispositions of Collateral (including inventory, equipment and fixtures) in connection therewith, Creditor shall be deemed to have consented to (A) such Store closures and related sales or other dispositions of Collateral, and (B) the retention of any consultant, agent or liquidator selected by (or with the consent) of Agent to conduct such sales or other dispositions of Collateral, whether on a so-called “fee basis” or “equity basis”, in each case, so long as the proceeds of such Store closure sales are applied in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.
4. Upon (a) the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default (as each is defined in the Senior Loan Agreement) under the Senior Loan Agreement, or if a Default or Event of Default under the Senior Loan Agreement would result immediately after giving effect to such payment on a pro forma basis, and (b) written notice thereof to Creditor from Agent (a “Payment Blockage Notice”), Creditor may not receive any payment from any Loan Party for each period (each a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing on the date of the Payment Blockage Notice and ending on the earliest to occur of the following events:
(a) such Default or Event of Default has been cured to Agent’s satisfaction or has been waived by Agent, in each case, in writing;
(b) 150 days have passed from the date of such Payment Blockage Notice, unless prior to the end of such 150-day period, Agent has commenced a judicial proceeding or non-judicial actions to collect or enforce the Senior Debt or foreclose on the Collateral, or a case or proceeding by or against any Loan Party is commenced under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or laws relating to the relief of debtors (each, a “Proceeding”), in which case the Payment Blockage Period shall be extended during the continuance of such Proceeding until the payment in cash in full of the Senior Debt up to the Senior Debt Cap plus all Excluded Obligations; or
(c) the Senior Debt (other than each Loan Party’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Senior Loan Agreement) has been discharged or paid in full in cash and any Lender’s commitment to extend credit extensions to Borrower under the Senior Loan Documents, if any, with respect thereto has been terminated; immediately after which Creditor may again receive, and Company may again make, all Permitted Payments.
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In no event shall Payment Blockage Notices for Defaults which do not involve a failure to make a payment of Senior Debt continue for more than 300 days in any period of 365 consecutive days.
5. Until the Senior Debt (other than each Loan Party’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Senior Loan Agreement) is finally paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Agreement have terminated, Creditor shall not, without the prior written consent of Agent, take any action to collect, enforce payment of or accelerate any of the Subordinated Debt or exercise any of the remedies with respect to the Subordinated Debt set forth in the Subordinated Loan Documents or that otherwise may be available to Creditor (including, without limitation, (a) delivery of any notice of exclusive control with respect to any deposit or securities/investment account of the Loan Parties at any other financial institution, (b) notification to a landlord or bailee of Creditor’s intent to proceed against the Collateral subject to a landlord waiver or bailee agreement, as applicable, or (c) entry onto any premises for the purpose of removing or otherwise dealing with the Collateral on such premises), either at law or in equity by judicial proceedings or otherwise (an “Enforcement Action”), except as provided in the following two sentences. Upon the earliest to occur of:
(i) the passage of 140 days from the date of Agent’s receipt of written notice from Creditor that a default has occurred under the Subordinated Loan Documents, if the default described therein shall not have been cured or waived within such period;
(ii) acceleration of the Senior Debt (provided, however, that, if, following any such acceleration of the Senior Debt, such acceleration in respect of the Senior Debt is rescinded, all Enforcement Actions taken by Creditor shall likewise be rescinded if such Enforcement Actions are based on this clause 5(ii)); and
(iii) the occurrence of a Proceeding (provided, however, that, if such Proceeding is dismissed, the corresponding prohibition against Creditor taking any Enforcement Action shall automatically be reinstated as of the date of dismissal as if such Proceeding had not been initiated, unless Creditor shall have the right to take any Enforcement Action under another clause of this Section 5; provided, further, that such reinstatement shall not affect the running of the 140-day period under clause (i) above to the extent that the default giving rise thereto is not based on an acceleration of the Senior Debt or the initiation of such Proceeding);
Creditor may, upon five Business Days’ prior written notice to Agent, take Enforcement Actions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, until the Senior Debt (other than each Loan Party’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Senior Loan Agreement) is paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Agreement have terminated, (x) Creditor shall not, without the prior written consent of Agent, take any Enforcement Action following acceleration of the Senior Debt so long as Agent at such time has commenced and is diligently pursuing in good faith the exercise of its rights and remedies provided as a secured creditor with respect to all or a material portion of the Collateral; provided, however, that Creditor may file a claim or claims, on the form required in such proceedings, on or before 30 days prior to the last date such claims or proofs of claim may be filed pursuant to law or the order of any court exercising jurisdiction over such proceedings, provided, further, that such action is not in contravention of or inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, and (y) Creditor agrees not to assert and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or otherwise claim against Agent the benefit of any marshaling, appraisal, valuation or other similar doctrine or right that may otherwise be available under applicable law or any other similar rights a junior secured creditor might have under applicable law with respect to the Collateral (except as permitted in clause (x) of this sentence), provided, that, if Agent is granted adequate protection in the form of additional or replacement Collateral, Creditor may seek or request adequate protection in the form of a lien on such additional or replacement Collateral, which lien will be subordinated to the lien securing the Senior Debt provided by Agent on the same basis as the other liens securing the Subordinated Debt are subordinated to the liens securing the Senior Debt in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Creditor may at any time exercise rights and remedies against the New Subsidiary and/or the Subordinated Loan Priority Collateral.
6. If Creditor receives any payment, distribution, security or Collateral, or any proceeds thereof (collectively, a “Prohibited Payment”), in contravention of this Agreement, Creditor shall aggregate and hold in trust for the benefit of, and immediately pay over to, Agent such Prohibited Payment for application to the Senior Debt up to the Senior Debt Cap plus all Excluded Obligations in the same form as received by Creditor, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements for Creditor.
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7. These provisions shall remain in full force and effect in a Proceeding, and Agent’s claims with respect to the Senior Debt against each Loan Party and the estate of the Loan Parties shall, in such Proceeding, be paid in full before any payment is made to Creditor. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, Creditor confirms and agrees that (a) it has no right to compel or forestall action by Agent in respect of any of the Collateral (Agent being free to exercise or not exercise all or any of its rights and remedies in its sole discretion); (b) Agent has full authority to deal with the Collateral; (c) it will not act in a manner so as to adversely affect the Collateral or make it burdensome for Agent to realize upon the Collateral; and (d) if any Loan Party shall be subject to a Proceeding and Agent desires to permit use of cash collateral by, or provide financing (subject to the Senior Debt Cap plus Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000)) to, the Loan Parties under either Section 363 or Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, Creditor agrees that (i) adequate notice to it shall have been provided for such financing if it receives notice five Business Days (subject to availability of a court to shorten the period of notice) prior to the entry of an order approving such financing; (ii) no objection will be raised by it to such financing on the ground of failure to provide adequate protection for its inferior lien or security interest position in any Collateral or on any other grounds; and (iii) it shall consent to the liens on Collateral securing such debtor-in-possession financing and all obligations relating thereto so long as it receives a replacement lien on Collateral on the same terms (but on a basis junior to the liens of Agent securing the Senior Debt, the liens securing such debtor-in-possession financing, any carve-out amount from the Collateral and any adequate protection liens provided to Agent).
8. For so long as any of the Senior Debt remains unpaid, Creditor irrevocably appoints Agent as Creditor’s attorney in fact and grants to Agent a power of attorney with full power of substitution, in the name of Creditor or in the name of Agent, for the use and benefit of Agent, without notice to Creditor, to perform at Agent’s option the following acts in any Proceeding involving any Loan Party:
(a) to file the appropriate claim or claims in respect of the Subordinated Debt on behalf of Creditor if Creditor does not do so prior to 15 days before the expiration of the time to file claims in such proceeding and if Agent elects, in its sole discretion, to file such claim or claims; and
(b) to accept or reject any plan of reorganization or arrangement on behalf of Creditor if Creditor does not do so prior to 15 days before the expiration of the time to do so, and to otherwise vote Creditor’s claims in respect of any Subordinated Debt in any manner not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement; provided that (i) Creditor shall not accept or reject any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise vote its claims in respect of any Subordinated Debt in any manner which could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the parties’ rights hereunder, and (ii) Creditor shall not initiate, prosecute or participate in any claim or action in such Proceeding challenging the enforceability, validity, perfection or priority of the Senior Debt or any liens and security interests on the Collateral securing the Senior Debt, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall impair Creditor’s right to vote on any plan of reorganization or arrangement or any proposal or file any proof of claim, in each case to the extent not in contravention of or inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, and provided, further, that Creditor covenants and agrees to vote in favor of any plan of reorganization or arrangement which Agent votes in favor of or supports, provided, further, that such plan of reorganization or arrangement is not in contravention of or inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) in any Proceeding, Creditor may take any action to preserve or protect the validity and enforceability of its security interests and liens so long as no such action is, or could reasonably be expected to be, (i) adverse to Agent’s security interests and liens on the Collateral or the rights of Agent to exercise remedies in respect thereof, or (ii) otherwise inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, and (y) Creditor may file any responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any person or entity objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of Creditor, including any claims secured by the Collateral, or the avoidance of any security interests or liens held by Creditor or otherwise make any agreements or file any motions pertaining to the Subordinated Debt, in each case, to the extent not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Creditor may participate in any insolvency proceeding against Company as an unsecured creditor so long as, in so participating, Creditor does not take any action inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.
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9. [Reserved].
10. (a) Without the prior written consent of Agent, Creditor shall not amend or modify the terms of the Subordinated Loan Documents to (i) increase the sum of the outstanding principal amount of loans under the Subordinated Loan Documents to an amount in excess of the Subordinated Debt Cap (as defined below) that would otherwise constitute Subordinated Debt; (ii) increase the interest rate (other than any increases as a result of the institution of the default rate of interest) applicable to any portion of Subordinated Debt if, at any time, the interest rate that would apply to such portion of Subordinated Debt after giving effect thereto would exceed, by more than 200 basis points, the interest rate applicable to such portion of the Subordinated Debt on the date of this Agreement; or (iii) add any prohibition or limitation on (A) payment of the Senior Debt or (B) amendment of the Senior Loan Agreement that, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B) above, is more restrictive than those contained herein. Except in furtherance of enforcement of the terms of this Agreement, Creditor shall not initiate, prosecute or participate in any claim or action in a Proceeding challenging the enforceability, validity, perfection or priority of the Senior Debt or any liens and security interests securing the Senior Debt. “Subordinated Debt Cap” means Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000).
(b) Without the prior written consent of Creditor, Agent shall not amend or modify the terms of the Senior Loan Documents to (i) increase the sum of the outstanding principal amount of loans under the Senior Loan Documents that would otherwise constitute Senior Debt to an amount in excess of the Senior Debt Cap; (ii) increase the interest rate (other than any increases as a result of the institution of the default rate of interest) applicable to any portion of Senior Debt if, at any time, the interest rate that would apply to such portion of Senior Debt after giving effect thereto would exceed, by more than 200 basis points, the interest rate applicable to such portion of the Senior Debt on the date of this Agreement; or (iii) add any prohibition or limitation on (A) payment of the Subordinated Debt or (B) amendment of the Subordinated Loan Agreement that, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B) above, is more restrictive than those contained in the Senior Loan Documents as in effect on the date hereof. Except in furtherance of enforcement of the terms of this Agreement, Agent shall not initiate, prosecute or participate in any claim or action in a Proceeding challenging the enforceability, validity, perfection or priority of the Subordinated Debt or any liens and security interests securing the Subordinated Debt.
11. Solely for the purpose of assisting Agent and/or Creditor in perfecting the security interest or lien granted in the Collateral securing the Senior Debt or the Subordinated Debt, Agent agrees to hold Collateral that is in Agent’s possession or control, to the extent that control or possession thereof is taken to perfect a security interest or lien thereon under the UCC, as a gratuitous bailee for Creditor. Agent does not make any representation regarding any perfection or possession or otherwise with respect to any Collateral and shall not have any duty or liability to whatsoever arising out of this Section 11.
12. This Agreement shall remain effective until payment in full in cash of the Senior Debt (other than each Loan Party’s contingent indemnity, contribution or reimbursement obligations which by their terms survive the termination of the Senior Loan Agreement) and termination of all obligations of Lenders to make credit extensions to Borrower under the Senior Loan Documents, at which time, subject to the next sentence, this Agreement shall terminate. If, at any time after termination of this Agreement, any payments of the Senior Debt must be disgorged by Agent for any reason (including, without limitation, the bankruptcy of the Loan Parties), this Agreement and the relative rights and priorities set forth herein shall be reinstated and the Senior Debt, or part thereof, intended to be satisfied, shall be revived and continue in full force and effect as to the applicable amount of such disgorged payments as though such payments had not been made and Creditor shall immediately pay over to Agent all payments received with respect to the Subordinated Debt to the extent that such payments would have been prohibited hereunder. Subject to Section 10 of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time, without notice to Creditor, Agent may take such actions with respect to the Senior Debt as Agent, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate, including, without limitation, terminating advances to Borrower, increasing the principal amount (subject to Section 2), extending the time of payment, increasing applicable interest rates, renewing, compromising or otherwise amending the terms of any documents affecting the Senior Debt and any collateral securing the Senior Debt, and enforcing or failing to enforce any rights against any Loan Party or any other person. No such action or inaction shall impair or otherwise affect Agent’s rights hereunder. Creditor waives any benefits that it has that permit a subordinating creditor to assert suretyship defenses or that give a subordinating creditor rights to require a senior creditor to marshal assets. Creditor will not assert such a defense or right. In addition to the waivers set forth above, Creditor expressly waives, to the extent permitted by applicable New York law, all of Creditor’s rights under applicable New York surety laws.
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13. This Agreement shall bind any successors or assignees of Creditor and shall benefit and bind any successors or assigns of Agent. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of Creditor and Agent and not for the benefit of any Loan Party or any other party. Creditor further agrees that, if any Loan Party is in the process of refinancing all or a portion of the Senior Debt with a new lender and if any Loan Party or Agent makes a request of Creditor, Creditor shall agree to enter into a new subordination agreement with the new lender on substantially the terms and conditions of this Agreement so long as the definitive documentation in connection with such refinancing amends or modifies the terms of the Senior Loan Documents in accordance with Section 10(b).
14. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement or any document or instrument delivered in connection herewith by telecopy or PDF or other electronic means will be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement or such other document or instrument, as applicable, and each party utilizing telecopy, PDF or other electronic means for delivery will deliver a manually executed original counterpart to each other party on request.
15. (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF, BUT INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.
(b) CREDITOR AND EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND CREDITOR AND EACH OF THE LOAN PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. CREDITOR AND EACH OF THE LOAN PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT AGENT MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST CREDITOR OR ANY LOAN PARTY OR THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) CREDITOR AND EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (b) OF THIS SECTION. CREDITOR AND EACH OF THE LOAN PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) CREDITOR AND EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 18. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
(e) CREDITOR AND EACH LOAN PARTY AGREES THAT ANY ACTION COMMENCED BY CREDITOR OR ANY LOAN PARTY, RESPECTIVELY, ASSERTING ANY CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT SOLELY IN A COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING THEREIN AS AGENT MAY ELECT IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION AND CONSENTS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUCH ACTION.
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(f) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (i) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (ii) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
16. This Agreement represents the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations, agreements and commitments. Creditor is not relying on any representations by Agent, any Loan Party, Company or New Subsidiary in entering into this Agreement, and Creditor has kept and will continue to keep itself fully apprised of the financial and other condition of Company. Subject to the immediately following sentence, this Agreement may be amended only by written instrument signed by Creditor and Agent. In the case of any amendment or waiver that increases the obligations of, or would otherwise be materially adverse to, a Loan Party or that amends this Section 16, any such amendment or waiver shall also require the consent of Borrower (in addition to any consent required under the immediately preceding sentence). Borrower shall be given prior notice of any amendment or waiver of this Agreement (it being understood that the failure to deliver such notice to Borrower shall in no way impact the effectiveness of any such amendment or waiver). The recitals to this Agreement are incorporated herein by this reference.
17. Each provision of this Agreement shall be severable from every other provision of this Agreement for the purpose of determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision.
18. All notices that any party is required or may desire to give to any other party under any provision of this Agreement must be in writing (unless otherwise specifically provided) and delivered to such party at the following addresses and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered upon the earlier of: (a) the first Business Day after transmission by electronic mail, facsimile or hand delivery or deposit with an overnight express service or overnight mail delivery service; or (b) the third calendar day after deposit in the United States mails, with proper first class postage prepaid and shall be addressed to the party to be notified as follows:
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| Borrower: | Allbirds, Inc. | |
| 30 Hotaling Place | ||
| San Francisco, CA 94111 | ||
| Attention: Christos Yatrakis | ||
| Email: legal@allbirds.com | ||
| With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | Holland & Hart LLP | |
| 110 Guadalupe Street, Suite 1 | ||
| Santa Fe, NM 87501 | ||
| Attention: Timothy S. Crisp | ||
| Email: tscrisp@hollandhart.com | ||
| Agent: | Second Avenue Capital Partners | |
| 75 Second Avenue, Suite 550 | ||
| Needham, MA 02494 | ||
| Attn: Mark Gallivan | ||
| Email: mgallivan@secondavecp.com Phone: [*] |
||
| with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP | |
| Two International Place | ||
| Boston, MA 02110 | ||
| Attn: John F. Ventola | ||
| Email: jventola@choate.com | ||
| Fax No: [*] | ||
| Creditor: | ||
| [*] [*] |
||
| [*] | ||
| Attn: [*] Email: [*] |
||
| with a copy to: | Blank Rome LLP | |
| 130 North 18th Street | ||
| Philadelphia, PA 19103 | ||
| Telephone: [*] | ||
| Attention: Heather Sonnenberg | ||
| E-Mail: heather.sonnenberg@blankrome.com | ||
19. In the event of any legal action to enforce the rights of a party under this Agreement, the party prevailing in such action shall be entitled, in addition to such other relief as may be granted, to all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in such action.
20. Each of the Senior Loan Documents and the Subordinated Loan Documents is subject in all respects to this Agreement. In the case of any conflict or inconsistency between any terms of any of the Senior Loan Documents or the Subordinated Loan Documents, on the one hand, and any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, on the other hand, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall control. Creditor shall immediately affix a legend to any instruments evidencing the Subordinated Debt stating that the instruments are subject to the terms of this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| “Creditor” | ||
| [*] | ||
| By: | /s/ [*] |
|
| Name: | [*] | |
| Title: | [*] | |
Signature Page to Subordination Agreement
| “Agent” | ||
| SECOND AVENUE CAPITAL PARTNERS | ||
| By: | /s/ Mark Gallivan |
|
| Name: | Mark Gallivan | |
| Title: | Authorized Signer | |
Signature Page to Subordination Agreement
The undersigned approves of the terms of this Agreement.
| “Loan Parties” and “Company” | ||
| ALLBIRDS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Joe Vernachio |
|
| Name: | Joe Vernachio | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| ALLBIRDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Joe Vernachio |
|
| Name: | Joe Vernachio | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| NEWBIRD AI, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Joe Vernachio |
|
| Name: | Joe Vernachio | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Signature Page to Subordination Agreement
Exhibit 99.1
Allbirds, Inc. Executes $50M Convertible Financing Facility Agreement; Announces Expansion into AI Compute Infrastructure
Apr 15, 2026
SAN FRANCISCO, April 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Following its prior announcement that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Allbirds brand and footwear assets to American Exchange Group, which intends to continue to build on Allbirds’ legacy and deliver compelling products to Allbirds’ customers (the “Asset Sale”), Allbirds, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIRD) (the “Company”) today announced the execution of a definitive agreement with an institutional investor for a $50 million convertible financing facility (the “Facility”). The Facility, which is expected to close during the second quarter of 2026, will enable the Company to pivot its business to AI compute infrastructure, with a long-term vision to become a fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-native cloud solutions provider. In connection with this pivot, the Company anticipates changing its name to “NewBird AI.”
As described in the Company’s proxy materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, conversion of the Facility is subject to stockholder approval at the upcoming Special Meeting of Stockholders, anticipated to take place on May 18, 2026, for stockholders of record as of April 13, 2026. Additionally, subject to stockholder approval of the Asset Sale, Allbirds, Inc. anticipates issuing a special dividend during the third quarter of 2026 to stockholders of record as of the anticipated dividend record date of May 20, 2026.
As a result of these transactions, the Allbirds brand and legacy will continue under the ownership of American Exchange Group for the benefit of all of its customers, investors as of the dividend record date will receive a special dividend, and investors who elect to continue to hold NewBird AI stock will be invested in a growing AI compute infrastructure business supported by the Facility.
Chardan is serving as placement agent on the Facility and Holland & Hart LLP is acting as legal counsel to Allbirds.
The AI Compute Infrastructure Strategy & Long-Term Opportunity
NewBird AI expects to use initial capital from the Facility to acquire high-performance GPU assets, which will be deployed to serve customers requiring dedicated access to AI compute capacity. NewBird AI’s long-term vision is to become a fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-native cloud solutions provider. Over time, the Company intends to grow its neocloud platform by expanding its compute and service offerings, deepening partnerships with operators and customers, and evaluating strategic M&A opportunities.
The rise of AI development and adoption has created unprecedented structural demand for specialized, high-performance compute that the market is struggling to meet. Global enterprise spending on AI services and data center investment are on the rise. At the same time, GPU procurement lead times are increasing for high-end hardware, North American data center vacancy rates have reached historic lows, and market-wide compute capacity coming online through mid-2026 is already fully committed. The result is a market where enterprises, AI developers, and research organizations are unable to secure the compute resources they need to build, train and run AI at scale.
NewBird AI is being built to help close that gap. The Company will initially seek to acquire high-performance, low-latency AI compute hardware and provide access under long-term lease arrangements, meeting customer demand that spot markets and hyperscalers are unable to reliably service.
Participants in the Solicitation
Allbirds and its directors and executive officers may be deemed “participants” in any solicitation of proxies from Allbirds’ stockholders with respect to the Asset Sale and Facility. Information regarding the identity of Allbirds’ directors and executive officers, and their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, in the Company’s securities is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Information regarding subsequent changes to the holdings of Allbirds’ securities by Allbirds’ directors and executive officers can be found in filings on Forms 3, 4, and 5, which are available through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the Asset Sale and Facility if, and when, it is filed with the SEC. The proxy statement, if and when filed, as well as Allbirds’ other public filings with the SEC, may be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the investor relations section of our website at ir.allbirds.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. These statements are based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions, and information, and include all statements other than historical facts - such as statements regarding or implying Allbirds’ expectations and intentions regarding the completion or effects of the Asset Sale or Facility, its intention to file the proxy statement to approve the Asset Sale and Facility, its expectation of making distributions to stockholders and the timing thereof, and other statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “target,” “will,” or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: the ability of the parties to consummate the Asset Sale and Facility, satisfaction of closing conditions precedent to the consummation of such transactions, potential delays in consummating such transactions, the ability of the Company to timely prepare and file the proxy statement, the potential that the Company’s stockholders do not approve the either or both of the transactions, potential litigation that would interfere with such transactions or cause the Company to be unable to make the anticipated distribution to stockholders, the execution costs to the Company of such transactions, the impact of these costs and other liabilities on the Company’s cash, property and other assets, the amount and timing of any distribution, and the extent of contingency reserves for costs and liabilities.
A further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our actual outcomes and results to differ materially from any results, performance, or achievements anticipated, expressed, or implied by these forward-looking statements is included in the filings we make with the SEC, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other reports we may file with the SEC from time to time. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update them except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in or expressed by, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations
ir@allbirds.com
Exhibit 99.2
Risk Factors Relating to the Asset Sale
If we fail to complete the Asset Sale described in the Proxy Statement (the “Asset Sale” or the “Asset Sale Proposal”), our business may be harmed and our financial condition, strategic alternatives and the price of our Class A common stock could be materially adversely affected.
If we fail to complete the Asset Sale, our business may be harmed and could be materially adversely affected. We cannot provide assurances that the Asset Sale will be completed. The closing of the Asset Sale is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to our obtaining stockholder approval of the Asset Purchase Agreement as described in the Proxy Statement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) and providing necessary third-party consents and approvals in order to sell the Assets. In addition, if the Asset Sale is not completed, the market price for our Class A common stock may decline.
If the Asset Sale is not completed, we may remain responsible for operating a legacy business that we have described as unsustainable and loss-making, while also having incurred significant transaction costs, and having caused management distraction and market uncertainty. In such circumstances, we may have significantly fewer strategic alternatives available to us, may be required to seek additional financing on unfavorable terms or at all, and may be unable to pursue the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business or any alternative strategy.
Our announcement of the Asset Sale may cause employees working for us to become concerned about the future of the business and lose focus or seek other employment.
If the Asset Sale is not completed, our directors, executive officers and other employees will have expended extensive time and effort and experienced significant distractions from their work during the pendency of the Asset Sale and we will have incurred significant third party transaction costs, in each case, without any commensurate benefit, which may have a material and adverse effect on our stock price and results of operations.
These risks may be heightened as we expand into the Electronics Infrastructure Business, which may create additional uncertainty among employees regarding the Company’s strategy, prospects, leadership, required skill sets and long-term organizational direction. We may lose employees whose knowledge is important to the completion of the Asset Sale, the management of remaining obligations, the development of our continuing business or the execution of any dissolution or wind-down alternative.
The amount of net proceeds that we will receive from the Asset Sale is subject to uncertainties, and such proceeds may be insufficient to support our continuing plans or maximize stockholder value.
The amount of net proceeds that we will receive from the Asset Sale is subject to uncertainties. We expect to receive aggregate net proceeds of approximately $35 million to $36.2 million, after payment of transaction and other related expenses and applicable taxes (if any), assuming a purchase price of $39.0 million. In addition, if Buyer successfully asserts claims against the Escrow Fund pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, the amount of net proceeds is subject to further reduction. We may also have unforeseen liabilities and expenses that must be satisfied from the after-tax net proceeds of the Asset Sale. As a result, the amount of the net proceeds from the Asset Sale is subject to substantial uncertainty, and it is possible that the net proceeds from the Asset Sale will be materially less than we expect.
Further, even if the Asset Sale is completed and the anticipated dividend to be paid to stockholders (the “Asset Sale Dividend”) is made as contemplated, the assets available to the Company following such transactions may be insufficient to fund our continuing business, satisfy public company costs, support working capital needs, pursue strategic opportunities or provide stockholders with any value in the go-forward business.
The Asset Purchase Agreement limits our ability to pursue alternatives to the Asset Sale.
The Asset Purchase Agreement contains provisions that make it more difficult for us to sell the Purchased Assets to any party other than Buyer or to sell any other of our assets prior to the closing of the Asset Sale. These provisions include the prohibition on our ability to solicit competing proposals. These provisions could discourage a third party that might have an interest in acquiring all of or a significant part of the Company from considering or proposing an alternative transaction, and could make it more difficult for us to complete an alternative transaction with another party.
The Asset Purchase Agreement may expose us to contingent liabilities, which could impair our ability to fund or operate our continuing business.
Under the Asset Purchase Agreement, Buyer’s principal recourse for inaccuracies in the Surviving Representations is limited to recovery from the Escrow Fund, and the Escrow Fund also secures certain negative purchase price adjustments and specified reimbursement obligations of the Company. Significant claims against the Escrow Fund or other post-closing obligations of the Company could reduce the amount of net proceeds ultimately distributed to stockholders following the Asset Sale pursuant to the Asset Sale Dividend and expose us to contingent liabilities
Any such liabilities or obligations could also reduce the funds available to develop or sustain our continuing business, to satisfy financing obligations, to remain listed on Nasdaq or to avoid dissolution, each following the closing of the Asset Sale.
Our directors and executive officers may have interests that are different from, or in addition to, those of our stockholders generally in connection with the Asset Sale.
You should be aware of interests of, and the benefits available to, our directors and executive officers when considering the recommendation of our Board regarding the Asset Sale. Our directors and executive officers may have interests in the Asset Sale that may be in addition to, or different from, their interests as stockholders. These interests include:
| • | Concentrated Voting Control. Our Class B common stock has 10 votes per share and our Class A common stock has one vote per share. Certain members of our directors, and entities affiliated with certain of our directors, beneficially owned approximately 2,293,314 of the shares of our Class B common stock that were issued and outstanding on February 28, 2026. As of February 28, 2026, these holders represented approximately 71% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock. |
| • | Support Agreements. In connection with the Asset Sale, the Company has entered into Support Agreements with Messrs. Zwillinger and Brown, our co-founders and members of our Board of Directors, Mr. Boyce, a member of our Board of Directors, and entities affiliated with Maveron, a holder of greater than 5% of our Class B common stock and which nominated Mr. Levitan to serve as a member of our Board of Directors. Pursuant to such Support Agreements, the subject parties have agreed to vote all of the shares of common stock owned by such individuals and entities, approximately 71% of the vote in the aggregate, as of February 28, 2026, in favor of each of the proposals recommended by our Board. |
| • | Executive Retention Plan. In connection with the Asset Sale, the Management Compensation and Leadership Committee of the Board approved executive retention compensation (the “Executive Retention Plan”) for certain senior-level executives. The Executive Retention Plan provides for a lump sum, one-time cash payment, less applicable tax withholdings, in the following amounts: $500,000 for Joseph Vernachio, and $400,000 for Ann Mitchell (each, an “Executive Awards”). The Executive Awards are subject to a “clawback” requirement, which provides that each Executive must repay the net (after-tax) amount of their respective Executive Award if such Executive voluntarily terminates their employment with the Company prior to the date of the Closing. |
| • | D&O Indemnification. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions limiting the liability of directors, and our Bylaws provide that we will indemnify each of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Bylaws also provide our Board of Directors with discretion to indemnify our employees and other agents when determined appropriate by our Board. The Company has also entered into indemnity agreements with each of our directors and executive officers, which requires us to indemnify them. Our directors and executive officers will retain the right to continued indemnification and insurance coverage for acts or omissions occurring prior to the Asset Sale and arising out of the fact that such person was a director or officer of the Company prior to the Asset Sale. |
We may be subject to securities litigation, derivative litigation, books-and-records demands and other proceedings, which is expensive and would decrease the amount of net proceeds from the Asset Sale available for distribution and could delay or impair our post-closing plans.
We may be subject to securities class action litigation, securities class actions, stockholder derivative actions, fiduciary duty claims, books-and-records demands, appraisal-related claims, claims alleging material misstatements or omissions, regulatory inquiries and other proceedings in connection with the Asset Sale or other proposals presented at the upcoming special meeting of stockholders. Litigation and other claims, both meritorious and frivolous, are a common occurrence in connection with transactions similar to the Asset Sale, and we face potential for litigation or other disputes that relate to the Asset Sale, including claims related to our process or disclosures and investigatory demands under Delaware law. We may also become subject to claims arising from the contemplated financing, the proposed amendment of our charter as described in the Proxy Statement (the “Charter Amendment”), the change in our business strategy and the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, the Investor’s rights under the Facility, the contemplated change in our corporate name, stock-price volatility, alleged dilution and the possibility that the continuing business may not be successful or viable. We can provide no assurance that such litigation, disputes, or demands will not arise in the future. Any future litigation or proceedings, whether with or without merit, or successful or not, could result in significant settlement amounts, damages, fines, or other penalties, divert financial and management resources, and result in significant legal fees. Any such amounts would directly decrease the amount of net proceeds from the Asset Sale available for distribution to our stockholders, including potentially prohibiting us from making a distribution of any amount to our stockholders. Further, any such litigation could delay the closing of the Asset Sale or could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any such matters could also impair our ability to execute the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, raise capital, maintain our Nasdaq listing or avoid dissolution.
Even if the Asset Sale is completed, we may not be able to establish and implement a viable continuing business, and our Board may determine to pursue dissolution.
Completion of the Asset Sale will not ensure the success of the Company following the sale of the Purchased Assets. After the Asset Sale, we intend to continue operating the Company, including pursuing the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business. However, our ability to do so successfully will depend on numerous factors, including our ability to obtain and maintain financing, identify and acquire Electronics Assets, hire or retain qualified personnel, establish commercially viable transaction structures, manage an entirely different business model, maintain our Nasdaq listing, avoid or manage litigation and other claims and preserve sufficient liquidity to fund operations. We will have only limited cash available following the Asset Sale and related transactions, and our available funds may be insufficient to fund our continuing business, satisfy public company costs, service indebtedness, meet working capital needs or otherwise continue operations. If we are unable to obtain additional capital when needed, we could exhaust our available cash and be unable to continue operating our business.
If we are unable to continue a viable continuing business, if we are unable to obtain needed financing, or if we exhaust our available cash, our Board may determine at some point during the twelve months following stockholder approval that it is in the best interests of stockholders to implement a plan of dissolution. We may also be forced to significantly curtail or cease operations before any such determination is made. In that event, stockholders may receive little or no additional value, and the market price of our Class A common stock could decline materially, including to having no value at all.
Risk Factors Relating to Our Anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business
We have no operating history in the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, and our new business plan may not be successful.
We are pursuing an Electronics Infrastructure Business focused on the acquisition and monetization of graphics processing units, related high-performance computing infrastructure and other related assets. While certain members of our board and management team have relevant experience, we have no operating history in this business as a company. As a result, investors will have limited basis on which to evaluate our prospects in this new business. We may be unable to retain existing employees or attract new employees with the expertise necessary to operate the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business.
Our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business is subject to all of the risks, uncertainties and difficulties frequently encountered by start-up companies and companies entering a new and rapidly evolving market, many of which are beyond our control. We may fail to identify attractive opportunities, acquire suitable Electronics Assets, develop a viable operating model, generate revenue, achieve profitability or create stockholder value. If we are unable to execute this business plan successfully, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected, and the value of our Class A common stock could decline substantially.
Our Electronics Infrastructure Business is highly speculative, uncertain, unproven and subject to change, and we may be unable to implement it successfully or at all.
Our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business is at a very early stage of development. We are investigating potential opportunities in the computing infrastructure market, but our plans remain preliminary and may change materially. The anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business is uncertain, unproven, and subject to significant risks. Because our strategy is evolving, we are required to make significant assumptions regarding market conditions, customer demand, competition, asset pricing, financing availability, utilization, operating costs, monetization opportunities, technological developments and other factors. These assumptions, among many others, may prove to be incorrect. Even if we are able to acquire Electronics Assets and begin operations, we may be unable to establish profitable or sustainable business lines. If our assumptions are incorrect or if our strategy changes materially, our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our Class A common stock could be materially adversely affected.
Following the Asset Sale, we will have sold substantially all of the business we historically operated and we will be operating a business that differs from our primary historical business.
The Asset Sale involves the sale of the assets relating to our existing footwear business and a significant amount of our historical operating assets. As a result, following the closing of the Asset Sale, we will no longer operate the business with which investors have historically associated the Company. Instead, we would be continuing to operate assets in a historically different business.
We will need to expand or build substantial parts of our business, including strategy, personnel, processes, controls, systems, counterparties, customer relationships, vendor relationships, branding and market positioning. We may not be successful in doing so. Companies attempting a transition of this magnitude often encounter unforeseen costs, delays, execution issues and strategic failures. If our continuing business does not develop successfully, we may fail to generate meaningful revenue, incur substantial losses, need to raise additional capital on unfavorable terms, pursue additional strategic alternatives or determine to dissolve. Any such outcome could materially and adversely affect our stockholders.
We may fail to transition successfully from a consumer products company to a computing infrastructure company.
The successful operation of a computing infrastructure business requires capabilities that differ substantially from those required to operate a consumer footwear and apparel business. These capabilities may include, among other things, expertise in sourcing and evaluating specialized computing equipment, structuring leases and sale/lease-back transactions, understanding enterprise and institutional customer needs, managing technology asset life cycles, evaluating utilization and residual value risk, negotiating technical services and hosting arrangements, complying with industry-specific laws and regulations and managing specialized technical and operational risks.
We may be unable to develop or acquire these capabilities in a timely or cost-effective manner. We may also experience difficulty adapting our internal processes, financial reporting systems, disclosure controls and risk management framework to support a fundamentally different business model. If we are unable to manage this transition effectively, our business and prospects could be materially harmed.
Our disclosures regarding our anticipated business necessarily involve substantial estimates and assumptions and may become inaccurate or incomplete as circumstances evolve.
Because our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business is at an extremely early stage, our public disclosures regarding the business, opportunities, risks, economics, financing needs, market demand, asset acquisition plans, monetization strategies and expected results necessarily depend on estimates, expectations and assumptions that may prove to be incomplete, inaccurate or subject to rapid change. In many cases, we may have only limited operating experience or third-party information on which to base such judgments. As a result, subsequent developments may differ materially from what is described in our public filings. If investors, regulators, counterparties or other stakeholders believe that our disclosures were incomplete, insufficiently qualified, overly optimistic or otherwise misleading, we could face reputational harm, litigation, regulatory scrutiny, stock price volatility and other adverse consequences. Any such developments could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
The anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may never generate meaningful revenue, achieve profitability or produce positive cash flow.
Our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may require substantial upfront capital expenditures, ongoing operating expenditures and significant management attention before it generates any material revenue, if at all. There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate customer demand, establish commercially reasonable pricing, maintain satisfactory utilization rates, structure profitable monetization arrangements or achieve sufficient scale to cover our costs.
Even if we generate revenue, our costs may be greater than we expect, including costs associated with acquiring Electronics Assets, financing, maintenance, logistics, hosting, insurance, professional services, regulatory compliance, public company obligations, personnel and litigation. As a result, we may continue to incur losses for an extended period or indefinitely, and we may never achieve profitability or positive cash flow. If that occurs, the value of our business and our Class A common stock could decline materially.
We will face intense competition from larger, more experienced and significantly better-capitalized companies, and we may be unable to compete effectively.
The computing infrastructure market is intensely competitive and evolving rapidly. We expect to compete, directly or indirectly, with a range of participants, including large technology companies, cloud service providers, infrastructure operators, data center operators, equipment owners and lessors, investment firms, financial sponsors and other market participants with substantially greater financial, technical, operational and managerial resources than we have.
Many of these competitors have significantly longer operating histories, more established brands, deeper customer relationships, superior access to capital, better procurement terms, more sophisticated technical capabilities, more extensive infrastructure and greater tolerance for risk than we do. These competitors may be able to acquire Electronics Assets at lower cost, offer more attractive pricing or commercial terms, absorb volatility more effectively, deploy assets more quickly and secure customers and strategic relationships more successfully than we can. Our limited resources relative to these competitors may materially impair our ability to compete, generate revenue and create stockholder value.
We have significantly fewer resources than many of the companies with which we would compete, which could materially impair our ability to execute our business plan.
After the Asset Sale, our available cash, remaining assets and organizational resources will be extremely limited. The anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business will likely require significant capital, personnel, systems and third-party relationships. Larger and more established companies may have access to more favorable financing, stronger supplier relationships, greater technical expertise, lower cost structures and more diversified revenue streams.
Because our resources are expected to be substantially more limited than those of many competitors and counterparties in this market, we may be unable to pursue attractive opportunities, withstand pricing pressure, tolerate delays in monetization, absorb operational setbacks or respond effectively to changes in market conditions. If we are unable to compete effectively due to our comparatively limited resources, our business, financial condition and prospects could be materially adversely affected.
Our ability to execute the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business will depend on our ability to obtain substantial capital, and such capital may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.
The acquisition and monetization of Electronics Assets may require substantial capital and the proceeds from the Facility may not be sufficient to fund our strategy, operations or liquidity needs, and we may require additional debt or equity financing sooner than we currently expect. We expect to continue to incur significant cash needs, including for personnel costs, public company costs, professional fees, transaction expenses, working capital, debt service and the costs of attempting to develop the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business. Our cash resources may be exhausted more quickly than we expect, and we may run out of cash before we are able to secure additional financing.
Capital markets conditions, our limited operating history in the new business, the speculative nature of our strategy, trading volatility in our Class A common stock, our financial condition, investor sentiment regarding our transition and other factors may make it difficult or impossible for us to obtain additional capital on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. If financing is unavailable or available only on unfavorable terms, we may be forced to delay or abandon acquisitions, curtail operations, sell assets at unattractive prices, issue additional equity that is highly dilutive, incur restrictive indebtedness, drastically reduce expenses, cease operations, pursue dissolution or pursue other strategic alternatives. If we are unable to raise capital when needed, we may run out of cash. Any of these outcomes could materially adversely affect our business and stockholders.
Only the initial $5.25 million of the contemplated financing is committed, the remaining $44.75 million is solely at the Investor’s option, and if we do not obtain additional funding we may run out of cash.
The Convertible Notes, if issued, would be issued in multiple closings. Although we have entered into an arrangement relating to the Facility, only the first $5.25 million in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes is committed for issuance. The remaining $44.75 million in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes in additional tranches is solely at the option of the Investor.
The initial issuance of Convertible Notes would cover only a limited portion of the contemplated aggregate principal amount of the Facility, and the remaining additional tranches are solely at the option of the Investor. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will receive the full amount of the contemplated financing, or any amount beyond the initial $5.25 million. Stockholders should not assume that the Investor will elect to fund any additional tranche, and the initial committed amount will very likely be insufficient to fund our planned operations, liquidity needs or business strategy for any significant period of time.
If the Investor elects not to fund additional tranches, we very likely will not have access to the capital necessary to purchase Electronics Assets, develop operations or pursue our business plan. In such event, we may need to seek alternative financing, which may not be available on favorable terms or at all. We may also be forced to scale back or abandon aspects of our strategy, delay implementation, materially reduce operations, sell assets, cease operations or pursue other strategic alternatives, including dissolution. Without additional funding beyond the initial committed amount, we may run out of cash. Our inability to obtain the expected financing under the Facility could materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, prospects and the market price of our Class A common stock.
Our indebtedness and the terms of the Convertible Notes could materially adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and operational flexibility.
The Convertible Notes, if issued, would constitute indebtedness of the Company. Indebtedness may require us to use cash flow to satisfy principal, interest, redemption, amortization or other payment obligations rather than for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other corporate purposes. The Convertible Notes are senior secured obligations and would, following the Closing of the Asset Sale, be secured by all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, including all Electronics Assets. If our cash resources are limited, these obligations could exacerbate our liquidity constraints, reduce the time period during which we can continue operating and increase the risk that we may run out of cash.
In addition, the financing documents contain covenants, restrictions, defaults, remedies, rights and other provisions that could limit our flexibility in operating our business. These provisions may restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, engage in certain transactions, raise capital, transfer assets, make strategic changes or otherwise operate our business as management believes is appropriate. If we fail to comply with the terms of the financing documents or if an event of default occurs, the Investor may exercise remedies, including remedies against collateral, that could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, assets, financial condition and ability to continue operations. Our indebtedness could therefore materially impair our ability to execute our strategy successfully and could increase the risk that we may be unable to continue as a going concern.
The rights granted to the Investor may significantly limit our strategic and operational flexibility and may create governance or influence concerns.
The financing documents grant the Investor significant rights, including rights relating to future financings, registration, conversion and other matters. For example, for twenty-four months following the issuance date, the Investor would have the right to co-invest for at least 55% of certain future financing transactions on the same terms with other investors. The Company also granted registration rights and other rights under the financing documents.
These rights may limit our flexibility to pursue capital raising, strategic transactions or operational decisions on terms and timelines that we would otherwise consider desirable. The Investor’s interests may not always align with the interests of the Company or our stockholders generally. In addition, the existence of these rights may discourage other investors or counterparties from transacting with us, may complicate future financing efforts, may constrain our ability to negotiate with third parties and may result in disputes regarding interpretation or compliance. Any such limitations, deterrent effects or disputes could adversely affect our business and prospects.
The Investor’s right to appoint a new Chief Operating Officer may create management, integration, governance and strategic execution risks.
In connection with the Facility, the Investor has the right to appoint a new Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The appointment of a senior executive selected by the Investor may create significant operational, governance and management risks. We may experience difficulties integrating such executive into our organization, aligning responsibilities and authority, retaining other key personnel, defining reporting lines, maintaining management cohesion or ensuring consistent execution of strategy.
There can be no assurance that any such executive will possess the necessary skills, judgment, cultural fit or industry experience to assist the Company successfully in implementing the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business. The appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer could also create actual or perceived conflicts of interest, uncertainty among employees, counterparties and investors, or disputes within management or the Board. Any of these issues could materially adversely affect our business and execution of our strategy.
We may experience turnover in senior management and on our Board as a result of the Asset Sale.
None of our existing executive officers or directors is obligated to continue serving the Company for any specified period following the closing of the Asset Sale, the financing transactions relating to our Electronics Infrastructure Business, or the implementation of our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business. As a result, we expect to experience substantial turnover in senior management and on our Board during a period in which continuity of leadership, institutional knowledge and strategic oversight may be especially important.
In particular, one or more of our current executive officers may resign or otherwise cease to serve the Company following the consummation of the proposed transactions. Similarly, one or more of our current directors may resign or elect not to continue serving on our Board. Any such turnover could result in a loss of institutional knowledge, reduced management continuity, weakened oversight, disruption to strategic execution, delays in implementing the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, uncertainty among employees, counterparties and stockholders, and difficulty maintaining effective disclosure controls, internal control over financial reporting and corporate governance processes. Significant turnover could also create actual or perceived governance concerns, increase the risk of disputes regarding the direction of the Company and make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel and directors. Any of these developments could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and the market price of our Class A common stock.
We may need to raise additional capital through future equity issuances, which may be highly dilutive to existing stockholders.
We may need to raise substantial additional capital to implement our business plan, support operations, fund acquisitions, satisfy obligations, respond to market opportunities or address unforeseen developments. Any future equity or equity-linked financing would be dilutive to existing stockholders, potentially materially so.
In addition, future issuances may occur at prices below the then-current market price of our Class A common stock or below prices previously paid by stockholders, and could include terms favorable to new investors, such as discounts, anti-dilution protections, liquidation preferences, registration rights, board or management influence rights or other protections. Such issuances could materially dilute existing stockholders’ economic and voting interests and could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
The market price of our Class A common stock may not reflect the fundamental value or prospects of the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, and any increase in our stock price following announcement of such business may not be sustained.
The market price of our Class A common stock may be influenced by speculation, momentum trading, limited public float, short covering, media attention, social media commentary, investor enthusiasm regarding artificial intelligence or computing infrastructure themes, or other factors unrelated or disproportionate to our underlying business fundamentals. Following announcement of anticipated transactions, our stock price may experience substantial volatility or appreciation. There can be no assurance that any such increase will be sustained.
Investors may have only limited information regarding our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business and may make investment decisions based on assumptions about our future business that do not materialize. If market expectations change, if our business plan is not executed successfully, if our financing arrangements prove insufficient or restrictive, if our disclosures are challenged, or if broader market sentiment weakens, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline sharply, and stockholders could lose all or a substantial portion of their investment.
Our Class A common stock has been, and may remain, highly volatile, and stockholders may lose all or a substantial part of their investment.
The market price of our Class A common stock has been, and may continue to be, highly volatile. Volatility may result from, among other things, our proposed Asset Sale, the anticipated shift in our business strategy, uncertainty regarding the Electronics Infrastructure Business, potential dilution, actual or anticipated financings, litigation, analyst commentary, market sentiment regarding artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure businesses, and general market and macroeconomic conditions.
This volatility may be substantial and could occur regardless of our operating performance. As a result, stockholders may be unable to sell their shares at desired prices or at all, and may lose all or a substantial portion of their investment. In addition, volatility in our stock price could increase the risk of securities litigation and other claims.
Market enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, GPUs and computing infrastructure may be temporary, concentrated, cyclical or disconnected from our ability to benefit from it, and demand for our anticipated business may not develop as expected.
The anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business is premised in part on expected demand for computing infrastructure, including infrastructure capable of supporting artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. Market interest in these areas may fluctuate significantly and may be affected by technological shifts, customer spending patterns, economic conditions, changes in competitive offerings, regulatory developments and other factors beyond our control. Demand may also be affected by changes in model architectures, software optimization, inference efficiency, the adoption of alternative chips or system designs, greater utilization of existing installed capacity, shifts from training to inference workloads, or the ability of hyperscalers and other large market participants to internalize demand. As a result, growth in the AI sector may not translate into corresponding demand for the assets we acquire or the business model we seek to develop.
We may be unable to complete the purchase and lease of the Electronics Assets, including the Purchased GPU Assets, on the terms, in the amounts or on the timeline we currently anticipate, or at all.
As disclosed, using proceeds from the initial tranche of the Convertible Notes, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary (the “Lessor”), escrowed funds for Lessor’s initial purchase of server equipment utilizing current-generation NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs (the “Purchased GPU Assets”). The escrowed funds are subject to release upon delivery of final invoices, which is expected within 14 days. Our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business depends in significant part on our ability to identify, acquire and monetize graphics processing units and related high-performance computing infrastructure and other Electronics Assets, including the Purchased GPU Assets. There can be no assurance that we will be able to complete the purchase of any such Electronics Assets, including the Purchased GPU Assets, enter into leases or other monetization arrangements with respect to such assets, or do so on terms, in quantities or on a timeline consistent with our current expectations. The completion of any such acquisitions or monetization transactions may be subject to numerous conditions, uncertainties and contingencies, including the availability of financing, the willingness of counterparties to transact, the availability and pricing of suitable assets, completion of diligence, negotiation of definitive documentation, receipt of any required consents or approvals, logistics and deployment considerations, market conditions and other factors beyond our control.
Even if we are able to acquire Electronics Assets or enter into leases or other monetization arrangements, the terms of such transactions may differ materially from what we currently anticipate, including with respect to purchase price, lease rates, duration, return conditions, risk allocation, maintenance obligations, hosting arrangements, insurance requirements, default provisions, residual value assumptions, counterparty protections and other economic or operational terms. If we are unable to complete such transactions, if they are delayed, or if they are completed only on less favorable terms than we expect, our ability to implement our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business could be materially adversely affected. In such circumstances, we may be unable to deploy capital effectively, generate expected revenue, achieve anticipated returns, satisfy our liquidity needs, execute our business plan or avoid pursuing additional financing, curtailing operations or other strategic alternatives, including dissolution.
Changes in AI technologies, model architectures, software optimization and customer procurement strategies may reduce demand for the types of Electronics Assets we expect to acquire or may shift value to participants other than us.
The AI and high-performance computing markets are evolving rapidly, and changes in model design, inference techniques, software optimization, workload management, chip architectures, custom silicon, integrated hardware-software platforms and cloud procurement models may reduce demand for particular categories of GPUs or other Electronics Assets or shorten their useful economic lives. In addition, value in the AI ecosystem may accrue disproportionately to chip designers, hyperscalers, cloud platforms, model developers, software providers or vertically integrated operators, rather than to independent owners or lessors of computing equipment. If technological developments or changes in customer behavior reduce demand for the assets we acquire, compress pricing, shorten deployment periods or otherwise diminish the economics of our anticipated business model, our business and prospects could be materially adversely affected.
Demand for AI-related or high-performance computing infrastructure may not grow as expected, may grow more slowly than anticipated, may become concentrated in the hands of a small number of large incumbents, or may be satisfied through technologies, business models or providers that do not benefit us. Customers may prefer to procure computing capacity from hyperscale cloud providers, vertically integrated platforms, strategic partners or operators with established technical, operational and financing capabilities, rather than from us.
In addition, current market enthusiasm may reflect speculative activity, temporary shortages, unusually strong capital spending by a limited number of participants or expectations that are not sustained. If market enthusiasm proves temporary, if capital investment in this sector declines, if AI workloads become less infrastructure-intensive than expected or if demand for our anticipated offerings does not materialize, our strategy may not succeed.
The markets for GPUs and related computing infrastructure are characterized by rapid technological change, vendor concentration and supply-chain dependencies, including dependencies involving advanced chip fabrication, and our Electronics Assets may become obsolete or less available more quickly than we expect.
The value of GPUs and related high-performance computing infrastructure depends in significant part on technological relevance, performance, efficiency, software compatibility, customer preferences, vendor roadmaps and the pace of product innovation. These factors may change rapidly. New generations of equipment may render existing Electronics Assets less competitive, less desirable or materially less valuable over short periods of time. In addition, the development and supply of advanced GPUs and related components are highly concentrated among a limited number of designers, manufacturers, foundries, packaging providers and other supply-chain participants, including third parties involved in advanced semiconductor fabrication and related processes. Disruptions, delays, shortages, allocation decisions, quality issues, capacity constraints or geopolitical events affecting any such participants, including TSMC or other key semiconductor manufacturing or advanced-packaging providers, could materially affect the availability, cost, timing, performance characteristics or commercial value of the Electronics Assets we seek to acquire or monetize.
If the Electronics Assets we acquire become technologically outdated, difficult to deploy, incompatible with evolving software or customer requirements, less energy efficient than competing assets or otherwise less commercially attractive, we may be unable to monetize them at anticipated rates or at all. We may also be required to sell such assets at reduced prices, incur impairment charges, accelerate depreciation or commit additional capital to remain competitive. In addition, if future equipment generations are delayed, supply constrained, repriced, reallocated to other customers, subject to export restrictions or otherwise affected by disruptions involving semiconductor foundries, advanced packaging capacity, memory supply, interconnect components, networking equipment or other critical inputs, the competitive positioning and residual value of our existing or targeted Electronics Assets may be adversely affected in ways that are difficult to predict. Any such developments could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
We may acquire Electronics Assets at prices that do not permit us to earn acceptable returns.
The markets for GPUs and related infrastructure are highly competitive, supply-constrained and subject to pricing volatility. As a result, we may acquire Electronics Assets at elevated prices or on terms that later prove unattractive. The profitability of our anticipated business would depend on our ability to acquire assets at prices that permit attractive monetization, taking into account financing costs, carrying costs, utilization rates, residual value risk, operational expenses, maintenance, insurance and other factors. If we overpay for Electronics Assets, if market prices for such assets decline after acquisition, if customer pricing weakens, if utilization is lower than expected or if financing costs rise, the returns on our assets may be materially lower than anticipated, and we may incur losses. Our ability to forecast the value and returns of Electronics Assets may be limited, particularly given our lack of operating history in this business.
We may be unable to source sufficient Electronics Assets on acceptable terms, in desired quantities or on a timely basis due to supply constraints, allocation practices and concentrated industry dependencies, including dependencies relating to TSMC and other key supply-chain participants.
Our anticipated strategy depends on our ability to identify, acquire and deploy GPUs and related computing infrastructure. The supply of such assets may be constrained due to strong demand, manufacturing limitations, vendor allocation practices, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical events, export restrictions, tariffs, logistics challenges or other factors. Supply may also be adversely affected by concentration in semiconductor design, foundry capacity, advanced packaging, high-bandwidth memory, substrate availability, networking components, rack-level integration, data center equipment and other upstream inputs and services. In particular, a substantial portion of the industry’s supply of advanced AI chips depends on a limited number of manufacturing and packaging participants, including TSMC and other critical providers. Any disruption, delay, reprioritization, allocation decision, yield problem, natural disaster, cyber incident, labor issue, trade restriction, military conflict, political tension involving Taiwan or other adverse event affecting those participants or regions could materially impair the availability, timing or cost of Electronics Assets. We will also face competition from larger or more established buyers with stronger relationships, greater purchasing power and more technical expertise. If we are unable to source suitable Electronics Assets in sufficient quantities, on desired schedules or at prices and terms we consider acceptable, we may be unable to execute our strategy, satisfy customer needs, achieve scale or generate expected returns. Delays or constraints in asset sourcing could materially adversely affect our business and prospects.
Our anticipated business model depends on assumptions regarding customer demand, pricing, utilization, residual values and monetization opportunities that may prove incorrect.
We expect that the Electronics Infrastructure Business may involve sales, leases, sale/lease-back transactions and other monetization structures. The success of these arrangements would depend on numerous assumptions, including assumptions regarding demand from potential customers, the pricing they are willing to pay, contract duration, uptime requirements, asset utilization, residual values, maintenance costs, power and hosting costs, financing costs, counterparty creditworthiness and the availability of secondary market opportunities. If any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, our anticipated business model may not be viable or may be materially less profitable than we currently expect. In particular, lower-than-expected utilization, pricing pressure, higher-than-expected costs, counterparty defaults or lower residual values could materially adversely affect our revenues, margins, asset values and overall business.
If we are unable to enter into profitable leases, sale/lease-back transactions or other monetization arrangements, the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may fail.
Our anticipated strategy contemplates the monetization of Electronics Assets through one or more transaction structures, including sales, leases and sale/lease-back arrangements. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify counterparties willing to enter into such arrangements on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Even if such arrangements are entered into, they may not be profitable, may involve significant risk allocation in favor of the counterparty, may require substantial customization or negotiation and may expose us to operational, legal, tax, accounting and credit risks. If we are unable to structure and consummate attractive monetization transactions, our Electronics Assets may remain underutilized or idle, our returns may be materially impaired and our anticipated business may not be successful.
Our revenues may be concentrated in a small number of customers, counterparties, transactions or assets, and the loss of any significant customer or transaction could materially harm us.
Because our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business would be early stage, we may initially depend on a small number of customers, transactions, financing sources, vendors, facilities or asset deployments. As a result, our revenues and business prospects may be highly concentrated. The loss, reduction, delay, default, insolvency or dispute involving any significant customer or counterparty could materially adversely affect our revenues, cash flows and prospects. In addition, concentration may reduce our negotiating leverage, increase earnings volatility and make our business more susceptible to disruptions affecting particular counterparties or assets. If we are unable to diversify our customer base or monetization channels over time, our business could remain subject to heightened risk.
Counterparties to our leases, monetization arrangements or other transactions may default, terminate early, fail to renew or otherwise not perform as expected.
If we enter into leases, sale/lease-back transactions, financing arrangements, hosting agreements or other commercial contracts, we will be exposed to counterparty credit, performance and enforcement risk. Our counterparties may become unwilling or unable to perform their obligations, may dispute contractual terms, may seek concessions, may terminate agreements early, may fail to renew agreements or may become insolvent or bankrupt. Any such nonperformance could reduce our revenues, impair the value of our Electronics Assets, increase our costs, require costly enforcement efforts, result in litigation or force us to re-market assets on less favorable terms. These risks may be heightened in periods of economic volatility or in emerging or rapidly changing markets. Counterparty nonperformance could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may be exposed to residual value risk and remarketing risk.
If we acquire Electronics Assets and seek to monetize them through leases, sale/lease-back transactions or other arrangements, the returns on those assets may depend in part on the residual value of the assets at the end of a contractual term or anticipated holding period. The residual value of GPUs and related computing infrastructure may be difficult to predict and may decline materially due to technological change, changes in customer preferences, increased supply, reduced demand, the introduction of newer or more efficient products, changes in software compatibility, changes in energy efficiency expectations or other market developments. If the residual value of any Electronics Assets is lower than we expect, we may be unable to sell, re-lease, redeploy or otherwise monetize those assets on favorable terms or at all. We may also be required to reduce pricing, accept lower returns, record impairment charges or incur additional costs in remarketing or reconfiguring assets. Any such developments could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business requires specialized technical, operational, commercial and financial expertise that we may be unable to attract, retain or develop.
The successful implementation of our anticipated strategy will depend on our ability to recruit, retain and manage personnel with specialized expertise in areas such as GPUs, high-performance computing, infrastructure operations, leasing, asset finance, data center economics, enterprise sales, procurement, logistics, compliance, cybersecurity, valuation and accounting. Such personnel are in high demand and may command compensation packages that are significantly greater than those we have historically paid.
We may be unable to attract suitable personnel on acceptable terms or at all. Competition for talent in the computing infrastructure and AI ecosystem is intense, and our limited operating history in the new business, uncertain prospects and post-Asset Sale profile may make us a less attractive employer than larger, more established competitors. If we fail to hire and retain the personnel necessary to operate the business, our strategy may not succeed.
We may experience substantial difficulties integrating new personnel and establishing an organization capable of operating the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business.
Even if we are able to recruit experienced personnel, we may face substantial integration challenges. Building a new operating team in a materially different business may create uncertainty regarding roles, reporting lines, decision-making, performance expectations and accountability. Rapid organizational change may reduce morale, increase turnover, create inefficiencies and distract management. Moreover, new personnel may have differing strategic views, risk tolerances or operating styles. We may also be required to rely heavily on a relatively small number of individuals, increasing key-person risk. Any inability to integrate personnel successfully and build an effective organization could materially impair our execution of the anticipated business plan.
Our management team and Board may be distracted by the Asset Sale, financing transactions, litigation risk, organizational transition and potential dissolution alternatives.
The matters currently being undertaken by our management involve substantial complexity and may require significant time and attention from our management team and Board. In addition to the execution of the Asset Sale and the contemplated financing, we must manage the sale and transition of the Company’s historical business, develop and implement a new strategy, address public company obligations, and communicate with investors and stakeholders. These demands may divert management and Board attention from the day-to-day development and execution of the Electronics Infrastructure Business and may impair our ability to make timely and effective operational decisions. If our management team and Board are unable to manage these multiple priorities successfully, our business and prospects could be materially adversely affected.
We may need to build new systems, policies, procedures and internal controls and failures in doing so could harm us.
The Electronics Infrastructure Business would likely require new or significantly revised systems, processes and controls, including for asset acquisition, deployment, valuation, inventory and fixed asset management, customer contracting, revenue recognition, credit evaluation, compliance, insurance, cybersecurity, maintenance, financial reporting and disclosure controls. We may not be able to develop and implement such systems and controls effectively or on a timely basis. If we fail to establish adequate systems, policies, procedures and internal controls, we may experience operational inefficiencies, financial reporting errors, control deficiencies, asset losses, compliance failures, customer disputes, litigation exposure and reputational harm. Any such failures could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to satisfy public company obligations.
We may incur significant losses arising from equipment failures, downtime, maintenance issues, defects, damage or other operational disruptions.
Electronics Assets and related infrastructure are subject to operational risks, including hardware failure, defects, overheating, power interruptions, cooling failures, networking issues, software incompatibility, improper configuration, transportation damage, theft, maintenance errors and other disruptions. Such events may reduce performance, delay deployment, impair availability, increase operating costs, cause contractual disputes or expose us to claims for damages. If we are unable to prevent or mitigate these operational risks effectively, our ability to monetize Electronics Assets could be materially impaired. In addition, equipment failures or disruptions could harm our reputation, reduce customer trust and materially adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Our anticipated business may expose us to additional cybersecurity, data security, technology integrity and related risks.
Although our role in any given transaction may vary, ownership, deployment, hosting or monetization of Electronics Assets may expose us to additional cybersecurity, data protection, technology integrity and related risks. These risks may arise from vulnerabilities in hardware, firmware, software, networking, remote access tools, management systems or third-party service providers. Malicious actors may seek to disrupt operations, gain unauthorized access to systems, exfiltrate data, misuse computing resources or impair asset functionality. Cybersecurity incidents or security vulnerabilities could result in downtime, financial losses, reputational harm, legal claims, regulatory scrutiny, contractual liability and increased costs. We may also be required to incur significant expenditures to detect, prevent, respond to and remediate such issues. As our anticipated business develops, these risks may increase in significance.
We may depend on third parties across a concentrated and complex supply chain for hosting, operation, logistics, maintenance, procurement, manufacturing and other critical functions, and failures by those third parties could materially harm us.
Our anticipated business may depend heavily on third parties, including manufacturers, designers, foundries, advanced-packaging providers, distributors, brokers, resellers, hosting providers, data center operators, logistics providers, maintenance providers, insurers, technical consultants, networking providers and financing counterparties. We may have limited control over these third parties, and their failure to perform could disrupt our business. Third-party failures may include delays, service interruptions, insolvency, breaches of contract, negligence, cybersecurity incidents, quality issues, cost increases, labor disputes, regulatory violations, capacity constraints, allocation decisions or other misconduct. Because important parts of the AI and semiconductor ecosystem are concentrated in a relatively small number of suppliers and service providers, including participants involved in advanced chip fabrication and packaging, adverse developments affecting any such participant may have outsized effects on pricing, availability and deployment timelines throughout the market. If any critical third party fails to perform adequately or if we are unable to replace such party on acceptable terms, our business, financial condition and prospects could be materially adversely affected.
We may be exposed to asset concentration risk.
Especially during the early stages of our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, we may invest in a limited number of high-value Electronics Assets, a limited number of equipment types or configurations, or assets associated with a limited number of use cases, counterparties or deployment environments. As a result, our business and financial performance may be disproportionately affected by adverse developments affecting particular assets, asset categories or deployment strategies. If a concentrated set of assets becomes obsolete, is difficult to deploy, experiences operational issues, declines in market value, fails to meet customer needs or is adversely affected by changes in technology, pricing, regulation or customer demand, our business could be materially harmed. Asset concentration may also increase volatility in our revenues, returns and asset values and reduce our ability to manage risk through diversification.
We may face vendor concentration risk, including risk arising from reliance on a small number of chip designers, semiconductor manufacturers, foundries, packaging providers and other concentrated supply-chain participants.
The market for GPUs and related computing infrastructure may depend on a limited number of manufacturers, chip designers, foundries, advanced-packaging providers, memory suppliers, networking vendors, distributors, resellers or other supply channels. To the extent our anticipated business relies on equipment produced or supplied by a small number of vendors, we may be exposed to significant vendor concentration risk. Those vendors may change pricing, reduce supply, prioritize other customers, alter product specifications, limit warranty or support coverage, impose restrictive contractual terms, change channel relationships or discontinue certain product lines. In addition, many advanced AI systems depend on highly concentrated semiconductor manufacturing and packaging ecosystems, including TSMC and other key industry participants. Any deterioration in our relationship with key vendors, or any adverse development affecting a major vendor or supply-chain participant, including manufacturing delays, yield issues, packaging bottlenecks, allocation decisions, financial distress, regulatory restrictions, supply chain disruptions, cyber incidents, natural disasters, labor disruptions, geopolitical tensions involving Taiwan, litigation or reputational harm, could impair our ability to source, maintain, support or monetize Electronics Assets. Our dependence on a limited number of vendors and industry participants could materially and adversely affect our anticipated business.
Disruptions affecting TSMC, Taiwan or other critical semiconductor manufacturing hubs could materially impair the availability, cost and value of the Electronics Assets on which our anticipated business would depend.
A significant portion of the global supply of advanced semiconductors used in high-performance computing and AI applications is manufactured, directly or indirectly, through highly concentrated supply chains centered in Taiwan and involving TSMC and other specialized industry participants. As a result, natural disasters, power shortages, water shortages, industrial accidents, cyber incidents, equipment failures, labor disruptions, export controls, trade restrictions, sanctions, blockades, military activity, heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, changes in U.S. or foreign policy, or other geopolitical or operational disruptions affecting Taiwan, TSMC or related suppliers could materially reduce the availability of advanced GPUs and related components, increase lead times and costs, or cause abrupt changes in market pricing and allocation. Any such event could impair our ability to acquire Electronics Assets, delay deployments, reduce utilization, increase capital requirements, adversely affect residual values and materially harm our business, financial condition and prospects.
We may be exposed to logistics, transportation and custody risks.
Electronics Assets may consist of high-value, specialized and potentially sensitive equipment that must be shipped, stored, installed, removed, redeployed and, in some cases, recovered or returned. These activities may subject us to risks of loss, theft, damage, delay, misdelivery, improper handling, installation error, environmental exposure, chain-of-custody disputes and other logistics-related issues.
Such risks may be heightened when assets are moved among facilities, across jurisdictions or through third-party logistics networks. If Electronics Assets are damaged, lost, delayed or mishandled, we may incur uninsured or underinsured losses, be unable to deploy equipment on schedule, experience interruptions in monetization, face disputes with customers or counterparties, or suffer reputational harm. Any such developments could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
The anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may be adversely affected by export controls, trade restrictions, tariffs, sanctions and other geopolitical or regulatory developments.
GPUs and related computing equipment may be subject to export control laws, sanctions regimes, import restrictions, tariffs, trade policies and other legal or geopolitical constraints. Regulatory regimes applicable to advanced computing technologies may change rapidly. Such developments could limit the availability of equipment, restrict our ability to acquire or transfer assets, reduce the universe of permissible counterparties, increase costs, delay transactions or expose us to compliance risk. In addition, geopolitical tensions, changes in trade relations, sanctions enforcement or other international developments may disrupt manufacturing and supply chains or materially affect the markets in which we seek to operate. Compliance with these laws and developments may require substantial resources and management attention. Any failure to comply, or any adverse legal or geopolitical development, could materially adversely affect our business.
Changes in law, regulation or government policy relating to artificial intelligence, advanced computing, energy usage, environmental matters or data center operations could materially adversely affect us.
The regulatory environment applicable to artificial intelligence, advanced computing, high-performance infrastructure, energy use, environmental impacts and data center-related operations may evolve significantly. New or modified laws, rules, regulations or government policies could restrict the deployment, ownership, financing, hosting or operation of Electronics Assets or could increase compliance burdens and costs. For example, governments may impose requirements relating to licensing, disclosures, energy efficiency, environmental permitting, emissions, procurement practices, customer due diligence, use restrictions, cybersecurity or reporting. Compliance with current and future legal requirements may be costly and time consuming, and we may be unable to do so effectively. Any adverse regulatory changes could materially harm our business and strategy.
Our anticipated business may depend on power availability, electricity pricing, cooling capacity and other infrastructure conditions that are beyond our control.
High-performance computing equipment may require substantial electrical power, cooling capacity, networking resources and suitable physical infrastructure. Power availability and pricing, cooling requirements, transmission constraints, facility availability and related infrastructure limitations may materially affect the cost, feasibility, location and profitability of deploying Electronics Assets. Power and cooling constraints may delay deployments, limit utilization, increase operating costs or reduce the competitiveness of our assets relative to newer or more efficient equipment. In addition, power prices and availability may be affected by weather, regulation, utility policy, grid constraints or geopolitical events. If we are unable to obtain suitable infrastructure conditions on acceptable terms, our anticipated business may be materially adversely affected.
We may be required to record significant impairment charges, valuation adjustments or other accounting charges relating to Electronics Assets or our continuing operations.
The value of Electronics Assets may fluctuate significantly due to technological change, market conditions, pricing trends, utilization levels, residual value expectations, changes in financing costs or other factors. If the carrying value of any Electronics Assets exceeds recoverable value or fair value, we may be required to record impairment charges or other accounting adjustments, which could be material. In addition, the transition in our business model may require us to make significant judgments and estimates regarding asset lives, residual values, revenue recognition, financing arrangements, contingencies, liabilities and other accounting matters. Such judgments may later prove incorrect. Material impairment charges, valuation changes or accounting adjustments could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and the market price of our Class A common stock.
Insurance may not adequately cover losses associated with Electronics Assets, technology operations, business interruption, cyber incidents or other claims.
Insurance for specialized computing assets and related operations may be expensive, subject to significant exclusions or unavailable in adequate amounts. We may elect to retain some risks ourselves, and even when insurance is available, it may not cover all losses, liabilities, business interruptions or claims to which we may be exposed. Coverage disputes may also arise. If we suffer losses, damage, business interruption, cyber incidents, professional liability claims, commercial disputes or other events not fully covered by insurance, our business and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In addition, premiums may increase materially over time, reducing the profitability of our anticipated business.
Investors may have difficulty evaluating our future prospects because, after the Asset Sale, we may continue as a public company with a limited operating history in a new business and no historical information relevant to that business.
Following the Asset Sale, investors will have no historical financial information relevant to the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business. Our historical financial statements primarily reflect a materially different business. Accordingly, historical results may not be indicative of future performance, and investors may find it difficult to evaluate our prospects, strategy, valuation and risks. This limited visibility may contribute to volatility in our Class A common stock, reduce analyst coverage, impair investor confidence and make it more difficult for us to raise capital. If investors are unable to assess our future prospects accurately, the market price of our Class A common stock could be materially adversely affected.
We may not be able to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting.
Our evolving business model, potential personnel changes, new financing arrangements, asset acquisitions, possible litigation and changing reporting considerations may increase the complexity of our financial reporting and public disclosures. If we are unable to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, we may fail to report information accurately and timely, may be required to restate financial statements, may become subject to SEC scrutiny or stockholder claims and may suffer reputational harm. Any such failure could materially adversely affect our business and the market price of our Class A common stock.
The proposed change in our corporate identity and strategic direction may create confusion, reduce credibility and harm our ability to establish the anticipated new business.
Following the Asset Sale, we intend to change our corporate name and cease operating the historical Allbirds footwear business. This change in identity and strategic direction may create confusion among investors, counterparties, employees and other stakeholders regarding who we are, what business we are in and what capabilities we possess. Some market participants may question the credibility or viability of our new strategy or may be reluctant to transact with us until we establish a track record in the new business. Any reputational challenges, uncertainty or skepticism arising from our abrupt change in business and identity could impair our ability to hire personnel, attract counterparties, raise capital and create stockholder value.
The transition away from our historical business and public benefit may adversely affect stakeholder relationships and may give rise to additional disputes or claims.
Following the Asset Sale, we would no longer operate the historical business associated with the Allbirds brand and would no longer continue as a Delaware public benefit corporation focused on environmental conservation. Some stockholders, employees, customers, investors or other stakeholders may view this shift negatively or may assert that the Company has departed from the expectations on which they previously relied. As a result, we may experience reputational harm, stakeholder criticism, books-and-records demands, litigation, derivative claims or other disputes relating to our change in business strategy, corporate identity, public benefit orientation, disclosures or process. Any such matters could be time-consuming, costly and distracting and could materially adversely affect our business and prospects.
We may become subject to substantial stockholder litigation, derivative litigation, securities claims, books-and-records demands and other proceedings in connection with the Asset Sale, the proposed financing, or the transition to the Electronics Infrastructure Business.
Transactions and strategic changes often give rise to litigation and other proceedings. In addition to litigation relating to the Asset Sale, we may face claims and demands arising from the proposed financing, the issuance or potential issuance of securities, alleged dilution, the change in our corporate name and strategy, the elimination of our public benefit corporation status, the adequacy of our disclosures, the role of the Board and management in evaluating and approving the transactions, the rights of the Investor and the possibility that the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may not succeed. Such proceedings may include securities class actions, stockholder derivative actions, fiduciary duty claims, books-and-records demands, appraisal-related claims, claims relating to alleged misstatements or omissions, claims regarding conflicts of interest, creditor disputes and regulatory inquiries or investigations. These matters may be brought regardless of merit and may consume substantial time and resources. Any such proceedings could result in injunctions, delays, settlements, judgments, damages, increased insurance costs, indemnification obligations, adverse publicity and significant legal expenses, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and stockholders.
Any litigation, investigation or claim relating to our proposed new business or the matters described in the Proxy Statement could delay our plans, divert management attention and materially harm us.
Even if any claims asserted against us are without merit, litigation and investigations can be expensive, time-consuming and disruptive. They may divert management attention from implementing our strategy, impair our ability to complete the Asset Sale or financing transactions, reduce available cash, increase professional fees, delay commercial negotiations and harm our reputation with investors, counterparties and employees. In addition, litigation or investigations could cause us to incur substantial settlement costs, judgments, fines, penalties or additional disclosure obligations. These risks may be heightened in light of the significant market interest and stock price volatility that may accompany the matters described in the Proxy Statement. Any such matters could materially adversely affect our business and stockholders.
If the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business is unsuccessful, we may be unable to continue as a going concern.
The success of our continuing business plan is uncertain. If we are unable to implement the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business successfully, generate meaningful revenues, raise sufficient capital, manage costs, satisfy obligations or otherwise sustain operations, we may not be able to continue as a going concern. In such event, we may need to seek additional financing, sell assets, drastically reduce operations, restructure obligations, pursue strategic transactions or dissolve. Any such outcome could materially reduce or eliminate value for stockholders.
If our anticipated continuing business is not viable, the Board may determine to pursue dissolution, and stockholders may receive little or no value.
If our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business is not successfully implemented, if financing is unavailable, if we are unable to source or monetize Electronics Assets, if liabilities exceed expectations or if other adverse developments occur, the Board may determine to pursue dissolution. In a dissolution, the amounts ultimately available for distribution to stockholders, if any, would depend on many factors, including the amount of available cash, the value realized on any remaining assets, the amount of actual and contingent liabilities, reserves for claims, litigation costs, taxes and the expenses of winding up. As a result, stockholders may receive little or no value in a dissolution.
Stockholders may not realize the benefits they expect from the proposed transactions and may lose all or a substantial portion of their investment.
The Asset Sale, contemplated financing, and anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may not produce the benefits that stockholders expect. The Company may fail to execute its continuing business strategy, may experience severe stock price volatility, may be unable to maintain its Nasdaq listing, may incur substantial litigation or financing costs, may be unable to raise additional capital and may ultimately fail. If one or more of these risks materialize, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline materially, and stockholders could lose all or a substantial portion of their investment.
Public company costs may consume a disproportionate amount of our remaining resources.
Following the Asset Sale, we expect to continue to incur substantial costs associated with being a public company, including costs relating to SEC reporting, Nasdaq compliance, legal and accounting services, audit requirements, internal controls, investor relations, directors’ and officers’ insurance, corporate governance, stockholder communications and other administrative and compliance functions. If our continuing operating business remains limited, develops more slowly than expected or fails to generate meaningful revenues, these costs may represent a disproportionate burden on our liquidity and financial resources. As a result, a significant portion of our available capital may be consumed by public company obligations rather than by investment in the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business.
If public company costs are greater than expected, or if our remaining resources are less than expected, our ability to execute our strategy, remain listed on Nasdaq, maintain operations and create stockholder value could be materially adversely affected.
We may be unable to maintain analyst coverage, institutional investor interest or market support.
Because the Company would be transitioning away from its historical footwear business and toward a new and largely unproven Electronics Infrastructure Business, securities analysts, institutional investors and other market participants may have difficulty evaluating our business, strategy and valuation. Some analysts may discontinue coverage of the Company, and some institutional investors may be unwilling or unable to invest in a company with our anticipated post-Asset Sale profile. A reduction in analyst coverage, institutional ownership or broader investor interest could reduce liquidity in our Class A common stock, increase volatility, widen bid-ask spreads, impair market visibility and make it more difficult for us to access capital markets on favorable terms. Any such developments could materially adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock and our overall prospects.
We may be exposed to tax risks associated with asset acquisitions, leasing structures, sale/lease-back transactions and other monetization arrangements.
Our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may involve complex domestic, state, local and potentially international tax issues. The tax treatment of asset acquisitions, ownership, leasing transactions, sale/lease-back structures, financing arrangements, depreciation, revenue streams, property taxes, sales and use taxes, transfer taxes and other aspects of our anticipated business may be uncertain and may depend on highly technical rules and factual determinations. Tax authorities may challenge our positions, and changes in tax law, tax rates, regulations, administrative guidance or judicial interpretations could adversely affect the economics of our business model. In addition, tax compliance associated with asset-intensive and multi-jurisdictional operations may be costly and burdensome. If our tax positions are challenged successfully, or if the expected tax treatment of our transactions is not realized, we could incur additional taxes, penalties, interest and professional fees, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to obtain favorable accounting treatment for aspects of our anticipated monetization structures.
The accounting treatment of leases, sale/lease-back transactions, structured financings, revenue arrangements, residual interests and other monetization structures may be complex and may require significant judgment. The accounting for such transactions could affect the timing and amount of recognized revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, depreciation, gains, losses and cash flow presentation. If the accounting treatment of our transactions differs from what we expect, or if our judgments and estimates are later challenged by our auditors, regulators or others, we may be required to revise our financial statements, record additional charges, change the classification of transactions, alter our disclosures or restate previously issued financial statements. Any such developments could materially and adversely affect our reported results, increase costs, divert management attention and impair investor confidence.
Risk Factors Relating to the Charter Amendment Proposal in our Proxy Statement
If the Charter Amendment Proposal in our Proxy Statement (the “Charter Amendment Proposal”) is approved, we will no longer be required to operate for the purposes included in our initial charter, which may harm our relationships with stakeholders and may adversely affect perceptions of our continuing business strategy and governance.
If we are no longer operating as a Delaware public benefit corporation, customers, employees, business partners, investors and other stakeholders may view that change negatively. Our current status as a public benefit corporation requires that we produce a public benefit and operate in a responsible and sustainable manner, while balancing our stockholders’ pecuniary interests, the best interests of those materially affected by our conduct, and the specific public benefit of environmental conservation that is identified by our Certificate of Incorporation. Eliminating that status could damage our reputation, adversely affect our ability to attract and retain customers, employees and partners, and negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. If the Charter Amendment Proposal is adopted, we would be operated in the best interests of our stockholders, without balancing the best interests of our stockholders against the public benefit of environmental conservation.
Amending our charter as proposed in the Charter Amendment Proposal could subject us to stockholder, stakeholder or other disputes, litigation or claims, including claims relating to our change in business model, identity and disclosures.
Governance changes may give rise to litigation, books-and-records demands, stockholder claims or other disputes. Some institutional investors, impact investors, ESG-focused investors and other stockholders may value our current commitment to the specific public benefit identified in our Certificate of Incorporation and may sell their stock or make claims with respect to the change in focus of the Company. Any such matters, whether or not meritorious, could be time-consuming and expensive, divert management’s attention, delay or complicate the implementation of the proposed transition and result in significant legal, advisory and other costs. Any of these matters could adversely affect our reputation, business and financial condition and reduce funds otherwise available for operations or future stockholder value.
Risk Factors Related to the Nasdaq Proposal
Approval of the Nasdaq Proposal would permit the issuance of a significant number of additional shares of common stock, which would dilute existing stockholders and future financings may result in additional and substantial dilution.
If this proposal is approved, we may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock upon conversion of the Convertible Notes in excess of the 19.99% limit otherwise imposed by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d). Any such issuance would dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders, including their voting power and economic rights, and could reduce existing stockholders’ proportionate interest in the Company. Such dilution could be material. In addition, because the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business may require substantial additional capital beyond the Facility, we may in the future issue additional equity securities or equity-linked securities, which could result in further dilution, potentially at prices below the then-current market price of our Class A common stock.
Our ability to maintain the listing of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq following the Asset Sale is highly uncertain, and if we are unable to satisfy Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, our Class A common stock could be delisted.
Following the Asset Sale, our business, operations, financial condition, market capitalization, stockholders’ equity and trading characteristics will change materially. As a result, we may have difficulty continuing to satisfy Nasdaq’s continued listing standards, including standards relating to minimum stockholders’ equity, market value, bid price, publicly held shares, round-lot holders, corporate governance and other qualitative and quantitative requirements. In addition, after the Asset Sale, investors may view us as an operating company with limited assets or operations pending implementation of our new business plan, which could adversely affect trading in our Class A common stock and our ability to satisfy applicable listing standards. This risk may be heightened because, after the Asset Sale, we will be viewed as a company seeking to build a speculative new business in a new industry with limited operating history, extremely limited capital and uncertain prospects. If Nasdaq determines that we no longer meet one or more of its continued listing requirements, our Class A common stock could be delisted. A delisting would likely adversely affect the liquidity and market price of our Class A common stock, reduce our access to the capital markets, impair our ability to raise additional financing, decrease analyst coverage and investor interest, and make it more difficult for stockholders to sell their Class A common stock. Any such consequences could materially and adversely affect the value of an investment in our Class A common stock.
The issuance of shares pursuant to this proposal could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
The issuance of a large number of additional shares of common stock, or the perception that such issuances may occur, could depress the market price of our Class A common stock or increase volatility in the trading price of our common stock. The market impact could be exacerbated by uncertainty regarding the number of shares ultimately issuable, including as a result of anti-dilution adjustments, variable conversion features, or fluctuations in the market price of our Class A common stock.
Any increase in the market price of our Class A common stock price associated with the Nasdaq proposal, or any of the other matters described in the Proxy Statement may not be sustained.
Our stock price may increase in response to the announcement of the Asset Sale, the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, and the Facility for reasons that may include speculation, momentum trading, media attention or investor enthusiasm regarding artificial intelligence and related infrastructure themes, rather than financial, operating or market fundamentals. Any such increase may not be sustained and could reverse sharply.
We are unable to predict the total number of shares of common stock that may ultimately be issued if this proposal is approved and stockholders may not be able to assess the full extent of dilution or market overhang.
Because the number of shares issuable upon conversion will depend on future events, including market prices, conversion decisions by securityholders, and the operation of adjustment provisions in the Purchase Agreement and Convertible Notes, we are unable to predict with certainty the total number of shares that may ultimately be issued if this proposal is approved. As a result, stockholders may not be able to determine at this time the full extent of the dilution that could occur. The uncertainty regarding the number of shares that may be issued, including shares that may be issuable at discounted or variable prices, may itself create market overhang and adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
If this proposal is not approved, our financing and liquidity could be adversely affected and we may be unable to implement our anticipated continuing business strategy.
If stockholders do not approve the Nasdaq Proposal, the contractual limits on conversions or issuances in excess of 19.99% of our outstanding common stock will remain in effect. As a result, we may be required to satisfy our obligations in cash rather than shares, we would have reduced ability to access additional capital under the facility, we would have reduced flexibility in managing our capital structure, and we may be unable to raise additional capital or negotiate future financing transactions on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to access sufficient capital, we may be unable to purchase Electronics Assets, develop the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, satisfy our obligations under the Facility, remain listed on Nasdaq or continue operating as a going concern. Any of these outcomes could adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition, and ability to continue as a going concern.
Approval of this proposal may increase the influence of the Investor and may create governance, control or conflict concerns.
To the extent shares of common stock are issued upon the conversion of Convertible Notes following stockholder approval, the Investor may acquire a larger ownership position in the Company; provided however, that the Investor has limited its ownership to 4.99% of our outstanding stock, which may only be increased to 9.99% of our outstanding stock. This could increase the Investor’s voting influence over matters submitted to stockholders and could affect the outcome of future corporate actions. In addition, the Investor’s rights under the financing documents, including rights relating to future financings and the right to appoint a new Chief Operating Officer, may create governance concerns, perceived or actual conflicts of interest, management integration issues or strategic constraints.
Risk Factors Related to the Dissolution Proposal
Our Board may abandon the Dissolution Proposal described in our Proxy Statement (the “Dissolution Proposal”) or modify or delay implementation of the plan of dissolution even if it is approved by our stockholders, and uncertainty regarding whether the dissolution will occur may increase volatility and impair planning.
Even if the Dissolution Proposal is approved by our stockholders, the Board has reserved the right to abandon the dissolution or modify or delay implementation of the plan of dissolution. If the Board elects to pursue any alternative to the dissolution, the value of our Class A common stock may decline. This uncertainty may complicate our efforts to communicate with investors, retain personnel, execute our continuing business strategy, negotiate with counterparties and plan our operations.
If our anticipated continuing business is unsuccessful, the Dissolution Proposal may become the principal remaining alternative for the future of the Company, and our stockholders will very likely receive little or no value.
Although we currently intend to try to continue operating the Company following the Asset Sale, our continuing business strategy is highly uncertain, speculative, unproven, subject to significant risks and may not succeed. If we are unable to implement the anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business successfully, raise sufficient capital, satisfy our obligations or maintain viable operations, the Board may determine that dissolution is in the best interests of our stockholders. In that circumstance, stockholders could receive little or no value in excess of any prior special dividend, and a liquidating distribution, if any, in a dissolution would depend on many factors, including liabilities, reserves, taxes, professional fees, litigation costs, indemnification obligations, the value of any remaining assets and the expenses associated with winding up the Company. Accordingly, stockholders should not assume that any of the contemplated transactions will result in sustained value creation or meaningful recoveries beyond amounts, if any, actually distributed.
If we fail to create an adequate contingency reserve for payment of our expenses and liabilities, each of our stockholders who receive liquidating distributions could be held liable for payment to our creditors of his or her pro rata share of amounts owed to creditors in excess of the contingency reserve, up to the amount actually distributed to such stockholder in any dissolution.
If the dissolution is approved by our stockholders, and the Board determines to proceed with the dissolution, we will file a Certificate of Dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State to dissolve the Company. Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Company will continue to exist for a minimum of three years after its dissolution becomes effective for the purpose of prosecuting and defending suits against the Company and enabling the Company and our subsidiaries to close their business, to dispose of their property, to discharge their liabilities and to distribute to stockholders any remaining assets. If a court holds at any time that we have failed to make adequate provision for our expenses and liabilities in the dissolution or if the amount ultimately required to be paid in respect of such liabilities exceeds the amount available from our contingency reserve, our creditors could seek an injunction against the making of distributions on the grounds that the amounts to be distributed are needed to provide for the payment of our expenses and liabilities. Any such action could delay or substantially diminish the amount of any cash distributions to stockholders. If we fail to create an adequate contingency reserve for payment of our expenses and liabilities, creditors could assert claims against each stockholder receiving a distribution for the payment of any shortfall, up to the amounts previously received by the stockholder in distributions from us. In such event, a stockholder could be required to return all distributions previously made to such stockholder pursuant to the dissolution and could receive nothing from us in connection with dissolution. Moreover, in the event that a stockholder has paid taxes on amounts previously received by the stockholder, a repayment of all or a portion of such amount could result in a stockholder incurring a net tax cost if the stockholder’s repayment of an amount previously distributed does not cause a commensurate reduction in taxes payable. The Board is not required to obtain a solvency opinion as a condition to authorizing a liquidating distribution and we cannot assure you that the contingency reserve established by us will be adequate to cover all expenses and liabilities.
The tax treatment of any liquidating distributions may vary from stockholder to stockholder, and the discussions in the Proxy Statement regarding such tax treatment are general in nature. You should consult your own tax advisor instead of relying on the discussions of tax treatment in the Proxy Statement for tax advice.
We have not requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to the anticipated tax consequences of the dissolution, and we will not seek an opinion of counsel with respect to the anticipated tax consequences of any liquidating distributions. If the description of any of the anticipated tax consequences in the Proxy Statement proves to be incorrect, increased taxation could result, thus reducing the benefit to our stockholders from the liquidation and related distributions. Tax considerations applicable to particular stockholders may vary with and be contingent upon the stockholder’s individual circumstances.
Stockholders may not be able to recognize a loss for federal income tax purposes in connection with the dissolution until they receive a final distribution from us, which may be many years after our dissolution.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions made pursuant to the dissolution are intended to be treated as received by a stockholder in exchange for the stockholder’s shares of our common stock in complete liquidation of the Company. As a result, a stockholder holding Company common stock as a capital asset (generally, for investment) will generally recognize capital gain or capital loss equal to the difference between (a) the sum of the amount of money and the aggregate fair market value of any property (other than money), less any known liabilities assumed by the stockholder to which the distributed property (if any) is subject, distributed to such stockholder, and (b) such stockholder’s tax basis in their shares of common stock. Any loss will be recognized only when the final distribution from us has been received, which may be more than three years after our dissolution. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences to Allbirds Stockholders.” You should consult your tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of the dissolution to you, including the applicability of any U.S. federal, state, and local and non-U.S. tax laws.
If we decide to use a liquidating trust, as permitted by the plan of dissolution, interests of our Stockholders in such a trust would not be transferable.
The interests of our stockholders in a liquidating trust set up by us under the plan of dissolution would not be transferable, which could adversely affect your ability to realize the value of such interests. In addition, as stockholders will be deemed to have received a liquidating distribution equal to their pro rata shares of the value of the net assets distributed to an entity treated as a liquidating trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such deemed distribution could result in tax liability to the interest holders without such holders being readily able to realize the value of such interest to pay such taxes. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences to Allbirds Stockholders.”
The Board may at any time turn management of our liquidation over to a third party, and some or all of our directors may resign from the Board at that time.
Our Board may at any time turn our management over to a third party to complete the liquidation of our remaining assets and distribute the available proceeds to our stockholders, and some or all of our directors may resign from the Board at or before that time. If management is turned over to a third party and all of our directors resign from our Board, the third party would have sole control over the liquidation process, including the sale or distribution of any remaining assets.
If our Board determines to proceed with dissolution, we will have our Class A common stock delisted from Nasdaq, after which it would not be possible for stockholders to publicly trade our Class A common stock.
If the dissolution is approved by our stockholders, and the Board determines to proceed with the dissolution, we will notify Nasdaq of our intent to withdraw our Class A common stock from listing on Nasdaq and thereafter file an application on Form 25 to notify the SEC of the withdrawal of our Class A common stock from listing on Nasdaq. The delisting of our Class A common stock will be effective 10 days after we file such an application on Form 25, after which it will not be possible for stockholders to publicly trade our Class A common stock on Nasdaq, and any trading in our Class A common stock may be very limited.
On the date we file the Certificate of Dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State, we would to close our stock transfer books and discontinue recording transfers of common stock, including our Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Thereafter, certificates or book entries representing our common stock would not be assignable or transferable on our books except by will, intestate succession or operation of law. The proportionate interests of all of our stockholders would be fixed on the basis of their respective stock holdings at the close of business on the final record date, and, after the final record date, any distributions made by us would be made solely to the stockholders of record at the close of business on the final record date, except as may be necessary to reflect subsequent transfers recorded on our books as a result of any assignments by will, intestate succession or operation of law.
We will continue to incur the expenses of complying with public company reporting requirements until our Class A common stock is deregistered and periodic public reporting obligations are suspended.
If the dissolution is approved by our stockholders, and the Board determines to proceed with the dissolution, through any subsequent liquidation and dissolution, we have an obligation to continue to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, even though compliance with these reporting requirements would be economically burdensome, until we deregister our shares and suspend our periodic reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. If the dissolution is approved by our stockholders, and the Board determines to proceed with the dissolution, we would file a Form 25 with the SEC to delist and deregister our Class A common stock and a Form 15 with the SEC to suspend our public reporting obligations, but until we do so we will remain a reporting issuer and will incur attendant costs relating to filing such reports with the SEC. The expenses incurred by us in complying with the applicable reporting requirements will reduce the assets available for distribution to our stockholders.
We may not be able to retain services of appropriate personnel to implement the dissolution.
If the dissolution is approved by our stockholders, and the Board determines to proceed with the dissolution, the success of the dissolution will depend in large part upon our ability to retain the services of qualified personnel who would be charged with operating the Company through any subsequent liquidation and dissolution. The retention of qualified personnel may be particularly difficult under such circumstances. There can be no assurance that we would be successful in retaining the services of such qualified personnel or that we would be able to retain the services of such qualified personnel for the amounts the Company may be willing to pay for such services.
If our Board determines to proceed with the dissolution, we will file a Form 15 with the SEC thereby suspending our obligation to file current and periodic reports with the SEC, which would limit public information regarding our business and the status of our dissolution and wind-up activities.
If the dissolution is approved by our stockholders, and the Board determines to proceed with the dissolution, we will file a Form 15 with the SEC to suspend our reporting obligation under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file current and periodic reports with the SEC. As a result, investors would have limited public information regarding the status of our business and wind-up activities.
Risks Relating to Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock
Assuming that the Asset Sale Proposal is approved and consummated, because our historical operating business would be sold and our anticipated business is highly uncertain, speculative, unproven and subject to significant risks, investors may have difficulty valuing our Class A common stock.
Following the Asset Sale, our Class A common stock may trade based on limited information, evolving assumptions, market sentiment and speculation regarding our anticipated Electronics Infrastructure Business, rather than established operating results. This may result in significant mispricing, elevated volatility and sudden declines in value.
Social media and online forums may contribute to increased volatility in our Class A common stock price and create risks of market manipulation.
In recent years, securities of certain companies have experienced extreme price volatility driven in part by activity on social media platforms and online forums, sometimes referred to as “meme stock” dynamics. This volatility is often unrelated to the underlying performance or fundamentals of the companies involved and can be driven by retail investor sentiment, coordinated trading activity, or viral attention. Following the disclosure of the matters set forth herein, our Class A common stock has been, and may continue to be, subject to similar dynamics, which could result in rapid and significant price increases or decreases that may be disconnected from our business plans, operating results and financial performance. Such volatility could expose us to securities class action litigation or regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, false or misleading information about us could be spread on social media or online forums, which could adversely affect our reputation and the market price of our Common Stock, regardless of the accuracy of such information.
Short selling of our Class A common stock could increase the volatility of our Class A common stock price and adversely affect its market price.
Short selling occurs when an investor borrows shares and immediately sells them, hoping that the share price will decline and the investor can repurchase the shares at a lower price for return to the lender. Short selling has been prevalent in securities of companies with significant volatility or “meme stock” dynamics. The significant short selling of our Class A common stock, or the perception that such short selling may occur, may create downward pressure on the price of our Class A common stock and may amplify the effect of any negative developments. Additionally, so-called “short and distort” campaigns could target our Company, where short sellers spread negative information about a company to drive down its stock price and profit from their short positions. Any such campaign could damage our reputation and adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of the accuracy of the information disseminated. Conversely, if our Class A common stock price increases rapidly, short sellers may be forced to cover their positions quickly, leading to a “short squeeze” that could result in extreme price volatility.
Active trading of options on our Class A common stock could increase volatility in our Class A common stock price and adversely affect the market for our securities.
Options on our Class A common stock are traded on securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets. Activity in these markets, including hedging, arbitrage, and speculative strategies, can lead to significant buying or selling pressure and contribute to price volatility. Option expirations, changes in implied volatility, and variations in options market liquidity can exacerbate volatility in our Class A common stock price. Increased volatility related to options trading could negatively affect investor confidence, impair liquidity, and adversely affect our Class A common stock price regardless of operating performance.
Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock by our directors, officers, or significant stockholders, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock by our directors, officers, or significant stockholders in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence, or even the potential of, a significant sale by any of our large stockholders could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline. Moreover, our directors and officers may establish pre-arranged trading plans under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act, and sales under these plans could be perceived negatively by the market, whether or not there is any actual adverse information about us. We cannot predict the effect, if any, that sales of shares by our insiders or the availability of shares for future sale will have on the market price of our Class A common stock.