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false 0001644903 0001644903 2024-02-01 2024-02-01 0001644903 ycbd:CommonStockCustomMember 2024-02-01 2024-02-01 0001644903 ycbd:SeriesACumulativeConvertiblePreferredStock8CustomMember 2024-02-01 2024-02-01
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): February 1, 2024
 
cbdMD, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
North Carolina
 
001-38299
 
47-3414576
(State or other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
8845 Red Oak Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28217
(704)445-3060
(Address and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
 
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:
 
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: None.
 
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
YCBD
NYSE American
8% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
YCBD PR A
NYSE American
 
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.
 
Effective February 1, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), cbdMD, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 30, 2024 (the “Purchase Agreement”) with five institutional investors (the “Investors”) whereby the Investors advanced the Company an aggregate of $1,250,000 gross proceeds and the Company issued each Investor an Senior Secured Original Issue Discount Convertible Promissory Note, in the aggregate principal amount of $1,541,666 (the “Notes”). The Company intends to use the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes for working capital and general corporate purposes.
 
Each Note bears interest of 8% per annum and matures on July 30, 2025. The Note is convertible into shares of common stock at any time following the date of issuance at the Investor’s option at an initial conversion price of $0.684 per share (the “Conversion Price”), subject to certain adjustments. If 30 calendar days, 60 calendar days, 90 calendar days, 120 calendar days, or 180 calendar days after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined below) (the “Adjustment Dates”), the Conversion Price then in effect is higher than the Market Conversion Price then in effect on the Adjustment Date, the Conversion Price shall automatically decrease to the Market Conversion Price (as defined under the Note). The Conversion Price is subject to a $0.30 floor price.
 
Furthermore, at any time after the issuance of the Note, the Company may, after written notice to the Investor, prepay any portion or all outstanding Principal Amount by paying an amount equal to 125% of the Principal Amount then being prepaid (representing a 25% prepayment premium payable to the Investor which shall not constitute a principal repayment); provided that a Registration Statement registering all of the Conversion Shares issuable under the Note shall have been declared effective. If the Company elects to prepay the Note, the Investor shall have the right, upon written notice to the Company within five Trading Days of the Investor’s receipt of a Prepayment Notice, to convert up to 100% of the Prepayment Amount at the Conversion Price, upon the terms provided in the Note.
 
Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the Note), the Interest rate shall automatically be increased to the lesser of 22% per annum or the highest amount permitted by law. In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured (and no other Event of Default then exists), the adjustment shall cease to be effective as of the 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.
 
In addition, upon the occurrence of Event of Default, which has not been cured within any applicable cure period, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Investor the Mandatory Default Amount, which Mandatory Default Amount shall be payable to the Investor on the date the Event of Default giving rise thereto occurs. In the event the Note shall be converted following the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Investor shall have the option to convert the Mandatory Default Amount, upon the terms provided in the Note.
 
The Note provides that the Investor will not have the right to convert any portion of the Note, if, together with its affiliates, and any other party whose holdings would be aggregated with those of the Investor for purposes of Section 13(d) or Section 16 of the Securities of 1934, as amended, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall be increased to 9.99% on the 61th day upon receipt of a written notice by the Investor delivered to the Company, and provided further, in no event shall the Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99%. Furthermore, the Investors shall not have the right to receive upon conversion of the Notes any shares of common stock in excess of 19.9% of the Company’s currently issued and outstanding common stock, if the issuance of such shares of would exceed the aggregate number of shares of common stock which the Company may issue upon conversion the Notes without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules of the NYSE American. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement the Company shall file a proxy statement within 30 days of the date of the Purchase Agreement and hold a special meeting of shareholders (which may also be at the annual meeting of shareholders) at the earliest practical date, but in no event later than 90 calendar days after the date of the Purchase Agreement, for the purpose of obtaining shareholder approval of the issuance of the excess shares of common stock.
 
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The Notes are secured by a first priority security interest as evidenced by and to the extent set forth in that certain Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Investors.
 
The Purchase Agreement also contains customary representations and warranties of the Company and the Investors, indemnification obligations of the Company, termination provisions, and other obligations and rights of the parties.
 
In addition, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Investors pursuant to which the Conversion Shares issuable to the Investor, subject to certain conditions, are entitled to registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is required to, within 10 Trading Days following the Closing Date, file a registration statement to register the Conversion Shares and to cause such registration statement to be effective within 60 days following the Closing Date, covering the resale by the Investors of the Conversion Shares.
 
The foregoing description of the terms of the Notes, the Purchase Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and are qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Note, the form of Purchase Agreement, the form of Security Agreement, and the form of Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed or incorporated by reference as Exhibits 4.1, 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
 
The information contained above under Item 1.01, to the extent applicable, is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Based in part upon the representations of the Investors in the Purchase Agreement, the sale of the Notes were made in reliance on the exemption afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and corresponding provisions of state securities or “blue sky” laws. None of the securities have been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Commission or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Neither this Current Report on Form 8-K nor any exhibit attached hereto is an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy shares of common stock or other securities of the Company.
 
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Exhibit
4.1
 
10.1
 
10.2
 
10.3
 
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
*Certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule to the Commission upon its request.
 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
cbdMD, Inc.
Date: February 2, 2024
By:
/s/ T. Ronan Kennedy
Name: T. Ronan Kennedy
Title: Chief Financial Officer
 
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EX-4.1 2 ex_621911.htm EXHIBIT 4.1 ex_621911.htm

Exhibit 4.1

 

NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

cbdMD, Inc.

8% Senior Secured Original Issue 20% Discount Convertible Promissory Note

 

Original Issuance Date: January 30, 2024 Principal: $[      ]
Maturity Date: July 30, 20251 Loan Amount: $[  ]

         

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, cbdMD, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Maker” or the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to the order of [ ], or its registered assigns (the “Holder”) the principal sum of $[ ] (the “Principal Amount”) pursuant to the terms of this 8% Senior Secured Original Issue 20% Discount Convertible Promissory Note (this “Note”). In exchange for delivery of the Note on the Original Issuance Date referred to above, the Holder shall lend the Maker $[ ] in United States dollars net of an original issuance discount of $[ ].

 

The Maturity Date of this Note shall be 18 months from the Original Issuance Date of this Note which is specified above, unless the Holder has given notice to the Maker that it elects to accelerate the Maturity Date to the extent explicitly permitted by this Note (the “Maturity Date”). The Maturity Date is the date upon which the Principal Amount and other amounts shall be due and payable unless due or prepaid earlier or converted. At the option of the Holder, the Holder may elect by written notice to the Maker prior to the Maturity Date to convert this Note, in whole or in part, in accordance with Section 3 at the Acceleration Conversion Price defined under Section 3.1(c). This Note may not be repaid in whole or in part except as otherwise explicitly set forth herein.

 

This Note is secured by a first priority security interest as evidenced by and to the extent set forth in that certain Security Agreement by and between the Maker and the Holder dated as of the Original Issuance Date (the “Security Agreement”).

 

All payments under or pursuant to this Note shall be made in United States dollars in immediately available funds to the Holder at the address of the Holder set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as hereinafter defined) or at such other place as the Holder may designate from time-to-time in writing to the Maker or by wire transfer of funds to the Holder’s account designated in writing by the Holder to the Maker.

 


1 18 months from original issuance date

 







 

 

ARTICLE 1

 

1.1    Purchase Agreement. This Note has been executed and delivered pursuant to, and is one of a series of substantially similar promissory notes issued pursuant to, the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Original Issuance Date (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Maker, the other “Purchasers” (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) and the Holder. Capitalized words and terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

 

1.2    Interest. Interest on this Note shall commence accruing on the Original Issuance Date at 8% per annum (the “Interest”). From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Interest rate shall automatically be increased to the lesser of 22% per annum or the highest amount permitted by law. In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured (and no other Event of Default then exists), the adjustment referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the 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.

 

1.3    Prepayment. At any time after the Issuance Date, the Maker may make payment for any portion or all of the outstanding Principal Amount (the “Prepayment Amount”) upon at least five (5) Trading Days’ written notice (the “Prepayment Notice Period”) of the Holder (the “Prepayment Notice”) by paying an amount equal to 125% of the Principal Amount then being prepaid (representing a 25% prepayment premium payable to the Holder which shall not constitute a principal repayment); provided that a registration statement registering all of the Conversion Shares issuable under this Note shall have been declared effective. If the Maker elects to prepay this Note pursuant to the provisions of this Section 1.3, the Holder shall have the right, upon written notice to the Maker (a “Prepayment Conversion Notice”) within five (5) Trading Days of the Holder’s receipt of a Prepayment Notice, to convert up to 100% of the Prepayment Amount at the Conversion Price, in accordance with Section 3, specifying the Principal Amount that the Holder will convert. Upon delivery of a Prepayment Notice, the Maker irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, within two (2) Trading Days of receiving a Prepayment Conversion Notice, and if no Prepayment Conversion Notice is received, within five (5) Trading Days of delivery of a Prepayment Notice: (i) repay the outstanding Principal Amount minus the Principal Amount set forth in the Prepayment Conversion Notice and (ii) issue the applicable Conversion Shares to the Holder in accordance with Article 3. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Maker may not deliver a Prepayment Notice with respect to any outstanding Principal Amount that is subject to a Conversion Notice delivered by the Holder in accordance with Article 3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any prepayments made under this Note, including the provisions of this Section 1.3(b), shall be subject in all cases to the terms of the Purchase Agreement.

 

1.4    Payment on Non-Trading Days. Whenever any payment to be made shall be due on a day which is not a Trading Day, such payment may be due on the next succeeding Trading Day.

 

1.5    Replacement. Upon receipt of a duly executed Affidavit of Loss and Indemnity Agreement in customary form from the Holder with respect to the loss, theft or destruction of this Note (or any replacement hereof), or, in the case of a mutilation of this Note, upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Maker shall issue a new Note, of like tenor and amount, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note. The Holder shall not be required to post bond or other security.

 

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1.6    Status of Note. The obligations of the Maker under this Note shall rank senior to all other existing Indebtedness and equity of the Company, per the Security Agreement. The obligations of the Maker under this Note shall rank pari passu with the amounts under the Additional Notes. Upon any Liquidation Event (as hereinafter defined), but subject in all cases to the Purchase Agreement, the Holder will be entitled to receive, before any distribution or payment is made upon, or set apart with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Maker or any class of capital stock of the Maker, an amount equal to the outstanding Principal Amount, Interest and any other sums due. For purposes of this Note, “Liquidation Event” means a liquidation pursuant to a filing of a petition for bankruptcy under applicable law or any other insolvency or debtor’s relief, an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Maker.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

2.1    Events of Default. An “Event of Default” under this Note shall mean any of the following (unless the Event of Default is waived in writing by the Holder):

 

(a)    following a five Trading Day opportunity to cure without the Holder being required to provide any notice or make any demand, any default in the payment of the Principal Amount, Interest or other sums due under this Note or any Additional Note when due (whether on a Payment Date, the Maturity Date or by acceleration or otherwise);

 

(b)    the Maker shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Note or any Transaction Document, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Maker issuing any Indebtedness or the imposition of a Lien upon any of the assets of the Maker or any subsidiary, except for Permitted Liens, or otherwise breaching its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement which failure is not cured, if possible to cure, within the earlier to occur of (i) three (3) Trading Days after notice of such failure sent by the Holder or by any other Holder to the Company and (ii) five (5) Trading Days after the Company has become or should have become aware of such failure;

 

(c)    the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries shall (A) default in any payment of any amount or amounts of principal of or interest (if any) on $150,000 or more of any Indebtedness (other than this Note), or agreement or lease (other than the Company’s executive office lease as disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 (the “Executive Lease”)) or (B) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;

 

(d)    the Maker’s notice to the Holder, including by way of public announcement at any time of its inability to comply (including for any of the reasons described in Section 3.5(a) hereof) or its intention not to comply with proper requests for conversion of this Note into Common Stock;

 

(e)    at any time after the Registration Statement is effective and subject to compliance with applicable law or if the Holder has sold shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144, when available, but only to the extent of the number of shares sold, the failure of the Maker to instruct its transfer agent to remove any legends from the Common Stock and issue such unlegended certificates to the Holder within the Standard Settlement Period. For avoidance of doubt, as of the Original Issuance Date the Standard Settlement Period is two Trading Days;

 

(f)    at any time the Maker shall fail to have the Required Minimum of Common Stock authorized, reserved and available for issuance to satisfy the potential conversion in full (disregarding for this purpose any and all limitations of any kind on such conversion) of this Note;

 

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(g)    any representation or warranty made by the Maker (or any of its Subsidiaries) in the Purchase Agreement, this Note or any other Transaction Document shall prove to have been false or incorrect or breached in a material respect on the date as of which made;

 

(h)    the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries shall: (i) apply for or consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property or assets; (ii) make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; (iii) commence a voluntary case under the United States Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect) or under the comparable laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic); (iv) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (v) acquiesce in writing to any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under United States Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect) or under the comparable laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic); (vi) issue a notice of bankruptcy or winding down of its operations or issue a press release regarding same; or (vii) take any action under the laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) analogous to any of the foregoing;

 

(i)    a proceeding or case shall be commenced (and continue undismissed or unstayed) in respect of the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries, without its application or consent, in any court of competent jurisdiction, seeking: (i) the liquidation, reorganization, moratorium, dissolution, winding up, or composition or readjustment of its debts; (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like of it or of all or any substantial part of its assets in connection with the liquidation or dissolution of the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) similar relief in respect of it under any law providing for the relief of debtors, and such proceeding or case described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) shall continue undismissed, or unstayed and in effect, for a period of 30 days or any order for relief shall be entered in an involuntary case under United States Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect) or under the comparable laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) against the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries or action under the laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) analogous to any of the above;

 

(j)    one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $250,000 (or its equivalent in the relevant currency of payment) are rendered against one or more of the Maker and/or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding any judgment related to the Executive Lease), that is not dismissed, satisfied or stayed within 10 days;

 

(k)    the Maker fails to comply in any material respect with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (including but not limited to becoming delinquent in the filing of any report required to be filed under the Exchange Act, or ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. For avoidance of doubt, a failure to file an Exchange Act report on-time shall be deemed to be a failure to comply in a material respect but any report filed within an extension permitted by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act shall be considered to have been timely filed and not amount to a failure to comply;

 

(l)    the Maker restates in a material manner any financial statements included in its reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act or registration statements for any date or period from (i) two years prior to the Original Issuance Date of this Note and (ii) until this Note is no longer outstanding, but only if following first public announcement or disclosure that a restatement will occur, the VWAP on the next 5 Trading Days is 20% less than the VWAP on the Trading Day prior to the announcement. For the purposes of this provision, a restatement shall be deemed material if it results in a decrease in the Maker’s current net assets of 20% or more or results in a decrease in net profit or increase in net losses for the period of 20% or more;

 

(m)    the Common Stock ceases to be listed on the Trading Market or, after the six-month anniversary of the Original Issuance Date, any Common Stock including Underlying Shares may not be immediately resold under Rule 144 without restriction on the number of shares to be sold or manner of sale, unless such Common Stock has been registered for resale under the Securities Act and may be sold without restriction or the Maker fails to list the Underlying Shares on the Trading Market;

 

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(n)    the Maker consummates a “going private” transaction and as a result its Common Stock is no longer registered under Sections 12(b) of the Exchange Act;

 

(o)    the Company shall be a party to any Fundamental Transaction (A) without first giving the Holder ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the closing of such Fundamental Transaction and (B) prior to or simultaneous with the closing of such Fundamental Transaction, the Holder is not repaid in accordance with Section 3.4(g) herein;

 

(p)    the Company shall fail to maintain directors and officers insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 at any point in time while this Note is outstanding;

 

(q)    there shall be any ongoing SEC stop order with respect to the Registration Statement, ongoing trading suspension by the SEC or the Trading Market of the Common Stock, or any ongoing restriction in place with the transfer agent for the Common Stock restricting the trading of such Common Stock; or

 

(r)    the electronic transfer by the Maker of shares of Common Stock through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation is no longer available or is subject to an ongoing “chill”.

 

2.2    Remedies Upon an Event of Default.

 

(a)    Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default that has not been remedied or waived within five Trading Days; provided, however, that there shall be no cure period for an Event of Default described in Section 2.1(k) or 2.1(l), the Maker shall be obligated to pay to the Holder the Mandatory Default Amount, which Mandatory Default Amount shall be payable to the Holder on the date the Event of Default giving rise thereto occurs. In the event this Note shall be converted following the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Holder shall have the option to convert the Mandatory Default Amount, subject to the Floor Price, at the lesser of 70% of either of the following (representing a 30% discount): (i) the Market Conversion Price and (ii) the Acceleration Conversion Price.

 

(b)    Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Maker shall, as promptly as possible but in any event within two Trading Days of the occurrence of such Event of Default, notify the Holder of the occurrence of such Event of Default, describing the event or factual situation giving rise to the Event of Default and specifying the relevant subsection or subsections of Section 2.1 hereof under which such Event of Default has occurred.

 

(c)    Subject to Section 2.2(a), the Holder may at any time at its option declare, by written notice to the Maker, the Mandatory Default Amount due and payable, and thereupon, the same shall be accelerated and so due and payable within two Trading Days of receipt of such notice by the Maker.

 

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ARTICLE 3

 

3.1    Conversion.

 

(a)    Conversion. At any time following the Original Issuance Date, this Note shall be convertible (in whole or in part) at the option of the Holder into such number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing (x) that portion of the outstanding Principal Amount that the Holder elects to convert (the “Conversion Amount”) by (y) the Conversion Price then in effect on the date on which the Holder delivers to the Maker a notice of conversion in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Conversion Notice”) in accordance with Section 5.1. The Holder shall deliver this Note to the Maker at the address designated in the Purchase Agreement at such time that this Note is fully converted. With respect to partial conversions of this Note, the Maker shall keep written records of the amount of this Note converted as of the date of such conversion (each, a “Conversion Date”).

 

(b)    Conversion Price. The “Conversion Price” initially means $0.6842 and shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. If Thirty (30) calendar days, Sixty (60) calendar days, Ninety (90) calendar days, One Hundred Twenty calendar days (120), or One Hundred Eighty (180) calendar days after the effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Adjustment Dates”), the Conversion Price then in effect is higher than the Market Conversion Price then in effect on the Adjustment Date, the Conversion Price shall automatically decrease to the Market Conversion Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Conversion Price, Market Conversion Price and Acceleration Conversion Price shall never be lower than the Floor Price. As used in this Note, an adjusted Conversion Price includes Market Conversion Price and Acceleration Conversion Price.

 

(c)    Acceleration Conversion Price. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Note, prepayment under Section 1.3(b) shall be made in cash, provided that at the option of the Holder such prepayment may instead be made in Conversion Shares determined by dividing the Prepayment Amount by the lower of (but in no event lower than the Floor Price) (i) 90% of the VWAP for the five Trading Days prior to the Prepayment Conversion Notice (the “Acceleration Conversion Price”), and (ii) Conversion Price then in effect or a combination of Conversion Shares and cash, as the Maker and the Holder may mutually agree in writing.

 

3.2    Delivery of Conversion Shares.

 

(a)    As soon as practicable after any conversion or payment of any amount due hereunder in the form of shares of Common Stock in accordance with this Note, and in any event within the Standard Settlement Period thereafter (such date, the “Share Delivery Date”), the Maker shall, at its expense, cause to be issued in the name of and delivered to the Holder, or as the Holder may direct, a certificate or certificates evidencing the number of shares of fully paid and non-assessable Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled on such conversion or payment (the “Conversion Shares”), in the applicable denominations based on the applicable conversion or payment, which certificate or certificates shall be free of restrictive and trading legends (except for any such legends as may be required under the Securities Act). Notwithstanding the foregoing, commencing on such date that the Conversion Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144 subject to current public information requirements, the Company, upon request by the Holder and at the expense of the Company, shall obtain a legal opinion to allow for such sales under Rule 144. In lieu of delivering physical certificates for the Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of this Note, provided the Company’s transfer agent is participating in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer program or a similar program, upon request of the Holder, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to electronically transmit such Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of this Note to the Holder (or its designee), by crediting the account of the Holder’s (or such designee’s) broker with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system (provided that the same time periods herein as for stock certificates shall apply) as instructed by the Holder (or its designee). If such certificate or certificates are not delivered to or as directed by the Holder by the Share Delivery Date, the Holder shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Company at any time on or before its receipt of such certificate or certificates, to rescind such Conversion Notice, in which event the Company shall promptly return to the Holder any original Note delivered to the Company and the Holder shall promptly return to the Company the Common Stock certificates issued to such Holder pursuant to the rescinded Conversion Notice.

 


2 90% of the average VWAP for the 5 days prior to closing date.

 

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(b)    Obligation Absolute. The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Maker or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Maker to the Holder in connection with the issuance of such Conversion Shares; provided, however, that such delivery shall not operate as a waiver by the Maker of any such action the Company may have against the Holder. In the event the Holder of this Note shall elect to convert any or all of the outstanding Principal Amount hereof, the Company may not refuse conversion based on any claim that the Holder or anyone associated or affiliated with the Holder has been engaged in any violation of law, agreement or for any other reason, unless an injunction from a court, on notice to Holder, restraining and or enjoining conversion of all or part of this Note shall have been sought and obtained. In the absence of such injunction, the Company shall issue the Conversion Shares or, if applicable, cash, upon delivery of a Conversion Notice.

 

(c)    The Company’s Failure to Timely Convert. If the Company shall fail for any reason or for no reason, on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date, if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, to issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a certificate for the number of Conversion Shares to which the Holder is entitled and register such Conversion Shares on the Company’s share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, to credit the balance account of the Holder or the Holder’s designee with DTC for such number of Conversion Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion of this Note (as the case may be) (a “Conversion Failure”), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Holder may by notice to the Company elect to be paid in cash either (i) the amount of proceeds it would receive if it had been able to deliver the Conversion Shares on the Share Delivery Date or (ii) the Mandatory Default Amount. If the Holder elects to use Section 3.2(c)(i), the sum it shall be paid as a consequence of a Conversion Failure shall be the product of (x) the number of Conversion Shares subject to the Conversion Failure times (y) the VWAP for the date on the Holder delivers a Conversion Notice.

 

(d)    Compensation for Buy-In. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder such certificate or certificates by the Share Delivery Date, and if after such Share Delivery Date the Holder is required by its brokerage firm to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise), or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Conversion Shares which the Holder was entitled to receive upon the conversion relating to such Share Delivery Date (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (i) pay in cash to the Holder (in addition to any other remedies available to or elected by the Holder) the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including any brokerage commissions) for the Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that the Holder was entitled to receive from the conversion at issue multiplied by (2) the actual sale price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed (including any brokerage commissions) and (ii) at the option of the Holder, either reissue (if surrendered) this Note in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the attempted conversion (in which case such conversion shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued if the Company had timely complied with its delivery requirements under this Note. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of this Note with respect to which the actual sale price of the Conversion Shares (including any brokerage commissions) giving rise to such purchase obligation was a total of $10,000 under clause (i) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Note as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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(e)    Pro Rata Conversion; Disputes. In the event that the Company receives a Conversion Notice from the Holder and any holders of Options or other Convertible Securities for the same Conversion Date and the Company can convert some, but not all, of such portions of the Notes, Options or other Convertible Securities submitted for conversion, the Company, subject to Section 3.3, shall first convert the entire Conversion Amount submitted for conversion on such date by the Holder, and shall thereafter convert from each holder of Options or other Convertible Securities electing to have Options or other Convertible Securities converted on such date (other than the Notes) a pro rata amount of such holder’s portion of its Options or other Convertible Securities submitted for conversion based on the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise (or conversion) of all Options or other Convertible Securities submitted for conversion on such date (not including the Notes).

 

(f)    Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of this Note. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such conversion, the Company shall at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Conversion Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

(g)    Transfer Taxes and Expenses. The issuance of certificates for shares of the Common Stock on conversion of this Note shall be made without charge to the Holder hereof for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of such certificates, provided that, the Company shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate upon conversion in a name other than that of the Holder of this Note so converted and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificates unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Conversion Notice and all fees to the DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Conversion Shares. The Company shall pay reasonable attorney fees required for the issuance of attorney legal opinions for removal of restrictive legends on Conversion Shares.

 

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3.3    Beneficial Ownership Limitation. 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, non-converted 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 non-converted 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 3.3. For purposes of this Section 3.3, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange 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”). 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 3.3, 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 Exchange 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 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 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 Exchange Act.  No prior inability to convert this Note pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this Section 3.3 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 3.3 to the extent necessary to correct any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation contained in this Section 3.3 or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitation contained in this Section 3.3 may not be waived and shall apply to a successor holder of this Note.

 

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In the event that Company is precluded from converting any portion of this Note by reason of a Beneficial Ownership Limitation then Company’s obligation to make a conversion payment herein shall be deferred until the earlier of 90-days after the payment was due or the Company being able to make the payment in shares of Common Stock within the Percentage Maximum.

 

3.4    Adjustment of Conversion Price.

 

(a)    Until the Note has been paid in full or converted in full, the Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows (but shall not be increased, other than pursuant to a combination:

 

(i)    Adjustments for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the Maker shall at any time or from time-to-time after the Original Issuance Date effect a split of the outstanding Common Stock or pays a dividend in Common Stock to holders of its Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the stock split shall be proportionately decreased. If the Maker shall at any time or from time-to-time after the Original Issuance Date, combine the outstanding Common Stock into a lesser number of shares, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the combination shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustments under this Section 3.4(a)(i) shall be effective at the close of business on the date the stock split, stock dividend, or combination occurs.

 

(ii)    Adjustments for Certain Dividends and Distributions. If the Maker shall at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Original Issuance Date) make or issue or set a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock, then, and in each event, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such event shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the applicable Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:

 

(1)    the numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date; and

 

(2)    the denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.

 

In all instances, any treasury stock shall be deemed to be not outstanding.

 

(iii)    Adjustment for Other Dividends and Distributions. If the Maker shall at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Issuance Date) make or issue or set a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in other Common Stock, then, and in each event, an appropriate revision to the applicable Conversion Price shall be made and provision shall be made (by adjustments of the Conversion Price or otherwise) so that the Holder of this Note shall receive upon conversions thereof, in addition to the number of Common Stock receivable thereon, the number of securities of the Maker or other issuer (as applicable) or other property that it would have received had this Note been converted into Common Stock in full (without regard to any conversion limitations herein) on the date of such event and had thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Conversion Date, retained such securities (together with any distributions payable thereon during such period) or assets, giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this Section 3.4(a)(iii) with respect to the rights of the holders of this Note; provided, however, that if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this Section 3.4(a)(iii) as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions.

 

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(iv)    Adjustments for Reclassification, Exchange or Substitution. If the Common Stock at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Issuance Date) shall be changed to the same or different number of shares or other securities of any class or classes of stock or other property, whether by reclassification, exchange, substitution or otherwise (other than by way of a stock split or combination of shares or stock dividends provided for in Sections 3.4(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, or a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale of assets provided for in Section 3.4(a)(v) hereof), then, and in each event, an appropriate revision to the Conversion Price shall be made and provisions shall be made (by adjustments of the Conversion Price or otherwise) so that the Holder shall have the right thereafter to convert this Note into the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or other property receivable upon reclassification, exchange, substitution or other change, by holders of the number of Common Stock into which such Note might have been converted immediately prior to such reclassification, exchange, substitution or other change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

 

Except for Exempt Issuances, the Company shall be deemed to have issued or sold Common Stock if the Company in any manner issues or grants any warrants, rights or options, whether or not immediately exercisable, to subscribe for or to purchase Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (“Convertible Securities”) (such warrants, rights and options to Common Stock or Convertible Securities are hereinafter referred to as “Options”) and the price per share for which such Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of such Options is less than the Conversion Price then in effect, then the Conversion Price shall be reduced to such price per share. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the “price per share for which such Common Stock are issuable upon the exercise of such Options” is determined by dividing (i) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the issuance or granting of all such Options, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the exercise of all such Options, plus, in the case of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Options, the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration payable upon the conversion or exchange thereof at the time such Convertible Securities first become convertible or exchangeable, by (ii) the maximum total number of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Options (assuming full conversion of Convertible Securities, if applicable). No further adjustment to the Conversion Price will be made upon the actual issuance of such Common Stock upon the exercise of such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of such Options.

 

Additionally, the Company shall be deemed to have issued or sold Common Stock if the Company in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities, whether or not immediately convertible (other than in an issuance in an Exempt Issuance), and the price per share for which such Common Stock is issuable upon such conversion or exchange is less than the Conversion Price then in effect, then the Conversion Price shall be equal to such price per share. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the “price per share for which such Common Stock are issuable upon such conversion or exchange” is determined by dividing (i) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the issuance or sale of all such Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion or exchange thereof at the time such Convertible Securities first become convertible or exchangeable, by (ii) the maximum total number of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible Securities. No further adjustment to the Conversion Price will be made upon the actual issuance of such Common Stock upon conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

 

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(v)    Consideration for Stock. In case any Common Stock or any Common Stock Equivalents shall be issued or sold (other than in an Exempt Issuance):

 

(1)    in connection with any merger or consolidation in which the Maker is the surviving corporation (other than any consolidation or merger in which the previously outstanding Common Stock of the Maker shall be changed to or exchanged for the stock or other securities of another corporation), the amount of consideration therefor shall be, deemed to be the fair value, as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Maker and approved by the Holders, of such portion of the assets and business of the non-surviving corporation as such Board of Directors may determine to be attributable to such Common Stock, Convertible Securities, rights or warrants or Options, as the case may be; or

 

(2)    in the event of any consolidation or merger of the Maker in which the Maker is not the surviving corporation or in which the previously outstanding Common Stock of the Maker shall be changed into or exchanged for the stock or other securities of another corporation or other property, or in the event of any sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Maker for stock or other securities or other property of any corporation, the Maker shall be deemed to have issued Common Stock, at a price per share equal to the valuation of the Maker’s Common Stock based on the actual exchange ratio on which the transaction was predicated, as applicable, and the fair market value on the date of such transaction of all such stock or securities or other property of the other corporation. If any such calculation results in adjustment of the applicable Conversion Price, or the number of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note, the determination of the applicable Conversion Price or the number of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or sale, shall be made after giving effect to such adjustment of the number of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note. In the event Common Stock are issued with other shares or securities or other assets of the Maker for consideration which covers both, the consideration computed as provided in this Section 3.4(a)(vi) shall be allocated among such securities and assets as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Maker and approved by the Holder.

 

(vi)    Record Date. In case the Maker shall take record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities, then the date of the issue or sale of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be such record date.

 

(b)    No Impairment. The Maker shall not, by amendment of its Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, 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 to be observed or performed hereunder by the Maker, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 3.4 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the Holder against impairment. In the event the Holder shall elect to convert this Note as provided herein, the Maker cannot refuse conversion based on any claim that the Holder or anyone associated or affiliated with the Holder has been engaged in any violation of law, violation of an agreement to which the Holder is a party or for any reason whatsoever, unless, an injunction from a court, or notice, restraining and or adjoining conversion of this Note shall have issued.

 

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(c)    Certificates as to Adjustments. Upon occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price or number of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note pursuant to this Section 3.4, the Maker at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to the Holder a certificate setting forth such adjustment and readjustment, showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Maker shall, upon written request of the Holder, at any time, furnish or cause to be furnished to the Holder a like certificate setting forth such adjustments and readjustments, the applicable Conversion Price in effect at the time, and the number of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other securities or property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of this Note. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Maker shall not be obligated to deliver a certificate unless such certificate would reflect an increase or decrease of at least one percent of such adjusted amount.

 

(d)    Issuance Taxes. The Maker shall pay any and all issuance and other taxes, excluding federal, state or local income taxes, that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of Common Stock on conversion of this Note pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the Maker shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes resulting from any transfer requested by the Holder in connection with any such conversion.

 

(e)    Reservation of Common Stock. The Maker shall at all while this Note shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock the Required Minimum of Common Stock (disregarding for this purpose any and all limitations of any kind on such conversion). The Maker shall, from time-to-time, increase the authorized number of Common Stock or take other effective action if at any time the unissued number of authorized shares shall not be sufficient to satisfy the Maker’s obligations under this Section 3.4(f).

 

(f)    Regulatory Compliance. If any Common Stock to be reserved for the purpose of conversion of this Note requires registration or listing with or approval of any governmental authority, national securities exchange or other regulatory body under any federal or state law or regulation or otherwise before such shares may be validly issued or delivered upon conversion, the Maker shall, at its sole cost and expense, in good faith and as expeditiously as possible, secure such registration, listing or approval, as the case may be.

 

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(g)    Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Note is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent conversion of this Note, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Conversion Share that would have been issuable upon such conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 3.3 on the conversion of this Note), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Note is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 3.3 on the conversion of this Note). For purposes of any such conversion, the determination of the Conversion Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one (1) share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Conversion Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash, or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any conversion of this Note following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and any document ancillary hereto, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.4(g) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the holder of this Note, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Note a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Note which is convertible for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon conversion of this Note (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with a conversion price which applies the conversion price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such conversion price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Note immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such 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.

 

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(h)    Black Scholes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Note from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unconverted portion of this Note on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company's control, including not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unconverted portion of this Note, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Note based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg, L.P. (“Bloomberg”) determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) 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 public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (i) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (ii) the highest VWAP during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request pursuant to this section, (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within five Trading Days of the Holder’s election (or, if later, on the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction).

 

3.5    Inability to Fully Convert.

 

(a)    Holder’s Option if Maker Cannot Fully Convert. Subject to the limitations set forth under Section 3.5(e), if, upon the Maker’s receipt of a Conversion Notice or as otherwise required under this Note, including with respect to repayment of Principal in Common Stock as permitted under this Note, the Maker cannot issue Common Stock for any reason, including, without limitation, because the Maker (x) does not have a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock authorized and available or (y) is otherwise prohibited by applicable law or by the rules or regulations of any national securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other self-regulatory organization with jurisdiction over the Maker or any of its securities from issuing all of the shares of Common Stock which are to be issued to the Holder pursuant to this Note, then the Maker shall issue as many shares of Common Stock as it is able to issue and, with respect to the unconverted portion of this Note or with respect to any Common Stock not timely issued in accordance with this Note, the Holder, solely at Holder’s option, can elect to:

 

(i)    require the Maker to pay in respect of that portion of the stock covered by the Conversion Notice for which the Maker is unable to issue Common Stock or for which Common Stock were not timely issued a payment (the “Mandatory Prepayment”) equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that the Maker is unable to issue multiplied by the VWAP on the date of the Conversion Notice (provided all payments shall be subject to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement with respect to the holders of the Additional Notes) (the “Mandatory Prepayment Price”);

 

(ii)    void its Conversion Notice and retain or have returned, as the case may be, this Note that was to be converted pursuant to the Conversion Notice (provided that the Holder’s voiding its Conversion Notice shall not affect the Maker’s obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice); or

 

(iii)    defer issuance of the applicable Conversion Shares until such time as the Maker can legally issue such shares; provided that the Principal Amount underlying such Conversion Shares shall remain outstanding until the delivery of such Conversion Shares; and provided, further, that if the Holder elects to defer the issuance of the Conversion Shares, it may exercise its rights under either clause (i) or (ii) above at any time prior to the issuance of the Conversion Shares upon two Trading Days’ notice to the Maker.

 

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(b)    Mechanics of Fulfilling Holder’s Election. The Maker shall immediately send to the Holder, upon receipt of a Conversion Notice from the Holder, which cannot be fully satisfied as described in Section 3.5(a) above, a notice of the Maker’s inability to fully satisfy the Conversion Notice (the “Inability to Fully Convert Notice”). Such Inability to Fully Convert Notice shall indicate (i) the reason why the Maker is unable to fully satisfy the Holder’s Conversion Notice; and (ii) the amount of this Note which cannot be converted. The Holder shall notify the Maker of its election pursuant to Section 3.5(a) above by delivering written notice to the Maker (“Notice in Response to Inability to Convert”).

 

(c)    Payment of Mandatory Prepayment Price. If the Holder shall elect payment pursuant to Section 3.5(a)(i) above, the Maker shall pay the payment to the Holder within five Trading Days of the Maker’s receipt of the Holder’s Notice in Response to Inability to Convert; provided that prior to the Maker’s receipt of the Holder’s Notice in Response to Inability to Convert the Maker has not delivered a notice to the Holder stating, to the satisfaction of the Holder, that the event or condition resulting in the Mandatory Prepayment has been cured and all Conversion Shares issuable to the Holder can and will be delivered to the Holder in accordance with the terms of this Note. If the Maker shall fail to pay the applicable Mandatory Prepayment Price to the Holder on the date that is two Trading Days following the Maker’s receipt of the Holder’s Notice in Response to Inability to Convert, in addition to any remedy the Holder may have under this Note and the Purchase Agreement, such unpaid amount shall bear interest at the rate of two percent per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Until the full payment price under Section 3.5(a) above is paid in full to the Holder, the Holder may (i) void the prepayment under Section 3.5(a) with respect to that portion of the Note for which the full prepayment price under Section 3.5(a) has not been paid and (ii) receive back such Note.

 

(d)    No Rights as Shareholder. Nothing contained in this Note shall be construed as conferring upon the Holder, prior to the conversion of this Note, the right to vote or to receive dividends or to consent or to receive notice as a shareholder of the Company in respect of any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors of the Maker or of any other matter, or any other rights as a shareholder of the Maker.

 

(e)    Trading Market Regulation. The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Note, and the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to receive upon conversion of this Note any shares of Common Stock, 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 or exercise, as applicable, of the Notes and Additional Notes without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Trading Market (the “Exchange Cap”), except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Company obtains the Shareholder Approval. Until such approval is obtained, no Purchaser shall be issued in the aggregate, upon conversion or exercise, as applicable, of Notes, shares of Common Stock in an amount greater than the product of the Exchange Cap multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the principal amount of Notes issued to such Purchaser and the denominator of which is the aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued to the Purchasers (with respect to each Purchaser, the “Exchange Cap Allocation”). In the event that any Purchaser shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such Purchaser’s Notes, the transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such Purchaser’s Exchange Cap Allocation, and the restrictions of the prior sentence shall apply to such transferee with respect to the portion of the Exchange Cap Allocation allocated to such transferee. In the event that any holder of Notes shall convert all of such holder’s Notes into a number of shares of Common Stock which, in the aggregate, is less than such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation, then the difference between such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation and the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to such holder shall be allocated to the respective Exchange Cap Allocations of the remaining holders of Notes on a pro rata basis in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then held by each such holder.

 

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ARTICLE 4

 

4.1    Covenants. For so long as the Note is outstanding, without the prior written consent of the Holder:

 

(a)    Rank. All payments due under this Note shall rank senior to all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except for the Additional Notes upon issuance.

 

(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 or assume any Indebtedness (other than (i) this Note and the Additional Notes upon issuance, and (ii) Indebtedness for operational costs incurred in the normal course of business not to exceed $150,000 and expenses associated with D&O and general liability insurance policies (“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 Liens (as defined under the Purchase Agreement) other than Permitted Liens.

 

(d)    Restricted Payments. Except as otherwise provided for in this Note, the Additional Notes or the other Transaction Documents, the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, prepay, 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 Note and Additional Notes and Permitted Indebtedness) whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness if at the time such payment 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 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, 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) sales of inventory and products in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) sales of unwanted or obsolete assets.

 

(f)    Preservation of Existence, Etc. 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 material 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. In addition, the Company shall not amend its charter documents, including, without limitation, its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, in any manner that materially and adversely affects any rights of the Holder.

 

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(g)    Maintenance of Properties, Etc. The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its material 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 material 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.

 

(h)    Maintenance of Intellectual Property. The Company will, and will cause each of its material Subsidiaries to, take commercially reasonable steps to maintain all of the 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 of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case that are necessary or material to the conduct of its business in full force and effect.

 

(i)    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 are covered under the policies that are now in existence, or as required by any governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto.

 

(j)    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 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.

 

(k)    Use of Proceeds. The Maker shall use the proceeds of this Note as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

(l)    Operation of Business. The Company shall operate its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices.

 

(m)    Compliance with Transaction Documents. The Maker shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, comply with its obligations under this Note and the other Transaction Documents.

 

(n)    Payment of Taxes, Etc. The Maker shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly pay and discharge, or cause to be paid and discharged, when due and payable, all lawful taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the income, profits, property or business of the Maker and the Subsidiaries, except for such failures to pay that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that any such tax, assessment, charge or levy need not be paid if the validity thereof shall currently be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and if the Maker or such Subsidiaries shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto, and provided, further, that the Maker and such Subsidiaries will pay all such taxes, assessments, charges or levies forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any lien which may have attached as security therefor.

 

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ARTICLE 5

 

5.1    Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email at the email address specified in this Section 5.1 prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York, N.Y. time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email at the email address specified in this Section 5.1 on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:00 p.m. (New York, N.Y. time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York, N.Y. time) on such date, (c) the Trading Day following the date of delivery to a carrier , if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service next Trading Day delivery, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses for notice shall be as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. In the case of a notice, communication or delivery sent via carrier or otherwise to be delivered in person, a copy must also be sent via email no later than the time at which the notice, communication or delivery is consigned to the carrier or other means of delivery.

 

5.2    Exclusive Jurisdiction; Governing Law; Prevailing Party Attorneys’ Fees. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Note and venue shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with Section 5.8 of the Purchase Agreement. If any party shall commence an Action or Proceeding to enforce or otherwise relating to this Note, then, in addition to the other obligations of the Company elsewhere in this Note, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the non-prevailing party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Action or Proceeding.

 

5.3    Headings. Article and section headings in this Note are included herein for purposes of convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Note for any other purpose.

 

5.4    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, at law or in equity (including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), no remedy contained herein shall be deemed a waiver of compliance with the provisions giving rise to such remedy and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Maker to comply with the terms of this Note. 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 thereof and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Maker (or the performance thereof). The Maker acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable and material harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach would be inadequate. Therefore, the Maker agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available rights and remedies, at law or in equity, to seek equitable relief, including but not limited to an injunction restraining any such breach or threatened breach, without the necessity of pleading and proving irreparable harm or lack of an adequate remedy at law and without any bond or other security being required.

 

5.5    Enforcement Expenses. The Maker agrees to pay all costs and expenses of the Holder in enforcing or exercising its rights under this Note, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and the fees and expenses of any expert witnesses.

 

5.6    Binding Effect. The obligations of the Maker set forth herein shall be binding upon its successors and assigns, whether or not such successors or assigns are permitted by the terms herein.

 

5.7    Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Note may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed by the Company and the Holder. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Note shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of the Holder to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

19

 

5.8    Compliance with Securities Laws. The Holder of this Note acknowledges that this Note is being acquired solely for the Holder’s own account and not as a nominee for any other party, and for investment, and that the Holder shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of this Note in violation of applicable securities laws. This Note and any Note issued in substitution or replacement therefor shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR OR THE MAKER TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY.”

 

5.9    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.

 

5.10    Maker Waivers. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Maker and all others that may become liable for all or any part of the obligations evidenced by this Note, hereby waive presentment, demand, notice of nonpayment, protest and all other demands’ and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance and enforcement of this Note, and do hereby consent to any number of renewals of extensions of the time or payment hereof and agree that any such renewals or extensions may be made without notice to any such persons and without affecting their liability herein and do further consent to the release of any person liable hereon, all without affecting the liability of the other persons, firms or Maker liable for the payment of this Note, and do hereby waive the right to a trial by jury.

 

5.11    Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings.

 

(a)    “Additional Notes” means the Notes the Maker is required to issue additional Purchasers under the Purchase Agreement and in an amount reflected on such Purchaser’s signature page to the Purchase Agreement.

 

(b)    “Adjustment Dates” has the same meaning contained in Section 5.11(c).

 

(c)    “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 Original 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, and (iii) 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 Exchange Act.  For clarity, the purpose of the foregoing is to subject collectively the Holder and all other Attribution Parties to the Maximum Percentage.

 

20

 

(d)    “Conversion Amount” has the meaning contained in Section 3.1(a).

 

(e)    “Conversion Date” has the meaning contained in Section 3.1(a).

 

(f)    “Conversion Failure” has the meaning contained in Section 3.2(c).

 

(g)    “Conversion Notice” has the meaning contained in Section 3.1(a).

 

(h)    “Conversion Price” has the meaning contained in Section 3.1(b).

 

(i)    “Conversion Shares” has the meaning contained in Section 3.2(a). In this Note, the use of Common Stock shall also refer to Conversion Shares unless otherwise apparent form the context.

 

(j)    “Convertible Securities” has the meaning contained in Section 3.4(v).

 

(k)    “DTC” has the meaning contained in Section 3.2(a).

 

(l)     “Exchange Cap” has the meaning contained in Section 3.5(e).

 

(m)    “Exchange Cap Allocation” has the meaning contained in Section 3.5(e).

 

(n)    “Floor Price” shall be the higher of the minimum price imposed the Trading Market prior to the Closing Date and $0.30 per share.

 

(o)    “Fundamental Transaction” has the meaning contained in Section 3.4(g). A Fundamental Transaction shall not include the change of control of the outstanding Common Stock in the event of the conversion of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock.

 

(p)    “Group” means a “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder.

 

(q)    “Inability to Fully Convert Notice” has the meaning contained in Section 3.5(b).

 

(r)    “Interest” has the meaning contained in Section 1.2.

 

(s)    “Mandatory Default Amount” means an amount equal to 125% of the outstanding Principal Amount of this Note on the date on which the first Event of Default has occurred hereunder.

 

(t)    “Mandatory Prepayment” and “Mandatory Prepayment Price” have the meaning contained in Section 3.5(a)(i).

 

(u)    “Market Conversion Price” means the VWAP of the Common Stock of the Company on the Trading Market for the five (5) trading days prior to the respective Adjustment Date.

 

(v)    “Maturity Date” has the meaning contained on page 1 of this Note.

 

(w)    “Maximum Percentage” has the meaning contained in Section 3.3.

 

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(x)    “Note” means this 8% Secured Original Issue 20% Discount Convertible Promissory Note;

 

(y)    “Notice in Response to Inability to Convert” has the meaning contained in Section 3.6(b).

 

(z)    “Notice of Prepayment at Option of Holder Upon Change of Control” has the meaning contained in Section 3.6(a).

 

(aa)    “Payment Date” has the meaning contained in Section 1.3(a).

 

(bb)    “Permitted Indebtedness” has the meaning contained in Section 4.1(b).

 

(cc)    “Purchase Agreement” has the meaning contained in Section 1.1.

 

(dd)    “Share Delivery Date” has the meaning contained in Section 3.2(a).

 

(ee)    “Standard Settlement Period” has the meaning contained in Section 2.1(e).

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

22

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker has caused this Note to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first above indicated.

 

 

cbdMD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Note

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE

 

(To be Executed by the Holder in order to Convert the Note)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert $ ________________ of the Principal Amount of the above Note No. ___ into shares of Common Stock of cbdMD, Inc. (the “Maker”) according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below.

 

By delivering this Conversion Notice, the undersigned hereby represents and warrants to Maker that: (i) it is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9), (a)(12), or (a)(13) under the Securities Act; and (ii) its ownership of the Common Stock, after giving effect to the conversion elected by this Conversion Notice, does not exceed the amounts specified under Section 3.3 of the Note.

 

Date of Conversion:

 

Conversion Amount:

 

Conversion Price:

 

Number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned or deemed beneficially owned by the Holder on the Conversion Date:

 

Number of shares of Common Stock to be issued:

 

 

[HOLDER]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

  Address:    

 

 

Exhibit A

 
EX-10.1 3 ex_621910.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex_621910.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 30, 2024, by and between cbdMD, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), and each lender party that executes the signature page hereto as a purchaser (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act, as defined, contained in Section 4(a)(2) thereof and/or Rule 506(b) thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, desires to purchase from the Company, Securities of the Company as more fully described in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1    Definitions. In addition to the words and terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

 

“Acquiring Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.5.

 

“Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(j).

 

“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

“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 are generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities.

 

“Closing Date” means the Trading Day on which all of the applicable Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Purchaser’s obligations to pay the applicable Subscription Amount and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Securities to be issued and sold, in each case, have been satisfied or waived, but in no event later than the second Trading Day following the date hereof.

 

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

 

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

 







 

 

“Disclosure Time” means, (a) if this Agreement is signed on a day that is not a Trading Day or after 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) and before midnight (New York City time) on any Trading Day, 9:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately following the date hereof, and (b) if this Agreement is signed between midnight (New York City time) and 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, no later than 9:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.

 

“Evaluation Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(s).

 

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

 

“Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock, restricted stock units or options, and the underlying shares of Common Stock to employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose, (b) securities issued upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any Securities issued hereunder and/or other securities issuable pursuant to existing agreements, exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement, provided that, other than an amendment to the Certificate of Designation which reduces the conversion price of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, such securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with stock dividends, stock splits or combinations) or to extend the term of such securities, (c) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the directors of the Company, provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equity holders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and which shall reasonably be expected to provide to the Company additional benefits, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities, and (d) securities issued pursuant to any purchase money equipment loan or capital leasing arrangement with or from a commercial bank.

 

“FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

“GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).

 

“Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $150,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $100,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Intellectual Property” means all of the following in any jurisdiction throughout the world: (a) all inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all U.S. and foreign patents, patent applications, and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and reexaminations thereof, (b) all trademarks, service marks, brand names, certification marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, domain names, assumed names and corporate names, together with all colorable imitations thereof, and including all goodwill associated therewith, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (c) all copyrights, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (d) all trade secrets under applicable state laws and the common law and know-how (including formulas, techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals), (e) all computer software (including source code, object code, diagrams, data and related documentation), and (f) all copies and tangible embodiments of the foregoing (in whatever form or medium).

 

“Lead Investor” ____________.

 

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“Legend Removal Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(c).

 

“Liens” means a lien, charge, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(b).

 

“Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.21.

 

“Misconduct” shall have the meaning in Section 3.1(k)(i)(A)

 

“Notes” means original issue discount secured convertible promissory notes issued to the Purchasers, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

“Note Conversion Price” means, initially, 90% of the VWAP of the Common Stock of the Company on the principal Trading Market for the five Trading Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

“Original Issue Date” means the date of the first issuance of the Notes, regardless of any transfers of any Note and regardless of the number of instruments which may be issued to evidence such Notes.

 

“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

“Permitted Liens” means the individual and collective reference to the following: (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Company) have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) Liens imposed by law which were incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, statutory landlords’ Liens, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, and which (x) do not individually or in the aggregate materially detract from the value of such property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries or (y) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of preventing for the foreseeable future the forfeiture or sale of the property or asset subject to such Lien, and (c) Liens set forth on Schedule 3.1(aa). A Lien arising from a judgment issued by a court shall not be deemed to be a Permitted Lien unless enforcement of such Lien has been stayed in accordance with applicable law.

 

“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

“Public Information Failure” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.2(b).

 

“Public Information Failure Payments” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.2(b).

 

“Purchaser” has the meaning contained on the first paragraph of this Agreement, and each Purchaser is identified on its respective signature page.

 

“Purchaser Party” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.8(a).

 

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, among the Company and the Purchasers, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

 

“Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale of the Shares by each Purchaser as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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“Regulation FD” means Regulation FD promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, as such Regulation may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Regulation.

 

“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).

 

“Reservation Letter” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a)(iii).

 

“Reserve” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.9.

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).

 

“Securities” means the Notes and the Shares.

 

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

 

“Security Agreement” means the security agreement in the form attached as Exhibit C.

 

“Security Documents” shall mean the Security Agreement, and any other documents and filing required thereunder to grant the Purchasers a first priority security interest in the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries as provided in the Security Agreement, including all UCC-1 financing statements.

 

“Shareholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE American (or any successor entity) from the shareholders of the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including the issuance of all of the Underlying Shares in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock on the Closing Date.

 

“Shares” means the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes.

 

“Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock).

 

“Subscription Amount” means for each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Notes purchased hereunder as specified below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement.

 

“Subsidiary” means with respect to any entity at any date, any direct or indirect corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, joint venture or other business entity of which (A) more than 50% of (i) the outstanding capital stock having (in the absence of contingencies) ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or other managing body of such entity, (ii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership or limited liability company or (iii) in the case of a trust, estate, association, joint venture or other entity, the beneficial interest in such trust, estate, association or other entity business, is, at the time of determination, owned or controlled directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, by such entity, or (B) is under the actual control of the Company.

 

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“Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of a certificate representing Underlying Shares, as applicable, issued with a restrictive legend.

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal national Trading Market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

 

“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange, the OTCQB, the OTCQX, or the OTC Pink Marketplace (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Reservation Letter and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

“Transfer Agent” means VStock Transfer, LLC and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

 

“Variable Rate Transaction” means any Equity Line of Credit or agreement to issue or agree to issue any Common Stock, floating or Variable Priced Equity Linked Instruments or any of the foregoing or equity with price reset rights (subject to adjustment for stock splits, distributions, dividends, recapitalizations and the like) (collectively, the “Variable Rate Transaction”). For purposes of this Agreement, “Equity Line of Credit” shall include any transaction involving a written agreement between the Company and an investor or underwriter or agent whereby the Company has the right to issue its securities to the investor or underwriter over an agreed period of time and at an agreed price or price formula (including an At-The-Market Offering), and “Variable Priced Equity Linked Instruments” shall include: (A) any debt or equity securities which are convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or carry the right to receive additional shares of Common Stock either (1) at any conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the prices of or quotations for Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security, or (2) with a fixed conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security due to a change in the market price of the Company’s Common Stock since date of initial issuance, and (B) any amortizing convertible security which amortizes prior to its maturity date, where the Company is required to or has the option to (or any investor in such transaction has the option to require the Company to) make such amortization payments in shares of Common Stock which are valued at a price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security (whether or not such payments in stock are subject to certain equity conditions). For purposes of determining the total consideration for a convertible instrument (including a right to purchase equity of the Company) issued, subject to an original issue or similar discount or which principal amount is directly or indirectly increased after issuance, the consideration will be deemed to be the actual cash amount received by the Company in consideration of the original issuance of such convertible instrument.

 

“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is the Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

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ARTICLE II

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1    Purchase and Sale. The Purchasers will, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, purchase up to $1,500,000 in Subscription Amount to purchase $1,875,000 principal amount of Notes. At the Closing, each Purchaser shall purchase its Subscription Amount of the Notes (as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser) and shall deliver to the Company, via wire transfer or a certified check, immediately available funds equal to such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount for such Closing, and the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser its respective Note for the Closing (as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser), and the Company and each Purchaser shall deliver the other items set forth in Section 2.3 deliverable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Section 2.3, the Closing shall occur via the electronic exchange of signatures and documents, or such other location as the parties may mutually agree. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Subscription Amounts provided by the Purchasers under this Agreement shall be secured by Security Agreements and the related Security Documents and shall be an Obligation (as defined in the Security Agreement).

 

2.2    Deliveries.

 

(a)    On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following:

 

(i)    this Agreement (and the other Transaction Documents) duly executed by the Company;

 

(ii)    a Note in the principal amount set forth on such Purchaser’s signature page, registered in the name of each Purchaser;

 

(iii)    a reservation letter from the Transfer Agent in the form attached as Exhibit D (the “Reservation Letter”);

 

(iv)    a copy of a good standing certificate of the Company, dated as of a date reasonably close to the Closing Date;

 

(v)    a copy of the duly executed unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors approving the issuance of the Securities and the execution of the Transaction Documents on behalf of the Company;

 

(vi)    a certificate duly executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying as to the fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3(b);

 

(vii)    the Company’s wire instructions, on Company letterhead and executed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company; and

 

(viii)    such other approvals or documents as any Purchaser may request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Purchaser.

 

(b)    On or prior to the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:

 

(i)    this Agreement (and the other Transaction Documents, as applicable) duly executed by each Purchaser; and

 

(ii)    the Purchaser’s Subscription Amount by wire transfer to the Company.

 

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2.3    Closing Conditions.

 

(a)    The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i)    the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii)    all obligations, covenants and agreements of each Purchaser required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed; and

 

(iii)    the delivery by each Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.

 

(b)    The respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i)    the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) when made and on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein, in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii)    all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed;

 

(iii)    the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement;

 

(iv)    there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof; and

 

(v)    from the date hereof to the applicable Closing Date, trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the SEC or the Company’s principal Trading Market, and, at any time prior to the Closing Date, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service, or on any Trading Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities nor shall there have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of such Purchaser, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Securities at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1    Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to each Purchaser as follows (unless as of a specific date therein):

 

(a)    Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are set forth on Schedule 3.1(a). The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens (except for Permitted Liens), and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

 

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(b)    Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation or default of any of the provisions of its respective Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a (“Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(c)    Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and no further corporate action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. Subject to obtaining the Required Approvals, this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(d)    No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)    Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than: (i) the filings required pursuant to Section 4.4 of this Agreement, (ii) the filing of Form D with the SEC, (iii) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws, (iv) the Shareholder Approval or (v) as set forth on Schedule 3.1(e) (the “Required Approvals”).

 

(f)    Issuance of the Securities. The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Shares, when issued upon conversion of the Notes, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Company shall reserve from its duly authorized capital stock a number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Notes equal to the amount set forth in Section 4.9.

 

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(g)    Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g), and such Schedule 3.1(g) includes (i) the number and type of all securities of the Company issued and outstanding, including without limitation the number shares of Common Stock and other classes capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding, the number and type of all securities of the Company convertible or exercisable into, or exchangeable or redeemable for, shares of Common Stock, and for any such securities, the number of shares of Common Stock into which such securities are currently convertible, exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable, as applicable and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock owned beneficially, and of record, by Affiliates of the Company as of the date hereof. The Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the issuance of or the exercise of employee stock awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans, and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g)(i), no Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and to the extent such Schedule 3.1(g)(i) lists any Person, such schedule shall include a description of the security or other instrument or agreement pursuant to which such Person holds such a right. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g)(ii), as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock or the capital stock of any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or capital stock of any Subsidiary (collectively “Convertible Securities”), and such Schedule 3.1(g)(ii) includes for any such Convertible Securities, the number and type of such Convertible Securities issued and outstanding, and the number of shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents into or for which such Convertible Securities are currently convertible, exercisable or exchangeable, as applicable, the conversion price or exercise price of such Convertible Securities, as applicable, the maturity or exercise period of such Convertible Securities, as applicable, and the current holder of such Convertible Securities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g)(iii), the issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchaser) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under any of such securities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g)(iv), there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary with any provision that adjusts the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of such security or instrument upon an issuance of securities by the Company or any Subsidiary. There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or such Subsidiary. The Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.

 

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(h)    SEC Reports; Financial Statements. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(h), the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”). For so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, the Company shall not file a Form 15 (or successor form) with the SEC or otherwise suspend or terminate its obligation to file any SEC Reports under the Exchange Act. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, 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. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. The financial statements do not reflect any transactions which are not bona fide transactions. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the SEC Reports that are not included as required; the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the SEC Reports; and all disclosures contained in the SEC Reports, if any, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the SEC’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(i)    Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(i): (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the SEC, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company equity incentive plans. The Company does not have pending before the SEC any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.

 

(j)    Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(j), there is no action, suit, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation, inquiry or other similar proceeding of any federal or state government department, agency, commission or unit (however any such government office is described) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (any, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the issuance of the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(j), the Company has no reason to believe that an Action will be filed against it in the future. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim for fraud or breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation or inquiry by the SEC involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The SEC has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Securities Act, and the Company has no reason to believe it will do so in the future.

 

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(k)    Labor Relations. No labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. To the knowledge of the Company, no effort is underway to unionize or organize the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. There is no employment-related charge, complaint, grievance, investigation, inquiry or obligation of any kind including workers’ compensation liability matters, pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, relating to an alleged violation or breach by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any law, regulation or contract that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(i)    To the Company’s knowledge

 

(A)    no allegations of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination, whether such discrimination arises from race, ethnic background, sex, gender status, age, religion, national origin or otherwise (“Misconduct”) have been made in the past five years involving any current or former director, officer, or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,

 

(B)    neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have entered into any settlement agreements related to allegations of Misconduct by any current/current or former director, officer, employee, or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(l)    Compliance. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(l), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any Indebtedness, indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including, without limitation, all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to unfair or deceptive trade practices, taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have resulted in or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. During the 12-month period immediately preceding the date hereof, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and at all times has been in material compliance with all applicable U.S. and foreign statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to Company and its Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(m)    Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including 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 (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all permits licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where in each clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n)    Regulatory Permits. 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 could or would not reasonably be expected to result in have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any material permit. 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.

 

(o)    Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

 

(p)    Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to so have could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person, except as has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken security measures the Company deems to be reasonable, to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)    Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary for companies of the Company’s size and in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able 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 without a significant increase in cost.

 

(r)    Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(r), none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including equity award agreements under any equity incentive plan of the Company.

 

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(s)    Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and the Subsidiaries have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and the Subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(t)    Certain Fees. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(t), no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company or any Subsidiary to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Purchaser shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section 3.1(t) that may be due by the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

(u)    Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Securities, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(v)    Registration Rights. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.1(v), no Person has any right to cause the Company or any Subsidiary to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(w)    Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the SEC is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.1(w), the Company is and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements. The Common Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees to the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.

 

(x)    Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and the Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Purchaser as a result of the Purchaser and the Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents, including without limitation as a result of the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Purchaser’s ownership of the Securities.

 

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(y)    Disclosure. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or information provided under a non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement between the Company and a Purchaser or an affiliate of a Purchaser, the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information which is not otherwise disclosed on Schedule 3.1(y). The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers will rely on the foregoing representation in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All of the disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchasers regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, their respective businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. The press releases disseminated by the Company during the 12 months preceding the date of this Agreement did not 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made and when made, not misleading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Purchaser has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.

 

(z)    No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or 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 cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of (i) the Securities Act, which would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act, or (ii) any applicable stockholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.

 

(aa)    Solvency; Indebtedness. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the maximum proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder, the Company will have sufficient cash to operate its business as currently operated for a period of 12 months from the Closing Date. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(aa), the Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. Schedule 3.1(aa) sets forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(aa), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

(bb)    Tax Status. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and paid all taxes shown thereon through the date hereof, to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being contested in good faith, except where the failure to so file or pay would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 3.1(bb), no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which has had, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no knowledge of any federal, state or other governmental tax deficiency, penalty or assessment which has been or might be asserted or threatened against it which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc)    Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated any provision of FCPA.

 

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(dd)    Accountants. The Company’s accounting firm is set forth in the SEC Reports. To the knowledge and belief of the Company, such accounting firm (i) is a registered public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) will express its opinion with respect to the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.

 

(ee)    Acknowledgment Regarding each Purchaser’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby. The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by any Purchaser or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchaser’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each Purchaser that the Company’s decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company and its representatives.

 

(ff)    Acknowledgement Regarding Purchaser’s Trading Activity. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or elsewhere to the contrary (except for Sections 3.2(f) and 4.12 hereof), it is understood and acknowledged by the Company that: (i) no Purchaser has not been asked by the Company to agree, nor has any Purchaser agreed, to desist from purchasing or selling, long and/or short, securities of the Company, or “derivative” securities based on securities issued by the Company or to hold the Securities for any specified term; (ii) past or future open market or other transactions by any Purchaser, specifically including, without limitation, Short Sales or “derivative” transactions, before or after the closing of this or future private placement transactions, may negatively impact the market price of the Company’s publicly-traded securities; (iii) any Purchaser, and counter-parties in “derivative” transactions to which the Purchaser is a party, directly or indirectly, presently may have a “short” position in the Common Stock, and (iv) no Purchaser shall be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm’s length counter-party in any “derivative” transaction. The Company further understands and acknowledges that (y) any Purchaser may engage in hedging activities at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, and (z) such hedging activities (if any) could reduce the value of the existing stockholders’ equity interests in the Company at and after the time that the hedging activities are being conducted. The Company acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging activities do not constitute a breach of any of the Transaction Documents.

 

(gg)    Regulation M Compliance. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company 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, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

 

(hh)    Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of each Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Purchasers as contemplated hereby.

 

(ii)    No General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The Company offered the Securities for sale only to the Purchaser and certain other “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act.

 

(jj)    No Disqualification Events. With respect to the Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506(b) under the Securities Act, except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(jj), none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering hereunder, 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 Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale, nor any Person, including a placement agent, who will receive a commission or fees for soliciting purchasers (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 Securities 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 Purchaser a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.

 

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(kk)    Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Purchaser in writing, prior to the Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, reasonably be expected to become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person, in each case of which it is aware.

 

(ll)    Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company's knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”).

 

(mm)    U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon Purchaser’s request.

 

(nn)    Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates 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 (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.

 

(oo)    Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no Action or Proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.

 

(pp)    Shell Company. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company is not, and has not for at least 12 calendar months previously been, a “shell company” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 

 

(qq)    No Disagreements with Accountants and Lawyers. There are no 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 which could affect the Company’s ability to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents.

 

(rr)    Seniority. As of the date hereof, except as disclosed on Schedule 3.1(rr), no Indebtedness or other claim against the Company is senior to the Notes in right of payment, whether with respect to interest or upon liquidation or dissolution or otherwise.

 

(ss)    Absence of Schedules. In the event that the Company does not deliver any disclosure schedule contemplated by this Agreement, the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) to the extent the Company has (x) previously delivered to the Purchasers such disclosure schedule, the information therein has not changed as of such date, and (y) not previously delivered to the Purchaser such disclosure schedule, each such undelivered disclosure schedule shall be deemed to read as follows: “Nothing to Disclose”, and (ii) the Purchasers have not otherwise waived delivery of such disclosure schedule.

 

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(tt)    Acknowledgment of Dilution. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents have been negotiated on an arms-length basis, and each party has retained counsel selected by it. The Company acknowledges that the issuance of the Securities may result in dilution of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, which dilution may be substantial under certain market conditions. The Company further acknowledges that its obligations under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, its obligations to issue the Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents, are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any right of set off, counterclaim, delay or reduction, regardless of the effect of any such dilution or any claim the Company may have against the Purchasers and regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership of the other stockholders of the Company.

 

The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in this Article III shall not modify, amend or affect the Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby.

 

3.2    Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. Each Purchaser, for itself and for no other Purchaser, hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows (unless as of a specific date therein):

 

(a)    Organization; Authority. Such Purchaser is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of such Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(b)    Understandings or Arrangements. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities (this representation and warranty not limiting such Purchaser’s right to sell the Securities in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws). Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring such Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, has no present intention of distributing any of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law (this representation and warranty not limiting the Purchaser’s right to sell such Securities in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws).

 

(c)    Purchaser Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is, an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act. Such Purchaser is not subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3).

 

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(d)    Experience of the Purchaser. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

 

(e)    Access to Information. Such Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review the Transaction Documents (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) and has been afforded, subject to Regulation FD, (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and its financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment; provided, however, that such Purchaser has not requested nor been provided by the Company with any non-public information regarding the Company, its financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects. Such Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company nor anyone else has provided such Purchaser with any information or advice with respect to the Securities nor is such information or advice necessary or desired.

 

(f)    Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Other than consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, such Purchaser has not, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with the Purchaser, directly or indirectly executed any purchases or sales, including Short Sales, of the securities of the Company during the period commencing as of the time that such Purchaser first received a term sheet (written or oral) from the Company or any other Person representing the Company setting forth the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereunder and ending immediately prior to the execution hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Purchaser’s assets, the representation set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Securities covered by this Agreement. Other than to other Persons party to this Agreement or to such Purchaser’s representatives, including, without limitation, its officers, directors, partners, legal and other advisors, employees, agents and Affiliates, such Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any actions, with respect to the identification of the availability of, or securing of, available shares to borrow in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.

 

ARTICLE IV

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

4.1    Removal of Legends.

 

(a)    The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of the Securities, other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an Affiliate of a Purchaser or in connection with a pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(c), the Company may require the transferor to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company at the cost of the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act.

 

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(b)    Each Purchaser agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required by this Section 4.1, of a legend on any of the Securities in the following form:

 

NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

(c)    The Company acknowledges and agrees that a Purchaser may from time to time pledge pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement with a registered broker-dealer or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities to a financial institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and who agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, if required under the terms of such arrangement, such Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured such Securities to the pledgees or secured parties. Such a pledge or transfer would not be subject to approval of the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel of the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection therewith. Further, no notice shall be required of such pledge. At the appropriate time and at such Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Security.

 

The Company shall cause to be removed any restrictive legend from the certificates evidencing the Shares (or the Transfer Agent’s records if held in book entry form) (including the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) hereof): (i) while a registration statement covering the resale of such Securities is effective under the Securities Act (the “Effective Date”), (ii) if such Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 as to such Securities and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or (iii) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(a)(7), judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the SEC). The Company shall, at its expense, cause its counsel, or at the option of the Purchasers, counsel determined by Purchasers, to issue a legal opinion to the Transfer Agent or Purchasers promptly if required by the Transfer Agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder subject to compliance with the holding period requirements of Rule 144 (for the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall pay all costs associated with such opinions). If all or any portion of a Note is converted at a time when there is an effective registration statement to cover the resale of the Underlying Shares, or if such Underlying Shares may be sold under Rule 144 or if such legend is not otherwise required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) then such Underlying Shares shall be issued free of all legends. The Company agrees that following the Effective Date or at such time as such legend is no longer required under this Section 4.1(d), it will, no later than the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent of a certificate representing restricted Securities, issued with a restrictive legend (such date, the “Legend Removal Date”), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive and other legends (or provide evidence of issuance in book entry form). The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 4.1. Certificates for Underlying Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to such Purchaser by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company System as directed by the Purchaser. Certificates for the Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to such system as directed by each Purchaser.

 

(d)    In addition to such Purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company shall pay to each Purchaser, in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, (i) 2% of the total of the value of the Underlying Shares for which the removal of the legend is sought (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date such Securities are submitted to the Transfer Agent) for each full month that the opinion described in the above clause (c) is not delivered after the Legend Removal Date until such certificate is delivered without a legend, and (ii) for each $1,000 of the principal amount of the Notes being converted $10 per Trading Day for each Trading Day after the Legend Removal Date (increasing to $20 per Trading Day after the fifth Trading Day) until such certificate is delivered without a legend. Nothing herein shall limit such Purchaser’s right to pursue actual damages for the Company’s failure to deliver certificates representing any Securities as required by the Transaction Documents, and such Purchaser shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief. 

 

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(e)    If the Company fails to (A) issue and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Purchasers by the Legend Removal Date a certificate representing the Securities so delivered to the Company by such Purchaser that is free from all restrictive and other legends and (B) if after the Legend Removal Date, such Purchaser purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Purchaser of all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock, or a sale of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock that such Purchaser anticipated receiving from the Company without any restrictive legend, then, an amount equal to the excess of such Purchaser’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) (the “Buy-In Price”) over the product of (x) such number of Underlying Shares that the Company was required to deliver to such Purchaser by the Legend Removal Date multiplied by (y) the average of the closing sale prices of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the delivery by such Purchaser to the Company of the applicable Underlying Shares (as the case may be) and ending on the date of such delivery and payment under this section.

 

(f)    In the event a Purchaser shall request delivery of unlegended shares as described in this Section 4.1 and the Company is required to deliver such unlegended shares, (i) the Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees for the legend removal and/or transfer and delivery charges and taxes, if any, imposed by any applicable government upon the issuance of Common Stock; and (ii) the Company may not refuse to deliver unlegended shares based on any claim that such Purchaser or anyone associated or affiliated with such Purchaser has not complied with Purchaser’s obligations under the Transaction Documents, or for any other reason, unless, an injunction or temporary restraining order from a court, on notice, restraining and or enjoining delivery of such unlegended shares shall have been sought and obtained by the Company and the Company has posted a surety bond for the benefit of such Purchaser in the amount of the greater of (i) 150% of the amount of the aggregate purchase price of the Shares (based on amount of principal and/or interest of the Note which was converted), or (ii) the VWAP of the Common Stock on the Trading Day before the issue date of the injunction multiplied by the number of unlegended shares to be subject to the injunction, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of the litigation of the dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to such Purchaser to the extent Purchaser obtains judgment in Purchaser’s favor.

 

4.2    Furnishing of Information.

 

(a)    Until the earliest of the time that no Purchaser owns any of the Securities, the Company covenants to maintain the registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act as if it were subject to Section 13(a), and provide notice to its stockholders required by applicable state law even if the Company is not then subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

(b)    At any time during the period commencing from the six month anniversary of the date hereof and ending at such time as the Securities are not outstanding, or (ii) that all of the Securities may be sold without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) and otherwise without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 or under an effective registration statement, if the Company (i) shall fail for any reason to satisfy the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c) for a period of more than 30 consecutive days or (ii) 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) for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (a “Public Information Failure”) then, in addition to such Purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company shall pay to each Purchaser, in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the Securities, an amount in cash equal to two percent of the aggregate Principal of such Purchaser’s Note(s) on the day of a Public Information Failure and on every 30th day (pro-rated for periods totaling less than 30 days) thereafter until the earlier of (1) the date such Public Information Failure is cured and (2) such time that such public information is no longer required for the Purchasers to transfer the Shares pursuant to Rule 144. The payments to which each Purchaser shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 4.2(b) are referred to herein as “Public Information Failure Payments.” Public Information Failure Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (y) the last day of the calendar month during which such Public Information Failure Payments are incurred and (z) the second Trading Day after the event or failure giving rise to the Public Information Failure Payments is cured.  In the event the Company fails to make Public Information Failure Payments in a timely manner, such Public Information Failure Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half percent per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Nothing herein shall limit such Purchaser’s right to pursue actual damages for the Public Information Failure, and such Purchaser shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief.

 

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4.3    Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require stockholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless stockholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

 

4.4    Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company shall (a) by the Disclosure Time, issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including the Transaction Documents as exhibits thereto, with the Commission within the time required by the Exchange Act.. From and after the filing of the press release as provided in the preceding sentence, the Company represents to each Purchaser that it shall have publicly disclosed all material, non-public information delivered to such Purchaser 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 such Form 8-K, 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, agents, employees or Affiliates on the one hand, and each Purchaser or any of its Affiliates on the other hand, shall terminate. The Company and each Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing any press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor any Purchaser shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of any Purchaser, or without the prior consent of such Purchaser, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Purchaser, or include the name of any Purchaser in any filing with the SEC or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (a) as required by federal securities law in connection with the filing of final Transaction Documents with the SEC and (b) to the extent such disclosure is required by law or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide each Purchaser with prior notice of such disclosure permitted under this clause (b). To the extent that any notice provided pursuant to any Transaction Document constitutes or contains material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall, within one Trading Day of giving such notice to a Purchaser (or alternatively, upon receipt of such notice by a Purchaser including a notice of breach or default), file such notice with the SEC or make such information publicly available in a Current Report on Form 8-K. For each Trading Day that the Company fails to file such Form 8-K, the Company shall be required to pay the applicable Purchaser(s) the liquidated damages provided for under Section 4.6. The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.

 

4.5    Stockholder Rights Plan. No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, with the consent of the Company, any other Person, that any Purchaser is an “Acquiring Person” under any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or similar anti-takeover plan or arrangement in effect or hereafter adopted by the Company, or that any Purchaser could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Securities under the Transaction Documents or under any other agreement between the Company and the Purchaser.

 

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4.6    Non-Public Information. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or in connection with non-disclosure agreement , which shall be disclosed pursuant to this Section 4.6 and except as permitted under Section 4.12, the Company covenants and agrees that neither it, nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide any Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that constitutes, or the Company reasonably believes constitutes, material non-public information, unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have consented to the receipt of such information and agreed with the Company to keep such information confidential. Prior to providing a Purchaser with any material non-public information, the Company shall provide the Purchaser with a consent substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E (“Consent”) which shall not include any material non-public information. The Company shall not provide the Purchaser with the material non-public information if the Purchaser does not execute and return the Consent to the Company. The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. To the extent that the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates, delivers any material, non-public information to a Purchaser without such Purchaser’s consent, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that such Purchaser shall not have any duty of confidentiality to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates, or a duty not to trade on the basis of, such material, non-public information, provided that the Purchaser shall remain subject to applicable law. To the extent that any notice provided pursuant to any Transaction Document or any other communications made by the Company, or information provided, to the Purchaser constitutes, or contains, material non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice or other material information with the SEC pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. In addition to any other remedies provided by this Agreement or other Transaction Documents, if the Company knowingly provides any material non-public information to any Purchaser without its prior written consent, and it fails to immediately (no later than that Trading Day or by 9:00 am New York City time the next Trading Day) file a Form 8-K disclosing this material non-public information, it shall pay the Purchasers as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty a sum equal to $1,000 per day for each $100,000 of each Purchaser’s Subscription Amount beginning with the day the information is disclosed to a Purchaser and ending and including the day the Form 8-K disclosing this information is filed.

 

4.7    Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder for working capital purposes and shall not use such proceeds: (a) for the redemption of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, (b) in violation of FCPA or OFAC regulations, or (c) to lend money, give credit, or make advances to any officers, directors, employees or affiliates of the Company including family members of the foregoing, except for routine travel advances.

 

4.8    Indemnification of Purchaser.

 

(a)    Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.8, the Company will indemnify and hold each Purchaser and its directors, officers, stockholders, members, managers, partners, employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls the Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, stockholders, members, managers, partners or employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling persons (each, a “Purchaser Party”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation (including local counsel, if retained) that any such Purchaser Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to (i) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents, or (ii) any action instituted against the Purchaser Parties in any capacity, or any of them or their respective Affiliates, by any stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of such Purchaser Party, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (unless such action is solely based upon a breach of such Purchaser Party’s representations, warranties or covenants under the Transaction Documents or any agreements or understandings such Purchaser Party may have with any such stockholder or any violations by such Purchaser Party of state or federal securities laws or any conduct by such Purchaser Party which constitutes intentional fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct) or (iii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, any prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading. If any action shall be brought against any Purchaser Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, such Purchaser Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing, and the Company shall have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser Party. Any Purchaser Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Purchaser Party except to the extent that (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Company in writing, (ii) the Company has failed after a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and to employ counsel or (iii) in such action there is, in the reasonable opinion of the Purchaser Party, a material conflict on any material issue between the position of the Company and the position of such Purchaser Party, in which case the Company shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one such separate counsel (in addition to local counsel, if retained). The Company will not be liable to any Purchaser Party under this Agreement (y) for any settlement by a Purchaser Party effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (z) to the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is attributable to any Purchaser Party’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Purchaser Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents. The Purchaser Parties shall have the right to settle any action against any of them by the payment of money provided that they cannot agree to any equitable relief and the Company, its officers, directors and Affiliates receive unconditional releases in customary form. The indemnification required by this Section 4.8 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or are incurred. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any cause of action or similar right of any Purchaser Party against the Company or others and any liabilities the Company may be subject to pursuant to law.

 

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(b)    Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 4.8 effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

4.9    Reservation of Common Stock. The Company shall reserve and keep available at all times in favor of the Purchasers, on a pro rata basis based on the Purchasers’ Subscription Amount, free of preemptive rights, 150% of the number of Shares issuable to the Purchasers upon conversion of the Notes (subject to adjustment for stock splits and dividends, combinations and similar events) (the “Reserve” or the “Required Minimum”). If, on any date, the number of authorized but unissued (and otherwise unreserved) shares of Common Stock is less than the Required Minimum on such date (a “Required Minimum Failure”), then (a) the Board of Directors shall use its best efforts to amend the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to at least the Required Minimum at such time, as soon as possible and in any event not later than the 60th day after such date, and (b) in addition to each Purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company shall pay to each Purchaser, in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, an amount in cash equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate Subscription Amount of such Purchaser’s Securities on the day of a Required Minimum Failure and on every thirtieth (30th) day (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) thereafter until the date such Required Minimum Failure is cured (such payments, “Required Minimum Failure Payments”). The Reserve amount shall thereafter be increased, on a first-priority basis, as and when new shares of Common Stock become available for reserve. Required Minimum Failure Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (i) the last day of the calendar month during which such Required Minimum Failure Payments are incurred and (ii) the third (3rd) Trading Day after the event or failure giving rise to the Required Minimum Failure is cured.  In the event the Company fails to make Required Minimum Failure Payments in a timely manner, such Required Minimum Failure Payments shall bear interest at the rate of 1.5% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Nothing herein shall limit Purchaser’s right to pursue actual damages for the Required Minimum Failure, and Purchaser shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief.

 

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4.10    Reservation and Listing of Common Stock.

 

(a)    The Company hereby agrees to use best efforts to maintain the listing or quotation of the Common Stock on the Trading Market on which it is currently listed or quoted. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other Trading Market, it will then include in such application all of the Shares, and will take such other action as is necessary to cause all of the Shares to be listed or quoted on such other Trading Market as promptly as possible. The Company will then take all action necessary to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on a Trading Market and will comply in all respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of the Trading Market. The Company agrees to maintain the eligibility of the Common Stock for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation, including, without limitation, by timely payment of fees to the Depository Trust Company or such other established clearing corporation in connection with such electronic transfer. The Company shall provide to the Purchasers evidence of such listing or quotation and maintain the listing or quotation of such Common Stock on any date at least equal to the Reserve on such date on such Trading Market or another Trading Market. The Company shall not enter into any agreement or file any amendment to its Certificate or Articles of Incorporation (including the filing of a Certificate of Designation) which conflicts with this Section 4.10 while the Notes remain outstanding.

 

(b)     The Company shall, if applicable: (i) in the time and manner required by the principal Trading Market, prepare and file with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering a number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to the Required Minimum on the date of such application, (ii) take all steps necessary to cause such shares of Common Stock to be approved for listing or quotation on such Trading Market as soon as possible thereafter, (iii) provide to the Purchasers evidence of such listing or quotation and (iv) maintain the listing or quotation of such Common Stock on any date at least equal to the Required Minimum on such date on such Trading Market or another Trading Market. In addition, the Company shall file a proxy statement within 30 days of the date of this Agreement and hold a special meeting of shareholders (which may also be at the annual meeting of shareholders) at the earliest practical date, but in no event later than 90 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, for the purpose of obtaining Shareholder Approval, with the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors that such proposal be approved, and the Company shall solicit proxies from its shareholders in connection therewith in the same manner as all other management proposals in such proxy statement and all management-appointed proxyholders shall vote their proxies in favor of such proposal.

 

4.11    Participation in Future Financing.

 

(a)    Until the later of: (i) 12 months from the date of this Agreement and (ii) the date that the Notes are no longer outstanding, upon any issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents for cash consideration, Indebtedness or a combination of the foregoing in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act (a “Subsequent Financing”), the Purchasers shall have the right to participate in up to an amount of the Subsequent Financing equal to [60%] of the Subsequent Financing (the “Participation Maximum”) on the same terms, conditions and price provided for in the Subsequent Financing. At least five Trading Days prior to the closing of the Subsequent Financing, the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser a written notice of its intention to effect a Subsequent Financing (“Pre-Notice”), which Pre-Notice shall ask the Purchaser if it wants to review the details of such financing (such additional notice, a “Subsequent Financing Notice”). Upon the request of a Purchaser, and only upon a request by such Purchaser, for a Subsequent Financing Notice, the Company shall promptly, but no later than one Trading Day after such request, deliver a Subsequent Financing Notice to such Purchaser. The Subsequent Financing Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed terms of such Subsequent Financing, the amount of proceeds intended to be raised thereunder and the Person or Persons through or with whom such Subsequent Financing is proposed to be effected and shall include a term sheet or similar document relating thereto as an attachment.

 

(b)    Any Purchaser desiring to participate in such Subsequent Financing must provide written notice to the Company by not later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Trading Day after all of the Purchasers have received the Pre-Notice that such Purchaser is willing to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the amount of such Purchaser’s participation, and representing and warranting that such Purchaser has such funds ready, willing, and available for investment on the terms set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. If the Company receives no such notice from a Purchaser as of such fifth Trading Day, such Purchaser shall be deemed to have notified the Company that it does not elect to participate.

 

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(c)    If by 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Trading Day after all of the Purchasers have received the Pre-Notice, notifications by the Purchasers of their willingness to participate in the Subsequent Financing is, in the aggregate, less than the total amount of the Participation Maximum, then the Company may effect the remaining portion of such Subsequent Financing on the terms and with the Persons set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice.

 

(d)    If by 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Trading Day after all of the Purchasers have received the Pre-Notice, the Company receives responses to a Subsequent Financing Notice from Purchasers seeking to purchase more than the aggregate amount of the Participation Maximum, each such Purchaser shall have the right to purchase its Pro Rata Portion (as defined below) of the Participation Maximum. “Pro Rata Portion” means the ratio of (x) the Subscription Amount of Securities purchased on the Closing Date by a Purchaser participating under this Section 4.11 and (y) the sum of the aggregate Subscription Amounts of Securities purchased on the Closing Date by all Purchasers participating under this Section 4.11.

 

(e)    The Company must provide the Purchasers with a second Subsequent Financing Notice, and the Purchasers will again have the right of participation set forth above in this Section 4.11, if the Subsequent Financing subject to the initial Subsequent Financing Notice is not consummated for any reason on the terms set forth in such Subsequent Financing Notice within 30 Trading Days after the date of the initial Subsequent Financing Notice.

 

(f)    The Company and each Purchaser agree that if any Purchaser elects to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the transaction documents related to the Subsequent Financing shall not include any term or provision whereby such Purchaser shall be required to agree to any restrictions on trading as to any of the Securities purchased hereunder 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, this Agreement, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser.

 

(g)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.11 and unless otherwise agreed to by such Purchaser, the Company shall either confirm in writing to such Purchaser that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the securities in the Subsequent Financing, in either case in such a manner such that such Purchaser will not be in possession of any material, non-public information, by 30 Trading Days following delivery of the Subsequent Financing Notice. If by such 30th Trading Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Purchaser, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Purchaser shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(h)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.11 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance or related to any transaction listed on Schedule 4.19.

 

4.12    Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. The Purchaser covenants that neither it nor any Affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any purchases or sales, including Short Sales of any of the Company’s securities during the period commencing with the execution of this Agreement and ending at such time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.4. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.4, the Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of this transaction and the information included in the Disclosure Schedules. Notwithstanding the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) no Purchaser makes any representation, warranty or covenant hereby that it will not engage in effecting transactions in any securities of the Company after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.4, (ii) no Purchaser shall be restricted or prohibited from effecting any transactions in any securities of the Company in accordance with applicable securities laws from and after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.4 and (iii) no Purchaser shall have any duty of confidentiality or duty not to trade in the securities of the Company to the Company or its Subsidiaries after the issuance of the initial press release as described in Section 4.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of the Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of the Purchaser’s assets, the covenant set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Securities covered by this Agreement.

 

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4.13    DTC Program. For so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will employ as the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock a participant in the Depository Trust Company Automated Securities Transfer Program and cause the Common Stock to be transferable pursuant to such program.

 

4.14    Maintenance of Property. The Company shall keep all of its property necessary for the operations of its business, which is necessary or useful to the conduct of its business, in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

4.15    Preservation of Corporate Existence. The Company shall preserve and maintain its corporate existence, rights, privileges and franchises in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and qualify and remain qualified, as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary in view of its business or operations and where the failure to qualify or remain qualified might reasonably have a Material Adverse Effect upon the financial condition, business or operations of the Company taken as a whole.

 

4.16    No Registration of Securities. While the Notes are outstanding, unless at least 30% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes has been repaid or at least 30% of the proceeds from the sale of the securities registered under Form S-1 or Form S-3 is used to pay off the principal of the Notes, the Company will not file any new registration statements on Form S-1 or Form S-3. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not prevent the Company from filing a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with respect to equity compensation plans.

 

4.17    Variable Rate Transactions. While any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company is prohibited from entering a Variable Rate Transaction.

 

4.18    No Repurchase of Common Stock. Prior to purchasing or otherwise acquiring any shares of Common Stock, the Company shall give a Purchaser at least 20 Trading Days prior written notice of its intent to do so. If during the 20 Trading Day period the Purchaser gives the Company notice that it will violate the by virtue of such purchase or acquisition by the Company, the Company shall not complete the purchase or acquisition except to the extent that it does not cause a Purchaser to exceed the Maximum Percentage (as defined in the Notes). For avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Purchaser own more than the Maximum Percentage by virtue of such purchase or acquisition.

 

4.19    Prohibition on Certain Debt. Until such time as the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Company shall be prohibited from incurring Indebtedness, except as set forth on Schedule 4.19.

 

4.20    Most Favored Nation Provision. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if at any time from and after the Closing Date until the Notes are no longer outstanding, the Company proposes to offer and sell additional securities in a Subsequent Financing, each Purchaser may elect, in its sole discretion, to exchange all or a portion of such Purchaser's Securities then held by such Purchaser for securities of the same type issued in such Subsequent Financing (such exchange to be made at the same time as the closing of such Subsequent Financing), on the same terms and conditions as the Subsequent Financing, based on the principal aggregate amount of such Purchaser’s Note, and accrued and unpaid interest and late charges on the principal and interest of the Note (the “MFN Right”). By way of example, if the Company undertakes a Subsequent Financing of notes, each Purchaser shall have the right to participate in such Subsequent Financing and use the exchange of its Notes as consideration, on a dollar for dollar basis, in lieu of cash consideration. The procedural and notice requirements under Section 4.11 are incorporated in this Section 4.20, as applicable. If the Company receives such notice from a Purchaser of the exercise of its MFN Right for such Subsequent Financing, then: (a) effective upon the closing of such Subsequent Financing, the terms of the Securities (and, if and to the extent relevant, the underlying securities) then held by such Purchaser and this Agreement (collectively, “Present Terms”) shall automatically be amended by (x) substituting the form, mix and Present Terms of such securities (and, if and to the extent relevant, the underlying securities) with those of the securities issued in the Subsequent Financing (and, if and to the extent relevant, the underlying securities) (the “Subsequent Financing Terms”) and (y) incorporating by reference, mutatis mutandis, the Subsequent Financing Terms in lieu of the Present Terms; and (b) thereafter, upon the reasonable request of the Company or such Purchaser, the parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other in order to further or better evidence or effect such substitution(s) and amendment(s), and to otherwise carry out the intent and purposes of this Section, including the physical exchange of securities.

 

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4.21    Subsequent Equity Sales. From the date hereof until 45 days after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement except for Exempt Issuances or related to any transaction listed on Schedule 4.19, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents unless the proceeds of such sale of securities are used to repay the Note.

 

4.22    Conversion and Exercise Procedures.The form of Notice of Conversion included in the Notes sets forth the totality of the procedures required of the Purchasers to convert the Notes. Without limiting the preceding sentences, no ink-original Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Conversion form be required to convert the Debenture. No additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of a Purchaser to convert its Debenture. The Company shall honor conversions of the Notes and shall deliver Underlying Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Transaction Documents.

 

4.23    Form D; Blue Sky and Other Filings. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of a Purchaser. The Company shall 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 Purchasers at the Closing under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States and shall provide evidence of such actions promptly upon request of a Purchaser.

 

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1    Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly set forth below and in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company and any conversion notice delivered by a Purchaser), stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities to the Purchaser. Upon closing, the Company shall pay $40,000 of the Lead Investor’s legal fees The Lead Investor may withhold the legal fees from its Subscription Amount.

 

5.2    Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters.

 

5.3    Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered by email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard or Daylight Savings Time, as applicable) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second Trading Day following the date of transmission, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto unless changed by a party. To the extent that any notice provided pursuant to any Transaction Document constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file a Current Report with the SEC on Form 8-K, or which failure to do so will subject the Company to the liquidated damages provided for in Section 4.6.

 

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5.4    Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and a majority in interest of the outstanding balance of the Notes or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right. Any amendment effected in accordance with accordance with this Section 5.4 shall be binding upon the Purchasers and any holder of Securities and the Company.

 

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

 

5.6    Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Purchaser. Each Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities, provided that such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the provisions of the Transaction Documents that apply to the Purchaser.

 

5.7    No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.8 and this Section 5.7.

 

5.8    Governing Law; Exclusive Arbitration; Attorneys’ Fees. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal Laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. The Company and the Purchaser 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 the Company, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the other hand, shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by the other party 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 either party may be entitled by law or equity. Each of the Company and the Purchaser (a) hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court and other courts of the United States sitting in the State of New York for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, and (b) hereby waives, and agrees not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and the Purchaser consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 5.8 shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If any party shall commence an Action to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company elsewhere in this Agreement, the prevailing party in such Action shall be reimbursed by the non-prevailing party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Action. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE PURCHASER HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISPUTES RELATING HERETO. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE PURCHASER (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.8.

 

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5.9      Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.

 

5.10    Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf' format data file, such signature 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 facsimile or “.pdf' signature page were an original thereof.

 

5.11    Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

5.12    Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) any of the other Transaction Documents, whenever any Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then that Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.

 

5.13    Replacement of Securities. If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof (in the case of mutilation), or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction without requiring the posting of any bond.

 

5.14    Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate in any Action for specific performance of any such obligation.

 

5.15    Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights 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, 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.

 

5.16    Liquidated Damages. The Company’s obligations to pay any partial liquidated damages or other amounts owing under the Transaction Documents is a continuing obligation of the Company and shall not terminate until all unpaid partial liquidated damages and other amounts have been paid notwithstanding the fact that the instrument or security pursuant to which such partial liquidated damages or other amounts are due and payable shall have been canceled.

 

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5.17    Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.

 

5.18    Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

 

5.20    Non-Circumvention. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation, including any Certificates of Designation, or Bylaws 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 Agreement, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provision of this Agreement and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of all holders of the Securities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the Company (a) shall not increase the par value of any Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes above the Note Conversion Price then in effect and (b) shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Shares upon the conversion of the Notes. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if after six months from the original issuance date, the Purchasers are not permitted to convert the Note, in full, for any reason, subject to the Purchaser’s compliance with Rule 144 the Company shall use its best efforts to promptly remedy such failure, including, without limitation, obtaining such consent or approvals as necessary to permit such conversion.

 

5.21    Usury. To the extent it may lawfully do so, the Company hereby agrees not to insist upon or plead or in any manner whatsoever claim, and will resist any and all efforts to be compelled to take the benefit or advantage of, usury laws wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, in connection with any Action or Proceeding that may be brought by any Purchaser in order to enforce any right or remedy under any Transaction Document. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, it is expressly agreed and provided that the total liability of the Company under the Transaction Documents for payments in the nature of interest shall not exceed the maximum lawful rate authorized under applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”), and, without limiting the foregoing, in no event shall any rate of interest or default interest, or both of them, when aggregated with any other sums in the nature of interest that the Company may be obligated to pay under the Transaction Documents exceed such Maximum Rate. It is agreed that if the maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law and applicable to the Transaction Documents is increased or decreased by statute or any official governmental action subsequent to the date hereof, the new maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law will be the Maximum Rate applicable to the Transaction Documents from the effective date thereof forward, unless such application is precluded by applicable law. If under any circumstances whatsoever, interest in excess of the Maximum Rate is paid by the Company to any Purchaser with respect to indebtedness evidenced by the Transaction Documents, such excess shall be applied by such Purchaser to the unpaid principal balance of any such indebtedness or be refunded to the Company, the manner of handling such excess to be at such Purchaser’s election.

 

5.22    Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance or non-performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. The Collateral Agent, as defined in the Security Agreement, has been authorized to take actions under the Security Agreement (and such agreements ancillary agreements) solely because the Company wants enforcement of such agreements to be consistent. Each Purchaser by its execution of this Agreement agrees to the Lead Investor acting as Collateral Agent. Each Purchaser has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in its review and negotiation of the Transaction Documents. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any of the Purchasers. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company and a Purchaser, solely, and not between the Company and the Purchasers collectively and not between and among the Purchasers. No consideration (including any modification of any Transaction Document) shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents. For clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Purchaser by the Company and negotiated separately by each Purchaser, and is intended for the Company to treat the Purchasers as a class and shall not in any way be construed as the Purchasers acting in concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of Securities or otherwise.

 

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

cbdMD, Inc.

 

Address for Notice:

     
   

8845 Red Oak Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28217

By:

     
 

Name:

T. Ronan Kennedy

   
 

Title:

Interim Chief Executive Officer

 

Email: ronan.kennedy@cbdmd .com

  

   

 

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

 

Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.


 

PURCHASER SIGNATURE PAGE TO

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Name of Purchaser: ____________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser: ______________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________

Title of Authorized Signatory: _____________________________________________

Email Address of Authorized Signatory: _____________________________________

 

Address for Notice to Purchaser:

 

 

Subscription (Purchase) Amount: $____________________

 

Principal of Note: $___________________

 

EIN Number: ___________________

 

Purchaser Signature Page to

Securities Purchase Agreement


 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Secured Convertible Note

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement

 



 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Security Agreement

 



 

EXHIBIT D

 

Form of Reservation Letter

 



 

EXHIBIT E

 

Form of Information Consent

 

cbdMD, Inc. (the “Company”) has information or notice of a proposed event (collectively, the “Information”) that it is either required to provide you pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated ______ ___, 2024 (“Agreement”) between you and the Company or believes that you would be interested in obtaining. 

 

If the Company is required to provide this Information to you under the Agreement, you acknowledge that receipt of this information may restrict you from trading in the Company’s securities until this Information is made public in accordance with the Agreement. 

 

If the Company is not required to provide this Information to you under the Agreement, you acknowledge that this may restrict you from trading in the Company’s securities until this Information is made public in accordance with the Agreement.  Provided, however, if the Company does not immediately file a Form 8-K publicly disclosing this Information, you shall be entitled to remedies under the Agreement including liquidated damages under Section [____]. 

 

Please respond in writing if you do or do not want to be provided with the Information.  If the Company does not receive your response within three business days, we will have the right to assume that you have chosen not to receive the Information and, if applicable, waived your rights to any subsequent offering rights and any other rights provided for under the Agreements that require notice, for which this Information (including notice) is being given. 

 

Please sign below and check the appropriate box below. 

 

  Sincerely,
   
 

cbdMD, Inc.

   
 

By:_______________________________________

Name:

Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

___ Yes. Please provide we with the Information

 

___ No.  Do not provide me with the Information

 

__________________________

__________________________

 

 

 

 
EX-10.2 4 ex_621912.htm EXHIBIT 10.2 ex_621912.htm
 

Exhibit 10.2

 

SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) dated as of January 30, 2024, between cbdMD, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), with corporate headquarters at 8845 Red Oak Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28217 (the Company, each Subsidiary, and each other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement by execution of a joinder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, which shall include all Subsidiaries of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof are hereinafter sometimes referred to individually as a “Debtor” and, collectively, as the “Debtors”) and [ ], in its capacity as a “Purchaser” and as Collateral Agent for the benefit of itself as a Purchaser (together with its successors and permitted assigns, each a “Secured Party” and collectively, the “Secured Parties”) who execute this Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Secured Parties are purchasing convertible promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount of up to $ 2,500,000, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, by and among the Company and the Secured Parties (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time-to-time, the “Securities Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, each Debtor will derive substantial direct or indirect benefit and advantage from the financial accommodations to the Company set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement, and it will be to each such Debtor’s direct or indirect interest and economic benefit to assist the Company in procuring said financial accommodations from the Secured Parties;

 

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:

 

Section 1.    Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition and defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement are used herein as defined therein. In addition, as used herein:

 

“Accounts” means any “account,” as such term is defined in the UCC, and, in any event, shall include, without limitation, “supporting obligations” as defined in the UCC.

 

“Chattel Paper” means any “chattel paper,” as such term is defined in the UCC.

 

“Collateral” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3 hereof.

 

“Collateral Agent” shall mean [      ], in its capacity as Collateral Agent.

 

“Commercial Tort Claims” means “commercial tort claims”, as such term is defined in the UCC.

 

“Contracts” means all contracts, undertakings, or other agreements (other than rights evidenced by Chattel Paper, Documents or Instruments) in or under which a Debtor may now or hereafter have any right, title or interest, including, without limitation, with respect to an Account, any agreement relating to the terms of payment or the terms of performance thereof.

 

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“Copyrights” means any copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyrights, copyright registrations and copyright applications, including, without limitation, the copyright registrations and applications listed on Schedule III attached hereto (if any), and all renewals of any of the foregoing, all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable under or with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past, present and future infringements of any of the foregoing and the right to sue for past, present and future infringements of any of the foregoing.

 

“Documents” means any “documents,” as such term is defined in the UCC, and shall include, without limitation, all documents of title (as defined in the UCC), bills of lading or other receipts evidencing or representing Inventory or Equipment.

 

“Equipment” means any “equipment,” as such term is defined in the UCC and, in any event, shall include Motor Vehicles.

 

“Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in the Notes.

 

“Excluded Assets” means any lease, license or other agreement or any property subject to a capital lease, purchase money security interest or similar arrangement, to the extent that a grant of a Lien thereon in favor of the Collateral Agent would violate or invalidate such lease, license, agreement or capital lease, purchase money security interest or similar arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Debtors), so long as such provision exists and so long as such lease, license or agreement was not entered into in contemplation of circumventing the obligation to provide Collateral hereunder or in violation of the Securities Purchase Agreement, 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 the bankruptcy code, or principles of equity.

 

“General Intangibles” means any “general intangibles,” as such term is defined in the UCC, and, in any event, shall include, without limitation, all right, title and interest in or under any Contract, models, drawings, materials and records, claims, literary rights, goodwill, rights of performance, Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, warranties, rights under insurance policies and rights of indemnification.

 

“Goods” means any “goods”, as such term is defined in the UCC, including, without limitation, fixtures and embedded Software to the extent included in “goods” as defined in the UCC.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, or any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administration powers or functions of or pertaining to government over any Debtor or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties, assets or undertakings.

 

“Instruments” means any “instrument,” as such term is defined in the UCC, and shall include, without limitation, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, trade acceptances, letters of credit, letter of credit rights (as defined in the UCC), and Chattel Paper.

 

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“Inventory” means any “inventory,” as such term is defined in the UCC.

 

“Investment Property” means any “investment property”, as such term is defined in the UCC.

 

“Motor Vehicles” shall mean motor vehicles, tractors, trailers and other like property, whether or not the title thereto is governed by a certificate of title or ownership.

 

“Obligations” means the full amount due under the Securities Purchase Agreement, as it may change from time-to-time, and the cash payment obligations of the Parent Company under the Securities Purchase Agreement and any other corresponding Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the principal amount of all debts, claims and indebtedness, accrued and unpaid interest and all fees, costs and expenses, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise, heretofore, now and/or from time to time hereafter owing, due or payable whether before or after the filing of a bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding under applicable federal, state, foreign or other law and whether or not an allowed claim in any such proceeding.

 

“Patents” means any patents and patent applications, including, without limitation, the inventions and improvements described and claimed therein, all patentable inventions and those patents and patent applications listed on Schedule IV attached hereto (if any), and the reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions and continuations-in-part of any of the foregoing, and all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under or with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past, present and future infringements of any of the foregoing and the right to sue for past, present and future infringements of any of the foregoing.

 

“Proceeds” means “proceeds,” as such term is defined in the UCC and, in any event, includes, without limitation, (a) any and all proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty payable with respect to any of the Collateral, (b) any and all payments (in any form whatsoever) made or due and payable from time to time in connection with any requisition, confiscation, condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of all or any part of the Collateral by any Governmental Authority (or any person acting under color of Governmental Authority), and (c) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under, in respect of or in connection with any of the Collateral.

 

“Representative” means any Person acting as agent, representative or trustee on behalf of the Collateral Agent from time-to-time.

 

“Software” means all “software” as such term is defined in the UCC, now owned or hereafter acquired by a Debtor, other than software embedded in any category of Goods, including, without limitation, all computer programs and all supporting information provided in connection with a transaction related to any program.

 

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company as set forth on Schedule IX and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.

 

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“Trademarks” means any trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos, other business identifiers, prints and labels on which any of the foregoing have appeared or appear, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, the trademarks and applications listed in Schedule V attached hereto (if any) and renewals thereof, and all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under or with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past, present and future infringements of any of the foregoing and the right to sue for past, present and future infringements of any of the foregoing.

 

“UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of North Carolina; provided, that to the extent that the Uniform Commercial Code is used to define any term herein and such term is defined differently in different Articles of the Uniform Commercial Code, the definition of such term contained in Article 9 shall govern.

 

Section 2.    Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Debtors. Each Debtor represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party as follows:

 

(a)    Debtor has rights in and the power to transfer the Collateral in which it purports to grant a security interest pursuant to Section 3 hereof (subject, with respect to after acquired Collateral, to such Debtor acquiring the same) and (ii) no Lien exists upon such Collateral, except for Permitted Liens.

 

(b)    This Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent a valid security interest in and Lien upon all of such Debtor’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral pursuant to which a security interest may be perfected by the following actions, and upon (i) the filing of appropriate UCC financing statements in the jurisdictions listed on Schedule I attached hereto, (ii) filings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or United States Copyright Office with respect to Collateral that constitutes Patents and Trademarks, or Copyrights, as the case may be, (iii) the delivery to the Collateral Agent of the pledged Collateral together with assignments in blank, and (iv) delivery to the Collateral Agent or its Representative of Instruments duly endorsed by such Debtor or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer duly executed by such Debtor with respect to Instruments not constituting Chattel Paper, such security interest will be a duly perfected first priority perfected security interest in all of such Collateral in which such a security interest may be perfected by such action.

 

(c)    All of the Equipment, Inventory and Goods owned by such Debtor is located at the places as specified on Schedule I attached hereto. Except as disclosed on Schedule I, none of the Collateral is in the possession of any bailee, warehousemen, processor or consignee. Schedule I discloses such Debtor’s name as of the date hereof as it appears in official filings in the state or province, as applicable, of its incorporation, formation or organization, the type of entity of such Debtor (including corporation, partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company), organizational identification number issued by such Debtor’s state of incorporation, formation or organization (or a statement that no such number has been issued), such Debtor’s state or province, as applicable, of incorporation, formation or organization and the chief place of business, chief executive office and the office where such Debtor keeps its books and records and the states in which such Debtor conducts its business. Such Debtor has only one state or province, as applicable, of incorporation, formation or organization. Such Debtor does not do business and has not done business during the past five years under any trade name or fictitious business name except as disclosed on Schedule II attached hereto.

 

4

 

(d)    No Copyrights, Patents or Trademarks listed on Schedules III, IV and V, respectively, if any, have been adjudged invalid or unenforceable or have been canceled, in whole or in part, or are not presently subsisting. Each of such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks (if any) is valid and enforceable. Such Debtor is the sole and exclusive owner of the entire and unencumbered right, title and interest in and to each of such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks, identified on Schedules III, IV and V, as applicable, as being owned by such Debtor, free and clear of any liens, charges and encumbrances, including without limitation licenses, shop rights and covenants by such Debtor not to sue third persons. Such Debtor has adopted, used and is currently using, or has a current bona fide intention to use, all of such Trademarks and Copyrights. Such Debtor has no notice of any suits or actions commenced or threatened with reference to the Copyrights, Patents or Trademarks owned by it.

 

(e)    Each Debtor agrees to deliver to the Collateral Agent an updated Schedule I, II, III, IV and/or V within 10 Trading Days of any change thereto which, if omitted, would make such Schedules materially misleading, taken as a whole. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for the avoidance of doubt, any representation or warranty made by Debtors with respect to such Schedules during such 10 Trading Day period shall be deemed true and correct, and any covenant of the Debtors with respect to such Schedules during such 10 Trading Day period shall be deemed complied with until the earlier of (a) the expiration of such 10 Trading Day period and (b) the delivery of such updated Schedule(s).

 

(f)    Such Debtor does not own any Commercial Tort Claim except for those disclosed on Schedule VI hereto (if any) as of the date hereof.

 

(g)    Such Debtor does not have any interest in owned real property with respect to real property except as disclosed on Schedule VII (if any). Each Debtor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a revised version of Schedule VII within 10 Trading Days of any change thereto which, if omitted, would make such Schedule VII materially misleading, taken as a whole. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for the avoidance of doubt, any representation or warranty made by Debtors with respect to such Schedule VII during such 10 Trading Day period shall be deemed true and correct, and any covenant of the Debtors with respect to such Schedules during such 10 Trading Day period shall be deemed complied with until the earlier of (a) the expiration of such 10 Trading Day period and (b) the delivery of such updated Schedule VII.

 

(h)    All Equipment (including, without limitation, Motor Vehicles) owned by a Debtor and subject to a certificate of title or ownership statute is described on Schedule VIII hereto as of the date hereof.

 

5

 

Section 3.    Collateral. As collateral security for the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations, each Debtor hereby pledges and grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of itself and each other Secured Party, a Lien on and security interest in and to all of such Debtor’s right, title and interest all of the properties and assets of such Debtor, whether now owned by such Debtor or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence and wherever located and of every kind, nature and description, whether tangible or intangible, including, but not limited to, the following (all being collectively referred to herein as “Collateral”):

 

(a)    all Instruments, together with all payments thereon or thereunder:

 

(b)    all Accounts;

 

(c)    all Inventory;

 

(d)    all General Intangibles (including payment intangibles (as defined in the UCC) and Software);

 

(e)    all Equipment;

 

(f)    all Documents;

 

(g)    all Contracts;

 

(h)    all Goods;

 

(i)    all Investment Property, including without limitation all equity interests now owned or hereafter acquired by such Debtor;

 

(j)    all Commercial Tort Claims specified on Schedule VI;

 

(k)    all Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights and licenses related to such Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights; and

 

(l)    all other tangible and intangible property of such Debtor, including, without limitation, all interests in real property, Proceeds, tort claims, products, accessions, rents, profits, income, benefits, substitutions, additions and replacements of and to any of the property of such Debtor described in the preceding clauses of this Section 3 (including, without limitation, any proceeds of insurance thereon, insurance claims and all rights, claims and benefits against any Person relating thereto), other rights to payments not otherwise included in the foregoing, and all books, correspondence, files, records, invoices and other papers, including without limitation all tapes, cards, computer runs, computer programs, computer files and other papers, documents and records in the possession or under the control of such Debtor, or any computer bureau or service company from time to time acting for such Debtor.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any Transaction Document, in no event shall the security interest granted herein or therein attach to any Excluded Assets.

 

6

 

Section 4.    Covenants; Remedies. In furtherance of the grant of the pledge and security interest pursuant to Section 3 hereof, each Debtor hereby agrees as follows:

 

4.1    Delivery and Other Perfection; Maintenance, etc.

 

(a)    Delivery of Instruments, Documents, Etc. Each Debtor shall deliver and pledge to the Collateral Agent or its Representative any and all Instruments, negotiable Documents, Chattel Paper and, if applicable, certificated securities (accompanied by stock powers executed in blank, which stock powers may be filled in and completed at any time upon the occurrence of any Event of Default) duly endorsed and/or accompanied by such instruments of assignment and transfer executed by such Debtor in such form and substance as the Collateral Agent or its Representative may request; provided, that so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Debtor may retain for collection in the ordinary course of business any Instruments, negotiable Documents and Chattel Paper received by such Debtor in the ordinary course of business, and the Collateral Agent or its Representative shall, promptly upon request of a Debtor, make appropriate arrangements for making any other Instruments, negotiable Documents and Chattel Paper pledged by such Debtor available to such Debtor for purposes of presentation, collection or renewal (any such arrangement to be effected, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent or its Representative, against a trust receipt or like document). If a Debtor retains possession of any Chattel Paper, negotiable Documents or Instruments pursuant to the terms hereof, such Chattel Paper, negotiable Documents and Instruments shall be marked with the following legend: “This writing and the obligations evidenced or secured hereby are subject to the security interest of [ ], in its capacity as Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Debtor shall have the continued right to collect all amounts due under the Collateral.

 

(b)    Other Documents and Actions. Each Debtor shall, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, give, execute, deliver, file and/or record any financing statement, registration, notice, instrument, document, agreement, mortgage or other papers that may be necessary to create, preserve, perfect or validate the security interest granted pursuant hereto (or any security interest or mortgage contemplated or required hereunder, including with respect to Section 2(h) of this Agreement) or to enable the Collateral Agent or its Representative to exercise and enforce the rights of the Secured Parties hereunder with respect to such pledge and security interest, provided that notices to account debtors in respect of any Accounts or Instruments shall be subject to the provisions of clause (e) below. Notwithstanding the foregoing each Debtor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any filing office in any jurisdiction any initial financing statements (and other similar filings or registrations under other applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the creation, attachment, or perfection of security interests) and amendments thereto that (a) indicate the Collateral (i) as all assets of such Debtor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC, or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (b) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (i) whether such Debtor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to such Debtor, and (ii) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates. Each Debtor agrees to furnish any such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon reasonable request. Each Debtor also ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Agent to have filed in any jurisdiction any like initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

 

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(c)    Books and Records. Each Debtor shall maintain at its own cost and expense reasonably complete and accurate books and records of the Collateral, including, without limitation, a record of payments received and credits granted with respect to the Collateral. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, each Debtor shall deliver and turn over any such books and records (or true and correct copies thereof) to the Collateral Agent or its Representative at any time on demand. Each Debtor shall permit the Collateral Agent or any Representative of the Collateral Agent to inspect such books and records at any time during reasonable business hours and upon reasonable notice; provided that a representative of such Debtor may attend such inspection, if desired by such Debtor, and will provide photocopies thereof at such Debtor’s expense to the Collateral Agent or its Representative upon reasonable request of the Collateral Agent or its Representative.

 

(d)    Notice to Account Debtors; Verification. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) upon request of the Collateral Agent or its Representative, each Debtor shall promptly notify (and each Debtor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent and its Representative so to notify) each account debtor in respect of any Accounts or Instruments or other Persons obligated on the Collateral that such Collateral has been assigned to the Collateral Agent hereunder, and that any payments due or to become due in respect of such Collateral are to be made directly to the Collateral Agent, and (ii) the Collateral Agent and its Representative shall have the right at any time or times to make direct verification with the account debtors or other Persons obligated on the Collateral of any and all of the Accounts or other such Collateral.

 

(e)    Intellectual Property. Each Debtor represents and warrants that the Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks listed on Schedules III, IV and V, respectively (if any), constitute all of the registered Copyrights and all of the Patents and Trademarks now owned by such Debtor. If such Debtor shall (i) obtain rights to any new patentable inventions, any registered Copyrights or any Patents or Trademarks, or (ii) become entitled to the benefit of any registered Copyrights or any Patents or Trademarks or any improvement on any Patent, the provisions of this Agreement above shall automatically apply thereto and such Debtor shall give to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice thereof. Each Debtor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to modify this Agreement by amending Schedules III, IV and V, as applicable, to include any such registered Copyrights or any such Patents and Trademarks. Each Debtor shall have the duty (i) to prosecute diligently any patent, trademark, or service mark applications pending as of the date hereof or hereafter, (ii) to preserve and maintain all rights in the Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks, to the extent material to the operations of the business of such Debtor and (iii) to ensure that the Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks are and remain enforceable, to the extent material to the operations of the business of such Debtor. Any expenses incurred in connection with such Debtor’s obligations under this Section 4.1(e) shall be borne by such Debtor. Except for any such items that a Debtor reasonably believes (using prudent industry customs and practices) are no longer necessary for the on-going operations of its business, no Debtor shall abandon any material right to file a patent, trademark or service mark application, or abandon any pending patent, trademark or service mark application or any other Copyright, Patent or Trademark without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

 

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(f)    Further Identification of Collateral. Each Debtor will, when and as often as reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent or its Representative, furnish to the Collateral Agent or such Representative, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as the Collateral Agent or its Representative may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

 

(g)    Investment Property. Each Debtor will take any and all actions reasonably required or requested by the Collateral Agent or its Representative, from time to time, to (i) cause the Collateral Agent to obtain exclusive control of any Investment Property owned by such Debtor in a manner acceptable to the Collateral Agent and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from any issuers of Investment Property and such other Persons written confirmation of the Collateral Agent’s control over such Investment Property. For purposes of this Section 4.1(g), the Collateral Agent shall have exclusive control of Investment Property if (i) such Investment Property consists of certificated securities and a Debtor delivers such certificated securities to the Collateral Agent (with appropriate endorsements if such certificated securities are in registered form); (ii) such Investment Property consists of uncertificated securities and either (x) a Debtor delivers such uncertificated securities to the Collateral Agent or (y) the issuer thereof agrees, pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, that it will comply with instructions originated by the Collateral Agent without further consent by such Debtor, and (iii) such Investment Property consists of security entitlements and either (x) the Collateral Agent becomes the entitlement holder thereof or (y) the appropriate securities intermediary agrees, pursuant to the documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, that it will comply with entitlement orders originated by the Collateral Agent without further consent by any Debtor.

 

(h)    Commercial Tort Claims. Each Debtor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent of any Commercial Tort Claim acquired by it that concerns a claim in excess of $100,000 and if requested by the Collateral Agent, such Debtor shall enter into a supplement to this Agreement granting to the Secured Parties a Lien on and security interest in such Commercial Tort Claim.

 

4.2    Other Liens. Debtors will not create, permit or suffer to exist, and will defend the Collateral against and take such other action as is necessary to remove, any Lien on the Collateral, and will defend the right, title and interest of the Secured Parties in and to the Collateral and in and to all Proceeds thereof against the claims and demands of all Persons whatsoever.

 

4.3    Preservation of Rights. Whether or not an Event of Default has occurred or is continuing, and subject to a minimum of 5 Trading Days’ notice to the Debtor when an Event of Default has not occurred and is not continuing, the Collateral Agent and its Representative may, but shall not be required to, take any steps the Collateral Agent or its Representative reasonably deems reasonably necessary or reasonably appropriate to preserve any Collateral or any rights against third parties to any of the Collateral, including obtaining insurance for the Collateral at any time when such Debtor has failed to do so, and Debtors shall promptly pay, or reimburse the Collateral Agent for, all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred in connection therewith.

 

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4.4    Formation of Subsidiaries; Name Change; Location; Bailees.

 

(a)    No Debtor shall form or acquire any new Subsidiary unless (i) within ten days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree) of such formation or acquisition, (A) such Debtor pledges all of the stock or equity interests of such Subsidiary to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to an agreement in a form agreed to by the Collateral Agent, (B) such Subsidiary becomes a party to this Agreement by execution of a joinder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and (ii) the formation or acquisition of such Subsidiary is not prohibited by the terms of the Transaction Documents.

 

(b)    Except for transactions not prohibited by the terms of the Transaction Documents, no Debtor shall (i) reincorporate or reorganize itself under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or organized as of the date hereof, or (ii) otherwise change its name, identity or corporate structure, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Each Debtor will notify the Collateral Agent promptly in writing prior to any such change in the proposed use by such Debtor of any tradename or fictitious business name other than any such name set forth on Schedule II attached hereto.

 

(c)    Except for the sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business and other sales of assets not prohibited by the terms of the Transaction Documents, each Debtor will keep the Collateral at the locations specified in Schedule I. Each Debtor will give the Collateral Agent written notice within five (5) Trading Days after any change in such Debtor’s chief place of business or of any new location for any of the Collateral.

 

(d)    If any Collateral is at any time in the possession or control of any warehousemen, bailee, consignee or processor, such Debtor shall, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent or its Representative, notify such warehousemen, bailee, consignee or processor of the Lien and security interest created hereby.

 

(e)    Each Debtor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent and agrees that it will not do so without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, subject to such Debtor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) to the UCC.

 

(f)    Without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, no Debtor shall enter into any Contract that restricts or prohibits the grant to any Secured Party of a security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent in Accounts, Chattel Paper, Instruments or payment intangibles or the proceeds of the foregoing.

 

4.5    Events of Default, Etc. During the period during which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

(a)    each Debtor shall, at the request of the Collateral Agent or its Representative, assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Collateral Agent or its Representative at a place or places designated by the Collateral Agent or its Representative which are reasonably convenient to the Collateral Agent or its Representative, as applicable, and such Debtor;

 

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(b)    the Collateral Agent or its Representative may make any reasonable compromise or settlement deemed desirable with respect to any of the Collateral and may extend the time of payment, arrange for payment in installments, or otherwise modify the terms of, any of the Collateral;

 

(c)    subject to all applicable laws, the Collateral Agent shall have all of the rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not said UCC is in effect in the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted) and such additional rights and remedies to which a secured party is entitled under the laws in effect in any jurisdiction where any rights and remedies hereunder may be asserted, including, without limitation, the right, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to: (i) upon one (1) Trading Day’s prior written notice to each Debtor, exercise all voting, consensual and other powers of ownership pertaining to the Collateral as if the Collateral Agent were the sole and absolute owner thereof (and each Debtor agrees to take all such action as may be appropriate to give effect to such right) and (ii) the appointment of a receiver or receivers for all or any part of the Collateral or business of a Debtor, whether such receivership be incident to a proposed sale or sales of such Collateral or otherwise and without regard to the value of the Collateral or the solvency of any person or persons liable for the payment of the Obligations secured by such Collateral. Each Debtor hereby consents to the appointment of such receiver or receivers, waives any and all defenses to such appointment and agrees that such appointment shall in no manner impair, prejudice or otherwise affect the rights of the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party under this Agreement. Each Debtor hereby expressly waives notice of a hearing for appointment of a receiver and the necessity for bond or an accounting by the receiver;

 

(d)    the Collateral Agent or its Representative in its discretion may, in the name of the Collateral Agent or in the name of a Debtor or otherwise, demand, sue for, collect or receive any money or property at any time payable or receivable on account of or in exchange for any of the Collateral, but shall be under no obligation to do so;

 

(e)    the Collateral Agent or its Representative may take immediate possession and occupancy of any premises owned, used or leased by a Debtor and exercise all other rights and remedies which may be available to the Collateral Agent or a Secured Party;

 

(f)    the Collateral Agent may, upon reasonable notice (such reasonable notice to be determined by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, which shall not be less than 10 Trading Days), with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof which shall then be or shall thereafter come into the possession, custody or control of the Collateral Agent or its Representative, sell, lease, license, assign or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Collateral, at such place or places as the Collateral Agent deems best, and for cash or for credit or for future delivery (without thereby assuming any credit risk), at public or private sale, without demand of performance or notice of intention to effect any such disposition or of the time or place thereof (except such notice as is required above or by applicable statute and cannot be waived), and the Collateral Agent or anyone else may be the purchaser, lessee, licensee, assignee or recipient of any or all of the Collateral so disposed of at any public sale (or, to the extent permitted by law, at any private sale) and thereafter hold the same absolutely, free from any claim or right of whatsoever kind, including any right or equity of redemption (statutory or otherwise), of Debtors, any such demand, notice and right or equity being hereby expressly waived and released. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for the sale, and such sale may be made at any time or place to which the sale may be so adjourned;

 

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(g)    the Collateral Agent, shall, upon one (1) Trading Day’s prior written notice to each Debtor, have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to cause each of the pledged securities to be transferred of record into the name of the Collateral Agent or into the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Debtor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent and to the extent permitted by the documentation governing such pledged securities and applicable law, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing pledged securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement. Each Debtor shall will take any and all actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to facilitate compliance with this Section 4.5(g);

 

(h)    all rights of any Debtor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Debtor is entitled to receive shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions as part of the pledged Collateral hereunder. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Debtor contrary to the provisions of Section 4.5(g) or this Section 4.5(h) shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent); and

 

(i)    the rights, remedies and powers conferred by this Section 4.5 are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights, remedies or powers that the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party may have under any Transaction Document, at law, in equity or by or under the UCC or any other statute or agreement. The Collateral Agent may proceed by way of any action, suit or other proceeding at law or in equity and no right, remedy or power of the Collateral Agent will be exclusive of or dependent on any other. The Collateral Agent may exercise any of its rights, remedies or powers separately or in combination and at any time.

 

The proceeds of each collection, sale or other disposition under this Section 4.5 shall be applied in accordance with Section 4.8 hereof.

 

4.6    Deficiency. If the proceeds of sale, collection or other realization of or upon the Collateral are insufficient to cover the reasonable and documented costs and expenses of such realization and the payment in full of the Obligations, Debtors shall remain jointly and severally liable for any deficiency.

 

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4.7    Private Sale. Each Debtor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all of the Collateral consisting of securities by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and applicable state securities laws, but may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Debtor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and each Debtor agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for the Collateral Agent to engage in any such private sales or dispositions under such circumstances. The Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Collateral to permit a Debtor to register such Collateral for public sale under the Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if Debtors would agree to do so. The Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability as a result of the sale of any such Collateral, or any part thereof, at any private sale provided for in this Agreement conducted in a commercially reasonable manner, and so long as the Collateral Agent conducts such sale in a commercially reasonable manner, each Debtor hereby waives any claims against the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party arising by reason of the fact that the price at which the Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price which might have been obtained at a public sale or was less than the aggregate amount of the Obligations, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer the Collateral to more than one offeree.

 

Each Debtor further agrees to do or cause to be done all such other acts and things as may be necessary to make such sale or sales of any portion or all of any such Collateral valid and binding and in compliance with any and all applicable laws, regulations, orders, writs, injunctions, decrees or awards of any and all courts, arbitrators or governmental instrumentalities, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over any such sale or sales, all at such Debtor’s expense. Each Debtor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 4.8 will cause irreparable injury to the Secured Parties, that the Secured Parties have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, agrees that each and every covenant contained in this Section 4.8 shall be specifically enforceable against Debtors by Collateral Agent of behalf of each Secured Party, and each Debtor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

4.8    Application of Proceeds. The proceeds of any collection, sale or other realization of all or any part of the Collateral, and any other cash at the time held by the Collateral Agent under this Agreement, shall be applied to the Obligations in accordance with the Pro Rata Portion of each Secured Party. “Pro Rata Portion” shall mean the ratio of (x) the subscription amount of the Notes purchased by a Secured Party participating under this Section 4.8 and (y) the sum of the aggregate subscription amounts of the Notes purchased by all Secured Parties participating under this Section 4.8.

 

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4.9    Attorney-in-Fact. Each Debtor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney‑in‑fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Debtor and in the name of such Debtor or in its own name, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (except in connection with the perfection of the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder), from time to time in the discretion of the Collateral Agent, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to perfect or protect any security interest granted hereunder, to maintain the perfection or priority of any security interest granted hereunder, or to otherwise accomplish the purposes of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Debtor hereby gives the Collateral Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Debtor, without notice to or assent by such Debtor (to the extent permitted by applicable law), to do the following, but only upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default:

 

(a)    to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement;

 

(b)    to ask, demand, collect, receive and give acquittance and receipts for any and all moneys due and to become due under any Collateral and, in the name of such Debtor or its own name or otherwise, to take possession of and endorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other Instruments for the payment of moneys due under any Collateral and to file any claim or to take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due under any Collateral whenever payable and to file any claim or to take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due under any Collateral whenever payable;

 

(c)    to pay or discharge charges or liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, to effect any insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement and to pay all or any part of the premiums therefor;

 

(d)    to direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all moneys due, and to become due thereunder, directly to the Collateral Agent or as the Collateral Agent shall direct, and to receive payment of and receipt for any and all moneys, claims and other amounts due, and to become due at any time, in respect of or arising out of any Collateral;

 

(e)    to sign and indorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications and notices in connection with accounts and other Documents constituting or relating to the Collateral;

 

(f)    to commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any part thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral;

 

(g)    to defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against a Debtor with respect to any Collateral;

 

(h)    to settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action or proceeding described above and, in connection therewith, to give such discharges or releases as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate;

 

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(i)    to the extent that a Debtor’s authorization given in Section 4.1(b) of this Agreement is not sufficient to file such financing statements with respect to this Agreement, with or without such Debtor’s signature, or to file a photocopy of this Agreement in substitution for a financing statement, as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate and to execute in such Debtor’s name such financing statements and amendments thereto and continuation statements which may require such Debtor’s signature;

 

(j)    generally to sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owners thereof for all purposes; and

 

(k)    to do, at the Collateral Agent’s option and at such Debtor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary to protect or preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Secured Parties’ Liens therein, in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Debtor might do.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, Collateral Agent shall only have the power and right to do each of the items set forth in Section 4.9(a) through Section 4.9 (k) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default.

 

Each Debtor hereby ratifies, to the extent permitted by law, all that such attorneys lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof provided the same is performed in a commercially reasonable manner and in accordance with Section 4.9. The power of attorney granted hereunder is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full in cash (other than Obligations which expressly survive by their terms and contingent indemnification Obligations) and this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 4.11 hereof.

 

Each Debtor also authorizes the Collateral Agent, at any time from and after the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default,  (x) to communicate in its own name with any party to any Contract with regard to the assignment of the right, title and interest of such Debtor in and under the Contracts hereunder and (y) to execute, in connection with any sale of Collateral provided for in Section 4.5 hereof, any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral..

 

4.10    Perfection. Prior to or concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Debtor shall:

 

(a)    file such financing statements, assignments for security and other documents in such offices as may be necessary or as the Collateral Agent or the Representative may request to perfect the security interests granted by Section 3 of this Agreement;

 

(b)    at the Collateral Agent’s request, deliver to the Collateral Agent or its Representative the originals of all Instruments together with, in the case of Instruments constituting promissory notes, allonges attached thereto showing such promissory notes to be payable to the order of a blank payee;

 

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(c)    If the Debtor has not done so, the Collateral Agent may do the actions set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above at any later time at the sole cost of the Debtors.

 

4.11    Termination; Partial Release of Collateral. This Agreement and the Liens and security interests granted hereunder shall not terminate until the full and complete performance and indefeasible satisfaction of all of the Obligations (other than Obligations which expressly survive by their terms and contingent indemnification Obligations), whereupon the Collateral Agent shall forthwith cause to be assigned, transferred and delivered, against receipt but without any recourse, warranty or representation whatsoever, any remaining Collateral to or on the order of Debtors. The Collateral Agent shall also execute and deliver to Debtors upon such termination and at Debtors’ expense such UCC termination statements, certificates for terminating the liens on the Motor Vehicles (if any) and such other documentation as shall be reasonably requested by Debtors or otherwise necessary to effect the termination and release of all Liens and security interests in favor of the Collateral Agent affecting the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, upon full and complete satisfaction of the Obligations (other than Obligations which expressly survive by their terms and contingent indemnification Obligations), Debtors obligations under this Agreement shall immediately terminate and any Liens shall thereupon be void. If any of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred to or otherwise disposed of by any Debtor in a transaction permitted by and in compliance with all applicable provisions of the applicable Transaction Document, then the Liens granted hereunder with respect to such Collateral shall be automatically released (unless otherwise specified herein or in the other Transaction Documents), all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and Collateral Agent shall, at the written request and sole expense of such Debtor, execute and deliver to such Debtor all releases or other documents reasonably necessary or reasonably desirable for the release of the Liens created hereby on such Collateral.

 

4.12    Further Assurances. At any time and from time to time, upon the written reasonable request of the Collateral Agent or its Representative, and at the sole expense of Debtors, Debtors will promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all such further instruments, documents and agreements and take such further actions as the Collateral Agent or its Representative may reasonably require in order for the Collateral Agent to obtain the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted in favor of the Collateral Agent, including, without limitation, using Debtors’ commercially reasonable efforts to secure all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to the Collateral Agent of any Collateral held by Debtors or in which a Debtor has any rights not heretofore assigned, the filing of any financing or continuation statements under the UCC with respect to the liens and security interests granted hereby, transferring Collateral to the Collateral Agent’s possession (if a security interest in such Collateral can be perfected by possession), placing the interest of the Collateral Agent as lienholder on the certificate of title of any Motor Vehicle, and obtaining waivers of liens from landlords and mortgagees. Each Debtor also hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent and its Representative to file any such financing or continuation statement without the signature of such Debtor to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

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4.13    Limitation on Duty of Secured Party. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent under this Agreement are solely to protect the Collateral Agent’s interest on behalf of itself and the other Secured Parties in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers and neither the Collateral Agent nor its Representative nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to Debtors for any act or failure to act, except for gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Without limiting the foregoing, the Collateral Agent and any Representative shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in their possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equivalent to that which the Collateral Agent or any Representative, in its individual capacity, accords its own property consisting of the type of Collateral involved, it being understood and agreed that neither the Collateral Agent nor any Representative shall have any responsibility for taking any necessary steps (other than steps taken in accordance with the standard of care set forth above) to preserve rights against any Person with respect to any Collateral.

 

Also without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Collateral Agent nor any Representative shall have any obligation or liability under any Contract or license by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the granting to the Collateral Agent of a security interest therein or assignment thereof or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any Representative of any payment relating to any Contract or license pursuant hereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any Representative be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of Debtors under or pursuant to any Contract or license, or to make any payment, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Contract or license, or to present or file any claim, or to take any action to collect or enforce any performance or the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

 

Section 5.    Miscellaneous.

 

5.1    No Waiver. No failure on the part of the Collateral Agent or any of its Representatives to exercise, and no course of dealing with respect to, 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 Collateral Agent or any of its Representatives of any right, power or remedy hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The rights and remedies hereunder provided are cumulative and may be exercised singly or concurrently, and are not exclusive of any rights and remedies provided by law.

 

5.2    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New York.

 

5.3    Notices. All notices, approvals, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be delivered or made in the manner set forth in, and shall be effective in accordance with the terms of, the Securities Purchase Agreement. Debtors and Collateral Agent may change their respective notice addresses by written notice given to each other party five days prior to the effectiveness of such change.

 

5.4    Amendments, Etc. The terms of this Agreement may be waived, altered or amended only by an instrument in writing duly executed by the Debtor sought to be charged or benefited thereby and the Secured Parties holding a majority of the outstanding principal of the Notes. Any such amendment or waiver shall be binding upon all the Secured Parties (including the Collateral Agent in its capacity as a Secured Party) and the Debtor(s) sought to be charged or benefited thereby and their respective successors and assigns.

 

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5.5    Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto, provided, that no Debtor shall assign or transfer its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of each Secured Party. Any Secured Party, including the Collateral Agent in its capacity as a Secured Party, may assign its rights hereunder without the consent of Debtors, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Secured Party and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, hereunder with respect to such assigned rights.

 

5.6    Counterparts; Headings. This Agreement may be authenticated in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and any of the parties hereto may authenticate this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. This Agreement may be authenticated by manual signature or facsimile, .pdf or similar electronic signature, all of which shall be equally valid. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not alter or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

5.7    Severability. If any provision hereof is invalid and unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Collateral Agent, its Representative and each other Secured Party (and all of their respective successors and assigns) in order to carry out the intentions of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible and (b) the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

5.8    Exclusive Jurisdiction. Any action, proceeding or claim arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts located in and for the State of New York (the "Courts"), which shall have exclusive jurisdiction for such purpose, and the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such Courts, and irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of process may be made in any manner recognized by such Courts.

 

5.9    Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. Each Debtor and each Secured Party waive their respective rights to a trial by jury of any claim or cause of action based upon or arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in any action, proceeding or other litigation of any type brought by any of the parties against any other party or parties, whether with respect to contract claims, tort claims, or otherwise. Each Debtor and each Secured Party agree that any such claim or cause of action shall be tried by a court trial without a jury. Without limiting the foregoing, the parties further agree that their respective right to a trial by jury is waived by operation of this Section 5.9 as to any action, counterclaim or other proceeding which seeks, in whole or in part, to challenge the validity or enforceability of this agreement or any provision hereof. This waiver shall apply to any subsequent amendments, renewals, supplements or modifications to this Agreement.

 

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5.10    Joint and Several. The obligations, covenants and agreements of Debtors hereunder shall be the joint and several obligations, covenants and agreements of each Debtor, whether or not specifically stated herein without preferences or distinction among them.

 

5.11    Collateral Agent and Secured Parties Indemnification.

 

(a)    Each Secured Party has designated and appointed the Collateral Agent as the administrative agent of such Secured Party under this Agreement and the related agreements.

 

(b)    Nothing in this Section 5.11 shall be deemed to limit or otherwise affect the rights of the Collateral Agent to exercise any remedy provided in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

 

(c)    If pursuant to any Transaction Document a Secured Party (including the Collateral Agent) is given the discretion to allocate proceeds received by such Secured Party (including the Collateral Agent) pursuant to the exercise of remedies under the Transaction Documents or at law or in equity (including without limitation with respect to any secured creditor remedies exercised against the Collateral and any other collateral security provided for under any Transaction Document), the Collateral Agent shall apply such proceeds to the then outstanding Obligations in the following order of priority (with amounts received being applied in the numerical order set forth below until exhausted prior to the application to the next succeeding category and each Secured Party entitled to payment shall receive an amount equal to its Pro Rata Portion of amounts available to be applied pursuant to clauses second, third and fourth below):

 

first, to payment of fees, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) owing to the Collateral Agent;

 

second, to payment of all accrued unpaid interest and fees (other than fees owing to Collateral Agent) on the Obligations;

 

third, to payment of principal of the Obligations;

 

fourth, to payment of any other amounts owing constituting Obligations; and

 

fifth, any remainder shall be for the account of and paid to whoever may be lawfully entitled thereto.

 

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(d)    Each Debtor agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Collateral Agent (both in its capacity as collateral agent hereunder and as a Secured Party), every other Secured Party, their respective successors and assigns and all of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, members, managers, partners, employees, attorneys and agents, and any Person in control of any thereof (collectively, the “Indemnitees”), from and against any claims, debts, liabilities, losses, demands, obligations, actions, causes of action, fines, penalties, reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and consultants’ fees), of every nature, character and description (each, an “Indemnified Liability” and collectively the “Indemnified Liabilities”), under federal securities law and state securities laws or otherwise insofar as such Indemnified Liability arises out of or is based upon any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, any of the Obligations, or any other cause or thing whatsoever occurred, done, omitted or suffered to be done by a Debtor relating to any Secured Party or the Obligations (except any such amounts sustained or incurred solely as the result of the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitees, as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction); provided that, each Debtor’s obligations under this Section 5.11(d) are, in the case of legal fees and expenses, expressly limit to one counsel to all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole and, solely in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole (and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction to all such Persons, taken as a whole and, solely in the case of any such an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional local counsel to all affected Indemnitees taken as a whole, in each such relevant jurisdiction)). If and to the extent that the foregoing undertakings in this paragraph may be unenforceable for any reason, each Debtor agrees to jointly and severally make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. The obligations of each Debtor under this Section 5.11(d) shall survive any termination of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

 

5.12    No Strict 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.

 

5.13    Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents, supersedes all other prior oral or written agreements between the Secured Parties, the Collateral Agent, the Debtors, their affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters discussed herein, and this Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents and the other instruments referenced herein and therein, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the secured party nor any Debtor makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no unwritten agreements between the parties with respect to the matters discussed herein. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Debtors and the Secured Party.

 

- Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows -

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Security Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

DEBTORS:

 

cbdMD, Inc., a North Carolina corporation

 

 

 

By: ________________________________

Name: T. Ronan Kennedy

Title:   Interim Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Security Agreement


 

 

COLLATERAL AGENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

       
  PURCHASER:  
       
       
       
  By:    
    Name: ____________________  
    Title:  

 

 

Signature Page to Security Agreement







 

EXHIBIT A

Form of Joinder

Joinder to Security Agreement

 

The undersigned, ______________________________, hereby joins in the execution of that certain Security Agreement dated as of __________________, 2024 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) by the Debtors (as defined therein), the Secured Parties (as defined therein), and each other Person that becomes a Debtor or a Secured Party thereunder after the date thereof and hereof and pursuant to the terms thereof, to and in favor of [ ], a business entity organized under the laws of the Delaware, in its capacity as Collateral Agent for the Secured Parties. By executing this Joinder, the undersigned hereby agrees that it is a Debtor thereunder and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Security Agreement. The undersigned represents and warrants that the representations and warranties set forth in the Security Agreement are, with respect to the undersigned, true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to Secured Party that, as of the date hereof:

 

(a)    all of the Equipment, Inventory and Goods owned by such Debtor is located at the places as specified on Schedule I and such Debtor conducts business in the jurisdiction set forth on Schedule I;

 

(b)    except as disclosed on Schedule I, none of such Collateral is in the possession of any bailee, warehousemen, processor or consignee;

 

(c)    the chief place of business, chief executive office and the office where such Debtor keeps its books and records are located at the place specified on Schedule I;

 

(d)    such Debtor (including any Person acquired by such Debtor) does not do business or has not done business during the past five years under any tradename or fictitious business name, except as disclosed on Schedule II;

 

(e)    all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks owned or licensed by the undersigned are listed in Schedules III, IV and V, respectively;

 

(f)    all Commercial Tort Claims of such Debtor are listed on Schedule VI;

 

(g)    all interests in real property held by such Debtor are listed on Schedule VII;

 

 

(h)    all Equipment (including Motor Vehicles) owned by such debtor that is subject to a certificate of title or ownership statute is listed on Schedule VIII.

 

 

 

 

_________________________________,

a ________________________________

 

 

 

 

By:                   

Name:

Title:

 

 

Exhibit A-1

 
EX-10.3 5 ex_621913.htm EXHIBIT 10.3 ex_621913.htm

Exhibit 10.3

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of January 30, 2024 between cbdMD, Inc. a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), and each of the several purchasers that is a signatory to the Purchase Agreement (each such purchaser, a “Purchaser” or “Holder” and, collectively, the “Purchasers” or “Holders”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers are parties to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Purchasers are purchasing Notes issued by the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant certain registration rights to the Purchasers as set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual and dependent covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.    Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

 

“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“CDI 612.09” means Section 612.09 of the SEC’s Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations.

 

“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Effectiveness Date” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder or any other Registration Statement, sixty days following the Closing Date; provided, however, that in the event the Company is notified by the SEC that one or more of the Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the date otherwise required above.

 

“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

“Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

“Event Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

“Filing Date” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required hereunder, 10 Trading Days following the Closing Date, and with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to this Agreement, the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statements related to the Registrable Securities.

 

“Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

 

“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).         

 

“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

“Initial Registration Statement” means the initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement.

 







 

 

“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

“Plan of Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

“Proceeding” means any action, claim, suit, investigation or legal proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

“Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

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

 

“Registrable Securities” means (a) all of the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Notes issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (b) any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing.

 

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder pursuant to Section 2(a) and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 3(b), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to any such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in any such registration statement.

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

“SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance (including CDI 612.09), comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

“Selling Stockholder Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.

 

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2.    Registration Statement.

 

(a)    On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities that are not then registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Each Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be on Form S-1 and shall contain a description of the Holders planned distribution substantially in the form of “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A. The Company shall use its best efforts to respond to any comments from the staff of the SEC within seven days of the receipt of such comments. In the event the amount of Registrable Securities which may be included in the Registration Statement is limited due to SEC Guidance (provided that, the Company shall use diligent efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, the CDI 612.09) the Company shall use its best efforts to register such maximum portion of the Registrable Securities as permitted by SEC Guidance. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause a Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold, or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without the volume or other limitations of such rule, or not required to be registered in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(1) or 4(a)(7) under the Securities Act, in either case as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Transfer Agent and the affected Holders (the “Effectiveness Period”); provided, however, that during any period of time that the Company's financial statements contained in a prospectus do not meet the requirements of Securities Act Section 10(a)(3) and the remaining period until the date its Form 10-K is required to be filed (excluding any extended period of time permitted by rule of the SEC) does not exceed 60 days, the Company shall be excused from amending or supplementing its prospectus for the remaining period until the date its Form 10-K is required to be filed (including any extended period of time permitted by rule of the SEC). The Company shall telephonically request effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on a Trading Day. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via facsimile or by e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Trading Day that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the SEC, which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of such Registration Statement. The Company shall file a final Prospectus with the SEC as required by Rule 424. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all or a greater portion of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Registrable Securities purchased by the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. In the event of a cut back hereunder, the Company shall give the Holder at least five Trading Days prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Holder’s allotment.

 

(b)     Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in Section 2(a), if the SEC informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly inform each of the Purchasers thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement as required by the SEC, covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the SEC, on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e); with respect to filing on Form S-1 or other appropriate form, and subject to the provisions of Section 2(d) with respect to the payment of liquidated damages; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment, the Company shall be obligated to use diligent efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, CDI 612.09.

 

(c)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and subject to the payment of liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(d), if the SEC or any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all or a greater portion of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Purchaser as to its Registrable Securities, the Company shall first reduce or eliminate any securities to be included other than Registrable Securities. Any reduction pursuant to this Section 6(c) in the number of Registrable Securities registered shall be done on a pro rata basis in accordance with the Holders’ investment made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. In the event of a cutback hereunder, the Company shall give the Purchasers at least five (5) Trading Days prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Purchaser’s allotment. In the event the Company amends the Initial Registration Statement in accordance with the foregoing, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as allowed by SEC or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended.

 

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(d)    If (i) the Initial Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date, (ii) the Company fails to file with the SEC a request for acceleration of a Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date that 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, (iii) prior to the effective date of a Registration Statement, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the SEC in respect of such Registration Statement within ten (10) calendar days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the SEC that such amendment is required in order for such Registration Statement to be declared effective a Registration Statement registering for resale all of the Registrable Securities, (iv) a Registration Statement registering for resale all of the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the SEC by the Effectiveness Date of the Initial Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement (unless the sole reason for such non-registration of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities is solely as a result of SEC Guidance under Rule 415 or similar rule and CDI 612.09 which limits the number of Registrable Securities which may be included in a registration statement with respect to the Holders), or (v) after the effective date of a Registration Statement, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, or the Holders are otherwise not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities, for more than 30 calendar days during any 12-month period (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event”, and for purposes of clauses (i) and (iv), the date on which such Event occurs, and for purpose of clause (ii) the date on which such five (5) Trading Day period is exceeded, and for purpose of clause (iii) the date which such ten (10) calendar day period is exceeded, and for purpose of clause (v) the date on which such ten (10) or fifteen (15) calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as “Event Date”), then, in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash , as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2% of the purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, during which such Event continues uncured. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event; provided, however, that the foregoing liquidated damages shall not accrue or be otherwise charged during any period in which the Holder is eligible to sell the Registrable Securities on any given day under Rule 144 without the volume or other limitations of such rule, or in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(a)(1) under the Securities Act, or after such Holder has publicly sold its Registrable Securities.

 

(e)    If Form S-1 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 another appropriate form and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-1 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-1 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

3.    Registration Procedures.

 

In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

 

(a)    Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one Trading Day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to the Holders copies of all such documents proposed to be filed (provided that, the Company may excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information as to any Holder which has not executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company), which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of the Holders or counsel for the Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than five Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a Registration Statement or two Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling Stockholder Questionnaire”) on a date that is not less than two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in accordance with this Section.

 

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(b)    The Company shall:

 

(i)    prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the SEC such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities,

 

(ii)    cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424,

 

(iii)    respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the SEC with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto within seven days of the receipt of such comments, and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the SEC relating to a Registration Statement (provided that, the Company may excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information as to any Holder which has not executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company), and

 

(iv)    comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

 

(c)    If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than the number of such Registrable Securities.

 

(d)    The Company shall notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed, (B) when the SEC notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the SEC comments in writing on such Registration Statement, and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provided that, any and all of such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further, that notwithstanding each Holder’s acknowledgement to keep such information confidential, each such Holder makes no acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public information.

 

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(e)    Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(d), as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(e) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages otherwise required pursuant to Section 2(d), for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12-month period.

 

(f)    The Company shall use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order stopping or suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

 

(g)    The Company shall furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the SEC; provided, that any such item which is available on the EDGAR system need not be furnished in physical form, and such number of copies of the current Prospectus as each Holder may reasonably request.

 

(h)    Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving of any notice pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(i)    The Company shall cooperate with any broker-dealer through which a Holder proposes to resell its Registrable Securities in effecting a filing with the FINRA Corporate Financing Department pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 and 5190 and NASD Rule 2710, as requested by any such Holder, and the Company shall pay the filing fee required by such filing within two Trading Days of request therefor.

 

(j)    Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that, the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

 

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(k)    If requested by a Holder, the Company shall cooperate with such Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holder may request.

 

(l)    If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable.

 

(m)    The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

(n)    The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the SEC, the natural persons thereof that have voting and dispositive control over the shares. The Company shall not be liable for any damages during any periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such information within three Trading Days of the Company’s request.

 

4.    Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent registered public accountants and transfer agent) (A) with respect to filings made with the SEC, (B) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, (C) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities) and (D) if not previously paid by the Company in connection with an issuer filing, with respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker-dealer through which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 and 5190 and NASD Rule 2710, so long as the broker-dealer is receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such sale, (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any Trading Market as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker-dealer or similar commissions of any Holder or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.

 

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5.    Indemnification.

 

(a)    Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, members, partners, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, members, stockholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation and preparation) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to (1) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (2) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified person and shall survive the transfer of any Registrable Securities by any of the Holders in accordance with Section 6(g).

 

(b)    Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who shall sign such Registration Statement and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (y) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that such information relates to such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated herein. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after underwriting fees, commissions, or discounts) actually received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)    Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of one law firm reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof except as otherwise provided in this Section 5; provided, that, the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have materially prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

 

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An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding, or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within 10 Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided, that, the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is judicially determined not to be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(d)    Contribution. If the indemnification under Section 0 or 5(a) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys’ or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

 

6.    Miscellaneous.

 

(a)    Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any Losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall not assert or shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

9

 

(b)    Prohibition on Filing Other Registration Statements. Neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in any Registration Statements other than the Registrable Securities. The Company shall not file any other registration statements until all Registrable Securities are registered pursuant to a Registration Statement that is declared effective by the SEC, provided that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to registration statements filed prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)    Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

(d)    Discontinued Disposition. By its acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d)(iii) through (vi), such Holder will immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable.

 

(e)    Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of more than 50% of the Registrable Securities. If a Registration Statement does not register all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a waiver or amendment done in compliance with the previous sentence, then the number of Registrable Securities to be registered for each Holder shall be reduced pro rata among all Holders and each Holder shall have the right to designate which of its Registrable Securities shall be omitted from such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of a Holder or some Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by such Holder or Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 6(e). 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 also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

(f)    Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

(g)    Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign (except by merger) its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.

 

(h)    Piggy-Back Registrations. If, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities 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 Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(h) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 (without volume restrictions and provided the Company is in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144) promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement that is available for resales or other dispositions by such Holder.

 

10

 

(i)    No Inconsistent Agreements. 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 Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.

 

(j)    Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together 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, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature 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 facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

(k)    Governing Law/Venue. All questions concerning the choice of law, jurisdiction and venue, construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

(l)    Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.

 

(m)    Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(n)    Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

(o)    Independent Nature of Holders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

11

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

CBDMD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: T. Ronan Kennedy

 

 

 

Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


 

 

Name of Holder: ____________________________________

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder: __________________________

 

Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________

 

Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________

 


 

Annex A

Plan of Distribution

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement Each Selling Stockholder (the “Selling Stockholders”) of the Common Stock and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of Common Stock on the NYSE American or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

 

 

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;

 

 

settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;

 

 

broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

 

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

 

a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

 

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121 or NASD Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASD IM-2440.

 

In connection with the sale of the Common Stock or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares of the Common Stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the Common Stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

A-1

 

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent.

 

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling Stockholders.

 

The shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from

the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the shares may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Common Stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of the Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

A-2

 

 

Annex B

Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire

 

The undersigned beneficial owner of Common Stock (the “Registrable Securities”) of cbdMD, Inc. a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange SEC (the “SEC”) a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) to which this document is annexed. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

 

NOTICE

 

The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling Stockholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned by it in the Registration Statement.

 

B-1

 

 

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:

 

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

1.

Name.

 

 

(a)

Full Legal Name of Selling Stockholder

     

 

 

 

(b)

Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities are held:

     

 

 

 

(c)

Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by this Questionnaire):

     

 

 

2.

Address for Notices to Selling Stockholder:

 


 


 


 

Telephone:

 

Fax:

 

Contact Person:

 

 

3.

Broker-Dealer Status:

 

 

(a)

Are you a broker-dealer?

Yes ☐          No ☐

 

 

(b)

If “yes” to Section 3(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the Company?

Yes ☐          No ☐

 

Note:         If “no” to Section 3(b), the SEC’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

 

(c)

Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?

Yes ☐          No ☐

 

 

(d)

If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you purchased the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?

Yes ☐          No ☐

 

Note:         If “no” to Section 3(d), the SEC’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

4.

Beneficial Ownership of Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Stockholder.

 

Except as set forth below in this Item 4, the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the securities issuable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

 

(a)

Type and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholder:

     
     

 

B-2

 

5.

Relationships with the Company:

 

Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

State any exceptions here:

 

 

 

 

     

 

The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.

 

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 5 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

 

Date:     Beneficial Owner:  

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

PLEASE EMAIL A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE TO:

 

B-3