As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2022

 

Registration Statement No. 333-_________

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Communications Systems, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Minnesota

 

41-0957999

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

10900 Red Circle Drive

Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343

(952) 996-1674

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Mark Fandrich

Chief Financial Officer

Communications Systems, Inc.

10900 Red Circle Drive

Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343

(952) 996-1674

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

 

Gerald J. Guarcini, Esq.

April Hamlin, Esq.

Ballard Spahr LLP

80 South 8th Street, Suite 2000

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-2119

(612) 371-3211

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: [   ]

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [ ]

Accelerated filer [ ]

Non-accelerated filer ☒

Smaller reporting company ☒

 

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. [ ]

 

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each class of securities to be registered(1)

 

Amount to be
registered(1)

 

 

Proposed maximum
offering price per share

 

 

Proposed maximum
aggregate offering price

 

 

Amount of
registration fee

 

Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share

 

 

42,457,058

(2) 

 

$

2.34

(3) 

 

$

99,349,516

(3) 

 

$

9,209.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The shares of common stock will be offered for resale by the selling shareholders. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement includes an indeterminate number of additional shares that may be offered and sold to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

 

(2)

Includes (a) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of the registrant’s common stock that may be issued upon conversion of the registrant’s Series A convertible preferred stock at an initial conversion price of $3.40 per share, (b) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of the registrant’s common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of warrants at an initial exercise price of $3.40 per share, and (c) an aggregate 4,810,002 shares of the registrant’s common stock to be issued in the merger that may be sold to the selling shareholders pursuant to stock transfer agreements dated January 24, 2022.

 

 

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of the registrant’s shares of common stock on February 15, 2022, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and does not solicit an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 22, 2022

 

42,457,058 Shares of Common Stock

 

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.

 

This prospectus relates to the resale, from time to time, of up to an aggregate of 42,457,058 shares of common stock, par value $0.05 per share, of Communication Systems, Inc. (“CSI,” “we,” “us” or the “Company”) by the selling shareholders named in this prospectus, including their respective donees, pledgees, transferees, assignees or other successors-in-interest.

 

On September 15, 2021, we entered into an Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement (the “securities purchase agreement”) with the selling shareholders for a private placement of our Series A convertible preferred stock and common stock warrants. On January 24, 2022, the selling shareholders entered into stock transfer agreements (each, an “STA” and collectively, the “STAs”) pursuant to which each selling shareholder may purchase a portion of an aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock from certain transferors that will receive such shares in connection with the merger. See “About Communications Systems, Inc. and the Pineapple Merger Transaction.” These transferors may deemed to be affiliates of CSI and the shares that may be purchased by the selling shareholders pursuant to the STAs may be considered control securities.

 

The number of shares of common stock offered for sale by the selling shareholders consists of (1) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of our common stock that may be issued upon conversion, at an initial conversion price of $3.40 per share, of the Series A convertible preferred stock to be issued under the securities purchase agreement, (2) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of our common stock that may be issued, at an initial exercise price of $3.40 per share, upon the exercise of warrants to be issued under the securities purchase agreement, and (3) the aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock to be issued in the merger that may be purchased by the selling shareholders under the STAs.

 

We are not selling any shares of our common stock under this prospectus and will not receive any proceeds from sales of the shares offered by the selling shareholders, although we will incur expenses in connection with the offering. The registration of the resale of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus does not necessarily mean that any of the shares will be offered or sold by the selling shareholders. The timing and amount of any sales are within the sole discretion of the selling shareholders.

 

The shares of common stock offered under this prospectus may be sold by the selling shareholders through public or private transactions, at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. For more information on the times and manner in which the selling shareholders may sell the shares of common stock under this prospectus, please see the section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” beginning on page 44 of this prospectus.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “JCS.” On                , 2022, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $        per share.

 

Investing in our shares of common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, as well as those risk factors described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is              , 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

1

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

2

RISK FACTORS

10

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

31

USE OF PROCEEDS

31

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

32

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

38

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

44

LEGAL MATTERS

46

EXPERTS

46

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

46

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

47

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITY

47

 

We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement we prepare or authorize. Neither we nor the selling shareholders, as defined below, have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement we have prepared. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is current only as of the date of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. It is important for you to read and consider all the information contained in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, before making your investment decision.

 

For investors outside the United States: we have not, and the selling shareholders have not, taken any action to permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offer and sale of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

 

i 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”). Under this registration process, the selling shareholders named in this prospectus may offer or sell shares of our common stock in one or more offerings from time to time. Each time the selling shareholders named in this prospectus (or in any supplement to this prospectus) sells shares of our common stock under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, such selling shareholders must provide a copy of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, to a potential purchaser, as required by law.

 

In certain circumstances we may provide a prospectus supplement that may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including all documents incorporated herein or therein by reference, together with additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 47 of this prospectus and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” beginning on page 46 of this prospectus.

 

Neither we, nor the selling shareholders, have authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor any of the selling shareholders will make an offer to sell our common stock in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus concerning our industry and the markets in which we operate, including our general expectations and market position, market opportunity and market share, is based on information from our own management estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information, our knowledge of our industry and assumptions based on such information and knowledge, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, assumptions and estimates of our and our industry’s future performance are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus. These and other factors could cause our future performance to differ materially from our assumptions and estimates. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 31 of this prospectus.

 

Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® and ™ symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and tradenames.

 

Unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms “CSI” “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” as used in this prospectus refer to Communication Systems, Inc. and our subsidiaries, and the term “common stock” refers to our common stock, par value $0.05 per share. The phrase “this prospectus” refers to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering and selected information contained in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. For a more complete understanding of the Company and this offering, we encourage you to read and consider the more detailed information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including risk factors, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, and our most recent consolidated financial statements and related notes.

 

About Communications Systems, Inc.
and the Pineapple Merger Transaction

 

Communications Systems, Inc. (“CSI” or the “Company”) is a Minnesota corporation that was organized in 1969. Until August 2, 2021, CSI classified its businesses into the following two segments:

 

 

Electronics & Software (E&S): designs, develops and sells Intelligent Edge solutions that provide connectivity and power through Power over Ethernet (“PoE”) products and actionable intelligence to end devices in an Internet of Things (“IoT”) ecosystem through embedded and cloud-based management software. In addition, this segment generates revenue from its traditional products consisting of media converters, NICs, and Ethernet switches that offer the ability to affordably integrate the benefits of fiber optics into any data network; and

 

 

Services & Support (S&S): provides SD-WAN and other technology solutions that address prevalent IT challenges, including network resiliency, security products and services, network virtualization, and cloud migrations, IT managed services, wired and wireless network design and implementation, and converged infrastructure configuration, deployment and management.

 

CSI, Helios Merger Co., a Minnesota corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSI (“Merger Sub”), and Pineapple Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Pineapple”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 1, 2021, as amended (the “merger agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into Pineapple, with Pineapple surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSI. The merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are referred to collectively as the “Pineapple Merger Transaction.”

 

At the time the Pineapple Merger Transaction was announced, CSI stated its intention to divest substantially all its current operating and non-operating assets, including its E&S Segment business, its S&S Segment business, real estate holdings, and cash, cash equivalents, and investments. Consistent with that announcement, on August 2, 2021, CSI sold the two subsidiaries that operated the E&S Segment business and, as a result, CSI disposed of its E&S Segment business as of that date.

 

The shareholders of CSI as of the close of the business day immediately preceding the effective time of the merger will receive one contractual non-transferable contingent value right, or CVR, per share of CSI common stock then held by them. The CVRs will be governed by a CVR agreement by and among CSI, a Rights Agent and a CVR Holders’ Representative. The rights and obligations of the CVR agreement will become the rights and obligations of the combined company after the closing of the merger. Under the CVR agreement, holders of the CVRs will be entitled to receive a portion of the proceeds of any divestiture, assignment or other disposition of all assets of CSI and/or its subsidiaries that are related to CSI’s pre-merger business, assets and properties that occur during the 24-month period following the closing of the merger.

 

Immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, Pineapple will complete its acquisition of two Hawaiian solar companies, Hawaii Energy Connection, LLC (“HEC”) and E-Gear, LLC (“E-Gear”), which is sometimes referred to as the “Pre-Closing Acquisition.”

 

Following the closing of the merger, CSI will be renamed “Pineapple Holdings, Inc.,” will trade under the new Nasdaq ticker symbol “PEGY,” and is sometimes referred to herein as the “combined company.” Following the closing of the merger, the combined company will be focused on the growing home solar industry, primarily operating through its Pineapple, HEC and E-Gear subsidiary businesses.

 

 

2 

 

 

Our mailing address is 10900 Red Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343, and the telephone number at that location is (952) 996-1674. Our principal website is www.commsystems.com.

 

The PIPE Offering

 

On September 15, 2021, CSI entered into an amended and restated securities purchase agreement with the selling shareholders to make a $32.0 million private placement investment (the “PIPE Offering”) in CSI in connection with the closing of the Pineapple Merger Transaction. Proceeds of this investment will used primarily to fund the cash portion of the Pre-Closing Acquisition, to repay $4.5 million of Pineapple’s $7.5 million term loan from Hercules Capital, Inc., and to pay transaction expenses and strategic initiatives of the combined company following the closing of the merger. The closing of the PIPE Offering is subject to approval of CSI’s shareholders.

 

Securities Purchase Agreement

 

Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the selling shareholders have agreed to purchase $32.0 million in newly authorized CSI Series A convertible preferred stock, convertible at a price of $3.40 per share into CSI common stock, with five-year warrants to purchase an additional $32.0 million of common shares at that same price.

 

Pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, CSI will sell up to an aggregate of 32,000 shares of its Series A convertible preferred stock, which has a stated value per share of $1,000 and a conversion price per share of $3.40, subject to adjustment. For each $1,000 paid, the selling shareholder will receive 1 share of Series A convertible preferred stock and a warrant to purchase 294 shares of CSI common stock, which is the number of shares of CSI common stock initially issuable upon conversion of each share of Series A convertible preferred stock. At the closing, each selling shareholder will deliver to CSI, via wire transfer or a certified check, immediately available funds equal to such selling shareholder’s subscription amount. Assuming CSI sells 32,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock for gross proceeds of $32.0 million, CSI would be obligated to issue approximately 9,411,764 shares of CSI common stock on conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock at the initial $3.40 per share conversion price and CSI also would issue warrants to purchase 9,411,764 shares of CSI common stock at an exercise price of $3.40 per share. The securities purchase agreement contains customary representations and warranties of CSI and the selling shareholders.

 

For a summary of the rights and preferences of the Series A convertible preferred stock, see “DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES - Preferred Stock.”

 

The securities purchase agreement provides that the PIPE Offering will close immediately following the consummation of the merger. Thus, the selling shareholders will invest in the post-merger combined company. The selling shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash dividends paid prior to closing of the merger and will not receive any CVRs.

 

From the date of the securities purchase agreement until 45 days after the “Effective Date” as defined in the securities purchase agreement, CSI and any subsidiary may not issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any shares of CSI common stock or common stock equivalents or file any registration statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, in each case other than as contemplated pursuant to the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the PIPE Offering or the merger agreement. Additionally, from the date of the securities purchase agreement until such time as no selling shareholder holds any of the warrants, CSI is prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any issuance by CSI or any of its subsidiaries of CSI common stock or common stock equivalents (or a combination of units thereof) involving a “Variable Rate Transaction.”

3 

 

 

The securities purchase agreement generally defines a Variable Rate Transaction as a transaction involving CSI common stock and any of the following:

 

 

a conversion price, exercise price or exchange rate or other price that is based upon, and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of CSI common stock

 

 

a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the company or the market for the CSI common stock, or

 

 

any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit, whereby the company may issue securities at a future determined price.

 

The securities purchase agreement generally defines the term “Effective Date” to mean the earliest date that:

 

 

the initial registration statement registering for resale all underlying shares required to be registered under the initial registration statement pursuant to the registration rights agreement has been declared effective by the Commission,

 

 

all of the underlying shares have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without the requirement for CSI to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144 and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions,

 

 

follows the one-year anniversary of the closing date of the securities purchase agreement provided that a holder of underlying shares is not an affiliate of CSI, or

 

 

all of the underlying shares may be sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and CSI’s counsel has delivered to such holders a standing written unqualified opinion that resales may then be made by such holders of the underlying shares pursuant to such exemption which opinion shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such holders.

 

From the date of the securities purchase agreement until the one year anniversary of the Effective Date as defined in the securities purchase agreement, the selling shareholders have the right to purchase up to an aggregate of 25% of any issuance by CSI or any of its subsidiaries of CSI common stock or common stock equivalents for cash consideration, other than an exempt issuance as defined in the securities purchase agreement, which includes the issuance of stock-based awards to employees, officers or directors of CSI pursuant to a plan adopted for such purpose, the issuance of securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any securities issuable under the securities purchase agreement or outstanding on the date of the securities purchase agreement, or the issuance of shares of CSI common stock issued in connection with certain business combinations or strategic transactions.

 

The securities purchase agreement requires that CSI and each of its directors, officers and beneficial owners of 10% or more of its common stock enter into a lock-up agreement at the closing of the PIPE Offering. Under the lock-up agreement, the CSI shareholder party thereto will not, for a period of 30 days from the Effective Date as defined in the securities purchase agreement, offer, sell, contract to sell, grant any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of any shares of CSI common stock, establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position, or enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the CSI common stock, subject to certain customary exceptions.

 

In connection with the transaction, CSI has agreed to file a registration statement on behalf of the selling shareholders allowing them to resell the CSI common stock into which the Series A convertible preferred stock is convertible and into which the warrants are exercisable immediately after issuance. Closing of the PIPE Offering also is subject to the consummation of the merger, filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Minnesota Secretary of State to designate the Series A convertible preferred stock, CSI shareholder approval as required by Nasdaq rules and regulations, CSI shareholder approval of an amendment to the CSI articles of incorporation to increase the authorized shares of common stock sufficient to complete the PIPE Offering, and the effectiveness of the resale registration statement, as well as other customary closing conditions.

4 

 

 

The securities purchase agreement may be terminated by any selling shareholder, as to such selling shareholder’s obligations only, if the closing of the PIPE Offering has not been consummated on or before March 31, 2022. However, this date may be extended for an additional 30 days in the event that the resale registration statement and/or the proxy statement/prospectus required for the Pineapple Merger Transaction is still being reviewed or commented on by the SEC. Any termination of a selling shareholder’s obligations will not affect the obligations of the Company and the other selling shareholders. Additionally, the securities purchase agreement will terminate automatically in the event of any termination of the merger agreement.

 

PIPE Offering Warrants

 

At the closing of the PIPE Offering under the securities purchase agreement, CSI will issue to each selling shareholder a warrant to purchase CSI common stock. The number of warrant shares will be based on the purchase price paid by the selling shareholder. For each $1,000 paid, the selling shareholder will receive 1 share of Series A convertible preferred stock and a warrant to purchase 294 shares of CSI common stock, which is the number of shares of CSI common stock initially issuable upon conversion of each share of Series A convertible preferred stock. Assuming CSI sells 32,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock for gross proceeds of $32.0 million, CSI would be obligated to issue approximately 9,411,764 shares of CSI common stock on conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock at the initial $3.40 per share conversion price and CSI also would issue warrants to purchase 9,411,764 shares of CSI common stock at an exercise price of $3.40 per share.

 

The warrants issued in the PIPE Offering will have an initial exercise price of $3.40 per share, will be exercisable immediately, and will have a term of exercise equal to five years. The exercise price is subject to adjustment if, after the date of the securities purchase agreement, CSI issues, sells, publicly announces the contemplated issuance or sale of, or is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of CSI common stock for a consideration per share less than a price equal to the exercise price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale. In the case of any such dilutive issuance, the exercise price then in effect will be reduced to an amount equal to the lesser of the consideration per share in such dilutive issuance and the lowest volume weighted average price (VWAP) of the CSI common stock on any trading day during the 5 trading days immediately following the public announcement of the execution of the dilutive issuance. Additionally, the number of warrant shares issuable under the warrant will be increased such that the aggregate exercise price payable under the warrant, after taking into account the decrease in the exercise price in connection with the dilutive issuance, will be equal to the aggregate exercise price prior to such adjustment. However, the warrant provides that no adjustment will be made under these dilutive issuance provisions with respect to or as a result of any of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

 

The warrant may be exercised by payment of the aggregate exercise price in cash or, if the exercise of the warrant occurs after the deadline for effectiveness of the registration statements required by the registration rights agreement and a registration statement covering the issuance or resale of the shares of CSI common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant is not available for the issuance or resale, by a cashless exercise in which the holder will receive a net number of shares of CSI common stock upon exercise.

 

The warrant contains a call provision under which CSI may call for cancellation of all or any portion of a warrant for which an exercise notice has not yet been delivered for consideration equal to $0.001 per warrant share. This call right may be exercised by CSI upon proper notice only if after the Effective Date as defined in the securities purchase agreement:

 

 

the volume weighted average price (VWAP) of the CSI common stock for each of 10 consecutive trading days exceeds 300% of the then current exercise price,

 

 

the average daily dollar volume for such 10 consecutive trading day measurement period exceeds $5,000,000 per trading day; and

 

 

the holder of the warrant is not in possession of any information that constitutes, or might constitute, material, non-public information which was provided by CSI, any of its subsidiaries, or any of their officers, directors, employees, agents or affiliates.

 

 

5 

 

 

Other than the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, CSI may not enter into or be party to a “Fundamental Transaction” unless the successor entity to such Fundamental Transaction assumes in writing all of the obligations of CSI under the warrant and all other PIPE Offering transaction documents. In addition, prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of CSI common stock are entitled to receive securities, cash, assets or other property with respect to or in exchange for the CSI common stock, CSI must make appropriate provision to ensure that, and any applicable successor entity must ensure that, the warrant holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of the warrant at any time after the consummation of such event, shares of CSI common stock or capital stock of the successor entity or, if so elected by the warrant holder, in lieu of the shares of CSI common stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property) issuable upon exercise of the warrant prior to such event, such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights) which the warrant holder would have been entitled to receive upon the consummation of such event or the record date resulting in such event, had the warrant been exercised immediately prior to such event or the record date such event (without regard to any limitations on exercise of the warrant). In the event of a Change of Control, at the request of the warrant holder or at the election of CSI delivered before the 60th day after the consummation of such Change of Control, CSI (or the successor entity) will purchase the warrant from the warrant holder by paying to the holder cash in an amount equal to the Black-Scholes value of the remaining unexercised portion of the warrant on the date of such Change of Control.

 

Under the warrant, the term Fundamental Transaction includes one or more related transactions in which CSI, directly or indirectly, will:

 

 

consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not CSI is the surviving corporation) another entity, or

 

 

sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of CSI or any of its “significant subsidiaries” to one or more entities, or

 

 

make, or allow one or more entities to make, or allow CSI to be subject to or have shares of CSI common stock be subject to or party to one or more entities making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either (i) 50% of the outstanding shares of CSI common stock, (ii) 50% of the outstanding shares of CSI common stock calculated as if any shares of CSI common stock held by all entities making or party to, or affiliated with any entities making or party to, such offer were not outstanding; or (iii) such number of shares of CSI common stock such that all entities making or party to, or affiliated with any entity making or party to, such offer, become collectively the beneficial owners of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of CSI common stock, or

 

 

consummate a stock purchase agreement or other business combination with one or more entities whereby all such entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire, either (i) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of CSI common stock, (ii) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of CSI common stock calculated as if any shares of CSI common stock held by all the entities making or party to, or affiliated with any entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (iii) such number of shares of CSI common stock such that the entities become collectively the beneficial owners of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of CSI common stock, or

 

 

reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify shares of CSI common stock,

 

 

allow any entity individually or the entities in the aggregate to be or become the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of CSI common stock, (y) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of CSI common stock not held by all such entities as of the date of the securities purchase agreement calculated as if any shares of CSI common stock held by all such entities were not outstanding, or (iii) a percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of CSI common stock or other equity securities of CSI sufficient to allow such entities to effect a statutory short form merger or other transaction requiring other shareholders of CSI to surrender their CSI common stock without approval of the shareholders of CSI.

 

The warrant contains provisions limiting the exercise by a selling shareholder based on beneficial ownership. Specifically, a selling shareholder will be prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from exercising a warrant to the extent that immediately prior to or after giving effect to such exercise, the selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and other attribution parties, would own more than 4.99% of the total number of shares of CSI common stock then issued and outstanding, which percentage may be changed at the selling shareholders’ election to a lower percentage at any time or to a higher percentage not to exceed 9.99% upon 61 days’ notice to CSI.

 

 

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Additionally, so long as the warrant remains outstanding, CSI is obligated to keep at all times keep reserved for issuance a number of shares of CSI common stock at least equal to 200% of the maximum number of shares of CSI common stock as are issuable upon exercise of the outstanding warrants without regard to any limitations on exercise.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

In connection with the securities purchase agreement, CSI entered into a registration rights agreement dated September 15, 2021 with the selling shareholders. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, CSI has agreed to file a registration statement to register for resale by the selling shareholders 200% of the CSI common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock and the CSI common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants issued in the PIPE Offering. The selling shareholders’ obligation to close the transactions contemplated by the securities purchase agreement is subject to the effectiveness of the resale registration statement required by the registration rights agreement. CSI intends that the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will satisfy this closing condition.

 

CSI has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement effective until the date that all registrable securities covered by such registration statement may be sold by non-affiliates without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, without the requirement for CSI to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144 as determined by counsel to CSI.

 

If CSI fails to file and obtain and maintain effectiveness of the resale registration statements by the deadlines required under the registration rights agreement or fails to maintain the effectiveness of the resale registration statements for specified periods, then CSI shall be obligated to pay, as liquidated damages, to each holder of registrable securities an amount in cash equal to 2.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such holder under the securities purchase agreement for an unregistered securities then held by such holder and 2.0% on each monthly anniversary of the date of such failure if not cured, provided that the aggregate of all such payments will not exceed 10.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such holder under the securities purchase agreement.

 

These registration rights granted under the registration rights agreement are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including CSI’s right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances. The registration rights agreement also contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions.

 

Stock Transfer Agreements

 

On January 24, 2022, the selling shareholders entered into stock transfer agreements (each, an “STA” and collectively, the “STAs”) with each of Lake Street Solar LLC (“Lake Street Solar”), Hercules Capital, Inc. (“Hercules”), Kyle Udseth and the Sandra and Tom Holland Trust dated March 8, 2011 (the “Holland Trust”), as transferors, pursuant to which each transferor agreed to sell to the selling shareholders a portion of an aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock to be issued in the merger pursuant to the merger agreement. The transferors may deemed to be affiliates of CSI and the shares that may be purchased by the selling shareholders pursuant to the STAs may be considered control securities. We have agreed to register for resale the aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock to be issued in the merger.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the STAs, the selling shareholders have the right to purchase from the transferors the following number of shares to be issued to the transferors in the merger:

 

Name of Selling Shareholder

Number of Shares

Bigger Capital Fund LP

244,258

Cavalry Fund I LP and Cavalry Investment Fund LP

248,016

Anson East Master Fund LP

563,672

Anson Investments Master Fund LP

187,891

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Name of Selling Shareholder

Number of Shares

Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, LTD

977,031

Empery Asset Master LTD

334,445

Empery Tax Efficient LP

  89,887

Empery Tax Efficient III, LP

101,762

Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd.

751,563

CVI Investments, Inc.

766,594

Evergreen Capital Management LLC

300,625

District 2 Capital Fund LP

244,258

Total

4,810,002  

 

Under the STA, each transferor is obligated to sell to the selling shareholder the following percentage of the aggregate number of shares such selling shareholder may purchase under its STA: Lake Street Solar, 79.672%, Hercules, 16.174%; Mr. Udseth, 3.791% and the Holland Trust, 0.363%, with the number of shares rounded to each whole share with any shortage to be sold by Lake Street Solar. Collectively, the transferors are obligated to sell to the selling shareholders the following aggregate number of shares they will receive in the merger: Lake Street Solar, 3,832,226 shares; Hercules 777,969 shares; Mr. Udseth 182,347 shares; and the Holland Trust, 17,460 shares. Each of the stock transfer agreements is identical other than the respective names of the purchaser and number of shares to be issued in the merger that will be sold by the transferor on the terms and conditions set forth in the stock transfer agreement.

 

Under the stock transfer agreement, the transferor will sell the specified shares to the selling shareholder indicated above, at a purchase price of $0.0001 per share, on the first business day that is on or after the date that is 183 days following the closing of the merger, unless prior to such date (a) the closing of the Pineapple merger did not occur as timely required under the merger agreement, (b) the volume weighted average price for the CSI common stock for any five trading days during any 10 consecutive trading day period commencing on the date of the closing of the merger and ending on or prior to the date that is 180 days following the closing of the merger exceeds $3.80 per share (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction), (c) CSI closes on the sale of equity securities that consist of CSI common stock or common stock equivalents that do not constitute an exempt issuance under the securities purchase agreement at a price either (i) constituting a 20% or greater discount to the average of the CSI common stock volume weighted average prices for the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on the date preceding the closing of the sale of these equity securities or (ii) $2.25 per share or less (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction) or (d) the failure of the selling shareholders to timely close as required under the securities purchase agreement or the selling shareholder’s breach of any provision under the securities purchase agreement in a manner that causes a material adverse effect to CSI or if the closing of the transactions set forth in the securities purchase agreement does not occur as set forth in the securities purchase agreement.

 

 

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The Offering

 

Common stock to be offered by the selling shareholders:

 

Up to 42,457,058 shares

 

 

 

Common stock to be outstanding after the offering:

 

48,569,155 shares, based on 9,720,627 shares outstanding as of February 21, 2022 and assuming that:

 

●     CSI issues in the merger an aggregate of 20,025,000 shares of its common stock as Base Consideration and as Earnout Consideration relating to the funding-related closing condition (as described in the merger agreement), which merger shares includes the aggregate 4,810,002 shares to be issued in the merger that may be sold pursuant to the STAs;

 

●       CSI issues 9,411,764 shares of its common stock upon conversion of its Series A convertible preferred stock to be sold pursuant to the securities purchase agreement; and

 

●      CSI issues 9,411,764 shares its common stock upon the exercise of warrants to be sold in the PIPE Offering pursuant to the securities purchase agreement.

 

 

 

Use of proceeds:

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering. See “Use of Proceeds” beginning on page 31 of this prospectus.

 

 

 

Risk factors:

 

You should read the “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus and the “Risk Factors” sections of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.

 

 

 

Stock exchange listing:

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “JCS.”

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the following risks and the risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021, and in any other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our future filings. The occurrence of any of the events described below could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, prospects or the value of our common stock. These risks are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business.

 

Risks Related to the Combined Company Following the CSI/Pineapple Merger

 

Risks Relating to the Combined Company’s Business

 

The combined company’s growth strategy depends on the continued origination of solar service agreements.

 

The combined company’s growth strategy depends on the continued origination of solar service agreements. The combined company may be unable to originate additional solar service agreements and related solar energy systems in the numbers or at the pace the combined company currently expects for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

demand for solar energy systems failing to develop sufficiently or taking longer than expected to develop;

 

 

residential solar energy technology being available at economically attractive prices as a result of factors outside of the combined company’s control, including utility prices not rising as quickly as anticipated;

 

 

issues related to financing, construction, permitting, the environment, governmental approvals and the negotiation of solar service agreements;

 

 

a reduction in government incentives or adverse changes in policy and laws for the development or use of solar energy, including net metering, solar renewable energy credits (“SRECs”) and tax credits;

 

 

other government or regulatory actions that could impact the combined company’s business model;

 

 

negative developments in public perception of the solar energy industry; and

 

 

competition from other solar companies following a similar business plan as contemplated by the company and other energy technologies, including the emergence of alternative renewable energy technologies.

 

If the challenges of originating solar service agreements increase, the combined company’s pool of available opportunities may be limited, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

 

If sufficient additional demand for residential solar energy systems does not develop or takes longer to develop than the combined company anticipates, its ability to originate solar service agreements may decrease.

 

The distributed residential solar energy market is at a relatively early stage of development in comparison to fossil fuel-based electricity generation. If additional demand for distributed residential solar energy systems fails to develop sufficiently or takes longer to develop than the combined company anticipates, it may be unable to originate additional solar service agreements and related solar energy systems to grow its business. In addition, demand for solar energy systems in the combined company’s targeted markets may not develop to the extent it anticipates. As a result, the combined company may be unsuccessful in broadening its customer base through origination of solar service agreements and related solar energy systems within its current markets or in new markets it may enter.

 

 

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Many factors may affect the demand for solar energy systems, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

availability, substance and magnitude of solar support programs including government targets, subsidies, incentives, renewable portfolio standards and residential net metering rules;

 

 

the relative pricing of other conventional and non-renewable energy sources, such as natural gas,

coal, oil and other fossil fuels, wind, utility-scale solar, nuclear, geothermal and biomass;

 

 

performance, reliability and availability of energy generated by solar energy systems compared to conventional and other non-solar renewable energy sources;

 

 

availability and performance of energy storage technology, the ability to implement such technology for use in conjunction with solar energy systems and the cost competitiveness such technology provides to customers as compared to costs for those customers reliant on the conventional electrical grid; and

 

 

general economic conditions, supply chain conditions and the level of interest rates.

 

The residential solar energy industry is constantly evolving, which makes it difficult to evaluate the combined company’s prospects. The combined company cannot be certain if historical growth rates reflect future opportunities or whether growth anticipated by it will be realized. The failure of distributed residential solar energy to achieve, or its being significantly delayed in achieving, widespread adoption could have a material adverse effect on the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

If the combined company fails to manage its operations and growth effectively, it may be unable to execute its business plan, maintain high levels of customer service or adequately address competitive challenges.

 

The combined company will be focused on achieving significant revenue growth in the future measured by its number of customers and it intends to continue its efforts to expand its business within existing and new markets. This growth may place a strain on the combined company’s management, operational and financial infrastructure. The combined company’s growth requires management to devote a significant amount of time and effort to maintain and expand its relationships with customers and third parties, attract new customers, arrange financing for its growth and manage its expansion into additional markets.

 

In addition, the combined company’s current and planned operations, personnel, information technology and other systems and procedures might be inadequate to support future growth and may require it to make additional unanticipated investments in its infrastructure. The combined company’s success and ability to further scale its business will depend, in part, on its ability to manage these changes in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

 

If the combined company cannot manage its operations and growth, it may be unable to meet its or others’ expectations regarding growth, opportunity and financial targets, take advantage of market opportunities, execute its business strategies or respond to competitive pressures. This could also result in declines in quality or customer satisfaction, increased costs, difficulties in introducing new offerings or other operational difficulties. Any failure to effectively manage the combined company’s operations and growth could adversely impact its reputation, business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

 

A material reduction in the retail price of electricity charged by electric utilities or other retail electricity providers could harm the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Decreases in the retail price of electricity from electric utilities or from other retail electric providers, including other renewable energy sources such as larger-scale solar energy systems, could make the combined company’s offerings less economically attractive. The price of electricity from utilities could decrease for any one or more reasons, including but not limited to:

 

 

the construction of a significant number of new power generation plants, whether generated by natural gas, nuclear power, coal or renewable energy;

 

 

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the construction of additional electric transmission and distribution lines;

 

 

a reduction in the price of natural gas or other natural resources as a result of increased supply due to new drilling techniques or other technological developments, a relaxation of associated regulatory standards or broader economic or policy developments;

 

 

less demand for electricity due to energy conservation technologies and public initiatives to reduce electricity consumption or to recessionary economic conditions; and

 

 

development of competing energy technologies that provide less expensive energy.

 

A reduction in electric utilities’ rates or changes to peak hour pricing policies or rate design (such as the adoption of a fixed or flat rate or adding fees to homeowners that have residential solar systems) could also make the combined company’s offerings less competitive with the price of electricity from the electrical grid. If the cost of energy available from electric utilities or other providers were to decrease relative to solar energy generated from residential solar energy systems or if similar events impacting the economics of the combined company’s offerings were to occur, it may have difficulty attracting new customers or existing customers may default or seek to terminate, cancel or otherwise avoid the obligations under their solar service agreements. For example, large utilities in California have started transitioning customers to time-of-use rates and also have adopted a shift in the peak period for time-of-use rates to later in the day. Unless grandfathered under a different rate, residential customers with solar energy systems are required to take service under time-of-use rates with the later peak period. Moving utility customers to time-of-use rates or the shift in the timing of peak rates for utility-generated electricity to include times of day when solar energy generation is less efficient or non-operable could also make the combined company’s offerings less competitive. Time-of-use rates could also result in higher costs for the combined company’s customers whose electricity requirements are not fully met by its offerings during peak periods.

 

Additionally, the price of electricity from utilities may grow less quickly than the escalator feature in certain of the combined company’s solar service agreements, which could also make its solar energy systems less competitive with the price of electricity from the electrical grid and result in a material adverse effect on the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The combined company needs to obtain substantial additional financing arrangements to provide working capital and growth capital and if financing is not available to it on acceptable terms when needed, its ability to continue to grow its business would be materially adversely impacted.

 

Distributed residential solar power is a capital-intensive business that relies heavily on the availability of debt and equity financing sources to fund solar energy system purchase, design, engineering and other capital expenditures. The combined company’s future success depends in part on its ability to raise capital from third-party investors and commercial sources, such as banks and other lenders, on competitive terms to help finance the deployment of its solar energy systems. The combined company seeks to minimize its cost of capital in order to improve profitability and maintain the price competitiveness of the electricity produced by, the payments for and the cost of its solar energy systems. The combined company relies on access to capital to cover the costs related to bringing its solar energy systems in service, although its customers ultimately bear responsibility for those costs pursuant to its solar service agreements.

 

To meet the capital needs of the combined company’s growing business, it will need to obtain additional debt or equity financing from current and new investors. If any of the combined company’s debt or equity investors decide not to invest in it in the future for any reason, or decide to invest at levels inadequate to support its anticipated needs or materially change the terms under which they are willing to provide future financing, it will need to identify new investors and financial institutions to provide financing and negotiate new financing terms. In addition, the combined company’s ability to obtain additional financing through the asset-backed securities market or other secured debt markets is subject to the combined company having sufficient assets eligible for securitization as well as the combined company’s ability to obtain appropriate credit ratings. If the combined company is unable to raise additional capital in a timely manner, its ability to meet its capital needs and fund future growth may be limited.

 

 

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Delays in obtaining financing could cause delays in expansion in existing markets or entering into new markets and hiring additional personnel. Any future delays in capital raising could similarly cause the combined company to delay deployment of a substantial number of solar energy systems for which it has signed solar service agreements with customers. The combined company’s future ability to obtain additional financing depends on banks’ and other financing sources’ continued confidence in its business model and the renewable energy industry as a whole. It could also be impacted by the liquidity needs of such financing sources themselves. The combined company faces intense competition from a variety of other companies, technologies and financing structures for such limited investment capital. If the combined company is unable to continue to offer a competitive investment profile, it may lose access to these funds or they may only be available to it on terms less favorable than those received by its competitors. For example, if the combined company experiences higher customer default rates than it has historically experienced, it could be more difficult or costly to attract future financing. Any inability to secure financing could lead the combined company to cancel planned installations, impair its ability to accept new customers or increase its borrowing costs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Pineapple’s business prospects are dependent in part on a continuing decline in the cost of solar energy system components and the combined company’s business may be adversely affected to the extent the cost of such components stabilize or increase in the future.

 

The market for residential solar energy systems has benefitted from the declining cost of solar energy system components and to the extent such costs stabilize, decline at a slower rate or increase, the combined company’s future growth rate may be negatively impacted. The declining cost of solar energy system components and the raw materials necessary to manufacture them has been a key driver in the price of solar energy systems, the prices charged for electricity and customer adoption of solar energy. Solar energy system component and raw material prices may not continue to decline at the same rate as they have over the past several years or at all. In addition, growth in the solar industry and the resulting increase in demand for solar energy system components and the raw materials necessary to manufacture them may also put upward pressure on prices. An increase of solar energy system components and raw materials prices could slow the combined company’s growth and cause its business and results of operations to suffer. Further, the cost of solar energy system components and raw materials has increased and could increase in the future due to tariff penalties, duties, the loss of or changes in economic governmental incentives or other factors.

 

The combined company faces competition from centralized electric utilities, retail electric providers, independent power producers and renewable energy companies.

 

The solar energy and renewable energy industries are both highly competitive and continually evolving as participants strive to distinguish themselves within their markets and compete with large centralized electric utilities. The combined company will compete with these centralized electric utilities primarily based on price (cents per kWh), predictability of future prices (by providing pre-determined annual price escalations) and the ease by which customers can switch to electricity generated by its solar energy systems. The combined company may also compete based on other value-added benefits, such as reliability and carbon-friendly power. If the combined company cannot offer compelling value to its customers based on these factors, its business may not grow.

 

Centralized electric utilities generally have substantially greater financial, technical, operational and other resources than the combined company does. As a result, these competitors may be able to devote more resources to the research, development, promotion and sale of their products or services or respond more quickly to evolving industry standards and changes in market conditions than the combined company can. Centralized electric utilities could also offer other value-added products or services that could help them to compete with the combined company, even if the cost of electricity they offer is higher than the combined company’s. In addition, a majority of utilities’ sources of electricity is non-solar, which may allow utilities to sell electricity more cheaply than electricity generated by the combined company’s solar energy systems. Centralized electric utilities could also offer customers the option of purchasing electricity obtained from renewable energy resources, including solar, which would compete with the combined company’s offerings.

 

 

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The combined company will also compete with retail electric providers and independent power producers not regulated like centralized electric utilities but which have access to the centralized utilities’ electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure pursuant to state, territorial and local pro-competition and consumer choice policies. These retail electric providers and independent power producers are able to offer customers electricity supply-only solutions that are competitive with the combined company’s solar energy system options on both price and usage of renewable energy technology while avoiding the longer-term agreements and physical installations the combined company’s business model requires. This may limit the combined company’s ability to acquire new customers, particularly those who wish to avoid long-term agreements or have an aesthetic or other objection to putting solar panels on their roofs.

 

The combined company will also compete with solar companies with business models similar to its own, who market to similar potential customers. Some of these competitors specialize in the distributed residential solar energy market and some may provide energy at lower costs than it does. Some of the combined company’s competitors offer or may offer similar services and products as the combined company. Many of the combined company’s competitors also have significant brand name recognition and have extensive knowledge of its target markets.

 

The combined company will also compete with solar companies that offer community solar products and utility companies that provide renewable power purchase programs. Some customers might choose to subscribe to a community solar project or renewable subscriber programs instead of installing a solar energy system on their home, which could affect the combined company’s sales. Additionally, some utility companies (and some utility-like entities, such as community choice aggregators in California) have generation portfolios that are increasingly renewable in nature. In California, for example, due to recent legislation, utility companies and community choice aggregators in that state are required to have generation portfolios comprised of 60% renewable energy by 2030 and state regulators are planning for utility companies and community choice aggregators to sell 100% greenhouse gas free electricity to retail customers by 2045. As utility companies offer increasingly renewable portfolios to retail customers, those customers might be less inclined to install a solar energy system at their home, which could adversely affect the combined company’s growth.

 

The combined company will compete with companies who sell solar energy systems and services in the commercial, industrial and government markets, in addition to the residential market, in the U.S. and foreign markets. There is intense competition in the residential solar energy sector in the markets in which the combined company operates. As new entrants continue to enter into these markets, the combined company may be unable to grow or maintain its operations and it may be unable to compete with companies that earn revenue in both the residential market and non-residential markets. Further, because Pineapple, HEC and E-Gear currently provide services primarily to residential customers, the combined company will have a less diverse market presence and will be more exposed to potential adverse changes in the residential market than its competitors that sell solar energy systems and services in the commercial, industrial, government and utility markets.

 

As the solar industry grows and evolves, the combined company will also face new competitors and technologies who are not currently in the market. The combined company’s industry is characterized by low technological barriers to entry and well-capitalized companies, including utilities and integrated energy companies, could choose to enter the market and compete with us. The combined company’s failure to adapt to changing market conditions and to compete successfully with existing or new competitors will limit its growth and will have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Developments in technology or improvements in distributed solar energy generation and related technologies or components may materially adversely affect demand for the combined company’s offerings.

 

Significant developments in technology, such as advances in distributed solar power generation, energy storage solutions such as batteries, energy storage management systems, the widespread use or adoption of fuel cells for residential or commercial properties or improvements in other forms of distributed or centralized power production may materially and adversely affect demand for the combined company’s offerings and otherwise affect its business. Future technological advancements may result in reduced prices to consumers or more efficient solar energy systems than those available today, either of which may result in current customer dissatisfaction. The combined company may not be able to adopt these new technologies as quickly as its competitors or on a cost-effective basis.

 

 

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It is possible that the solar energy system deployed on a customer’s residence may be outdated prior to the expiration of the term of the related solar service agreement, reducing the likelihood of renewal of the combined company’s solar service agreement at the end of the applicable term and possibly increasing the occurrence of customers seeking to terminate or cancel their solar service agreements or defaults. If current customers become dissatisfied with the price they pay for their solar energy system under the combined company’s solar service agreements relative to prices that may be available in the future or if customers become dissatisfied by the output generated by their solar energy systems relative to future solar energy system production capabilities, or both, this may lead to customers seeking to terminate or cancel their solar service agreements or higher rates of customer default, which would adversely affect the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, recent technological advancements may impact the combined company’s business in ways it does not currently anticipate. Any failure by the combined company to adopt or have access to new or enhanced technologies or processes, or to react to changes in existing technologies, could result in product obsolescence or the loss of competitiveness of and decreased consumer interest in its solar energy services, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The combined company will depend on a limited number of suppliers of solar energy system components and technologies to adequately meet demand for its solar energy systems. Due to the limited number of suppliers in the combined company’s industry, the acquisition of any of these suppliers by a competitor or any shortage, delay, price change, imposition of tariffs or duties or other limitation in its ability to obtain components or technologies it uses could result in sales and installation delays, cancelations, and loss of customers.

 

The combined company will purchase solar panels, inverters, energy storage systems and other system components and instruments from a limited number of suppliers making it susceptible to quality issues, shortages and price changes. If one or more of the suppliers the combined company relies upon to meet anticipated demand ceases or reduces production due to its financial condition, acquisition by a competitor or otherwise, is unable to increase production as industry demand increases or is otherwise unable to allocate sufficient production to it, it may be difficult to quickly identify alternative suppliers or to qualify alternative products on commercially reasonable terms and the combined company’s ability to satisfy this demand may be adversely affected. There are a limited number of suppliers of solar energy system components, instruments and technologies. While the combined company believes there are other available sources of supply for these products, its need to transition to a new supplier may result in additional costs and delays in originating solar service agreements and deploying its related solar energy systems, which in turn may result in additional costs and delays in its acquisition of such solar service agreements and related solar energy systems. These issues could have a material adverse effect on the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

There have also been periods of industry-wide shortages of key components and instruments, including batteries and inverters, in times of rapid industry growth. The manufacturing infrastructure for some of these components has a long lead-time, requires significant capital investment and relies on the continued availability of key commodity materials, which could potentially result in an inability to meet demand for these components. The solar industry is currently experiencing rapid growth and, as a result, shortages of key components or instruments, including solar panels, may be more likely to occur, which in turn may result in price increases for such components. Even if industry-wide shortages do not occur, manufacturers and suppliers experiencing high demand or insufficient production capacity for key components may allocate these key components to customers other than the combined company or its suppliers. The combined company’s ability to originate solar service agreements and related solar energy systems would be reduced as a result of the allocation of key components by manufacturers and suppliers.

 

The combined company’s supply chain and operations could be subject to natural disasters and other events beyond its control, such as earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, droughts, tornadoes, power outages or other natural disasters, the effects of climate change and related extreme weather, public health issues and pandemics, war, terrorism, government restrictions or limitations on trade, and geo-political unrest and uncertainties. Human rights and forced labor issues in foreign countries and the U.S. government’s response to them could disrupt the combined company’s supply chain and its operations could be adversely impacted. Additionally, if the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the accompanying travel restrictions and business closures, continue for an extended period of time or worsen, the supply and pricing of the combined company’s inverters and other goods and therefore its ability to install new solar energy systems could be adversely affected. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the combined company’s business and operations will depend on, among other factors, the duration and severity of the outbreak, travel restrictions and business closures imposed and its ability to contract for supply from other sources on acceptable terms.

 

 

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Increases in the cost of the combined company’s solar energy systems due to tariffs imposed by the U.S. government could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

China is a major producer of solar cells and other solar products. Certain solar cells, modules, laminates and panels from China are subject to various U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty rates, depending on the exporter supplying the product, imposed by the U.S. government as a result of determinations that the U.S. was materially injured as a result of such imports being sold at less than fair value and subsidized by the Chinese government. If alternative sources are not available on competitive terms in the future, the combined company may seek to purchase these products from manufacturers in China. In addition, tariffs on solar cells, modules and inverters in China may put upward pressure on prices of these products in other jurisdictions from which the combined company currently purchases equipment, which could reduce its ability to offer competitive pricing to potential customers.

 

The combined company cannot predict what, if any, additional actions the U.S. may adopt with respect to tariffs or other trade regulations or what actions may be taken by other countries in retaliation for such measures. If additional measures are imposed or other negotiated outcomes occur, the combined company’s ability to purchase these products on competitive terms or to access specialized technologies from other countries could be further limited, which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The combined company’s operating results and its ability to grow may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year, which could make its future performance difficult to predict and could cause its operating results for a particular period to fall below expectations.

 

The combined company’s quarterly and annual operating results are difficult to predict and may fluctuate significantly in the future. In addition to the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, the following factors could cause the combined company’s operating results to fluctuate:

 

 

expiration or initiation of any governmental rebates or incentives;

 

 

significant fluctuations in customer demand for the combined company’s solar energy services and solar energy systems;

 

 

the availability, terms and costs of suitable financing;

 

 

the amount, timing of sales and potential decreases in value of SRECs;

 

 

our ability to continue to expand the combined company’s operations and the amount and timing of expenditures related to this expansion;

 

 

announcements by the combined company or its competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital-raising activities or commitments;

 

 

changes in the combined company’s pricing policies or terms or those of its competitors, including centralized electric utilities;

 

 

actual or anticipated developments in the combined company’s competitors’ businesses, technology or the competitive landscape; and

 

 

natural disasters or other weather or meteorological conditions.

 

For these or other reasons, past performance of Pineapple, HEC or E-Gear should not be relied upon as indications of the combined company’s future performance.

 

 

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If the combined company is unable to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, its future growth would be limited, and any acquisitions it may make could reduce, rather than increase, its cash flows.

 

The combined company intends to acquire solar energy systems, energy storage systems and related businesses and joint ventures. The consummation and timing of any future acquisitions will depend upon, among other things, whether the combined company is able to:

 

 

identify attractive acquisition candidates;

 

 

negotiate economically acceptable purchase agreements;

 

 

obtain any required governmental or third-party consents;

 

 

obtain financing for these acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, which may be more difficult at times when the capital markets are less accessible; and

 

 

outbid any competing bidders.

 

Additionally, any acquisition involves potential risks, including, among other things:

 

 

mistaken assumptions about assets, revenues and costs of the acquired company, including synergies and potential growth;

 

 

an inability to secure adequate customer commitments to use the acquired systems or facilities;

 

 

an inability to successfully integrate the assets or businesses the combined company acquires;

 

 

coordinating geographically disparate organizations, systems and facilities;

 

 

the assumption of unknown liabilities for which the combined company is not indemnified or for which its indemnity is inadequate;

 

 

mistaken assumptions about the acquired company’s suppliers or other vendors;

 

 

the diversion of management’s and employees’ attention from other business concerns;

 

 

unforeseen difficulties operating in new geographic areas and business lines;

 

 

customer or key employee losses at the acquired business; and

 

 

poor quality assets or installation.

 

If the combined company consummates any future acquisitions, its capitalization, results of operations and future growth may change significantly and its shareholders may not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial and other relevant information considered in deciding to engage in these future acquisitions.

 

Product liability and property damage claims against the combined company or accidents could result in adverse publicity and potentially significant monetary damages.

 

It is possible that the combined company’s solar energy systems could injure its customers or other third parties or its solar energy systems could cause property damage as a result of product malfunctions, defects, improper installation, fire or other causes. Any product liability claim the combined company faces could be expensive to defend and may divert management’s attention. The successful assertion of product liability claims against the combined company could result in potentially significant monetary damages, potential increases in insurance expenses, penalties or fines, subject it to adverse publicity, damage its reputation and competitive position and adversely affect sales of solar energy systems. In addition, product liability claims, injuries, defects or other problems experienced by other companies in the residential solar industry could lead to unfavorable market conditions to the industry as a whole and may have an adverse effect on the combined company’s ability to expand its portfolio of solar service agreements and related solar energy systems, thus affecting its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

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The combined company will not be able to insure against all potential risks and it may become subject to higher insurance premiums.

 

The combined company will be exposed to numerous risks inherent in the operation of solar energy systems, including equipment failure, manufacturing defects, natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires and earthquakes, terrorist attacks, sabotage, vandalism and environmental risks. Furthermore, components of the combined company’s solar energy systems, such as panels, inverters and batteries, could be damaged by severe weather, such as tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms or lightning. If the combined company’s solar energy systems are damaged in the event of a natural disaster beyond its control, losses could be outside the scope of insurance policies or exceed insurance policy limits and it could incur unforeseen costs that could harm its business and financial condition. The combined company may also incur significant additional costs in taking actions in preparation for, or in reaction to, such events.

 

The combined company’s insurance policies will also cover legal and contractual liabilities arising out of bodily injury, personal injury or property damage to third parties and are subject to policy limits. The combined company will also maintain coverage for physical damage to its solar energy assets.

 

However, such policies do not cover all potential losses and coverage is not always available in the insurance market on commercially reasonable terms. Furthermore, the receipt of insurance proceeds may be delayed, requiring the combined company to use cash or incur financing costs in the interim. To the extent the combined company experiences covered losses under its insurance policies, the limit of its coverage for potential losses may be decreased or the insurance rates it has to pay increased. Furthermore, the losses insured through commercial insurance are subject to the credit risk of those insurance companies.

 

The combined company may not be able to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount it desires at reasonable rates. The insurance coverage the combined company does obtain may contain large deductibles or fail to cover certain risks or all potential losses. In addition, the combined company’s insurance policies will be subject to annual review by its insurers and may not be renewed on similar or favorable terms, including coverage, deductibles or premiums, or at all. If a significant accident or event occurs for which the combined company is not fully insured or it suffers losses due to one or more of its insurance carriers defaulting on their obligations or contesting their coverage obligations, it could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Damage to the combined company’s brand and reputation or change or loss of use of its brand could harm its business and results of operations.

 

The combined company will depend significantly on its reputation for high-quality products, excellent customer service and brand name to attract new customers and grow its business. If the combined company fails to continue to deliver its solar energy systems within the planned timelines, if its offerings do not perform as anticipated or if it damages any of its customers’ properties or delay or cancel projects, its brand and reputation could be significantly impaired. Future technological improvements may allow the combined company to offer lower prices or offer new technology to new customers; however, technical limitations in its current solar energy systems may prevent it from offering such lower prices or new technology to the combined company’s existing customers. The inability of the combined company’s current customers to benefit from technological improvements could cause its existing customers to lower the value they perceive the combined company’s existing products offer and impair its brand and reputation.

 

In addition, given the sheer number of interactions the combined company’s personnel will have with customers and potential customers, it is inevitable that some customers’ and potential customers’ interactions with it will be perceived as less than satisfactory. If the combined company cannot manage its hiring and training processes to avoid or minimize these issues to the extent possible, its reputation may be harmed and its ability to attract new customers would suffer.

 

 

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The installation and operation of solar energy systems depends heavily on suitable solar and meteorological conditions. If meteorological conditions are unexpectedly unfavorable, the electricity production from the combined company’s solar energy systems may be substantially below its expectations and its ability to timely deploy new solar energy systems may be adversely impacted.

 

The energy produced and the revenue and cash flows generated by a solar energy system depend on suitable solar, atmospheric and weather conditions, all of which are beyond the combined company’s control.

 

If the solar energy systems underperform for any reason, the combined company’s business could suffer. Such solar, atmospheric and weather conditions, and other factors, can delay the timing of when solar energy systems can be installed and when the combined company can originate and begin to generate revenue from solar energy systems. This may increase the combined company’s expenses and decrease revenue and cash flows in the relevant periods. Furthermore, prevailing weather patterns could materially change in the future, making it harder to predict the average annual amount of sunlight striking each location where the combined company installs a solar energy system. This could make the combined company’s solar energy systems less economical overall or make individual solar energy systems less economical. Any of these events or conditions could harm the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The loss of one or more members of the combined company’s senior management or key employees may adversely affect its ability to implement its strategy.

 

The combined company will depend on its experienced management team and the loss of one or more key executives could have a negative impact on its business. The combined company may be unable to replace key members of its management team and key employees if it loses their services. Integrating new employees into the combined company’s team could prove disruptive to the combined company’s operations, require substantial resources and management attention and ultimately prove unsuccessful. An inability to attract and retain sufficient managerial personnel who have critical industry experience and relationships could limit or delay the combined company’s strategic efforts, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The combined company’s inability to protect its intellectual property could adversely affect its business. The combined company may also be subject to intellectual property rights claims by third parties, which are extremely costly to defend, could require it to pay significant damages and could limit its ability to use certain technologies.

 

Any failure to protect the combined company’s proprietary rights adequately could result in its competitors offering similar residential solar technology more quickly than anticipated, potentially resulting in the loss of some of its competitive advantage and a decrease in its revenue that would adversely affect its business prospects, financial condition and operating results. The combined company’s success depends, at least in part, on its ability to protect its core technology and intellectual property. The combined company will rely on intellectual property laws, primarily a combination of copyright and trade secret laws in the U.S., as well as license agreements and other contractual provisions, to protect its proprietary technology and brand. The combined company cannot be certain its agreements and other contractual provisions will not be breached, including a breach involving the use or disclosure of its trade secrets or know-how, or that adequate remedies will be available in the event of any breach. In addition, the combined company’s trade secrets may otherwise become known or lose trade secret protection.

 

The combined company cannot be certain its products and its business do not or will not violate the intellectual property rights of a third party. Third parties, including the combined company’s competitors, may own patents or other intellectual property rights that cover aspects of its technology or business methods. Such parties may claim the combined company has misappropriated, misused, violated or infringed third-party intellectual property rights and if it gains greater recognition in the market, it faces a higher risk of being the subject of claims it has violated others’ intellectual property rights. Any claim the combined company has violated a third party’s intellectual property rights, whether with or without merit, could be time-consuming, expensive to settle or litigate and could divert its management’s attention and other resources, all of which could adversely affect its business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. If the combined company does not successfully settle or defend an intellectual property claim, it could be liable for significant monetary damages and could be prohibited from continuing to use certain technology, business methods, content or brands. To avoid a prohibition, the combined company could seek a license from third parties, which could require it to pay significant royalties, increasing its operating expenses. If a license is not available at all or not available on commercially reasonable terms, the combined company may be required to develop or license a non-violating alternative, either of which could adversely affect its business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

 

 

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The combined company may be subject to interruptions or failures in its information technology systems.

 

The combined company will rely on information technology systems and infrastructure to support its business. Any of these systems may be susceptible to damage or interruption due to fire, floods, power loss, telecommunication failures, usage errors by employees, computer viruses, cyberattacks or other security breaches or similar events. A compromise of the combined company’s information technology systems or those with which it interacts could harm its reputation and expose it to regulatory actions and claims from customers and other persons, any of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. If the combined company’s information systems are damaged, fail to work properly or otherwise become unavailable, it may incur substantial costs to repair or replace them and it may experience a loss of critical information, customer disruption and interruptions or delays in its ability to perform essential functions.

 

The combined company may become involved in the future in legal proceedings that could adversely affect its business.

 

The combined company may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims, such as those relating to employees, customers or other third parties with whom it contracts, including consumer claims and class action lawsuits. In the ordinary course of business, the combined company has disputes with customers. In general, litigation claims or regulatory proceedings can be expensive and time consuming to bring or defend against, may result in the diversion of management attention and resources from the combined company’s business and business goals and could result in injunctions or other equitable relief, settlements, penalties, fines or damages that could significantly affect its results of operations and the conduct of its business. It is impossible to predict with certainty whether any resulting liability would have a material adverse effect on the combined company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

The combined company’s information technology systems may be exposed to various cybersecurity risks and other disruptions that could impair its ability to operate, adversely affect its business, and damage its brand and reputation.

 

The combined company will rely extensively on its information technology systems or on third parties for services including its enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system, banking, payroll, shipping, and e-mail systems to conduct business. The combined company also collects, stores and transmits sensitive data, including proprietary business information and personally identifiable information of its customers, suppliers and employees.

 

Despite the combined company’s information technology systems and data security program, the implementation of security measures to protect its data and infrastructure against breaches and other cyber threats, and its use of internal processes and controls designed to protect the security and availability of its systems, its information technology and communication systems may be vulnerable to cybersecurity risks such as computer viruses, hacking, malware, denial of service attacks, cyber terrorism, circumvention of security systems, malfeasance, breaches due to employee error, natural disasters, telecommunications failure, at its facilities or at third-party locations.

 

Complying with the varying cybersecurity and data privacy regulatory requirements could cause the combined company to incur substantial costs or require it to change its business practices in a manner adverse to its business. Any failure, or perceived failure, by the combined company to comply with any regulatory requirements or international privacy or consumer protection-related laws and regulations could result in proceedings or actions against it by governmental entities or others, subject it to significant penalties and negative publicity and adversely affect us. In addition, as noted above, the combined company is subject to the possibility of security breaches, which themselves may result in a violation of these laws.

 

 

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Any failure, breach or unauthorized access to the combined company’s or third-party systems could result in the loss of confidential, sensitive or proprietary information, interruptions in its service or production or otherwise its ability to conduct business operations, and could result in potential reductions in revenue and profits, damage to its reputation or liability. Given that the combined company will receive, store and use personal information of its customers, including names, addresses, e-mail addresses, credit information, credit card and financial account information and other housing and energy use information, this risk is amplified. There can be no assurance that the combined company’s protective measures will prevent or timely detect security breaches that could have a significant impact on its business, reputation, operating results and financial condition.

 

If a cyberattack or other security incident were to allow unauthorized access to or modification of the combined company’s customers’ data or its own data, whether due to a failure with its systems or related systems operated by third parties, it could suffer damage to its brand and reputation. The costs the combined company would incur to address and fix these incidents would increase its expenses. These types of security incidents could also lead to lawsuits, regulatory investigations and increased legal liability, including in some cases contractual costs related to customer notification and fraud monitoring. Further, as regulatory focus on privacy and data security issues continues to increase and worldwide laws and regulations concerning the protection of information become more complex, the potential risks and costs of compliance to the combined company’s business will intensify.

 

Terrorist or cyberattacks against centralized utilities could adversely affect the combined company’s business.

 

Assets owned by utilities such as substations and related infrastructure have been physically attacked in the past and will likely be attacked in the future. These facilities are often protected by limited security measures, such as perimeter fencing. Any such attacks may result in interruption to electricity flowing on the grid and consequently could interrupt service to the combined company’s solar energy systems, which could adversely affect its operations. Furthermore, cyberattacks, whether by individuals or nation states, against utility companies could severely disrupt their business operations and result in loss of service to customers, which would adversely affect the combined company’s operations. For example, a recent ransomware attack on the owners of the Colonial Pipeline system forced a shutdown of its operations for multiple days, requiring significant capital outlays and concerns by customers and regulators of the reliability of the electricity provision. In the event the combined company was plagued by similar cyberattacks, customers could choose other sources for electricity, which would adversely affect the combined company’s operations. Increased cyberattacks generally may also materially increase the combined company’s defense costs, which would adversely impact our profitability.

 

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a rapidly evolving situation, including due to the recent surge in COVID-19 variants such as the Delta and Omicron variants. The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to respond to it have resulted in and may continue to result in widespread adverse impacts on the global economy. If there are additional outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus or other viruses or more stringent health and safety guidelines are adopted, the combined company’s ability to perform installations and service calls may be adversely impacted. A significant or extended decline in new contract origination may have a material adverse effect on the combined company’s business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The combined company cannot predict the full impact the COVID-19 pandemic or the significant disruption and volatility currently being experienced in the capital markets will have on its business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations at this time due to numerous uncertainties. The ultimate impact will depend on future developments, including, among other things, the ultimate duration of the COVID-19 virus, the distribution, acceptance and efficacy of the vaccine, the depth and duration of the economic downturn and other economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of governmental and other measures designed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, actions taken by governmental authorities, customers and other third parties, the combined ability and the ability of customers and potential customers to adapt to operating in a changed environment and the timing and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions resume.

 

 

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Combined Company Regulatory Risks

 

The combined company will not be regulated as an electric public utility under applicable law, but may be subject to regulation as an electric utility in the future.

 

Immediately following the closing of the merger, the combined company will not be regulated as an electric public utility in the U.S. under applicable national, state or other local regulatory regimes where it conducts business. As a result, the combined company will not be subject to the various federal, state and local standards, restrictions and regulatory requirements applicable to centralized public utilities. Any federal, state or local law or regulations that cause the combined company to be treated as an electric utility or to otherwise be subject to a similar regulatory regime of commission-approved operating tariffs, rate limitations and related mandatory provisions, could place significant restrictions on its ability to operate its business and execute its business plan by prohibiting, restricting or otherwise regulating its sale of electricity. If the combined company were subject to the same state or federal regulatory authorities as centralized electric utilities in the U.S. and its territories or if new regulatory bodies were established to oversee its business in the U.S. and its territories or in foreign markets it enters, its operating costs would materially increase or it might have to change its business in ways that could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Electric utility policies and regulations, including those affecting electric rates, may present regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar energy systems that may significantly reduce demand for electricity from the combined company’s solar energy systems and adversely impact its ability to originate new solar service agreements.

 

Federal, state and local government regulations and policies concerning the electric utility industry, utility rates and rate structures and internal policies and regulations promulgated by electric utilities, heavily influence the market for electricity generation products and services. These regulations and policies often relate to electricity pricing. Policies and regulations that promote renewable energy and distributed energy generation have been challenged by centralized electric utilities and questioned by those in government and others arguing for less governmental spending and involvement in the energy market. To the extent such views are reflected in government policies and regulations, the changes in such policies and regulations could adversely affect the combined company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, any effort to overturn federal and state laws, regulations or policies that are supportive of solar energy generation or that remove costs or other limitations on other types of energy generation that compete with solar energy projects could materially and adversely affect the combined company’s business.

 

The combined company will rely on net metering and related policies to offer competitive pricing to its customers in most of its current markets and changes to policies governing net metering may significantly reduce demand for electricity from residential solar energy systems.

 

Net metering is one of several key policies that have enabled the growth of distributed generation solar energy systems in the U.S., providing significant value to customers for electricity generated by their residential solar energy systems, but not directly consumed on-site. Net metering allows a homeowner to pay his or her local electric utility for power usage net of production from the solar energy system or other distributed generation source. Homeowners receive a credit for the energy an interconnected solar energy system generates in excess of that needed by the home to offset energy purchases from the centralized utility made at times when the solar energy system is not generating sufficient energy to meet the customer’s demand. In many markets, this credit is equal to the residential retail rate for electricity and in other markets, such as Hawaii, where the rate is less than the retail rate and may be set, for example, as a percentage of the retail rate or based upon a valuation of the excess electricity. In some states and utility territories, customers are also reimbursed by the centralized electric utility for net excess generation on a periodic basis.

 

Net metering programs have been subject to legislative and regulatory scrutiny in certain states and territories. These jurisdictions, by statute, regulation, administrative order or a combination thereof, have recently adopted or are considering new restrictions and additional changes to net metering programs either on a state-wide basis or within specific utility territories. Many of these measures were introduced and supported by centralized electric utilities. These measures vary by jurisdiction and may include a reduction in the rates or value of the credits customers are paid or receive for the power they deliver back to the electrical grid, caps or limits on the aggregate installed capacity of generation in a state or utility territory eligible for net metering, expiration dates for and phasing out of net metering programs, replacement of net metering programs with alternative programs that may provide less compensation and limits on the capacity size of individual distributed generation systems that can qualify for net metering. Net metering and related policies concerning distributed generation also received attention from federal legislators and regulators.

 

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If net metering caps in certain jurisdictions are reached while they are still in effect, if the value of the credit that customers receive for net metering is significantly reduced, if net metering is discontinued or replaced by a different regime that values solar energy at a lower rate or if other limits or restrictions on net metering are imposed, current and future customers may be unable to recognize the same level of cost savings associated with net metering. The absence of favorable net metering policies or of net metering entirely, or the imposition of new charges that only or disproportionately impact customers that use net metering would likely significantly limit customer demand for distributed residential solar energy systems and the electricity they generate and result in an increased rate of defaults, terminations or cancelations under customer agreements. The combined company’s ability to lease, finance and sell its solar energy systems and services or sell the electricity generated from its solar energy systems may be adversely impacted by the failure to expand existing limits on the amount of net metering in states that have implemented it, the failure to adopt a net metering policy where it currently is not in place or reductions in the amount or value of credit customers receive through net metering. This could adversely impact the combined company’s ability to expand its portfolio of solar service agreements and related solar energy systems, its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Additionally, distributed residential solar customers in certain jurisdictions may be subject to higher charges from centralized electric utilities than non-solar customers and such charges should be evaluated together with the net metering policies in place. If such charges are imposed, the cost savings associated with switching to solar energy may be significantly reduced and the combined company’s ability to expand its portfolio of solar service agreements and related solar energy systems and compete with centralized electric utilities could be impacted.

 

The combined company’s business will depend in part on the availability of rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives. The expiration, elimination or reduction of these rebates, credits or incentives or its ability to monetize them could adversely impact its business.

 

The combined company’s business will depend in part on current government policies that promote and support solar energy and enhance the economic viability of distributed residential solar. U.S. federal, state and local governments established various incentives and financial mechanisms to reduce the cost of solar energy and to accelerate the adoption of solar energy. These incentives come in various forms, including rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives such as payments for renewable energy credits associated with renewable energy generation, exclusion of solar energy systems from property tax assessments or other taxes and system performance payments. However, these programs may expire on a particular date, end when the allocated funding is exhausted or be reduced or terminated as solar energy adoption rates increase. The value of SRECs in a market tends to decrease over time as the supply of SREC-producing solar energy systems installed in that market increases. If the combined company overestimates the future value of these incentives, it could adversely impact its business, results of operations and financial results.

 

A loss or reduction in such incentives could decrease the attractiveness of new solar energy systems to customers, which could adversely impact the combined company’s business and its access to capital. The economics of purchasing a solar energy system are also improved by eligibility for accelerated depreciation, also known as the modified accelerated cost recovery system (“MACRS”), which allows for the depreciation of equipment according to an accelerated schedule set forth by the IRS. This accelerated schedule allows a taxpayer to recognize the depreciation of tangible solar property on a five-year basis even though the useful life of such property is generally greater than five years. To the extent these policies are changed in a manner that reduces the incentives that benefit the combined company’s business, it may experience reduced revenues and reduced economic returns, experience increased financing costs and encounter difficulty obtaining financing.

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Applicable authorities may adjust or decrease incentives from time to time or include provisions for minimum domestic content requirements or other requirements to qualify for these incentives. Reductions in, eliminations or expirations of or additional application requirements for governmental incentives could adversely impact its results of operations and ability to compete in the combined company’s industry by increasing its cost of capital, causing distributed residential solar power companies to increase the prices of their energy and solar energy systems and reducing the size of its addressable market. In addition, this would adversely impact the combined company’s ability to attract investment partners and lenders and its ability to expand its portfolio of solar service agreements and related solar energy systems.

 

Technical and regulatory limitations regarding the interconnection of solar energy systems to the electrical grid may significantly reduce the combined company’s ability to sell electricity from its solar energy systems in certain markets or delay interconnections and customer in-service dates, harming its growth rate and customer satisfaction.

 

Technical and regulatory limitations regarding the interconnection of solar energy systems to the electrical grid may curb or slow the combined company’s growth in key markets. Utilities throughout the country follow different rules and regulations regarding interconnection and regulators or utilities have or could cap or limit the amount of solar energy that can be interconnected to the grid. The combined company’s solar energy systems generally do not provide power to homeowners until they are interconnected to the grid.

 

With regard to interconnection limits, the FERC, in promulgating the first form of small generator interconnection procedures, recommended limiting customer-sited intermittent generation resources, such as the combined company’s solar energy systems, to a certain percentage of peak load on a given electrical feeder circuit. Similar limits have been adopted by many states as a de facto standard and could constrain the combined company’s ability to market to customers in certain geographic areas where the concentration of solar installations exceeds this limit.

 

Furthermore, in certain areas, the combined company benefits from policies that allow for expedited or simplified procedures related to connecting solar energy systems to the electrical grid. The combined company also is required to obtain interconnection permission for each solar energy system from the local utility. In many states and territories, by statute, regulations or administrative order, there are standardized procedures for interconnecting distributed residential solar energy systems to the electric utility’s local distribution system. However, approval from the local utility could be delayed as a result of a backlog of requests for interconnection or the local utility could seek to limit the number of customer interconnections or the amount of solar energy on the grid. In some states, certain utilities such as municipal utilities or electric cooperatives are exempt from certain interconnection requirements. If expedited or simplified interconnection procedures are changed or cease to be available, if interconnection approvals from the local utility are delayed or if the local utility seeks to limit interconnections, this could decrease the attractiveness of new solar energy systems to distributed residential solar power companies, including us, and the attractiveness of solar energy systems to customers. Delays in interconnections could also harm the combined company’s growth rate and customer satisfaction scores. Such limitations or delays could also adversely impact the combined company’s access to capital and reduce its willingness to pursue solar energy systems due to higher operating costs or lower revenues from solar service agreements. Such limitations would negatively impact the combined company’s business, results of operations, future growth and cash flows.

 

As adoption of solar distributed generation rises, along with the increased operation of utility-scale solar generation (such as in key markets including California), the amount of solar energy being contributed to the electrical grid may surpass the capacity anticipated to be needed to meet aggregate demand. Some centralized public utilities claim in less than five years, solar generation resources may reach a level capable of producing an over-generation situation, which may require some existing solar generation resources to be curtailed to maintain operation of the electrical grid. In the event such an over-generation situation were to occur, this could also result in a prohibition on the addition of new solar generation resources. The adverse effects of such a curtailment or prohibition without compensation could adversely impact the combined company’s business, results of operations, future growth and cash flows.

 

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Compliance with occupational safety and health requirements and best practices can be costly and noncompliance with such requirements may result in potentially significant monetary penalties, operational delays and adverse publicity.

 

The installation and ongoing operations and maintenance of solar energy systems requires individuals hired by the combined company or third-party contractors, potentially including the combined company’s employees, to work at heights with complicated and potentially dangerous electrical systems. The evaluation and modification of buildings as part of the installation process requires these individuals to work in locations that may contain potentially dangerous levels of asbestos, lead, mold or other materials known or believed to be hazardous to human health. There is substantial risk of serious injury or death if proper safety procedures are not followed. The combined company’s operations are subject to regulation under OSHA, DOT regulations and equivalent state and local laws. Changes to OSHA or DOT requirements, or stricter interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations, could result in increased costs. If the combined company fails to comply with applicable OSHA or DOT regulations, even if no work-related serious injury or death occurs, it may be subject to civil or criminal enforcement and be required to pay substantial penalties, incur significant capital expenditures or suspend or limit operations. Individuals hired by or on behalf of the combined company may have workplace accidents and receive citations from OSHA regulators for alleged safety violations, resulting in fines. Any such accidents, citations, violations, injuries or failure to comply with industry best practices may subject the combined company to adverse publicity, damage its reputation and competitive position and adversely affect its business.

 

Risks Related to the Combined Company’s Common Stock

 

The combined company does not intend to pay cash dividends on its common stock and, consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment in the combined company is if the price of its common stock appreciates.

 

The combined company does not plan to declare dividends on shares of its common stock in the foreseeable future. Consequently, if the Pineapple merger is consummated, your opportunity to achieve a return on the shares of the combined company you own after the merger will be if you sell your common stock. In addition, CSI shareholders of record as of the close of the business day immediately preceding the closing of the merger will receive CVRs and as a CVR holder, will be entitled to payments in respect of such CVRs when, as and if such payments are made in accordance with the terms of the CVR agreement. CVR holders are not entitled, as such, to participate in dividends, if any, of the combined company.

 

There is no guarantee the price of the combined company’s common stock that will prevail in the market will ever exceed the price you paid for it or otherwise achieve a price that represents an attractive return on your investment in the combined company.

 

The ownership of the combined company common stock is expected to be highly concentrated, which may prevent you and other shareholders from influencing significant corporate decisions.

 

Pineapple member, Lake Street Solar LLC, is expected to beneficially own approximately 33.4% of the outstanding shares of the combined company common stock following the closing of the merger. Accordingly, as shareholders of the combined company, the former Pineapple members and Lake Street Solar in particular will have substantial influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the combined company assets or any other significant corporate transactions. These shareholders may also delay or prevent a change of control of the combined company, even if such a change of control would benefit the other shareholders of the combined company.

 

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The price of the combined company’s common stock may be volatile and may decline in value.

 

The market price of the combined company’s common stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond its control, including:

 

 

public reaction to the combined company’s press releases, announcements and filings with the SEC;

 

 

the combined company’s operating and financial performance;

 

 

fluctuations in broader securities market prices and volumes, particularly among securities of technology and solar companies;

 

 

changes in market valuations of similar companies;

 

 

departures of key personnel;

 

 

commencement of or involvement in litigation;

 

 

variations in the combined company’s quarterly results of operations or those of other technology and solar companies;

 

 

changes in general economic conditions, financial markets or the technology and solar industries;

 

 

announcements by the combined company or its competitors of significant acquisitions or other transactions;

 

 

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles;

 

 

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

 

actions by the combined company’s shareholders;

 

 

the failure of securities analysts to cover the combined company’s common stock or changes in their recommendations and estimates of its financial performance;

 

 

future sales of the combined company’s common stock; and

 

 

the other factors described in these “Risk Factors”.

 

Future sales of combined company shares could cause the combined company’s stock price to decline.

 

If existing shareholders of CSI or future shareholders of the combined company, including those who acquire CSI common stock in the merger or the PIPE Offering, sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of the combined company’s common stock in the public market after the merger, the trading price of the common stock of the combined company could decline. All of shares of CSI common stock issued in the merger and all of the shares of CSI common stock that may be issued in connection with the PIPE Offering will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market. Additionally, all shares of CSI common stock outstanding prior to the merger will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market except that the PIPE Offering requires 30-day lock-up agreements of CSI common stock by certain combined company officers, directors and major shareholders following the closing.

 

In addition, upon exercise of the CSI Series A convertible preferred stock and common stock warrants issued in the PIPE Offering or the issuance of the Earnout Consideration, the number of shares outstanding of the combined company’s common stock could increase substantially. Dilution and potential dilution, the availability of a large number of shares for sale, and the possibility of additional issuances and sales of the combined company’s common stock may negatively affect both the trading price and liquidity of the combined company’s common stock.

 

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If the combined company fails to put in place appropriate and effective internal control over financial reporting, it may suffer harm to its reputation and investor confidence levels.

As a privately held company, Pineapple was not required to implement or maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting or evaluate its internal control over financial reporting in a manner that meets the standards of publicly traded companies required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As a public company, the combined company has significant requirements for enhanced financial reporting and internal controls as compared to Pineapple.

 

The process of designing and implementing and maintaining effective internal controls for the Pineapple, HEC and E-Gear businesses is expected to require significant resources of the combined company. If the combined company is unable to establish or maintain appropriate internal financial controls and procedures, it could cause the combined company to fail to meet its reporting obligations on a timely basis, result in material misstatements in its consolidated financial statements, and harm its operating results. In addition, the process for designing and implementing and maintaining an effective internal control environment for the combined company will divert management’s attention from revenue generating or other important business activities.

 

In connection with the implementation of the necessary procedures and practices related to internal control over financial reporting, the combined company may identify deficiencies and may encounter problems or delays in completing the remediation of any deficiencies. The existence of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting may require management to devote significant time and incur significant expense to remediate any such deficiencies.

 

If the combined company fails to design and implement and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting for the Pineapple, HEC and E-Gear businesses in the required timeframe, it may be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities, including the SEC and Nasdaq. Furthermore, if the combined company is unable to conclude that its internal controls over financial reporting are effective, it could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of its financial reports, the market price of the combined company’s securities could decline, and it could be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities. Failure to implement or maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures required of public companies could also restrict the combined company’s future access to the capital markets.

 

Risks Related to this Offering and Our Common Stock

 

Sales of shares in connection with this offering may cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

 

In connection with the Private Placement, we entered into the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to register for resale with the SEC the shares of our common stock issued to the selling shareholders in the Private Placement, as well as those shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part has been filed to satisfy this obligation. Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement, the shares we issued in the Private Placement, and the shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of Warrants, may be freely sold in the open market. The sale of a significant amount of these shares of our common stock in the open market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline or become highly volatile.

 

Shares of our common stock are equity securities and are subordinate to our outstanding indebtedness.

 

Shares of our common stock are common equity interests and rank junior to any outstanding shares of our preferred stock that we may issue in the future or to the indebtedness under any indebtedness we may incur and to all creditor claims and other non-equity claims against us and our assets available to satisfy claims on us, including claims in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding. Additionally, unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest customarily are payable on specified due dates, in the case of our common stock, (i) dividends are payable only when and if declared by our board of directors, and (ii) as a corporation, we are restricted to making dividend payments and redemption payments out of legally available assets. Following the consummation of the merger, the combined company intends to retain future earnings, if any, for use in its business, and, therefore, it does not anticipate declaring or paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Payments of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of the combined company’s board of directors after considering various factors, including its financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs and plans for expansion of the Pineapple business.

 

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The price of the company’s common stock may be volatile and may decline in value.

 

The market price for our common stock has been highly volatile, and the market from time to time has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. The trading volume and prices of our common stock have been and may continue to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors both within and beyond our control. During 2021, the sale price of our common stock ranged from $2.20 to $11.45 per share, and our daily trading volume ranged from 1,100 to approximately 89.5 million shares. Such volatility may be the result of broad market and industry factors. Future fluctuations in the trading price or liquidity of our common stock may harm the value of the investment of our shareholders in our common stock. Factors that may have a significant impact on the market price and marketability of our common stock include, among others:

 

The market price of the company’s common stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond its control, including:

 

 

public reaction to the company’s press releases, announcements and filings with the SEC;

 

 

the company’s operating and financial performance;

 

 

fluctuations in broader securities market prices and volumes, particularly among securities of technology and solar companies;

 

 

changes in market valuations of similar companies;

 

 

departures of key personnel;

 

 

commencement of or involvement in litigation;

 

 

variations in the company’s quarterly results of operations or those of other technology and solar companies;

 

 

changes in general economic conditions, financial markets or the technology and solar industries;

 

 

announcements by the combined company or its competitors of significant acquisitions or other transactions;

 

 

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles;

 

 

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

 

actions by the company’s shareholders;

 

 

the failure of securities analysts to cover the combined company’s common stock or changes in their recommendations and estimates of its financial performance;

 

 

future sales of the company’s common stock;

 

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the delisting of our common stock or halting or suspension of trading in our common stock by the Nasdaq Global Market;

 

 

economic and other external factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

 

general market conditions; and

 

 

the other factors described in these “Risk Factors.”

 

We may issue additional common stock resulting in stock ownership dilution.

 

At the closing of the merger, we expect to issue an aggregate of 20,025,000 shares of our common stock as Base Consideration and as Earnout Consideration relating to the funding-related closing condition (as described in the merger agreement). Pursuant to the merger agreement, we may be obligated to issue up to an additional 10,000,000 shares as Earnout Consideration and additional shares in connection with the Convertible Note Financing (as defined in the merger agreement). Additionally, if approved by our shareholders, there will be 3,000,000 shares reserved for future awards under the Pineapple Holdings, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan. Accordingly, our shareholders may experience future dilution, which may be substantial, due to issuance of shares under the merger agreement and 2022 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Additionally, in the PIPE Offering, we will issue shares of its Series A convertible preferred stock that will initially be convertible into 9,411,764 shares of our common stock and will issue warrants that will initially be exercisable for 9,411,764 shares of its common stock, each case at an initial price of $3.40 per share, which is subject to adjustment. If the Series A convertible preferred stock or warrants are converted or exercised into shares of our common stock, our shareholders will experience additional dilution. If the adjustment provisions in Series A convertible preferred stock or warrants are triggered, a substantial number of additional shares of our common stock may become issuable, which would further dilute the ownership interests of our shareholders.

 

In addition, we may raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, which would further dilute the ownership interests of our shareholders.

 

The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of our common stock or other equity securities could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock or a preferred stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of securities beneficially owned by the selling shareholders or any other shareholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market price of our common stock. Dilution and potential dilution, the availability of a large number of shares for sale, and the possibility of additional issuances and sales of the combined company’s common stock may negatively affect both the trading price and liquidity of the combined company’s common stock.

 

Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and agreements may discourage or prevent a change in control, even if a sale of the Company could be beneficial to our shareholders, which could cause our stock price to decline and prevent attempts by our shareholders to replace or remove our current management.

 

Several provisions of our governing documents, in addition to provisions of Minnesota law, could make it difficult for our shareholders to change the composition of our Board of Directors, preventing them from changing the composition of management. In addition, several provisions of our Articles and Bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that our shareholders may consider favorable. These provisions include:

 

 

We have shares of common stock and preferred stock available for issuance without shareholder approval. The existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock may enable the Board of Directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management or to issue preferred stock with terms that could render more difficult or discourage a third-party attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, thereby protecting the continuity of our management.

 

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Shares of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors, so our shareholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors.

 

 

Special meetings of the shareholders may be called only by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

 

 

The Board of Directors may adopt, alter, amend or repeal our Bylaws without shareholder approval.

 

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors for any cause may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors even if such majority is less than a quorum, and any director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, is required to amend or repeal the provisions of our Charter related to the amendment of our Bylaws, the Board of Directors and our shareholders as well as the general provisions of our Articles.

 

 

Shareholders must follow advance notice procedures to submit nominations of candidates for election to the Board of Directors at an annual or special meeting of our shareholders and must follow advance notice procedures to submit other proposals for business to be brought before an annual meeting of our shareholders.

 

These anti-takeover provisions could substantially impede the ability of our shareholders to benefit from a change in control and, as a result, could materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the ability of our shareholders to realize any potential change-in-control premium.

 

Our board of directors is authorized to issue and designate shares of our preferred stock without shareholder approval.

 

Our Articles authorize our board of directors, without the approval of our shareholders, to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of our preferred stock, subject to limitations prescribed by applicable law, rules and regulations and the provisions of our Articles, as shares of preferred stock in series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers, preferences and rights of these series of preferred stock may be senior to or on parity with our common stock, which may reduce its value.

 

Our inability to comply with the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market could result in our common stock being delisted, which could affect its market price and liquidity and reduce our ability to raise capital.

 

We are required to meet certain qualitative and quantitative requirements to maintain the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market. If we do not maintain compliance with the continued listing requirements for the Nasdaq Global Market within specified periods and subject to permitted extensions, our common stock may be recommended for delisting (subject to any appeal we would file). No assurance can be provided that we will continue to comply with these continued listing requirements. If our common stock were delisted, it could be more difficult to buy or sell our common stock and to obtain accurate quotations, and the price of our stock could suffer a material decline. Delisting would also impair our ability to raise capital.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, or filings with the SEC and our public releases that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our “expectations,” “hopes,” “beliefs,” “intentions” or “strategies” regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should” and “would,” as well as similar expressions, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward looking. Forward-looking statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or in any documents incorporated by reference are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, or assumptions, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in this prospectus, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus, and our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that those statements will be realized or that the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

 

You should also read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021 and in any other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our future filings, to better understand significant risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements in this report, and you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We are filing the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part to permit the selling shareholders described in the section entitled “Selling Shareholders,” beginning on page 38 of this prospectus, to resell shares of our common stock. We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling shareholders. We may receive proceeds from the exercise of the warrants to purchase 9,411,764 shares of our common stock held by the selling shareholders, which will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The warrants have an initial exercise price of $3.40 per share, which is subject to adjustment.

 

We will bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of our obligations under the registration rights agreement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

The following summary of the general terms and provisions of CSI capital stock does not purport to be complete and is based upon and qualified by reference to the CSI articles of incorporation and bylaws. We encourage you to read the CSI articles of incorporation, the CSI bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, or MBCA, for additional information.

 

Authorized Shares of Capital Stock

 

As of February 21, 2022, the aggregate number of shares of capital stock that Communications Systems, Inc. has authority to issue is as follows:

 

 

30,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.05; and

 

 

3,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value.

 

The Company has proposed that the shareholders approve an increase in the authorized shares of common stock to 150,000,000 shares.

 

Preferred Stock

 

As of February 21, 2022, CSI has no preferred stock outstanding. Under the CSI articles of incorporation, the CSI board of directors is authorized to establish more than one class or series of shares from the 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized and to fix the relative rights and preferences of any such different classes or series, without shareholder approval.

 

Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that might involve a premium price for holders of the shares of common stock or otherwise discourage a transaction that holders of common stock might believe to be in their best interests.

 

If the PIPE Offering is consummated, CSI will fix the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to a series of up to 32,000 shares of our preferred stock to be designated as Series A convertible preferred stock and issue shares of the Series A convertible preferred stock to the selling shareholders on the terms described in the securities purchase agreement.

 

The following is a summary of the Series A convertible preferred stock based on the form of certificate of designation attached as an exhibit to the securities purchase agreement for the PIPE Offering.

 

Generally, holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock are not entitled to voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series A convertible preferred stock are outstanding, CSI may not, without the affirmative vote of the Required Holders:

 

 

alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series A convertible preferred stock or alter or amend the Certificate of Designation that designates the Series A convertible preferred stock,

 

 

authorize or create any class of stock ranking as to redemption senior to the Series A convertible preferred stock,

 

 

amend CSI’s articles of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of the holders of Series A convertible preferred stock,

 

 

increase the number of authorized shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, or

 

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enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Each share of Series A convertible preferred stock will be convertible, at any time after issuance and at the option of the holder, into a number of shares of CSI common stock determined by dividing the “Stated Value” of such share by the “Conversion Price.” The Stated Value per share of Series A convertible preferred stock is $1,000 and the Conversion Price per share of Series A convertible preferred stock is $3.40, subject to adjustment. The shares of CSI common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock are referred to as the “conversion shares.”

 

The conversion price is subject to adjustment if, at any time while the Series A convertible preferred stock is outstanding, CSI issues, sells, publicly announces the contemplated issuance or sale of, or is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of CSI common stock or common stock equivalents for an effective price per share that is lower than the then conversion price, subject to limited exceptions for exempt issuances. In the case of any such dilutive issuance, the conversion price then in effect will be reduced to an amount equal to the lesser of the effective price per share in such dilutive issuance and the lowest volume weighted average price (VWAP) of the CSI common stock on any trading day during the 5 trading days immediately following the public announcement of the execution of the dilutive issuance. If CSI enters into a Variable Rate Transaction, despite the prohibition set forth in the securities purchase agreement, CSI will be deemed to have issued common stock or common stock equivalents at the lowest possible price, conversion price or exercise price at which such securities may be issued, converted or exercised.

 

CSI will not effect any conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock, and a holder will not have the right to convert any portion of the Series A convertible preferred stock, to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion, such holder together with such holder’s affiliates and other attribution parties would beneficially own in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. The beneficial ownership limitation is 4.99% (or, upon election by a holder prior to the issuance of any Series A convertible preferred stock, 9.99%) of the number of shares of the CSI common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of CSI common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock held by the applicable holder. A holder, upon notice to CSI, may increase or decrease its applicable beneficial ownership limitation provided that the beneficial ownership limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the CSI common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of CSI common stock upon conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock held by the holder. Any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to CSI and will only apply to the holder giving the notice and no other holder.

 

If CSI fails to deliver to the conversion shares by the required delivery date and shares of CSI common stock are purchased to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such converting holder of the conversion shares, CSI will have an obligation to make a cash payment and, that the converting holder’s option, to issue shares to that holder. The cash obligation will be equal to the amount, if any, by which (x) such holder’s total purchase price (including any brokerage commissions) for the CSI common stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of CSI common stock that such 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). If the converting holder requires CSI to issue shares, then CSI must either reissue (if surrendered) the shares of Series A convertible preferred stock equal to the number of shares of Series A convertible preferred stock submitted for conversion (in which case, such conversion will be deemed rescinded) or deliver to such holder the number of shares of CSI common stock that would have been issued if CSI had timely complied with its delivery requirements.

 

If after the 10th trading day following the effective date of the registration statement for the conversion shares, the volume weighted average price (VWAP) for each trading day during any 10 consecutive trading day period exceeds 200% of the then effective conversion price and the daily dollar trading volume for the CSI common stock exceeds $5 million on each trading day during this period, CSI may require each holder to convert all or part of such holder’s Series A convertible preferred stock plus all accrued but unpaid dividends thereon and all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Series A convertible preferred stock. For any shares of Series A convertible preferred stock that remain unconverted and outstanding because of the beneficial ownership limitation, CSI may elect to repurchase all or a portion of such unconverted shares from each such holder at a price per unconverted share of Series A convertible preferred stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the stated value by the then-current conversion price and then multiplying such quotient by the greater of (i) the closing sale price of the common stock on the date of the forced conversion and (ii) the closing sale price of the common stock as of the trading day immediately prior to the date of the notice of repurchase.

 

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If there is any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) while the Series A convertible preferred stock is outstanding, then, upon any subsequent conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock, the holder will 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 beneficial ownership limitation), the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of CSI, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of CSI common stock for which the Series A convertible preferred stock is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any beneficial ownership limitation). CSI must cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which CSI is not the survivor to assume in writing all of the obligations of CSI under the Certificate of Designation and the other PIPE Offering transaction documents. The Certificate of Designation provides that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will not be deemed a Fundamental Transaction. The term Fundamental Transaction has substantially the same meaning as in the warrant to be issued in the PIPE Offering.

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise provided by law, the CSI articles of incorporation or the CSI bylaws, matters will generally be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person (which includes attendance by means of remote communication) or represented by proxy. Our bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors will be fixed by the shareholders at each annual meeting and that either the shareholders or the board of directors may increase or decreases the number of directors. Our board of directors is not classified.

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations.

 

Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption provisions applicable to the common stock.

 

All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, South St. Paul, Minnesota 55120-4100.

 

Our common stock is currently listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the trading symbol “JCS.”

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the CSI Articles of Incorporation, the CSI Bylaws and Minnesota Law

 

Specific provisions of Minnesota law, the CSI articles of incorporation and the CSI bylaws may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect.

 

CSI’s bylaws establish an advance notice procedure with regard to (i) certain business to be brought before an annual meeting of shareholders of CSI and (ii) the nomination by shareholders of candidates for election as directors.

 

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Properly Brought Business

 

The CSI bylaws provide that at the annual meeting only such business may be conducted as is of a nature that is appropriate for consideration at an annual meeting and has been either specified in the notice of the meeting, otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the CSI board of directors, or otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder who has given timely written notice to the Secretary of the Company of the shareholder’s intention to bring the business before the meeting. To be timely, the notice must be given by such shareholder to the Secretary of the Company not less than 45 days or more than 75 days prior to a meeting date corresponding to the previous year’s annual meeting. Notice relating to the conduct of such business at an annual meeting must contain certain information as described in Section 2.9 of the CSI bylaws, which are available for inspection by shareholders at the Company’s principal executive offices pursuant to Section 302A.441, subd. 4 of the Minnesota Statutes. Nothing in the CSI bylaws precludes discussion by any shareholder of any business properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the CSI bylaws.

 

Shareholder Nominations

 

The CSI bylaws provide that a notice of proposed shareholder nominations for the election of directors must be timely given in writing to the Secretary of the Company prior to the meeting at which directors are to be elected. To be timely, the notice must be given by the shareholder to the Secretary of the Company not less than 45 days or more than 75 days prior to a meeting date corresponding to the previous year’s annual meeting. The notice to the Company from a shareholder who intends to nominate a person at the meeting for election as a director must contain certain information as described in Section 3.7 of the CSI bylaws, which are available for inspection by shareholders as described above. If the presiding officer of a meeting of shareholders determines that a person was not nominated in accordance with the foregoing procedure, that person will not be eligible for election as a director.

 

Shareholder Meetings

 

Under the CSI bylaws, regular meetings of our shareholders may be called only by our board of directors, or by written consent of all the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting. If the board fails to designate a time for a regular meeting for any consecutive period of 15 months, the board must cause such regular meeting to be called within 90 days of receipt of the written demand of any shareholder owning one percent or more of all voting shares of the corporation

 

Under our bylaws, special meetings of our shareholders may be called by the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, any two or more directors, or upon request by shareholders holding ten percent or more of the voting power of the shareholders.

 

Voting Percentage Approval Required for Designated Action

 

In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or CSI’s articles of incorporation, the following actions require the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class:

 

(a) any sale, lease, mortgage, pledge, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the corporation to any person;

 

(b) any reclassification of securities (including any combination of shares or reverse stock split), or recapitalization or reorganization of the corporation, or any merger, consolidation or statutory exchange of shares of the corporation or any subsidiary with any other corporation (other than a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of the corporation into the corporation or the merger of two or more wholly owned subsidiaries of the corporation;

 

(c) the adoption of plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the corporation; and

 

(d) any agreement, contract or other arrangement or understanding providing for one or more of the foregoing.

 

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In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or the CSI articles of incorporation, a Business Combination (as defined in the articles of incorporation) requires the affirmative vote of not less than 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class. This requirement is not applicable, however, if the particular Business Combination is either (a) approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors (as defined in the CSI articles of incorporation), or (b) meets specific requirements with respect to price and approval process. Repeal or amendment of this requirement in the CSI articles of incorporation requires affirmative vote of not less than 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class.

 

Provisions of Minnesota Law

 

The following provisions of the MBCA may have an effect of delaying, deterring or preventing an unsolicited takeover of the Company or make an unsolicited takeover of the Company more difficult.

 

 

MBCA Section 302A.553, (Power to acquire shares) subd 3, limitation on share purchases prohibits a publicly held corporation such as CSI from purchasing shares entitled to vote for more than market value from a person that beneficially owns more than 5% of the voting power of the corporation if the shares have been beneficially owned for less than two years unless the purchase or agreement to purchase is approved at a meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote or the corporation makes an offer, of at least equal value per share, to all shareholders for all other shares of that class or series and any other class or series into which they may be converted.

 

 

MBCA Section 302A.671 (Control share acquisitions) provides that shares of an “issuing public corporation,” such as CSI, acquired by an “acquiring person” in a “control share acquisition” that exceed the threshold of voting power of any of the three ranges identified below will not have voting rights, unless the issuing public company’s shareholders vote to accord these shares the voting rights normally associated with these shares. A “control share acquisition” is an acquisition, directly or indirectly, by an “acquiring person” (as defined in the MBCA) of beneficial ownership of shares of an issuing public corporation that, but for Section 302A.671, would, when added to all other shares of the issuing public corporation beneficially owned by the acquiring person, entitle the acquiring person, immediately after the acquisition, to exercise or direct the exercise of a new range of voting power of the issuing public corporation with any of the following three ranges: (i) at least 20 percent but less than 33-1/3 percent; (ii) at least 33-1/3 percent but less than or equal to 50 percent; and (iii) over 50 percent. The issuing public company also has an option to call for redemption all, but not less than all, shares acquired in the control share acquisition that exceed the threshold of voting power of any of the specified ranges at a price equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time the call is given if (i) the acquiring person fails to deliver the information statement to the issuing public company by the tenth day after the control share acquisition; or (ii) shareholders have voted not to accord voting rights to the shares acquired in the control share acquisition.

 

 

MBCA Section 302A.673 (Business combinations) prohibits a public Minnesota corporation, such as CSI, from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of four years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless either (i) the business combination or (ii) the acquisition by which the person becomes an interested shareholder is approved in a prescribed manner before the person became an interested shareholder. The term “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” is a person who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock, or who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation, and who, at any time within four years before the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

 

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If a takeover offer is made for our stock, MBCA Section 302A.675 (Takeover offer; fair price) precludes the offeror from acquiring additional shares of stock (including in acquisitions pursuant to mergers, consolidations or statutory share exchanges) within two years following the completion of the takeover offer, unless shareholders selling their shares in the later acquisition are given the opportunity to sell their shares on terms that are substantially the same as those contained in the earlier takeover offer. A “takeover offer” is a tender offer that results in an offeror who owned ten percent or less of a class of our shares acquiring more than ten percent of that class, or that results in the offeror increasing its beneficial ownership of a class of our shares by more than ten percent of the class, if the offeror owned ten percent or more of the class before the takeover offer. Section 302A.675 does not apply if a committee of our board of directors formed in accordance with Section 302A.675 approves the proposed acquisition before any shares are acquired pursuant to the earlier tender offer.

 

37 

 

 

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

 

The common stock being offered by the selling shareholders consists of (1) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of our common stock that may be issued upon conversion, at an initial conversion price of $3.40 per share, of the Series A convertible preferred stock to be issued under the securities purchase agreement, (2) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of our common stock that may be issued, at an initial exercise price of $3.40 per share, upon the exercise of warrants to be issued under the securities purchase agreement, and (3) the aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock that may be purchased by the selling shareholders under the STAs. For additional information regarding the issuances to the selling shareholders of shares of Series A convertible preferred stock and warrants under the securities purchase agreement at the closing of the Offering, see “The PIPE Offering” above. For additional information regarding the shares that that will be issued in the merger that will be subject to the STAs and may be sold to the selling shareholders pursuant to the terms of the STAs, please see “Stock Transfer Agreements” above.

 

We are registering these shares of common stock in order to permit the selling shareholders to offer for resale from time to time the shares that they may acquire upon conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock, exercise of the warrants or by purchase under the STAs. Except for the PIPE Offering and the STAs, the selling shareholders have not had any material relationship within the past three years with CSI or any of its affiliates.

 

The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by each of the selling shareholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling shareholder as of February 21, 2022, assuming as of that date (1) the closing of the merger has occurred and CSI has issued shares of its common stock as required by the merger agreement, which includes the aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock that will be issued to the transferors party to the STAs and may be purchased by the selling shareholders under the STAs and (2) the consummation of the PIPE Offering, the issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock and warrants in accordance with the securities purchase agreement, and the conversion in full of the Series A convertible preferred stock and the exercise in full of the warrants held by the selling shareholders, in each case without regard to any limitations on conversion or exercise.

 

The fourth column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling shareholders. In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the selling shareholders, this prospectus covers the resale of the sum of:

 

 

200% of the 9,411,764 shares of our common stock that may be issued upon conversion, at an initial conversion price of $3.40 per share, of the Series A convertible preferred stock to be issued under the securities purchase agreement,

 

 

200% of the 9,411,764 shares of our common stock that may be issued, at an initial exercise price of $3.40 per share, upon the exercise of warrants to be issued under the securities purchase agreement, and

 

 

the aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock to be issued in the merger that may be purchased by the selling shareholders under the STAs.

 

The shares in the fourth column assume, as of February 21, 2022, (1) the closing of the merger and the issuance by CSI of shares of its common stock as required by the merger agreement, which includes the aggregate 4,810,002 shares of our common stock that will be issued to the transferors party to the STAs and may be purchased the selling shareholders under the STAs and (2) the consummation of the PIPE Offering, the issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock and warrants in accordance with the securities purchase agreement, and the conversion in full of the Series A convertible preferred stock and the exercise in full of the warrants held by the selling shareholders, in each case without regard to any limitations on conversion or exercise, and

 

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The fifth and sixth columns assume the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Under the terms of the Certificate of Designation with respect to the Series A convertible preferred stock, a selling shareholder may not convert the Series A convertible preferred stock preferred stock to the extent such conversion would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of our then outstanding common stock following such conversion, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Series A convertible preferred stock which have not been converted and issuable upon exercise of warrants which have not been exercised. Also, under the warrants, a selling shareholder may not exercise the warrant to the extent such exercise would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of our then outstanding common stock following such conversion, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Series A convertible preferred stock which have not been converted and issuable upon exercise of warrants which have not been exercised. The number of shares in the second and fifth columns do not reflect these limitations, but the percentages set forth in the third and sixth columns give effect to these limitations. The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

39 

 

 

 

 

Shares Beneficially Owned
Prior to the Offering

 

Number of
Shares
Being

 

Shares Beneficially
Owned After Completion
of the Offering

Name of Selling Shareholder

 

Number

 

Percentage

 

Offered

 

Number

 

Percentage

Bigger Capital Fund LP (1)

 

1,200,140

 

3.91%

 

2,156,022

 

0

 

0%

Cavalry Fund I LP (2)

 

805,932

 

2.65%

 

1,446,520

 

0

 

0%

Cavalry Investment Fund LP (3)

 

412,672

 

1.37%

 

  742,672

 

0

 

0%

Anson East Master Fund LP (4)

 

1,298,966

 

4.26%

 

2,034,260

 

0

 

0%

Anson Investments Master Fund LP (5)

 

2,393,773

 

4.99%

 

4,599,655

 

0

 

0%

Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, LTD (6)

 

4,800,561

 

4.99%

 

8,624,091

 

0

 

0%

Empery Asset Master LTD (7)

 

1,643,269

 

4.99%

 

2,952,093

 

0

 

0%

Empery Tax Efficient LP (8)

 

441,651

 

1.47%

 

   793,415

 

0

 

0%

Empery Tax Efficient III, LP (9)

 

499,998

 

1.66%

 

   898,234

 

0

 

0%

Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd. (10)

 

3,692,739

 

9.99%

 

6,633,915

 

0

 

0%

CVI Investments, Inc. (11)

 

3,766,594

 

4.99%

 

6,766,594

 

0

 

0%

Evergreen Capital Management LLC (12)

 

1,477,095

 

4.78%

 

2,653,565

 

0

 

0%

District 2 Capital Fund LP (13)

 

1,200,140

 

3.91%

 

2,156,022

 

0

 

0%

 

 

(1)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 477,941 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,625 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 477,941 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 244,258 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 955,882 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,625 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 955,882 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 244,258 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Bigger Capital Fund GP, LLC (“Bigger GP”) is a general partner of Bigger Capital Fund, LP (“Bigger Capital”) and District 2 Capital LP (“District 2”) is the investment manager of District 2 Capital Fund LP (“District 2 CF”). Michael Bigger is the managing member of Bigger GP and District and District 2 Holdings LLC (“District 2 Holdings”), which is the managing member of District 2 GP LLC (“District 2 GP”), the general partner of District 2 CF. Therefore, Mr. Bigger, District 2, District 2 Holdings and District 2 CF may be deemed to be the beneficial owner, and have the shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition, of the shares reported as beneficially owned by District 2 CF and Mr. Bigger and Bigger GP may be deemed to be the beneficial owner, and have the shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition, of the shares reported as beneficially owned by Bigger Capital and District 2 CF.

 

 

(2)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 320,294 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,089 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 320,294 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 165,344 shares of the aggregate 248,016 shares of common stock that may be purchased jointly by such selling shareholder and by Cavalry Investment Fund LP pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 640,588 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,089 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 640,588 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 165,344 shares of the aggregate 248,016 shares of common stock that may be purchased jointly by such selling shareholder and by Cavalry Investment Fund LP pursuant to an STA. Calvary Fund I Management LLC is the general partner of Cavalry Fund I, LP. Thomas Walsh is the Manager of Cavalry Fund I Management, LLC. As such Cavalry Fund I Management, LLC and Mr. Walsh may be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by Cavalry Fund I, LP. Mr. Walsh has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of common stock held by Cavalry Fund I LP. The address of Cavalry Fund I LP is 82 E. Allendale Road, Suite 5B, Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.

 

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(3)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 165,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 561 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 165,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 82,672 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder and by Calvary Fund I LP pursuant to an STA, all of which such STA shares are represented as beneficially owned by Calvary Fund I LP. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 330,000 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 561 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 330,000 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 82,672 shares of the aggregate 248,016 shares of common stock that may be purchased jointly by such selling shareholder and by Cavalry Investment Fund LP pursuant to an STA. Cavalry Fund GP is the general partner of Cavalry Investment Fund, LP. Mr Walsh is the Manager of Cavalry Fund GP, LLC. As such Cavalry Fund GP, LLC and Mr. Walsh may be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by Cavalry Investment Fund, LP.Thomas Walsh has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of common stock held by Cavalry Investment Fund, LP.The address of Cavalry Investment Fund, LP is 82 E. Allendale Road, Suite 5B, Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.

 

 

(4)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 367,647 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,250 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 367,647 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 563,672 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 735,294 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,250 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 735,294 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 563,672 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Anson Advisers Inc. and Anson Funds Management LP, the Co-Investment Advisers of Anson East Master Fund LP (“Anson”), hold voting and dispositive power over the Common Shares held by Anson. Bruce Winson is the managing member of Anson Management GP LLC, which is the general partner of Anson Funds Management LP. Moez Kassam and Amin Nathoo are directors of Anson Advisors Inc. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Kassam and Mr. Nathoo each disclaim beneficial ownership of these Common Shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address of Anson is Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands.

 

 

(5)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 1,102,941 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 3,750 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 1,102,941 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 977,031 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 2,205,882 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 3,750 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 2,205,882 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 977,031 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Anson Advisors Inc. and Anson Funds Management LP, the Co-Investment Advisers of Anson Investments Master Fund LP (“Anson”), hold voting and dispositive power over the Common Shares held by Anson. Bruce Winson is the managing member of Anson Management GP LLC, which is the general partner of Anson Funds Management LP. Moez Kassam and Amin Nathoo are directors of Anson Advisors Inc. Mr. Winson, Mr. Kassam and Mr. Nathoo each disclaim beneficial ownership of these Common Shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address of Anson is Walkers Corporate Limited, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands.

 

 

(6)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 1,911,765 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 6,500 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 1,911,765 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 977,031 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 3,823,530 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 6,500 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 3,823,530 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 977,031 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Sabby Management, LLC is the investment manager of Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. and shares voting and investment power with respect to these shares in this capacity. As manager of Sabby Management, LLC, Hal Mintz also shares voting and investment power on behalf of Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. The address of the Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. is c/o Sabby Management, LLC, 10 Mountainview Road, Suite 205, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Each of Sabby Management, LLC and Hal Mintz disclaims beneficial ownership over the securities listed except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

 

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(7)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 654,412 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 2,225 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 654,412 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 334,445 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 1,308,824 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 2,225 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 1,308,824 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 334,445 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Asset Master Ltd (“EAM”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by EAM and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by EAM. EAM, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.

 

 

(8)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 175,882 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 598 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 175,883 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 89,887 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 351,764 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 598 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 351,764 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 89,887 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Tax Efficient, LP (“ETE”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by ETE and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by ETE. ETE, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.

 

 

(9)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 199,118 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 677 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 199,118 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 101,762 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 398,236 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 677 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 398,236 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 101,762 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Empery Asset Management LP, the authorized agent of Empery Tax Efficient III, LP (“ETE III”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by ETE III and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Hoe and Ryan Lane, in their capacity as investment managers of Empery Asset Management LP, may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by ETE III. ETE III, Mr. Hoe and Mr. Lane each disclaim any beneficial ownership of these shares.

 

 

(10)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 1,470,588 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 5,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 1,470,588 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 751,563 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 2,941,176 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 5,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 2,941,176 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 751,563 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, the investment manager of Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd., has voting and investment power over these securities. Sander Gerber is the managing member of Hudson Bay Capital GP LLC, which is the general partner of Hudson Bay Capital Management LP. Each of Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd. and Sander Gerber disclaims beneficial ownership over these securities. The business address for this Selling Securityholder is c/o Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, 28 Havemeyer Place, 2nd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830.

 

42 

 

 

 

(11)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 1,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 5,100 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 1,500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 766,594 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 3,000,000 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 5,100 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 3,000,000 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 766,594 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Heights Capital Management, Inc., the authorized agent of CVI Investments, Inc. (“CVI”), has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares held by CVI and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares. Martin Kobinger, in his capacity as Investment Manager of Heights Capital Management, Inc., may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares held by CVI. Mr. Kobinger disclaims any such beneficial ownership of the shares. CVI Investments, Inc.is affiliated with one or more FINRA member, none of whom are currently expected to participate in the resales pursuant to this prospectus.

 

 

(12)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 588,235 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 2,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 588,235 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 300,625 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 1,176,470 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 2,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 1,176,470 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 300,625 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Jeffrey Pazdro is the managing member of Evergreen Capital Management LLC (“Evergreen”) and has sole voting control and investment discretion over the securities held by Evergreen. Mr. Pazdro disclaims beneficial ownership over the securities listed except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address of Evergreen is 156 West Saddle River Road, Saddle River, NJ 07458.

 

 

(13)

The number of shares in the second column includes (a) 477,941 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,625 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 477,941 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, and (c) 244,258 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Bigger Capital Fund GP, LLC (“Bigger GP”) is a general partner of Bigger Capital Fund, LP (“Bigger Capital”) and District 2 Capital LP (“District 2”) is the investment manager of District 2 Capital Fund LP (“District 2 CF”). The number of shares in the fourth column includes (a) 955,882 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 1,625 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, (b) 955,882 shares of common stock, representing 200% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and (c) 244,258 shares of common stock that may be purchased by such selling shareholder pursuant to an STA. Michael Bigger is the managing member of Bigger GP and District and District 2 Holdings LLC (“District 2 Holdings”), which is the managing member of District 2 GP LLC (“District 2 GP”), the general partner of District 2 CF. Therefore, Mr. Bigger, District 2, District 2 Holdings and District 2 CF may be deemed to be the beneficial owner, and have the shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition, of the shares reported as beneficially owned by District 2 CF and Mr. Bigger and Bigger GP may be deemed to be the beneficial owner, and have the shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition, of the shares reported as beneficially owned by Bigger Capital and District 2 CF.

 

43 

 

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering the shares of common stock issued to the selling stockholders to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the shares of common stock from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.

 

The selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market and in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions. The selling stockholders 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 such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

● a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

● any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as permitted by that rule, or Section 4(a)(1) under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of those provisions.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. If the selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal. Such commissions will be in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction will not be in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110.

 

44 

 

 

In connection with sales of the shares of common stock or otherwise, 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 shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short and if such short sale shall take place after the date that this registration statement is declared effective by the SEC, the selling stockholders may deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares, to the extent permitted by applicable law. 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). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selling stockholders have been advised that they may not use shares registered on this registration statement to cover short sales of our common stock made prior to the date the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the warrants or shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The selling stockholders and any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer or agent 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. Selling stockholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and may be subject to certain statutory liabilities of, including but not limited to, Sections 11, 12 and 17 of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

 

Each selling stockholder has informed the Company that it is not a registered broker-dealer and does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common stock. Upon the Company being notified in writing by a selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of common stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such selling stockholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such the shares of common stock were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

 

There can be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

Each selling stockholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholder and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.

 

45 

 

 

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, that each selling stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any, and any legal expenses incurred by it. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreement, or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholders specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the registration rights agreement, or we may be entitled to contribution.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of our common stock being offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Ballard Spahr LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of, and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 incorporated by reference into this prospectus and registration statement have been audited by Baker Tilly US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, dated March 31, 2021, appearing in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021, and incorporated by reference into this prospectus and registration statement, and such report is included in reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information from other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus.

 

We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except as to any portion of any future report or document that is not deemed filed under such provisions, prior to the completion or termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus:

 

 

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021, as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2021;

 

 

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on May 7, 2021, June 30, 2021 filed with the SEC on August 16, 2021, and September 30, 2021 filed with the SEC on November 15, 2021;

 

 

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits accompanying such reports that are related to such items) filed on March 3, 2021, April 29, 2021, June 29, 2021, July 28, 2021, August 2, 2021, August 6, 2021, September 14, 2021, September 15, 2021, November 23, 2021, December 14, 2021, December 20, 2021, January 4, 2022 and February 9, 2022; and

 

46 

 

 

 

the description of the Company’s common stock as set forth in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated June 17, 1983 (Registration No. 2-84100), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus is modified or superseded for purposes of the prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.

 

You can obtain a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than an exhibit to a document unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that document) from the SEC on its website at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain these documents from us, free of charge, by visiting our internet website at www.commsystems.com or by writing to us or calling us at the following address and phone number:

 

Communications Systems, Inc.
10900 Red Circle Drive
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343
Attn: Corporate Secretary
(952) 996-1674

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into this registration statement. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act that registers the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules and the information incorporated by reference, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit from this prospectus certain information included in the registration statement. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.

 

You may also obtain the documents that we file electronically on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, or on our website at www.commsystems.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference herein and does not constitute part of this prospectus.

 

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITY

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

47 

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

42,457,058 Shares of Common Stock

 

                              , 2022

 

 

 

 

PART II — INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table sets forth all expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of its common stock being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee.

 

 

 

Amount to be paid

 

SEC registration fee

 

$

9,210

 

Accounting fees and expenses

 

 

10,000

 

Legal fees and expenses

 

 

50,000

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

10,790

 

Total

 

$

80,000

 

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota Statutes and Article 10 of CSI’s Restated Bylaws, as amended, require, among other things, the indemnification of any person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of acts or omissions performed in the person’s official capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of CSI against judgments, penalties and fines (including attorneys’ fees) if the person is not otherwise indemnified, acted in good faith, received no improper benefit, reasonably believed that such conduct was in the best interests of CSI, and, in the case of criminal proceedings, had no reason to believe the conduct was unlawful. In addition, Section 302A.521, subd. 3, of the Minnesota Statutes requires payment by CSI, upon written request, of reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition in certain instances if a decision as to required indemnification is made by a disinterested majority of the CSI board of directors present at a meeting at which a disinterested quorum is present, or by a designated committee of the CSI board of directors, by special legal counsel, by the shareholders or by a court. CSI also maintains insurance to assist in funding indemnification of directors and officers for certain liabilities.

 

Under the registration rights agreement, each selling shareholder has agreed, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees) resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, any free writing prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus or free writing prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such selling shareholder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such registration statement, preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, free writing prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event will the liability of a selling shareholder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such selling shareholder upon the sale of the registrable securities included in the registration statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

Additionally, the merger agreement provides that all rights to indemnification or exculpation existing at the time of the merger agreement in favor of the directors, managers and officers of CSI or Pineapple, as provided in their respective organizational documents or otherwise in effect as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, in either case, solely with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the effective time of the merger will survive the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and will continue in full force and effect from and after the effective time of the merger. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CSI or Pineapple, as applicable, must advance, or cause to be advanced, expenses in connection with such indemnification as provided in their respective organizational documents or other applicable agreements as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the merger. The indemnification and liability limitation or exculpation provisions of their respective organizational documents may not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified after the effective time of the merger in any manner that would materially and adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, or at any time prior to such time, were directors or officers of CSI or Pineapple (the “D&O Persons”) entitled to be so indemnified, their liability limited or be exculpated with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the effective time of the merger and relating to the fact that such D&O Person was a director or officer of CSI or Pineapple immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, unless such amendment, repeal or other modification is required by applicable law.

 

 

 

 

Following the effective time of the merger, CSI is required to maintain, without any lapses in coverage, its directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for the benefit of those persons who were covered by any comparable CSI insurance policies as of the date of the merger agreement with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the effective time of the merger.

 

The merger agreement also requires that proper provisions will be made so that the successors or assigns of CSI or Pineapple, as applicable, will assume the respective indemnification, liability limitation, exculpation and insurance obligations set forth in the merger agreement.

 

The D&O Persons entitled to the foregoing indemnification, liability limitation, exculpation and insurance are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of these provisions of the merger agreement, which will survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and be binding on all successors and assigns of CSI or Pineapple.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to CSI directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)           Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Articles of Incorporation, as amended

Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws, as amended through April 10, 2020

Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of Communications Systems, Inc.

*

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Form of Communications Systems, Inc. Warrant to be issued to the PIPE Investors

Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 8-K dated September 14, 2021

 

 

 

 

4.3

 

Registration Rights Agreement between Communications Systems, Inc. and PIPE Investors

Filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Form 8-K dated September 14, 2021

 

 

II - 2 

 

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

 

 

5.1

 

Legal Opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP

To be filed by amendment.

       

10.1

 

Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of September 15, 2021, between Communications Systems, Inc. and the purchasers identified on the signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement

Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K dated September 14, 2021

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of Lock-up Agreement by and among the Company, certain Company directors, officers and shareholders and the PIPE Investors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K dated June 28, 2021

Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K dated June 28, 2021

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Stock Transfer Agreement dated as of January 24, 2022

*

 

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Baker Tilly US LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for Communications Systems, Inc.

*

 

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Ballard Spahr LLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)

To be filed by amendment.

 

 

 

 

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages to the Registration Statement)

*

 

 

 

 

* Filed herewith

 

 

(b)           Financial Statement Schedules

 

Schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

II - 3 

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii) and (iii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II - 4 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minnetonka, State of Minnesota, on February 22, 2022.

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark D. Fandrich

 

Name: 

Mark D. Fandrich

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Communications Systems, Inc. corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Roger H.D. Lacey and Mark D. Fandrich, and each of them individually, as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with full power and authority in said agent and attorney-in-fact to sign for the undersigned and in their respective names as an officer/director of the Company, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-3 (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and with full power of substitution, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Capacity

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Roger H.D. Lacey

 

Executive Chair, Interim Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director

 

February 22, 2022

Roger H.D. Lacey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mark D. Fandrich

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

February 22, 2022

Mark D. Fandrich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Kristin A. Hlavka

 

Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

February 22, 2022

Kristin A. Hlavka

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Randall D. Sampson

 

Director

 

February 22, 2022

Randall D. Simpson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Richard A. Primuth

 

Director

 

February 22, 2022

Richard A. Primuth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Stephen C. Webster

 

Director

 

February 22, 2022

Stephen C. Webster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Michael R. Zapata

 

Director

 

February 22, 2022

Michael R. Zapata

 

 

 

 

 

II - 5 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

communications systems, inc.

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES,

RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

OF

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302A.401 and 302A.133 OF THE

minnesota Business CORPORATION LAW

 

The undersigned, __________ and ____________, do hereby certify that:

 

1. They are the President and Secretary, respectively, of Communications Systems, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Corporation”).

 

2. The Corporation is authorized to issue three million shares of preferred stock, none of which have been issued.

 

3. The following resolutions were duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”):

 

WHEREAS, the articles of incorporation of the Corporation provide for a class of its authorized stock known as preferred stock, consisting of three million shares, $1.00 par value per share, issuable from time to time in one or more series;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is authorized to fix the dividend rights, dividend rate, voting rights, conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of preferred stock and the number of shares constituting any series and the designation thereof, of any of them; and

 

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors, pursuant to its authority as aforesaid, to fix the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to a series of the preferred stock, which shall consist of, except as otherwise set forth in the Purchase Agreement, up to 32,000 shares of the preferred stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue, as follows:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issuance of a series of preferred stock for cash or exchange of other securities, rights or property and does hereby fix and determine the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to such series of preferred stock as follows:

 

 

 

 

TERMS OF PREFERRED STOCK

 

Section 1.          Definitions. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

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 of the Securities Act.

 

Alternate Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e).

 

Attribution Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(d).

 

Base Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(d).

 

Bloomberg” means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

 

Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Buy-In” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c)(iv).

 

Change of Control Transaction” means the occurrence after the date hereof of any of (a) an acquisition after the date hereof by an individual or legal entity or “group” (as described in Rule 13d-5(b)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act) of effective control (whether through legal or beneficial ownership of capital stock of the Corporation, by contract or otherwise) of in excess of 33% of the voting securities of the Corporation (other than by means of conversion or exercise of Preferred Stock and the Securities issued together with the Preferred Stock), (b) the Corporation merges into or consolidates with any other Person, or any Person merges into or consolidates with the Corporation and, after giving effect to such transaction, the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction own less than 67% of the aggregate voting power of the Corporation or the successor entity of such transaction, (c) the Corporation (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), directly or indirectly, sells or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another Person and the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction own less than 67% of the aggregate voting power of the acquiring Person immediately after the transaction, (d) a replacement at one time or within a one year period of more than one-half of the members of the Board of Directors which is not approved by a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board of Directors on the Original Issue Date (or by those individuals who are serving as members of the Board of Directors on any date whose nomination to the Board of Directors was approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are members on the Original Issue Date), or (e) the execution by the Corporation of an agreement to which the Corporation is a party or by which it is bound, providing for any of the events set forth in clauses (a) through (d) above.

 

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Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Preferred Stock and Warrants pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

Closing Date” means the Trading Day on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto and all conditions precedent to (i) the Holders’ obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the Corporation’s obligations to deliver the Preferred Stock and the Warrants, in each case, have been satisfied or waived.

 

Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing trade price for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing trade price, then the last trade price of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last trade price of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last trade price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no last trade price is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the ask prices of any market makers for such security as reported in the OTC Link or on the Pink Open Market. If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Corporation and the Holders. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

 

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.05 per share, and any other class of securities into which such common stock may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Corporation 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.

 

Conversion Amount” means the sum of the Stated Value at issue.

 

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Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

 

Conversion Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Convertible Securities” means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

 

Dilutive Issuance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Dilutive Issuance Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Dilutive Issuance Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

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

 

Effective Date” means the date that the Registration Statement filed by the Corporation pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the Commission.

 

Equity Conditions” means, during the period in question, (a) the Corporation shall have duly honored all conversions scheduled to occur or occurring by virtue of one or more Notices of Conversion of the applicable Holder on or prior to the dates so requested or required, if any, (b) the Corporation shall have paid all liquidated damages and other amounts owing to the applicable Holder in respect of the Preferred Stock, (c)(i) there is an effective Registration Statement pursuant to which the Holders are permitted to utilize the prospectus thereunder to resell all of the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents (and the Corporation believes, in good faith, that such effectiveness will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future) or (ii) all of the Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements as determined by the counsel to the Corporation as set forth in a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Transfer Agent and the affected Holders, (d) the Common Stock is trading on a Trading Market and all of the shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents are listed or quoted for trading on such Trading Market (and the Corporation believes, in good faith, that trading of the Common Stock on a Trading Market will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future), (e) there is a sufficient number of authorized, but unissued and otherwise unreserved, shares of Common Stock for the issuance of all of the shares then issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents, (f) the issuance of the shares in question to the applicable Holder would not violate the limitations set forth in Section 5(d) herein, (g) there has been no public announcement of a pending or proposed Fundamental Transaction or Change of Control Transaction that has not been consummated, (h) the applicable Holder is not in possession of any information provided by the Corporation, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their officers, directors, employees, agents or Affiliates, that constitutes, or may constitute, material, non-public information, and (i) for each Trading Day in a period of 10 consecutive Trading Days prior to the applicable date in question (but following the Effective Date), the daily dollar trading volume for the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market exceeds $5 million per Trading Day.

 

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

 

Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock, restricted stock or restricted stock units, or options to employees, officers or directors of the Corporation pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Corporation, (b) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any Securities issued under the Purchase Agreement, Warrants to the Placement Agent in connection with the transactions pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and any securities upon exercise of Warrants to the Placement Agent and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of the Purchase Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of the Purchase 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 splits or combinations) or to extend the term of such securities, and (c) shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents issued in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary with or into another Person or other similar business combination involving the Corporation or any Subsidiary or any acquisitions or strategic transactions involving the Corporation or any Subsidiary, in each case, approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Corporation, provided, that (i) such securities are issued at a price per share no less than the average of the VWAP for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days immediately following the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents for such transaction, and (ii) except with respect to the issuances of securities set forth on Schedule 1.1 of the Purchase Agreement, such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith during the prohibition period in Section 4.13(a) of the Purchase Agreement, and provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equityholders 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 Corporation and shall provide to the Corporation additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Corporation is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Variable Rate Transaction shall not be an Exempt Issuance. 

 

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Forced Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Forced Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Forced Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e).

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Holder” means a holder of the Preferred Stock.

 

Junior Securities” means the Common Stock and all other Common Stock Equivalents of the Corporation other than those securities which are explicitly senior or pari passu to the Preferred Stock in dividend rights or liquidation preference.

 

Lock-Up Agreements” means the Lock-Up Agreements, dated as of the date of the Purchase Agreement, by and between the Corporation and each of the directors of the Corporation, officers of the Corporation, and beneficial owners of 10% or more of the Common Stock, in the form of Exhibit D attached to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Merger Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Corporation, Helios Merger Co., Pineapple Energy LLC, Lake Street Solar LLC, and Randall D. Sampson, dated as of March 1, 2021, as amended.

 

New York Courts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10(d).

 

Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

Original Issue Date” means the date of the first issuance of any shares of the Preferred Stock regardless of the number of transfers of any particular shares of Preferred Stock and regardless of the number of certificates which may be issued to evidence such Preferred Stock.

 

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.

 

Placement Agent” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.1 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

 

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Principal Market” means The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Purchase Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2021, among the Corporation and the original Holders, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Purchase Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of the Purchase Agreement, among the Corporation and the original Holders, in the form of Exhibit B attached to the Purchase Agreement.

 

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

 

Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Repurchase Price Per Share” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Required Holders” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission 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 Commission having substantially the same purposes and effect as such Rule.

 

Securities” means the Preferred Stock, the Warrants and the Underlying Shares.

 

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

 

Share Delivery Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

Shareholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the primary Trading Market from the shareholders of the Corporation with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the issuance of all of the Underlying Shares in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock on the Closing Date.

 

Standard Settlement Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

Stated Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

 

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Subscription Amount” means, as to each original Holder, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Preferred Stock and Warrants purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement as specified below such original Holder’s name on the signature page of the Purchase Agreement and next to the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.

 

Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation formed or acquired after the date of the Purchase Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the term Subsidiary as of the Closing Date includes Pineapple Energy LLC and its Subsidiaries.

 

Successor Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e).

 

Threshold Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for business.

 

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, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

Transaction Documents” means this Certificate of Designation, the Purchase Agreement, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements, all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Transfer Agent” means Equiniti Trust Company, the current transfer agent of the Corporation, and any successor transfer agent of the Corporation.

 

Underlying Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issued and issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

Unconverted Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

Valuation Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iv).

 

Variable Rate Transaction” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.13(b) of the Purchase Agreement.

 

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 (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 not a 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 (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Corporation, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Corporation.

 

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Warrants” means, collectively, the Common Stock purchase warrants delivered to the original Holders at the Closing in accordance with Section 2.2(a) of the Purchase Agreement, which Warrants shall be exercisable immediately and have a term of exercise equal to five (5) years, in the form of Exhibit C attached to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

Section 2.         Designation, Amount and Par Value. The series of preferred stock shall be designated as its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares so designated shall be up to 32,000 (which shall not be subject to increase without the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock). Each share of Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $1.00 per share and a stated value equal to $1,000 (the “Stated Value”).

 

Section 3.         Dividends. If the Corporation declares, pays or sets aside any dividends on shares of Common Stock of the Corporation (other than dividends on shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock), the Holders of the Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to participate in such dividend on each outstanding share of Preferred Stock in an amount at least equal to that dividend per share of Preferred Stock as would equal the product of (A) the dividend payable on each share of Common Stock determined, if applicable, as if all shares of such class or series had been converted into Common Stock and (B) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of Preferred Stock, in each case calculated on the record date for determination of holders entitled to receive such dividend.

 

Section 4.         Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or as otherwise required by law, the Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock (the “Required Holders”), (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Preferred Stock or alter or amend this Certificate of Designation, (b) authorize or create any class of stock ranking as to redemption senior to the Preferred Stock, (c) amend its articles of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of the Holders, (d) increase the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock, or (e) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

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Section 5.          Conversion.

 

a)             Conversions at Option of Holder. Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at any time and from time to time from and after the Original Issue Date at the option of the Holder thereof, into that number of shares of Common Stock (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(d)) determined by dividing the Stated Value of such share of Preferred Stock by the Conversion Price. Holders shall effect conversions by providing the Corporation with the form of conversion notice attached hereto as Annex A (a “Notice of Conversion”). Each Notice of Conversion shall specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to the conversion at issue, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned subsequent to the conversion at issue and the date on which such conversion is to be effected, which date may not be prior to the date the applicable Holder delivers by facsimile such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation (such date, the “Conversion Date”). If no Conversion Date is specified in a Notice of Conversion, the Conversion Date shall be the date that such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation is deemed delivered hereunder. 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. The calculations and entries set forth in the Notice of Conversion shall control in the absence of manifest or mathematical error. To effect conversions of shares of Preferred Stock, a Holder shall not be required to surrender the certificate(s) representing the shares of Preferred Stock to the Corporation unless all of the shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby are so converted, in which case such Holder shall deliver the certificate representing such shares of Preferred Stock promptly following the Conversion Date at issue. Shares of Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be canceled and shall not be reissued.

 

b)            Conversion Price. The conversion price for the Preferred Stock shall equal $3.40, subject to adjustment herein (the “Conversion Price”).

 

  c) Mechanics of Conversion.

 

i.         Delivery of Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. Not later than the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) after each Conversion Date (the “Share Delivery Date”), the Corporation shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the converting Holder the number of Conversion Shares being acquired upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock which shall be free of restrictive legends and trading restrictions (other than those which may then be required by the Purchase Agreement). The Corporation shall deliver the Conversion Shares required to be delivered by the Corporation under this Section 5 electronically through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Corporation’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Conversion.

 

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ii.        Failure to Deliver Conversion Shares. If, in the case of any Notice of Conversion, such Conversion Shares are not delivered to or as directed by the applicable Holder by the Share Delivery Date, the Holder shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Corporation at any time on or before its receipt of such Conversion Shares, to rescind such Conversion, in which event the Corporation shall promptly return to the Holder any original Preferred Stock certificate delivered to the Corporation and the Holder shall promptly return to the Corporation the Conversion Shares issued to such Holder pursuant to the rescinded Notice of Conversion.

 

iii.       Obligation Absolute; Partial Liquidated Damages. The Corporation’s obligation to issue and deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by a 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 such Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Corporation or any violation or alleged violation of law by such Holder or any other person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Corporation to such Holder in connection with the issuance of such Conversion Shares; provided, however, that such delivery shall not operate as a waiver by the Corporation of any such action that the Corporation may have against such Holder. In the event a Holder shall elect to convert any or all of the Stated Value of its Preferred Stock, the Corporation may not refuse conversion based on any claim that such Holder or any one associated or affiliated with such 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 the Preferred Stock of such Holder shall have been sought and obtained, and the Corporation posts a surety bond for the benefit of such Holder in the amount of 150% of the Stated Value of Preferred Stock which is subject to the injunction, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of arbitration/litigation of the underlying dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to such Holder to the extent it obtains judgment. In the absence of such injunction, the Corporation shall issue Conversion Shares and, if applicable, cash, upon a properly noticed conversion. If the Corporation fails to deliver to a Holder such Conversion Shares pursuant to Section 5(c)(i) by the Share Delivery Date applicable to such conversion, the Corporation shall pay to such Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $5,000 of Stated Value of Preferred Stock being converted, $50 per Trading Day (increasing to $100 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day and increasing to $200 per Trading Day on the sixth Trading Day after such damages begin to accrue) for each Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date until such Conversion Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such conversion. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue actual damages for the Corporation’s failure to deliver Conversion Shares within the period specified herein and such Holder shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief. The exercise of any such rights shall not prohibit a Holder from seeking to enforce damages pursuant to any other Section hereof or under applicable law.

 

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iv.       Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Corporation fails for any reason to deliver to a Holder the applicable Conversion Shares by the Share Delivery Date pursuant to Section 5(c)(i), and if after such Share Delivery Date such Holder is required by its brokerage firm to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise), or such Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Holder of the Conversion Shares which such Holder was entitled to receive upon the conversion relating to such Share Delivery Date (a “Buy-In”), then the Corporation shall (A) pay in cash to such Holder (in addition to any other remedies available to or elected by such Holder) the amount, if any, by which (x) such 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 such 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 (B) at the option of such Holder, either reissue (if surrendered) the shares of Preferred Stock equal to the number of shares of Preferred Stock submitted for conversion (in which case, such conversion shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued if the Corporation had timely complied with its delivery requirements under Section 5(c)(i). For example, if a Holder purchases shares of Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Preferred Stock 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 (A) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to pay such Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Corporation written notice indicating the amounts payable to such Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Corporation, 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 Corporation’s failure to timely deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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v.        Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock for the sole purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, as herein provided, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holder (and the other Holders of the Preferred Stock), not less than such aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock as shall (subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement) be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 6) upon the conversion of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issuance, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and, if the Registration Statement is then effective under the Securities Act, shall be registered for public resale in accordance with such Registration Statement (subject to such Holder’s compliance with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

vi.       Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such conversion, the Corporation 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, but consistent with the provisions of this subsection with respect to fractional Conversion Shares, nothing shall prevent any Holder from converting fractional shares of Preferred Stock.

 

vii.      Transfer Taxes and Expenses. The issuance of Conversion Shares on conversion of the Preferred Stock shall be made without charge to any Holder for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of such Conversion Shares, provided that the Corporation 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 Conversion Shares upon conversion in a name other than that of the Holders of such shares of Preferred Stock and the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver such Conversion Shares unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid. The Corporation shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Conversion and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Conversion Shares.

 

 

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d)            Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Preferred Stock, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Preferred Stock, to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Notice of Conversion, such Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates, and any Persons acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted Stated Value of Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Corporation subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, the Preferred Stock or the Warrants) beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 5(d), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 5(d) applies, the determination of whether the Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of how many shares of Preferred Stock are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the shares of Preferred Stock may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and how many shares of the Preferred Stock are convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder will be deemed to represent to the Corporation each time it delivers a Notice of Conversion that such Notice of Conversion has not violated the restrictions set forth in this paragraph and the Corporation shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 5(d), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) the Corporation’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by the Corporation or (iii) a more recent written notice by the Corporation or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request (which may be via email) of a Holder, the Corporation shall within one Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to such 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 Corporation, including the Preferred Stock, by such Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% (or, upon election by a Holder prior to the issuance of any shares of Preferred Stock, 9.99%) of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock held by the applicable Holder. A Holder, upon notice to the Corporation, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 5(d) applicable to its Preferred Stock provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Preferred Stock held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 5(d) shall continue to apply. Any such increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Corporation and shall only apply to such Holder and no other Holder. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 5(d) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained herein or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor Holder of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding anything in this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, upon the election of a Holder made prior to the issuance of any shares of Preferred Stock, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation and this Section 5(d) shall not apply to any conversion of Preferred Stock in connection with a Change of Control Transaction.

 

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Section 6.          Certain Adjustments.

 

a)            Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Corporation, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions payable in shares of Common Stock on shares of Common Stock or any other Common Stock Equivalents (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Corporation upon conversion of this Preferred Stock), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the Common Stock, any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, then the Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) outstanding immediately before such event, and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 6(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

 

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b)            Subsequent Equity Sales. If, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Corporation or any Subsidiary, as applicable sells, enters into an agreement to sell or grants any option to purchase or sells or grants any right to reprice, or otherwise disposes of or issues (or announces any sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition), any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents entitling any Person to acquire shares of Common Stock at an effective price per share that is lower than the then Conversion Price (such lower price, the “Base Conversion Price” and such issuances, collectively, a “Dilutive Issuance”) (it being understood and agreed that if the holder of the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents so issued shall at any time, whether by operation of purchase price adjustments, reset provisions, floating conversion, exercise or exchange prices or otherwise, or due to warrants, options or rights per share which are issued in connection with such issuance, be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock at an effective price per share that is lower than the Conversion Price, such issuance shall be deemed to have occurred for less than the Conversion Price on such date of the Dilutive Issuance at such effective price), then simultaneously with the consummation (or, if earlier, the announcement) of each Dilutive Issuance the Conversion Price shall be reduced to equal the lower of (i) the Base Conversion Price and (ii) the lowest VWAP during the five (5) consecutive Trading Days immediately following the public announcement of the execution of the Dilutive Issuance (such lower price, the “Dilutive Issuance Conversion Price”) (for the avoidance of doubt, if such public announcement is released prior to the opening of the Principal Market on a Trading Day, such Trading Day shall be the first Trading Day in such five (5) Trading Day period and if the Preferred Stock is converted pursuant to Section 5(a), on any given Conversion Date during any such five (5) Trading Day period, solely with respect to such portion of the Preferred Stock converted on such applicable Conversion Date, such applicable five (5) Trading Day period shall be deemed to have ended on, and included, the Trading Day immediately prior to such Conversion Date). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment will be made under this Section 6(b) in respect of an Exempt Issuance. If the Corporation enters into a Variable Rate Transaction, despite the prohibition set forth in the Purchase Agreement, the Corporation shall be deemed to have issued Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents at the lowest possible price, conversion price or exercise price at which such securities may be issued, converted or exercised. The Corporation shall notify the Holders in writing, no later than the Trading Day following the issuance or deemed issuance of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents subject to this Section 6(b), indicating therein the applicable issuance price, or applicable reset price, exchange price, conversion price and other pricing terms (such notice, the “Dilutive Issuance Notice”). For purposes of clarification, whether or not the Corporation provides a Dilutive Issuance Notice pursuant to this Section 6(b), upon the occurrence of any Dilutive Issuance, the Holders are entitled to receive a number of Conversion Shares based upon the Dilutive Issuance Conversion Price on or after the date of such Dilutive Issuance, regardless of whether a Holder accurately refers to the Dilutive Issuance Conversion Price in the Notice of Conversion. For purposes of determining the adjusted Conversion Price under this Section 6(b), the following shall be applicable:

 

i.         Issuance of Options. If the Corporation in any manner grants or sells, or the Corporation publicly announces the issuance or sale of, any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Options is less than the then Conversion Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Corporation at the time of the granting or sale of such Options for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 6(b)(i), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Options” shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Corporation with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of the Options, upon exercise of the Options and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Options less any consideration paid or payable by the Corporation with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Options, upon exercise of such Options and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Options. No further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

 

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ii.        Issuance of Convertible Securities. If the Corporation in any manner issues or sells, or the Corporation publicly announces the issuance or sale of, any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the then Conversion Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Corporation at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 6(b)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Corporation with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security less any consideration paid or payable by the Corporation with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security. No further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of the Conversion Price has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 6(b), no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made by reason of such issuance or sale.

 

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iii.       Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion. If the purchase price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Conversion Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 6(b)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the date of the Purchase Agreement are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Conversion Price then in effect.

 

iv.       Calculation of Consideration Received. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount received by the Corporation therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Corporation will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Corporation will be the Closing Sale Price of such publicly traded securities on the date of receipt of such publicly traded securities. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Corporation is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Corporation and the Required Holders. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “Valuation Event”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Business Days after the tenth (10th) day following the Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Corporation and the Required Holders. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Corporation.

 

v.        Record Date. In case the Corporation shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (i) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities or (ii) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date shall be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

 

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vi.       Treasury Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Corporation or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the disposition of any such shares (other than the cancellation or retirement thereof) shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock for the purpose of this paragraph (b).

 

c)            Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 6(a) and/or Section 6(b) above, if at any time the Corporation grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of such Holder’s Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

 

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d)            Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Preferred Stock is outstanding, if the Corporation declares or makes any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Preferred Stock, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

 

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e)            Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding, (A) the Corporation shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Corporation is the surviving corporation) another Person, Affiliate or group (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder) (“Subject Entity”), or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Corporation or any of its “significant subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) to one or more Subject Entities, or (iii) make, or allow one or more Subject Entities to make, or allow the Corporation to be subject to or have its shares of Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Subject Entities making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either (x) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) consummate a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Subject Entities whereby all such Subject Entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all the Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that the Subject Entities become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its shares of Common Stock, (B) the Corporation shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, allow any Subject Entity individually or the Subject Entities in the aggregate to be or become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, whether through acquisition, purchase, assignment, conveyance, tender, tender offer, exchange, reduction in outstanding shares of Common Stock, merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification or otherwise in any manner whatsoever, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock not held by all such Subject Entities as of the date of the Purchase Agreement calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all such Subject Entities were not outstanding, or (z) a percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation sufficient to allow such Subject Entities to effect a statutory short form merger or other transaction requiring other shareholders of the Corporation to surrender their Common Stock without approval of the shareholders of the Corporation or (C) directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, the issuance of or the entering into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent conversion of this Preferred Stock, 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 5(d) on the conversion of this Preferred Stock), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Corporation, 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 Preferred Stock is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 5(d) on the conversion of this Preferred Stock). 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 share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Corporation 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 Preferred Stock following such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Corporation or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall file a new Certificate of Designation with the same terms and conditions and issue to the Holders new preferred stock consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holders’ right to convert such preferred stock into Alternate Consideration. The Corporation shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Corporation is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(e) 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 Preferred Stock, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Preferred Stock a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Preferred Stock 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 Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Preferred Stock) 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 Preferred Stock 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 Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Corporation” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Corporation and shall assume all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Corporation herein. Notwithstanding anything above to the contrary, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement shall not be deemed a Fundamental Transaction.

 

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f)            Calculations. All calculations under this Section 6 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 6, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) issued and outstanding.

 

g)            Notice to the Holders.

 

i.          Adjustment to Conversion Price. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 6, the Corporation shall promptly deliver to each Holder by facsimile or email a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

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ii.         Notice to Allow Conversion by Holder. If (A) the Corporation shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Corporation shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Corporation shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Corporation shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property or (E) the Corporation shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, then, in each case, the Corporation shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of this Preferred Stock, and shall cause to be delivered by facsimile or email to each Holder at its last facsimile number or email address as it shall appear upon the stock books of the Corporation, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange, provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries, the Corporation shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to convert the Conversion Amount of the Preferred Stock (or any part hereof) during the 20-day period commencing on the date of such notice through the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

 

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Section 7.        Forced Conversion. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if after the 10th Trading Day following the Effective Date, the VWAP for each Trading Day during any 10 consecutive Trading Day period, which 10 consecutive Trading Day period shall have commenced only after the Effective Date (“Threshold Period”), exceeds 200% of the then effective Conversion Price and the daily dollar trading volume for the Common Stock exceeds $5 million on each Trading Day during the Threshold Period, the Corporation may, within 1 Trading Day after the end of any such Threshold Period, deliver a written notice to all Holders (a “Forced Conversion Notice” and the date such notice is delivered to all Holders, the “Forced Conversion Notice Date”) to cause each Holder to convert all or part of such Holder’s Preferred Stock (as specified in such Forced Conversion Notice) plus all accrued but unpaid dividends thereon and all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6, it being agreed that the “Conversion Date” for purposes of Section 5 shall be deemed to occur 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 Forced Conversion Notice Date (such date, the “Forced Conversion Date”). The Corporation may not deliver a Forced Conversion Notice, and any Forced Conversion Notice delivered by the Corporation shall not be effective, unless all of the Equity Conditions have been met on each Trading Day during the applicable Threshold Period through and including the later of the Forced Conversion Date and the Trading Day after the date that the Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to such conversion are actually delivered to the Holders pursuant to the Forced Conversion Notice. Any Forced Conversion Notices shall be applied ratably to all of the Holders based on each Holder’s initial purchases of Preferred Stock under the Purchase Agreement, provided that any voluntary conversions by a Holder shall be applied against such Holder’s pro rata allocation, thereby decreasing the aggregate amount forcibly converted hereunder if less than all shares of the Preferred Stock are forcibly converted. For purposes of clarification, a Forced Conversion shall be subject to all of the provisions of Section 5, including, without limitation, the provisions requiring payment of liquidated damages and limitations on conversions, it being understood and agreed that any Preferred Stock that cannot be converted pursuant to this Section 7 because of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation set forth in Section 5(d) shall remain outstanding (such shares of Preferred Stock that remain outstanding, the “Unconverted Shares”). The Corporation may elect, upon delivery of written notice to any Holder holding Unconverted Shares (a “Repurchase Notice”), to repurchase all or a portion of such Unconverted Shares from each such Holder at a price per Unconverted Share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Stated Value by the then-current Conversion Price and then multiplying such quotient by the greater of (i) the Closing Sale Price on the Forced Conversion Date and (ii) the then-current Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock as of the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such Repurchase Notice (the “Repurchase Price Per Share”). The Repurchase Notice shall set forth the date on which the closing of such repurchase shall occur (which date shall be no sooner than three (3) Trading Days from the date of the Repurchase Notice) (the “Repurchase Date”). The Repurchase Price Per Share shall be paid in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds at the closing of such repurchase. Each such Holder agrees to execute and deliver all documents reasonably requested by the Corporation in order to effect and evidence such repurchase and, with regard to any Unconverted Shares held in certificated form, surrender such certificates to the Corporation. On the Repurchase Date, the Unconverted Shares subject to such repurchase shall automatically be converted into the right to receive the Repurchase Price Per Share without interest and without any further act or action of the Holders and whether or not the certificates representing such shares are surrendered or instruments of transfer are delivered to the Corporation; provided, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to pay the Repurchase Price Per Share for such Unconverted Shares unless and until all certificates representing such shares have been surrendered to the Corporation and all reasonably requested instruments of transfer have been executed by each such Holder and delivered to the Corporation. From and after the Repurchase Date, unless there shall have been any default in the payment of the Repurchase Price Per Share, all rights of the holders of Unconverted Shares subject to repurchase (other than the right to receive the Repurchase Price Per Share in accordance with this Section 7) shall cease and be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares on such Repurchase Date, and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Corporation or be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.

 

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Section 8.         Negative Covenants. As long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, unless the Holders of at least 67% in Stated Value of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall have otherwise given prior written consent, the Corporation shall not, and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

a)            amend its charter documents, including, without limitation, its articles of incorporation and bylaws, in any manner that materially and adversely affects any rights of the Holder;

 

b)            repay, repurchase or offer to repay, repurchase or otherwise acquire more than a de minimis number of shares of its Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or Junior Securities, other than as to (i) the Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares as permitted or required under the Transaction Documents and (ii) repurchases of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents of departing officers and directors of the Corporation, provided that such repurchases shall not exceed an aggregate of $100,000 for all officers and directors for so long as the Preferred Stock is outstanding;

 

c)            enter into any transaction with any Affiliate of the Corporation which would be required to be disclosed in any public filing with the Commission, unless such transaction is made on an arm’s-length basis and expressly approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Corporation (even if less than a quorum otherwise required for board approval); or

 

d)            enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Section 9.          [RESERVED]

 

Section 10.        Miscellaneous.

 

a)            Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile or e-mail attachment, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation, at the address set forth above Attention: _________________, facsimile number _______________, e-mail address _____________, or such other facsimile number, e-mail address or address as the Corporation may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders delivered in accordance with this Section 10. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile or e-mail attachment, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the facsimile number, e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, or if no such facsimile number, e-mail address or address appears on the books of the Corporation, at the principal place of business of such Holder, as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the e-mail address set forth or referenced in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the e-mail address set forth or referenced in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.

 

25 

 

 

b)            Absolute Obligation. Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this Certificate of Designation shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay liquidated damages, accrued dividends and accrued interest, as applicable, on the shares of Preferred Stock at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

c)            Lost or Mutilated Preferred Stock Certificate. If a Holder’s Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated certificate, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, a new certificate for the shares of Preferred Stock so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such certificate, and of the ownership thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation.

 

d)            Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Certificate of Designation shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. All legal proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan (the “New York Courts”). The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such New York Courts, or such New York Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Certificate of Designation and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law. The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Certificate of Designation or the transactions contemplated hereby. If the Corporation or any Holder shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Certificate of Designation, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

26 

 

 

e)             Waiver. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder of a breach of any provision of this Certificate of Designation shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Certificate of Designation or a waiver by any other Holders. The failure of the Corporation or a Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Certificate of Designation on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party (or any other Holder) of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Certificate of Designation on any other occasion. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder must be in writing.

 

f)             Severability. If any provision of this Certificate of Designation is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Certificate of Designation shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any Person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other Persons and circumstances. If it shall be found that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder violates the applicable law governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law.

 

g)            Next Business Day. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment or other obligation shall be made or performed on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

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

 

i)             Status of Converted or Reacquired Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may only be issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If any shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted or reacquired by the Corporation, such shares shall resume the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and shall no longer be designated as its Series A class of Preferred Stock.

 

*********************

 

27 

 

 

RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Chairman, the president or any vice-president, and the secretary or any assistant secretary, of the Corporation be and they hereby are authorized and directed to prepare and file this Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations in accordance with the foregoing resolution and the provisions of Minnesota law.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate this ___ day of [_____] 2022.

 

 

 

 

Name:
Title:

 

Name:
Title:

  

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

(To be Executed by the Registered Holder in order to Convert Shares of Preferred Stock)

 

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock indicated below into shares of common stock, par value $0.05 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Communications Systems, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Corporation”), according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares of Common Stock are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates and opinions as may be required by the Corporation in accordance with the Purchase Agreement. No fee will be charged to the Holders for any conversion, except for any such transfer taxes.

 

Conversion calculations:

 

Date to Effect Conversion: ______________________________________________

 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to Conversion: _________________

 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted: _________________________

 

Stated Value of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted: _____________________

 

Number of shares of Common Stock to be Issued: ____________________________

 

Applicable Conversion Price:____________________________________________

 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock subsequent to Conversion: _________________

 

Address for Delivery: ______________________ 

or 

DWAC Instructions: 

Broker no: _________ 

Account no: ___________

 

 

[HOLDER]

   

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.3

 

STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENT

January 24, 2022

 

This Stock Transfer Agreement (the “Agreement”) is dated as of the date first set forth above by and among the parties identified on Exhibit A as Transferors (the “Transferors”) and the party defined below as Purchaser.

 

Recitals

 

A.           Pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 1, 2021 (as amended from time to time including on December 16, 2021, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Communications Systems, Inc. (“CSI”), Helios Merger Co., Pineapple Energy LLC, Lake Street Solar LLC, and Randall D. Sampson, the Transferors will be issued in excess of 4,810,000 shares of the common stock of CSI in connection with the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Merger”), including shares issued pursuant to convertible notes held by the Transferors.

 

B.            Pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2021 (the “PIPE Agreement”), among CSI and each purchaser identified on the signature pages thereto, the purchasers identified therein have agreed to purchase shares of CSI’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in a Certificate of Designation the form of which is set forth as an exhibit to the Purchase Agreement (the “Certificate of Designation”).

 

C.            The Transferors are hereby willing to provide the undersigned Purchaser (the “Purchaser”) the following agreement regarding the potential transfer of certain of the Transferor’s shares of common stock of CSI to be issued in connection with the Merger, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Terms and Conditions

 

In consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agree as follows:

 

1.            Purchase. Each of the Transferors, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees that on the date that is the first business day (the “Transfer Closing Date”) that is on or after the date that is 183 days following the closing of the Merger (the “Merger Closing”), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to sell to the Purchaser such number of the shares of common stock of CSI to be issued in connection with the Merger, at a purchase price of $0.0001 per Share, as set forth after the Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction, the “Shares”).  At such time, the Transferors will deliver to the Purchaser the Shares, endorsed to Purchaser, in such percentages as set forth after the Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A. The parties agree to deliver any additional necessary documents to effect the transfer.

 

2.            Expiration.  This Agreement will expire and no transfers hereunder shall be required upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

 

 

(a)

the Merger Closing does not occur on or before March 31, 2022 or up to 30 days following such date as determined pursuant to Section 5.1 of the PIPE Agreement;

 

 

(b)

the VWAP for any five Trading Days during any 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on the date of the Merger Closing and ending on or prior to the date that is 180 days following the Merger Closing exceeds $3.80 per share (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction);

 

 

(c)

CSI closes on the sale of equity securities that consist of common stock of CSI or Common Stock Equivalents of CSI that do not constitute an Exempt Issuance at a price either (i) constituting a 20% or greater discount to the average of the VWAPs for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the date preceding the closing of the sale of such equity securities or (ii) $2.25 per share or less (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction); or

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

the failure of the Purchaser to timely close as required under the PIPE Agreement or the Purchaser’s breach of any provision under the PIPE Agreement in a manner that causes a Material Adverse Effect to CSI or if the closing of the transactions set forth in the PIPE Agreement do not occur as set forth in the PIPE Agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Certificate of Designation.

 

3.            Transferors’ Representations. Each of the Transferors, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

 

(a)           All corporate action required to be taken by the Transferor in order to authorize the Transferor to enter into this Agreement, and to sell the Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, has been taken or will be taken prior to the transfer required hereby. All action on the part of the Transferor necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of all obligations of the Transferor under this Agreement to be performed as of the date hereof, and the issuance and delivery of the Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement has been taken. Each Transferor has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations under this Agreement and this Agreement constitutes its valid and legally-binding obligation, enforceable against such Transferor in accordance with its terms except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Transferor will not result in a breach or violation of or constitute a default by such Transferor under any agreement, instrument or order to which such Transferor is a party or by which such Transferor is bound or any law or regulation applicable to it.

 

(b)          At the Merger Closing, the Transferor will be the owner of the Shares, free and clear of any and all liens and encumbrances. The Transferor agrees it will not encumber or transfer the Shares during the term of this Agreement except as provided pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(c)           There is no legal action or suit or governmental proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened against the Transferor or the Shares which in any way adversely affects or prevents the sale and delivery of the Shares to the Purchaser hereunder.

 

(d)          The Transferor is an accredited investor as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

(e)           The Shares are being sold hereby pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(a)(7) of the Securities Act of 1933. The Transferor has not engaged in any activities constituting general solicitation in connection with such sale.

 

4.            Purchaser’s Representations. The Purchaser hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Transferors and CSI as follows:

 

(a)           All corporate action required to be taken by the Purchaser in order to authorize the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement has been taken or will be taken prior to the transfer required hereby. All action on the part of the Purchaser necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of all obligations of the Purchaser under this Agreement to be performed as of the date hereof has been taken. The Purchaser has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations under this Agreement and this Agreement constitutes its valid and legally-binding obligation, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser will not result in a breach or violation of or constitute a default by the Purchaser under any agreement, instrument or order to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is bound or any law or regulation applicable to it.

 

 

Stock Transfer Agreement

Page 2       

 

 

 

(b)          The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is an accredited investor as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

(c)           The Purchaser understands that no federal or state agency has made any finding or determination as to the fairness for investment, nor any recommendation or endorsement, of the Shares.

 

(e)           The Purchaser has been advised that the Shares are not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the relevant state securities laws but are being offered and sold pursuant to exemptions from such laws and that the Transferor’s reliance upon such exemptions is predicated in part on the Purchaser’s representations to Transferor and CSI as contained herein.

 

(f)           The Purchaser has reviewed with its own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and has and will rely solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of CSI, the Transferors or any of their agents.  The Purchaser understands that the Purchaser (and not the Transferor or CSI) will be responsible for the Purchaser’s own tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(g)           The Purchaser will make no written or other public disclosures regarding the Transferor, CSI, the terms or existence of the proposed transfer of the Shares to any individual or organization without the prior written consent of Lake Street Solar LLC except as may be required by law.

 

5.            Transfer Closing.

 

(a)           Transfer.  Provided that this Agreement is not earlier terminated pursuant to Section 2 above, the closing of the transactions contemplated by Section 1 (the “Transfer”) shall take place remotely at 10:00 am, Eastern Time, on the Transfer Closing Date, or at such other time and place as may be agreed by the parties hereto, assuming satisfaction or waiver (by the applicable party) of the conditions set forth in this Section.

 

(b)          Deliveries by Sellers. At or prior to the time of the Transfer, each Transferor shall deliver to the Purchaser to be held in escrow pending the Transfer (the “Transfer Escrow”) on the Transferor’s behalf a duly authorized and executed Stock Power and Assignment Separate from Stock Certificate (the “Stock Powers”). If the Transfer should not occur for any reason with respect to the Transferor, the Stock Powers shall be returned to the Transferor.

 

(c)           Deliveries by Purchaser. It shall be an express condition for the Transfer that the Purchaser shall deliver to the Transferors the full purchase price for the Shares being purchased from the Transferors at the Transfer, by delivery of a check payable to the applicable Transferor to the address provided or by wire transfer pursuant to the applicable Transferor’s wire instructions, as provided to the Purchaser by the Transferors.

 

(d)          Deliveries of Securities. At the Transfer, each Transferor shall instruct CSI and its transfer agent to (i) cancel any stock certificate (which may be evidenced by book entry) issued to the Transferor representing the Shares to be sold at the Transfer, (ii) issue a duly executed stock certificate or book entry notation, at the election of the Purchaser, evidencing the Shares being purchased by the Purchaser at the Transfer in the Purchaser’s name; and (iii) issue a duly executed stock certificate or book entry notation evidencing the number of shares of the Company’s stock, if any, remaining after the transfer to the Purchaser, in the Transferor’s name, to be delivered to the Transferor.

 

 

Stock Transfer Agreement

Page 3       

 

 

 

6.            Assignability.  No party’s rights under this Agreement may be assigned to any third party without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto.

 

7.            Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

 

8.            Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

9.            Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the parties relating to the transfer of the Shares, there being no terms, conditions, warranties, or representations other than those contained herein, and no change or modification hereto shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

10.          Third-Party Beneficiary. CSI is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

11.          No Shareholder Rights Before Exercise. The Purchaser will have no rights of a shareholder of CSI with respect to any Shares subject to this Agreement unless and until a certificate evidencing such Shares has been issued and delivered to the Purchaser. 

 

12.          Restrictive Legends. CSI may place a legend or legends on any certificate representing Shares summarizing transfer and other restrictions to which the Shares may be subject under applicable securities laws.

 

[remainder of page left blank intentionally – signature page follows]

 

 

Stock Transfer Agreement

Page 4       

 

 

 

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

 

TRANSFERORS:

 

LAKE STREET SOLAR LLC

By: Northern Pacific Growth Investment Partners, L.P.

Its: Managing Member

By: Northern Pacific Group GP I, LLC

Its: General Partner

 

By:

        

 

Name: Scott Honour

 

Its: President

 

 

HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Kyle Udseth

 

 

THE SANDRA AND TOM HOLLAND TRUST (dated March 8, 2011)

 

By:

 

 

Name: Thomas J. Holland

 

Title: Trustee

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

Entity Name

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Stock Transfer Agreement

Signature Page       

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

TRANSFERORS:

 

Name

Percentage of Shares1

Lake Street Solar LLC

79.672%

Hercules Capital, Inc.

16.174%

The Sandra and Tom Holland Trust (dated March 8, 2011)

0.363%

Kyle Udseth

3.791%

Total

100.000%

 

1 Round each to the nearest whole share with any shortage to be contributed by Lake Street Solar LLC

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

Stock Transfer Agreement

Page 6       

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 31, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 of Communications Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in Communications Systems, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Baker Tilly US LLP

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

February 22, 2022

 

 

EXHIBIT 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-3

(Form Type)

 

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1—Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
   Security
Type
  Security Class 
Title
   Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
   Amount Registered   Proposed
Maximum Offering
Price Per
Unit
   Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price
   Fee Rate   Amount of
Registration
Fee
   Carry Forward Form
Type
   Carry
Forward
File
Number
   Carry
Forward Initial effective date
   Filing Fee
Previously
Paid In
Connection with
Unsold
Securities
to be
Carried
Forward
 
Newly Registered Securities
Fees to Be Paid  Equity   Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share(1)   457(c)(3)   42,457,058(1) (2)  $2.34(3)  $99,349,516(3)   .0000927   $9,209.70                 
Fees Previously Paid                                                  
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities                                              
   Total Offering Amounts        $99,349,516        $9,209.70                     
   Total Fees Previously Paid                  $0                     
   Total Fee Offsets                  $0                     
   Net Fee Due                  $9,209.70                     

 

(1)The shares of common stock will be offered for resale by the selling shareholders. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement includes an indeterminate number of additional shares that may be offered and sold to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(2)Includes (a) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of the registrant’s common stock that may be issued upon conversion of the registrant’s Series A convertible preferred stock at an initial conversion price of $3.40 per share, (b) 200% of the 9,411,764 shares of the registrant’s common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of warrants at an initial exercise price of $3.40 per share, and (c) an aggregate 4,810,002 shares of the registrant’s common stock to be issued in the merger that may be sold to the selling shareholders pursuant to stock transfer agreements dated January 24, 2022.

 

(3)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of the registrant’s shares of common stock on February 15, 2022, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.