UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

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PRECIPIO, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 
N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

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4 Science Park
New Haven, Connecticut 06511

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On January 30, 2018

 

To Our Stockholders:

 

        Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Precipio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Precipio”), will be held at the Company’s principal executive offices, 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511, on January 30, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. (local time), for the following purposes (which are more fully described in the proxy statement, which is attached and made a part of this Notice):

 

1. To approve, for purposes of complying with applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, (i) the potential issuance of more than 20% of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s November 2017 registered direct offering of the Company’s Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”) and warrants to purchase common stock (“Warrants”) and (ii) the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants (the “Offering Proposal”).

 

2. To approve an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) to (i) increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan by  5,389,500 shares to 6,056,166 shares; (ii) increase the maximum number of shares that may be granted in the form of stock options or stock appreciation rights to any one individual in any one calendar year and the maximum number of shares underlying any award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” to any one individual in any performance cycle, in each case to 1,000,000 shares of common stock; (iii) increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan as incentive stock options to 6,056,166 shares, cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the annual increase for such year or 500,000 shares ; and (iv) add an “evergreen” provision, pursuant to which the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan will be automatically increased each year beginning on January 1, 2019 by 5% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser number of shares determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee (the “2017 Plan Amendment Proposal”); and

 

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, no business is proper for consideration, or may be acted upon, at the Special Meeting, except as set forth in this Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the Offering Proposal. The Board of Directors’ reasons for seeking approval of the Offering Proposal are set forth under “Proposal 1—Proposal to Approve the Issuance of Securities in connection with a Registered Direct Offering” in the attached Proxy Statement.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the 2017 Plan Amendment Proposal. The Board of Directors’ reasons for seeking approval of the 2017 Plan Amendment Proposal are set forth under “Proposal 2—Proposal to Amend and Restate the 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan” in the attached Proxy Statement.

 

Stockholders of record at the close of business on December 26, 2017 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to attend and to vote at, the Special Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. This Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders and the attached Proxy Statement are first being mailed to the Company's stockholders on or about January 2, 2018.

 

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting in person. Stockholders of record as of the Record Date will be admitted to the Special Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof upon presentation of identification. Please note that if your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker, or other nominee, and you wish to vote in person at the Special Meeting, you must bring to the Special Meeting a statement or letter from your bank, broker or other nominee showing your ownership of shares as of the Record Date and a proxy from the record holder of the shares authorizing you to vote at the Special Meeting (such statement/letter and proxy are required in addition to your personal identification).

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting in person, you are encouraged to read the attached Proxy Statement and then cast your vote as promptly as possible in accordance with the instructions contained in the attached Proxy Statement. Even if you have given your proxy, you may still vote in person if you attend the Special Meeting and follow the instructions contained in the attached Proxy Statement.

 

    By Order of the Board of Directors of
    Precipio, Inc.
   
Sincerely,
   
/s/ Ilan Danieli  
    Ilan Danieli
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

New Haven, Connecticut
December 29, 2017

 

Your vote is important, whether or not you expect to attend the Special Meeting of Stockholders. You are urged to vote either via the Internet or telephone, or to mark, sign and date and promptly return the proxy in the stamped return envelope provided with such materials. Voting promptly will help avoid the additional expense of further solicitation to assure a quorum at the meeting.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROXY STATEMENT 1
PROPOSAL 1  PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES IN CONNECTION WITH A REGISTERED DIRECT OFFERING 4
PROPOSAL 2  PROPOSAL TO AMEND AND RESTATE THE 2017 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN 9
VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURES 15
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES 16
OTHER MATTERS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 19
ANNEX A – PLACEMENT AGENCY AGREEMENT A-1
ANNEX B – FORM OF WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK B-1
ANNEX C – CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES, RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS OF SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK C-1
ANNEX D – AMENDED AND RESTATED 2017 PLAN D-1

 

 

 

 

PRECIPIO, INC.

 

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

January 30, 2018

 

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

The following information is furnished to each stockholder in connection with the foregoing Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders of Precipio, Inc. to be held at the Company’s principal executive offices, 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511, on January 30, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. (local time). The enclosed proxy is for use at the special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) and any postponement or adjournment thereof. This proxy statement (this “Proxy Statement”) and form of proxy are being mailed to stockholders on or about January 2, 2018. Unless the content requires otherwise, references to “Precipio,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” in this Proxy Statement refer to Precipio, Inc. and its subsidiary.

 

In accordance with the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”), the Special Meeting has been called for the following purposes:

 

1. To approve, for purposes of complying with applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, (i) the potential issuance of more than 20% of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) pursuant to the Company’s November 2017 registered direct offering of the Company’s Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”) and warrants to purchase Common Stock (“Warrants”) and (ii) the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants (the “Offering Proposal”).

 

2. To approve an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) to (i) increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan by  5,389,500 shares to 6,056,166 shares; (ii) increase the maximum number of shares that may be granted in the form of stock options or stock appreciation rights to any one individual in any one calendar year and the maximum number of shares underlying any award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” to any one individual in any performance cycle, in each case to 1,000,000 shares of common stock; (iii) increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan as incentive stock options to 6,056,166 shares, cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the annual increase for such year or 500,000 shares ; and (iv) add an “evergreen” provision, pursuant to which the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan will be automatically increased each year beginning on January 1, 2019 by 5% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser number of shares determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee (the “2017 Plan Amendment Proposal”); and

 

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Pursuant to the Bylaws, no business is proper for consideration, or may be acted upon, at the Special Meeting, except as set forth in the Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders.

 

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Shares represented by duly executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted at the Special Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof in accordance with the specifications made therein. If no such specification is made, shares represented by duly executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted “FOR” the Offering Proposal and “FOR” the 2017 Plan Amendment Proposal.

 

Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting and Voting

 

1. Why am I receiving these materials?

 

The Company sent you this Proxy Statement and enclosed proxy card because the Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Special Meeting. The Company intends to mail this Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy card on or about January 2 , 2018 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Special Meeting.

 

2. What is the purpose of the Special Meeting?

 

At the Special Meeting, the stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders.

 

3. Who can vote at the Special Meeting?

 

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on December 26, 2017 (the “Record Date”). Each stockholder will be entitled to cast one vote on the proposal presented at the Special Meeting for each share of Common Stock that such holder owned as of the Record Date.

 

4. What are my voting rights?

 

Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share. As of the Record Date, a total of 10,171,620 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. There is no cumulative voting.

 

5. How do I cast my vote?

 

If you are a stockholder of record on the Record Date, you may vote in person at the Special Meeting or authorize a proxy for the Special Meeting. You can authorize your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope, or, if you prefer, by following the instructions on your proxy card for telephonic or Internet proxy authorization. If the telephone or Internet option is available to you, the Company strongly encourages you to use it because it is faster and less costly. Registered stockholders can transmit their voting instructions by telephone by calling 1-800-690-6903 or on the Internet at www.proxyvote.com. Telephone and Internet voting are available 24 hours a day until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the day immediately prior to the Special Meeting. Have your proxy card with you if you are going to authorize your proxy by telephone or through the Internet. To authorize your proxy by mail, please complete, sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided. If you attend the Special Meeting in person, you may request a ballot when you arrive.

 

6. How do I change my vote?

 

You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the final vote at the Special Meeting.  You can revoke a proxy (i) by giving written revocation to the Company’s secretary, (ii) delivering an executed, later-dated proxy or (iii) voting in person at the Special Meeting. However, your attendance at the Special Meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you vote again at the meeting or specifically request in writing that your proxy be revoked. If your Common Stock is held in street name and you wish to change or revoke your voting instructions, you should contact your financial institution for information on how to do so.

 

7. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on each of the proposals.

 

If you submit your proxy but abstain from voting on one or more matters, your shares will be counted as present at the meeting for the purpose of determining if a quorum exists. If you abstain from voting on a proposal, your abstention will have the effect of a vote against that proposal.

 

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If your shares are registered in your name or if you have stock certificates, they will not be counted if you do not vote as described above under “How do I cast my vote?” If your shares are held in street name and you do not provide voting instructions to your financial institution as described above, your financial institution does not have the discretionary authority to vote your shares regarding Proposal 1 or Proposal 2. Therefore, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your financial institution. This ensures your shares will be voted at the Special Meeting and in the manner you desire. A “Broker Non-Vote” will occur if your financial institution does not receive instructions from you.

 

8. Where and when will I be able to find the results of the voting?

 

Preliminary results will be announced at the Special Meeting. The Company will publish the final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than four business days after the date of the Special Meeting.

 

9. Where is the Special Meeting being held?

 

We will hold the Special Meeting at the Company’s principal executive offices, 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511, on January 30, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. (local time), unless postponed or adjourned to a later date.

  

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PROPOSAL 1

PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES IN CONNECTION WITH A REGISTERED DIRECT OFFERING

 

Background

 

As disclosed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2017, on November 9, 2017, the Company completed its sale of 2,748 units, each consisting of one share of the Company’s Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), convertible into a number of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), equal to $1,000 divided by $1.40, and warrants to purchase up to 1,962,857 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $1.63 per share (the “Warrants”) at a combined offering price of $1,000 per unit, in a registered direct offering (the “Offering”). The Offering was completed pursuant to the terms of a placement agency agreement dated as of November 2, 2017, as amended on November 9, 2017 (as amended, the “Placement Agreement”) between the Company and Aegis Capital Corp. (the “Placement Agent”). The Warrants will become exercisable on the six month anniversary of the date of issuance and will expire five years from the date on which they are initially exercisable. Gross proceeds from the Offering were approximately $2.4 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, growth of the Company’s sales force and business development team, progression of the Company’s product development and working capital.

 

NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(d) requires stockholder approval prior to the issuance of securities in connection with a transaction (or a series of related transactions) other than a public offering involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock) at a price less than the greater of book or market value which equals 20% or more of the common stock or 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance (the “20% Threshold”). Although on the date of the closing of the Offering the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock was less than the 20% Threshold, the anti-dilution protection provided to holders of Series C Preferred Stock could result in the issuance of a number of shares of Common Stock greater than the 20% Threshold. To comply with NASDAQ Listing Rules, the Company’s Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) contains a limitation on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock until we obtain approval from our stockholders of issuances of Common Stock in excess of the maximum number of shares issuable under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(d) (the “Stockholder Approval”).

 

The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants were not included in determining whether the number of shares issuable in the Offering was greater than the 20% Threshold because the Warrants are not exercisable for six months following the Offering and provide that the anti-dilution protection set forth therein will not become operative until we have obtained Stockholder Approval.

 

Pursuant to the Placement Agreement, we agreed to file this Proxy Statement and obtain Stockholder Approval and we have agreed, until the later of (i) 90 days after the closing date of the Offering, and (ii) the date on which Stockholder Approval has been obtained, not to issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock, subject to certain limited exceptions, without written approval from the Placement Agent.

 

Description of Series C Preferred Stock

 

The material terms and provisions of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock sold in the Offering are summarized below. This summary of some provisions of the Series C Preferred Stock is not complete. For the complete terms of the Series C Preferred Stock, you should refer to the Certificate of Designation attached hereto as Annex C .

 

Each share of Series C Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to $1,000 divided by the conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock. Such conversion price is initially $1.40 and is subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, distributions, subdivisions and combinations and, as discussed below, certain dilutive issuances of our Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our Common Stock.

 

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In order to comply with NASDAQ Listing Rules, the Certificate of Designation contains a limitation on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Designation provides that we will not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock, and a holder will not have the right to convert any portion of the Series C Preferred Stock, if such issuance (taken together with any prior issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock) would exceed 1,961,914 shares of Common Stock, which is the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which we may issue upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock without breaching our obligations under the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market, except that such limitation will not apply in the event that we (A) obtain the approval of our stockholders as required by the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market for issuances of Common Stock in excess of such number of shares of Common Stock or (B) obtain a written opinion from our outside counsel that such approval is not required, which opinion will be reasonably satisfactory to the holder.

 

The Certificate of Designation further provides that we may not effect any conversion of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, with certain exceptions, to the extent that, after giving effect to an attempted conversion, the holder of shares of Series C Preferred Stock (together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any of such holder’s affiliates) would beneficially own a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the shares of our Common Stock then outstanding after giving effect to such exercise (the “Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that upon notice to us, the holder may increase or decrease the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation, provided that in no event may the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 9.99% and any increase in the Preferred Stock Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until 61 days following notice of such increase from the holder to us.

 

The Certificate of Designation also prohibits us from issuing any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock at a price per share below the then effective conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock, subject to certain limited exceptions, or entering into any agreement or making any public announcement with respect to such a dilutive issuance, until we have filed a proxy statement under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or information statement pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Exchange Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and obtained approval of the Offering from our stockholders, including approval of issuances in excess of the maximum number of shares issuable under the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

If prior to the second anniversary of the original issue date of the Series C Preferred Stock, we sell or grant any option to purchase or sell or grant any right to reprice, or otherwise dispose of or issue, any of our Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our Common Stock at an effective price per share that is lower than the conversion price then in effect, then the conversion price will be reduced to equal the higher of (A) such lower price or (B) $0.05, subject to an exception for the following types of issuances (i) issuances to our employees, officers or directors pursuant to any stock or option plan adopted by a majority of the non-employee members of our Board of Directors or committee thereof, (ii) issuances upon the exercise or exchange of any securities issued in connection with the Offering or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of the Placement Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of the Placement Agreement to increase the number of securities or decrease the exercise, exchange or conversion price, or (iii) issuances pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our Board of Directors, provided that such securities are “restricted securities” under Rule 144 and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith during the 90-day period following the original issuance date of the Series C Preferred Stock, and provided that any such issuance is to a person or its equityholders that is an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of our company and will provide our company with additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but will not include a transaction in which we issue securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities (the issuances referred to in (i) through (iii) above, the “Exempt Issuances”).

 

In the event of a liquidation, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to an amount equal to the par value of the Series C Preferred Stock and thereafter to participate on an as-converted-to-common stock basis with holders of Common Stock in any distribution of assets of the Company to the holders of Common Stock. The Certificate of Designation provides, among other things, that we will not pay any dividends on shares of Common Stock (other than dividends in the form of Common Stock) unless and until such time as we pay dividends on each share of Series C Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. Other than as set forth in the previous sentence, the Certificate of Designation provides that no other dividends will be paid on shares of Series C Preferred Stock and that we will pay no dividends (other than dividends in the form of Common Stock) on shares of Common Stock unless we simultaneously comply with the previous sentence. The Certificate of Designation does not provide for any restriction on the repurchase of shares of Series C Preferred Stock by us while there is any arrearage in the payment of dividends on shares of Series C Preferred Stock. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

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In addition, in the event we consummate a merger or consolidation with or into another person or other reorganization event in which our shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged for securities, cash or other property, or we sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets or we or another person acquire 50% or more of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, then following such event, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive upon conversion of such shares of Series C Preferred Stock the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property which the holders would have received had they converted the Series C Preferred Stock to Common Stock immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. Any successor to us or surviving entity is required to assume the obligations under the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event we are not the surviving entity of a fundamental transaction or in the event of a reverse merger or similar transaction where we are the surviving entity, then, automatically and contemporaneous with the consummation of such transaction, the surviving entity (or our company in the event of a reverse merger or similar transaction) will purchase the then outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock by paying and issuing, in the event that such consideration given to the holders of our Common Stock is non-cash consideration, as the case may be, to each holder an amount equal to the cash consideration plus the non-cash consideration in the form issuable to the holders of our Common Stock (in the case of a reverse merger or similar transaction, shares of common stock issuable to the holders of the acquired company) per share of our Common Stock in the fundamental transaction multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the shares of Series C Preferred Stock held by the holder on the date immediately prior to the consummation of the fundamental transaction. Such amount will be paid in the same form and mix (whether securities, cash or property, or any combination of the foregoing) as the consideration received by holders of our Common Stock in the fundamental transaction.

 

With certain exceptions, as described in the Certificate of Designation, share of Series C Preferred Stock have no voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Certificate of Designation provides that we may not, without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series C Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Certificate of Designation, (b) increase the number of authorized shares of Series C Preferred Stock or (c) amend our Certificate of Incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of holders of Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Description of Warrants

 

The material terms and provisions of the Warrants sold in the Offering are summarized below. This summary of some provisions of the Warrants is not complete. For the complete terms of the Warrants, you should refer to the form of Warrant attached hereto as Annex B .

 

The Warrants were issued on November 9, 2017 and are exercisable at any time six months after their original issuance, and at any time up to the date that is five years after the date on which they become exercisable. The Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and, at any time a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) is effective and available for the issuance of such shares, or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of such shares, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of Common Stock purchased upon such exercise. If a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants under the Securities Act is not effective or available and an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is not available for the issuance of such shares, the holder may, in its sole discretion, elect to exercise the Warrant through a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to the formula set forth in the Warrant. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a Warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the exercise price.

 

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A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the Warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us.

 

The exercise price per whole share of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants is $1.63 per share of Common Stock. The exercise price is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our Common Stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. If, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding, we sell or grant any option to purchase or sell or grant any right to reprice, or otherwise dispose of or issue, any of our Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our Common Stock at an effective price per share that is lower than the exercise price then in effect, then the exercise price will be reduced to equal the higher of (A) such lower price or (B) $0.05, subject to an exception for the following types of issuances (i) issuances to our employees, officers or directors pursuant to any stock or option plan adopted by a majority of the non-employee members of our Board of Directors or committee thereof, (ii) issuances upon the exercise or exchange of any securities issued in connection with the Offering or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of the issuance of the Warrants, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of the issuance of the Warrants to increase the number of securities or decrease the exercise, exchange or conversion price, or (iii) issuances pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested members of our Board of Directors, provided that such securities are “restricted securities” under Rule 144 and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith during the 90-day period following the date of the issuance of the Warrants, and provided that any such issuance is to a person or its equityholders that is an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of our company and will provide our company with additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but will not include a transaction in which we issue securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities. The foregoing adjustments to the exercise price upon certain dilutive issuances will not become operative until we have obtained Stockholder Approval.

 

Subject to applicable laws, the Warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.

 

In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our Common Stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding Common Stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding Common Stock, the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our Common Stock, the holder of a Warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our Common Stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the Warrant.

 

Why We Are Seeking Your Approval

 

We are seeking your approval of the Offering and the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants so that we will no longer be bound by the restriction on issuances of equity securities contained in the Placement Agreement and to ensure our compliance with NASDAQ’s Listing Rules. Pursuant to the Placement Agreement, we agreed to file this Proxy Statement and obtain Stockholder Approval and we have agreed, until the later of (i) 90 days after the closing date of the Offering, and (ii) the date on which Stockholder Approval has been obtained, not to issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock, subject to certain limited exceptions, without written approval from the Placement Agent. In addition, the Certificate of Designation prohibits us from issuing any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock at a price per share below the then effective conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock, subject to certain limited exceptions, or entering into any agreement or making any public announcement with respect to such a dilutive issuance, until we have obtained Stockholder Approval. Until we obtain Stockholder Approval or a waiver of the foregoing restriction under the Placement Agreement, we will not be able to raise additional capital and we may have to restrict or cease our operations. As disclosed in our public filings with the SEC, we will need additional financing to continue operations. In addition, we plan to issue additional equity in exchange for cancellation of some of our outstanding debt.

 

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Possible Consequences of Approving this Proposal

 

If proposal No.1 is approved by our stockholders, the limitation in the Certificate of Designation on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock would become inoperative. As a result, in the event that the conversion price of the Series C Preferred Stock were adjusted as a result of an issuance of securities below the conversion price then in effect, $1.40 per share, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock could be increased to greater than 20% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Offering. The anti-dilution protection set forth in the Warrants would also become operative. As a result, the exercise price of the Warrants would be adjusted in the event of an issuance of securities at a price lower than the exercise price of the Warrants and the Company would therefore receive less cash upon exercise of the Warrants and issue more shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants, causing dilution to the existing stockholders. Upon obtaining Stockholder Approval, we would no longer be bound by the restriction on issuances of equity securities contained in the Placement Agreement or the restriction on dilutive issuances contained in the Certificate of Designation.

 

Possible Consequences of Not Approving this Proposal

 

If proposal No.1 is not approved by our stockholders, we will continue to be bound by the restriction on issuances of equity securities contained in the Placement Agreement, we will be unable to raise additional capital without written approval from the Placement Agent and a waiver from the holders of our Series C Preferred Stock and we may have to restrict or cease our operations. In addition, our inability to raise additional capital is likely to cause a significant decline in our stock price or otherwise cause increased volatility in the stock price.

 

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The information provided in this proxy statement contains summaries of the Placement Agreement, the Warrants and the Certificate of Designation and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Placement Agreement, which is attached hereto as Annex A , the Form of Warrant, which is attached hereto as Annex B , and the Certificate of Designation, which is attached hereto as Annex C , and each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Required Vote

 

A quorum being present, the approval of the Offering Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

   

The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the approval of the Offering Proposal.

 

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PROPOSAL 2

PROPOSAL TO AMEND AND RESTATE THE 2017 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Overview

 

The Board of Directors believes that stock options and other stock-based incentive awards can play an important role in the success of the Company by encouraging and enabling the employees, officers, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.  The Board of Directors anticipates that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company will assure a closer identification of the interests of such individuals with those of the Company and its stockholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

 

On December 17, 2017, the Board of Directors approved an amendment and restatement of the 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended and restated, the “2017 Plan”), subject to stockholder approval, (i) to increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan by  5,389,500 shares to 6,056,166 shares (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar events); (ii) to increase the maximum number of shares that may be granted in the form of stock options or stock appreciation rights to any one individual in any one calendar year and the maximum number of shares underlying any award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” to any one individual in any performance cycle, in each case to 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar events); (iii) to increase the aggregate number of shares that may be issued in the form of incentive stock options to 6,056,166 shares, cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the annual increase for such year or 500,000 shares (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar events); and (iv) to add an “evergreen” provision, pursuant to which the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan will be automatically increased each year beginning on January 1, 2019 by 5% of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser number of shares determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.   This amendment and restatement is designed to enhance the flexibility of the Compensation Committee in granting stock options and other awards to our officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants and to ensure that the Company can continue to grant stock options and other awards to such persons at levels determined to be appropriate by the Compensation Committee.  A copy of the 2017 Plan (as amended and restated) is attached as Annex D to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Summary of Material Features

 

The material features of the 2017 Plan are:

 

· 6,056,166 shares of Common Stock have been initially reserved for the issuance under the 2017 Plan, plus on January 1, 2019 and each January 1 thereafter, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2017 Plan will be cumulatively increased by 5% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee;

  

· Shares of Common Stock that are forfeited, cancelled, held back upon the exercise or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Common Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) under the 2017 Plan are added back to the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2017 Plan.  Shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market will not be added to the reserved pool under the 2017 Plan;

 

· The award of stock options (both incentive and non-qualified options), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock awards, cash-based awards, performance share awards and dividend equivalent rights is permitted under the 2017 Plan;

 

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· No dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid on full value awards (restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance share awards) subject to performance vesting until such shares are actually earned upon satisfaction of the performance criteria;

 

· The value of all equity awards made under the 2017 Plan and all other cash compensation paid by the Company to any non-employee director in any calendar year may not exceed $500,000;

 

· Any material amendment to the 2017 Plan is subject to approval by our stockholders; and

 

· The term of the 2017 Plan will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date on which our stockholders approve the 2017 Plan.

 

Based solely on the closing price of our Common Stock as reported by The NASDAQ Capital Market on December 26, 2017 and the maximum number of shares that would have been available for awards as of such date taking into account the proposed increase described herein (but not the effect of the annual “evergreen” increases), the maximum aggregate market value of the Common Stock that could potentially be issued under the 2017 Plan is approximately $7.3 million.

   

Qualified Performance-Based Compensation under Code Section 162(m)

 

To ensure that certain awards granted under the 2017 Plan to a “Covered Employee” (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”)) qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the 2017 Plan provides that the Compensation Committee may require that the vesting of such awards be conditioned on the satisfaction of performance criteria that may include any or all of the following:  (1) total shareholder return; (2) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (3) net income (loss) (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization); (4) changes in the market price of the Common Stock; (5) economic value-added; (6) funds from operations or similar measures; (7) sales or revenue; (8) acquisitions or strategic transactions; (9) operating income (loss); (10) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (11) return on capital, assets, equity or investment; (12) return on sales; (13) gross or net profit levels; (14) productivity; (15) expense; (16) margins; (17) operating efficiency; (18) customer satisfaction; (19) working capital; (20) earnings (loss) per share of Common Stock; (21) sales or market shares; and (22) number of customers, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group.  The Compensation Committee will select the particular performance criteria within 90 days following the commencement of a performance cycle.  Subject to adjustments for stock splits and similar events, the maximum award granted to any one individual that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code will not exceed 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock for any performance cycle and options or stock appreciation rights with respect to no more than 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be granted to any one individual during any calendar year period.  If a performance-based award is payable in cash, it cannot exceed $1,000,000 for any performance cycle.

 

Rationale for Share Increase

 

The 2017 Plan is critical to our ongoing effort to build stockholder value. Our equity incentive program is broad-based and equity incentive awards are, and we expect will be going forward, an important component of our executive and non-executive employees’ compensation. Our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors believe we must continue to offer a competitive equity compensation program in order to attract, retain and motivate the talented and qualified employees necessary for our continued growth and success.

 

If our request to increase the share reserve of the 2017 Plan by 5,389,500 shares to 6,056,166 shares of Common Stock is approved by stockholders, we will have approximately 5,880,834 shares available for grant after the Special Meeting, which is based on shares available for grant under the 2017 Plan as of the date hereof and the shares subject to this proposal.

 

Summary of the 2017 Plan

 

The following description of certain features of the 2017 Plan is intended to be a summary only.  The summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2017 Plan that is attached hereto as Annex D .

 

Plan Administration .  The 2017 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee has full power to select, from among the individuals eligible for awards, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, to make any combination of awards to participants, and to determine the specific terms and conditions of each award, subject to the provisions of the 2017 Plan.  The Compensation Committee may delegate to our Chief Executive Officer the authority to grant awards to individuals who are not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and not subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, subject to certain limitations and guidelines.

 

Eligibility .  Persons eligible to participate in the 2017 Plan are those full or part-time officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries as selected from time to time by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.  Approximately 40 individuals are currently eligible to participate in the 2017 Plan, which includes two officers, 32 employees who are not officers, and six non-employee directors.

 

Plan Limits .  The maximum award of stock options or stock appreciation rights granted to any one individual will not exceed 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar events) for any calendar year period.  If any award of restricted stock, restricted stock units or performance shares granted to an individual is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, then the maximum award shall not exceed 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar events) to any one such individual in any performance cycle.  If any cash-based award is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, then the maximum award to be paid in cash in any performance cycle may not exceed $1,000,000.  In addition, no more than 6,056,166 shares, cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the annual increase for such year or 500,000 shares, may be issued in the form of incentive stock options.

  

Stock Options .  The 2017 Plan permits the granting of (1) options to purchase Common Stock intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code and (2) options that do not so qualify.  Options granted under the 2017 Plan will be non-qualified options if they fail to qualify as incentive options or exceed the annual limit on incentive stock options.  Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.  Non-qualified options may be granted to any persons eligible to receive incentive options and to non-employee directors and consultants.  The option exercise price of each option is determined by the Compensation Committee but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.  Fair market value for this purpose is the last reported sale price of the shares of Common Stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market on the date of grant.  The exercise price of an option may not be reduced after the date of the option grant, other than to appropriately reflect changes in our capital structure.

 

The term of each option will be fixed by the Compensation Committee and may not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  The Compensation Committee will determine at what time or times each option may be exercised.  Options may be made exercisable in installments and the exercisability of options may be accelerated by the Compensation Committee.  In general, unless otherwise permitted by the Compensation Committee, no option granted under the 2017 Plan is transferable by the optionee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and options may be exercised during the optionee’s lifetime only by the optionee, or by the optionee’s legal representative or guardian in the case of the optionee’s incapacity.

 

Upon exercise of options, the option exercise price must be paid in full either in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Compensation Committee or by delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Common Stock that are not subject to restrictions under any Company plan.  Subject to applicable law, the exercise price may also be delivered to the Company by a broker pursuant to irrevocable instructions to the broker from the optionee.  In addition, the Compensation Committee may permit non-qualified options to be exercised using a net exercise feature which reduces the number of shares issued to the optionee by the number of shares with a fair market value equal to the exercise price.

 

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To qualify as incentive options, options must meet additional federal tax requirements, including a $100,000 limit on the value of shares subject to incentive options that first become exercisable by a participant in any one calendar year.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights .  The Compensation Committee may award stock appreciation rights subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine.  Stock appreciation rights entitle the recipient to shares of Common Stock equal to the value of the appreciation in the stock price over the exercise price.  The exercise price is the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.  The maximum term of a stock appreciation right is ten years.

 

Restricted Stock .  The Compensation Committee may award shares of Common Stock to participants subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine.  These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals and/or continued service to us through a specified restricted period.   During the vesting period, restricted stock awards may be credited with dividend equivalent rights (but dividend equivalents payable with respect to restricted stock awards with vesting tied to the attainment of performance criteria shall not be paid unless and until such performance conditions are attained) .

 

Restricted Stock Units .  The Compensation Committee may award restricted stock units to any participants.  Restricted stock units are ultimately payable in the form of shares of Common Stock and may be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Compensation Committee may determine.  These conditions and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals and/or continued service to the Company through a specified vesting period.   In the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion, it may permit a participant to make an advance election to receive a portion of his or her future cash compensation otherwise due in the form of a deferred stock unit award, subject to the participant’s compliance with the procedures established by the Compensation Committee and requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  During the deferral period, the deferred stock awards may be credited with dividend equivalent rights (but dividend equivalents payable with respect to restricted stock awards with vesting tied to the attainment of performance criteria shall not be paid unless and until such performance conditions are attained) .

 

Unrestricted Stock Awards .  The Compensation Committee may also grant shares of Common Stock which are free from any restrictions under the 2017 Plan.  Unrestricted stock may be granted to any participant in recognition of past services or other valid consideration and may be issued in lieu of cash compensation due to such participant.

 

Performance Share Awards .  The Compensation Committee may grant performance share awards to any participant, which entitle the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock upon the achievement of certain performance goals and such other conditions as the Compensation Committee shall determine. 

 

Dividend Equivalent Rights .  The Compensation Committee may grant dividend equivalent rights to participants, which entitle the recipient to receive credits for dividends that would be paid if the recipient had held specified shares of Common Stock.  Dividend equivalent rights granted as a component of another award subject to performance vesting may be paid only if the related award becomes vested.  Dividend equivalent rights may be settled in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments, as specified in the award.

 

Cash-Based Awards .  The Compensation Committee may grant cash bonuses under the 2017 Plan to participants.  The cash bonuses may be subject to the achievement of certain performance goals.

 

Change of Control Provisions .  The 2017 Plan provides that upon the effectiveness of a “sale event” as defined in the 2017 Plan, except as otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee in the award agreement, all stock options and stock appreciation rights will automatically become fully exercisable and the restrictions and conditions on all other awards with time-based conditions will automatically be deemed waived, unless the parties to the sale event agree that such awards will be assumed or continued by the successor entity.  Awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals may become vested and non-forfeitable in connection with a sale event in the Compensation Committee’s discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant award agreement .  In addition, the Company may make or provide for payment, in cash or in kind, to participants holding options and stock appreciation rights equal to the difference between the per share cash consideration and the exercise price of the options or stock appreciation rights. The Compensation Committee shall also have the option to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to grantees holding other awards in an amount equal to the per share cash consideration multiplied by the number of vested shares under such awards. All awards will terminate in connection with a sale event unless they are assumed by the successor entity.

 

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Adjustments for Stock Dividends, Stock Splits, Etc.   The 2017 Plan requires the Compensation Committee to make appropriate adjustments to the number of shares of Common Stock that are subject to the 2017 Plan, to certain limits in the 2017 Plan, and to any outstanding awards to reflect stock dividends, stock splits, extraordinary cash dividends and similar events.

 

Tax Withholding .  Participants in the 2017 Plan are responsible for the payment of any federal, state or local taxes that the Company is required by law to withhold upon the exercise of options or stock appreciation rights or vesting of other awards. Subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, participants may elect to have the minimum tax withholding obligations satisfied by authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the exercise or vesting.

  

Amendments and Termination .  The Board of Directors may at any time amend or discontinue the 2017 Plan and the Compensation Committee may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding award for the purpose of satisfying changes in the law or for any other lawful purpose.  However, no such action may adversely affect any rights under any outstanding award without the holder’s consent.  To the extent required under the rules of The NASDAQ Capital Market, any amendments that materially change the terms of the 2017 Plan will be subject to approval by our stockholders.  Amendments shall also be subject to approval by our stockholders if and to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee to be required by the Code to preserve the qualified status of incentive options or to ensure that compensation earned under the 2017 Plan qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Compensation Committee is authorized to exercise discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights or effect the repricing of such awards through cancellation and regrants.

 

Effective Date of 2017 Plan .  The Board of Directors originally adopted the 2017 Plan on December 13, 2016, and the 2017 Plan became originally effective on June 5, 2017, the date it was approved by stockholders.  The 2017 Plan, as amended and restated, was adopted by the Board of Directors on December 17, 2017. Awards of incentive options may be granted under the 2017 Plan until December 17, 2027.  No other awards may be granted under the 2017 Plan after the date that is ten years from the date of stockholder approval.

 

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New Plan Benefits

 

Because the grant of awards under the 2017 Plan is within the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the Company cannot determine the dollar value or number of shares of Common Stock that will in the future be received by or allocated to any participant in the 2017 Plan.  Accordingly, in lieu of providing information regarding benefits that will be received under the 2017 Plan, the following table provides information concerning the benefits that were received by the following persons and groups during 2017: each named executive officer; all current executive officers, as a group; all current directors who are not executive officers, as a group; and all employees and consultants who are not executive officers, as a group.

 

    Option Awards  
Name   Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
    Number of
Shares
 
Ilan Danieli, Chief Executive Officer and Director   $ 1.87       66,666  
Carl Iberger, Chief Financial Officer   $ 1.87       66,666  
Paul Kinnon, former Chief Executive Officer and Director (1)     -       -  
Robert Patzig, former Director (2)   $ 1.87       7,000  
All current executive officers, as a group   $ 1.87       133,332  
All current directors who are not executive officers, as a group   $ 1.79       42,000  
All current employees and consultants who are not executive officers, as a group     -       -  

 

 

      

(1) Mr. Kinnon resigned from the Company effective June 29, 2017.
(2) Mr. Patzig resigned from the Company effective November 8, 2017.

 

Tax Aspects Under the Code

 

The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences of certain transactions under the 2017 Plan. It does not describe all federal tax consequences under the 2017 Plan, nor does it describe state or local tax consequences.

 

Incentive Options . No taxable income is generally realized by the optionee upon the grant or exercise of an incentive option. If shares of Common Stock issued to an optionee pursuant to the exercise of an incentive option are sold or transferred after two years from the date of grant and after one year from the date of exercise, then (i) upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the option price (the amount paid for the shares) will be taxed to the optionee as a long-term capital gain, and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss, and (ii) the Company will not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes. The exercise of an incentive option will give rise to an item of tax preference that may result in alternative minimum tax liability for the optionee.

  

If shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an incentive option are disposed of prior to the expiration of the two-year and one-year holding periods described above (a “disqualifying disposition”), generally (i) the optionee will realize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock at exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on a sale of such shares of Common Stock) over the option price thereof, and (ii) we will be entitled to deduct such amount. Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the incentive option is paid by tendering shares of Common Stock.

 

If an incentive option is exercised at a time when it no longer qualifies for the tax treatment described above, the option is treated as a non-qualified option. Generally, an incentive option will not be eligible for the tax treatment described above if it is exercised more than three months following termination of employment (or one year in the case of termination of employment by reason of disability). In the case of termination of employment by reason of death, the three-month rule does not apply.

 

Non-Qualified Options . No income is realized by the optionee at the time the option is granted. Generally (i) at exercise, ordinary income is realized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of exercise, and we receive a tax deduction for the same amount, and (ii) at disposition, appreciation or depreciation after the date of exercise is treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on how long the shares of Common Stock have been held. Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the non-qualified option is paid by tendering shares of Common Stock. Upon exercise, the optionee will also be subject to Social Security taxes on the excess of the fair market value over the exercise price of the option.

 

Other Awards . The Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the 2017 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by the participant at the time the participant recognizes such income. Participants typically are subject to income tax and recognize such tax at the time that an award is exercised, vests or becomes non-forfeitable, unless the award provides for a further deferral.

 

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Parachute Payments . The vesting of any portion of an award that is accelerated due to the occurrence of a change in control (such as a sale event) may cause a portion of the payments with respect to such accelerated awards to be treated as “parachute payments” as defined in the Code. Any such parachute payments may be non-deductible to the Company, in whole or in part, and may subject the recipient to a non-deductible 20% federal excise tax on all or a portion of such payment (in addition to other taxes ordinarily payable).

 

Limitation on Deductions . Under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company’s deduction for certain awards under the 2017 Plan may be limited to the extent that the Chief Executive Officer or other executive officer whose compensation is required to be reported in the summary compensation table (other than the Principal Financial Officer) receives compensation in excess of $1 million a year (other than performance-based compensation that otherwise meets the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code). The 2017 Plan is structured to allow certain awards to qualify as performance-based compensation.

 

Required Vote

 

A quorum being present, the approval of the 2017 Plan Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the approval of the 2017 Plan Amendment Proposal.

 

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VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURES

 

Record Date; Voting Rights and Outstanding Shares

 

Only holders of record of our Common Stock as of the close of business on December 26, 2017 are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted upon at the Special Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 10,171,620 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

 

Holders of record who hold shares of Common Stock directly on the Record Date must return a proxy by one of the methods described on the proxy card or attend the Special Meeting in person in order to vote on the proposals. Investors who hold shares of Common Stock indirectly on the Record Date (“Beneficial Holders”) through a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution (a “Financial Institution”) must return a voting instruction form to have their shares voted in accordance with their instructions, as Financial Institutions do not have discretionary voting authority with respect to any of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement. Financial Institutions that do not receive voting instructions from Beneficial Holders will not be able to vote those shares.

 

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to take action at the Special Meeting. Stockholders representing a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock (present in person or represented by proxy) will constitute a quorum. We will appoint election inspectors for the meeting to determine whether or not a quorum is present and to tabulate votes cast by proxy or in person at the Special Meeting. Abstentions, withheld votes and broker non-votes (which occur when a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular matter because such broker, bank or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote on that matter and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner) are counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Special Meeting.

 

Votes Required for Each Proposal

 

To approve the proposals being considered at the Special Meeting, the voting requirements are as follows:

 

Proposal

  Vote Required    Discretionary
Voting Permitted?
Offering   Majority   No
Amendment and Restatement of the 2017 Plan   Majority   No

      

“Discretionary Voting Permitted” means that brokers will have discretionary voting authority with respect to shares held in street name for their clients, even if the broker does not receive voting instructions from their client.

 

Majority ” means a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date.

 

The vote required and method of calculation for the proposals to be considered at the Special Meeting are as follows:

 

Proposal One—Offering Proposal.   Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” from voting on this proposal. For purposes of determining whether this proposal has passed, abstentions will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

 

Proposal Two—2017 Plan Amendment Proposal.   Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon as of the Record Date. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” from voting on this proposal. For purposes of determining whether this proposal has passed, abstentions will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal.

 

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We request that you vote your shares by proxy following the methods as instructed by the notice: over the Internet, by telephone or by mail. If you choose to vote by mail, your shares will be voted in accordance with your voting instructions if the proxy card is received prior to or at the Special Meeting. If you sign and return your proxy card but do not give voting instructions, your shares will be voted FOR (1) the Offering Proposal; and (2) the 2017 Plan Amendment Proposal.

 

Voting by Proxy Over the Internet or by Telephone

 

Stockholders whose shares are registered in their own names may vote by proxy by mail, over the Internet or by telephone. Instructions for voting by proxy over the Internet or by telephone are set forth on the notice of proxy materials. The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 29, 2018. The notice will also provide instructions on how you can elect to receive future proxy materials electronically or in printed form by mail. If you choose to receive future proxy materials electronically, you will receive an email with instructions containing a link to future proxy materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials electronically or in printed form by mail will remain in effect until you terminate such election.

 

If your shares are held in street name, the voting instruction form sent to you by your broker, bank or other nominee should indicate whether the institution has a process for beneficial holders to provide voting instructions over the Internet or by telephone. A number of banks and brokerage firms participate in a program that also permits stockholders whose shares are held in street name to direct their vote over the Internet or by telephone. If your bank or brokerage firm gives you this opportunity, the voting instructions from the bank or brokerage firm that accompany this Proxy Statement will tell you how to use the Internet or telephone to direct the vote of shares held in your account. If your voting instruction form does not include Internet or telephone information, please complete and return the voting instruction form in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided by your broker. Stockholders who vote by proxy over the Internet or by telephone need not return a proxy card or voting instruction form by mail, but may incur costs, such as usage charges, from telephone companies or Internet service providers.

 

Revocability of Proxies

 

Any proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised by filing an instrument revoking it with the Company’s secretary or by submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date prior to the time of the Special Meeting. Stockholders who have voted by proxy over the Internet or by telephone or have executed and returned a proxy and who then attend the Special Meeting and desire to vote in person are requested to notify the Company’s secretary in writing prior to the time of the Special Meeting. We request that all such written notices of revocation to the Company be addressed to Carl Iberger, Secretary, c/o Precipio, Inc., at the address of our principal executive offices at 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511. Our telephone number is (203) 787-7888. Stockholders may also revoke their proxy by entering a new vote over the Internet or by telephone.

 

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

 

This solicitation is made on behalf of the Board of Directors. We will bear the costs of preparing, mailing, online processing and other costs of the proxy solicitation made by the Board of Directors. Certain of our officers and employees may solicit the submission of proxies authorizing the voting of shares in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. Such solicitations may be made by telephone, facsimile transmission or personal solicitation. No additional compensation will be paid to such officers, directors or regular employees for such services. We will reimburse banks, brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in sending proxy material to stockholders.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of our Common Stock by (i) each director, (ii) each named executive officer, (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group, and (iv) each person who we know beneficially owns more than 5% of our Common Stock as of November 30, 2017, unless otherwise indicated below.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities and include shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after November 30, 2017, but excludes unvested stock options, which contain an early exercise feature. Except as otherwise indicated, all of the shares reflected in the table are shares of Common Stock and all persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose.

 

In computing the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deemed outstanding shares of Common Stock subject to options or warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of November 30, 2017. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

Percentage ownership calculations for beneficial ownership for each person or entity are based on 10,128,763 shares outstanding as of November 30, 2017. Except as otherwise indicated in the table below, addresses of named beneficial owners are in care of Precipio, Inc., 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner   Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
    Percent of Class  
Randal J. Kirk (1)     1,768,915       16.8 %
                 
Executive Officers and Directors:                
Ilan Danieli (2)     169,714       1.7 %
Carl Iberger (3)     17,060       *  
Jeffrey Cossman, M.D. (4)     778       *  
Michael A. Luther (5)     1,112       *  
David S. Cohen (6)     1,071,649       10.4 %
Samuel Riccitelli (4)     778       *  
Mark Rimer (7)     1,237,675       12.0 %
Douglas Fisher, M.D. (4)     778       *  
All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons) (8)     2,499,544       24.7 %

 

 

 

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the shares of Common Stock.

    

(1) Consists of (i) 1,359,121 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 409,794 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock that are currently exercisable. Based solely on information provided to the Company by the stockholder and disclosed in a Schedule 13D/A filed on September 5, 2017. The total of the shares of Common Stock and the warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock are held by the following companies: Third Security Senior Staff 2008 LLC, Third Security Staff 2010 LLC, Third Security Incentive 2010 LLC and Third Security Staff 2014 LLC. These companies are managed by Third Security, LLC, which is managed by Randal J. Kirk. Mr. Randal J. Kirk could be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of these shares. The business address of these beneficial owners is 1881 Grove Avenue, Radford, Virginia 24141 .
   
(2) Consists of 169,714 shares of Common Stock owned by IDP Holdings, LLC . Mr. Danieli is the sole member and manager of IDP Holdings, LLC.

 

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(3) Consists of 17,060 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Iberger .
   
(4) Consists of 778 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days after November 30, 2017 .
   
(5) Consists of 1,112 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days after November 30, 2017 .

 

(6) Consists of (i) 860,881 shares of Common Stock; (ii) 210,379 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock that are currently exercisable; and (iii) 389 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days after November 30, 2017. Based on information provided to the Company by the stockholder and disclosed in a Schedule 13G filed on July 11, 2017. The business address for David S. Cohen is 299 Bishop Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610.

 

(7) Consists of (i) 686,874 shares of Common Stock held by Chenies Investor LLC; (ii) 340,913 shares of Common Stock held by Chenies Management LLC; (iii) 4,179 shares of Common Stock held by Precipio Employee Holdings, LLC; (iv) warrants to purchase 175,390 shares of Common Stock held by Chenies Investor LLC; (v) warrants to purchase 29,541 shares of Common Stock held by Chenies Management LLC; and (vi) 778 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days after November 30, 2017 held directly by Mr. Rimer. Mr. Rimer is managing member of Chenies Investor LLC and Chenies Management LLC. Based on information provided to the Company by the stockholder and disclosed in a Schedule 13D/A filed on October 17, 2017.

 

(8) Includes shares which may be acquired by executive officers and directors as a group within 60 days after November 30, 2017 through the exercise of stock options or warrants.

  

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OTHER MATTERS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Householding of Proxy Materials

 

We have adopted a procedure approved by the SEC known as “householding.” This procedure allows multiple stockholders residing at the same address the convenience of receiving a single copy of our Notice, Annual Report and proxy materials, as applicable. This allows us to save money by reducing the number of documents we must print and mail, and helps protect the environment as well.

 

Householding is available to both registered stockholders (i.e., those stockholders with certificates registered in their name) and street name holders (i.e., those stockholders who hold their shares through a brokerage).

 

Registered Stockholders

 

If you are a registered stockholder and have consented to our mailing of proxy materials and other stockholder information only to one account in your household, as identified by you, we will deliver or mail a single copy of our Annual Report and proxy materials, as applicable, for all registered stockholders residing at the same address. Your consent will be perpetual unless you revoke it, which you may do at any time by contacting the Householding Department of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., at 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by calling 1-800-690-6903. If you revoke your consent, we will begin sending you individual copies of future mailings of these documents within 30 days after we receive your revocation notice. If you received a household mailing this year, and you would like to receive additional copies of our Annual Report and proxy materials, as applicable, please submit your request to our Secretary at the address of our principal executive offices at 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511, who will promptly deliver the requested copy.

 

Registered stockholders who have not consented to householding will continue to receive copies of annual reports and proxy materials for each registered stockholder residing at the same address. As a registered stockholder, you may elect to participate in householding and receive only a single copy of annual reports or proxy materials for all registered stockholders residing at the same address by contacting Broadridge as outlined above.

 

Street Name Holders

 

Stockholders who hold their shares through a brokerage may elect to participate in householding or revoke their consent to participate in householding by contacting their respective brokers.

 

Stockholder Proposals to be Presented at the Next Annual Meeting

 

Any stockholder who meets the requirements of the proxy rules under the Exchange Act may submit proposals to the Board of Directors to be presented at the next annual meeting. Such proposals must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and, because we did not hold an annual meeting in 2017, must be submitted in writing by notice delivered or mailed by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, to our Secretary at our principal executive offices at the address set forth above within a reasonable time before we begin to print and send proxy materials in order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials to be disseminated by the Board of Directors for such annual meeting.  We will publicly announce the deadline for submitting a proposal in a press release or in a document filed with the SEC.

 

Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide for separate notice procedures to recommend a person for nomination as a director or to propose business to be considered by stockholders at a meeting. To be considered timely under these provisions, the stockholder’s notice must be received by our Secretary at our principal executive offices at the address set forth above (i) no later than 35 days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however, that if less than 35 days’ notice of a meeting of stockholders is given to the stockholders, such notice must be made or delivered to our Secretary not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of a meeting was mailed; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders, no later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.

 

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The Board of Directors, a designated committee thereof or the chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the introduction of any stockholder proposal if it is not made in compliance with the applicable notice provisions.

 

  By Order of the Board of Directors of
   
  Precipio, Inc.
   
  Sincerely,
 
/s/ Ilan Danieli  
  Ilan Danieli
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

New Haven, Connecticut
December 29, 2017

 

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Annex A

PLACEMENT AGENCY AGREEMENT

                                             November 2, 2017

Aegis Capital Corp.

810 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Introduction . Subject to the terms and conditions herein (this “ Agreement ”), Precipio, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Company ”), hereby agrees to sell up to an aggregate of 2,748 registered of the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), together with Common Stock purchase warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,962,857 shares of Common Stock (each a “Warrant” and together with the Series C Preferred Stock, the “Units”), directly to various investors (each, an “ Investor ” and, collectively, the “ Investors ”) through Aegis Capital Corp., as lead placement agent (the “ Placement Agent ”). The documents executed and delivered by the Company and the Investors in connection with the Offering (as defined below), shall be collectively referred to herein as the “ Transaction Documents .” The purchase price to the Investors for each Unit is $1,000. The Placement Agent may retain other brokers or dealers to act as sub-agents or selected-dealers on its behalf in connection with the Offering.

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Placement Agent as follows:

Section 1. Agreement to Act as Placement Agent.

(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained, and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Placement Agent shall be the exclusive lead Placement Agent in connection with the offering and sale by the Company of the Units pursuant to the Company’s “shelf” registration statement, and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-3 (File No. 333-201907), which registration statement was declared effective on February 13, 2015 (the “ Registration Statement ”), with the terms of such offering (the “ Offering ”) to be subject to market conditions and negotiations between the Company, the Placement Agent and the prospective Investors. The Placement Agent will act on a reasonable best efforts basis and the Company agrees and acknowledges that there is no guarantee of the successful placement of the Units, or any portion thereof, in the prospective Offering. Under no circumstances will the Placement Agent or any of its “Affiliates” (as defined below) be obligated to underwrite or purchase any of the Units for its own account or otherwise provide any financing. The Placement Agent shall act solely as the Company’s agent and not as principal. The Placement Agent shall have no authority to bind the Company with respect to any prospective offer to purchase Units and the Company shall have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Units and may reject any such offer, in whole or in part. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, the Units shall be made at one or more closings (each a “ Closing ” and the date on which each Closing occurs, a “ Closing Date ”). As compensation for services rendered, on each Closing Date, the Company shall pay to the Placement Agent the fees and expenses set forth below:

(i) A cash fee equal to 7% of gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Units at the closing of the Offering (the “ Closing ”).

(ii) The Company also agrees to pay the Placement Agent an accountable expense allowance of 1% of gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Units at the Closing and $50,000 for the fees and expenses of its legal counsel.

(b) The term of the Placement Agent’s exclusive engagement will be until the completion of the Offering (the “ Exclusive Term ”); provided , however , that a party hereto may terminate the engagement with respect to itself at any time upon 10 days written notice to the other parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions concerning confidentiality, indemnification and contribution contained herein and the Company’s obligations contained in the indemnification provisions will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement, and the Company’s obligation to pay fees actually earned and payable and to reimburse expenses actually incurred and reimbursable pursuant to Section 1 hereof and which are permitted to be reimbursed under FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(D), will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the ability of the Placement Agent or its Affiliates to pursue, investigate, analyze, invest in, or engage in investment banking, financial advisory or any other business relationship with Persons (as defined below) other than the Company. As used herein (i) “Persons” 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 and (ii) “Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

  A- 1  

 

Section  2. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company . The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Placement Agent as of the date hereof, and as of each Closing Date, as follows:

(a) Securities Law Filings . The Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a “shelf” registration statement, and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-3 (File No. 333-201907), which registration statement was declared effective on February 13, 2015, for the registration of the sale of certain securities of the Company, including the Public Securities, under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”). Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement”.

After execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus included in the Registration Statement (the “Base Prospectus”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430B (“Rule 430B”) and Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) of the Securities Act Regulations; any information included in such prospectus supplement that was omitted from the Registration Statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B is herein called the “Rule 430B Information”; the Base Prospectus, together with any prospectus supplement used in connection with the offering of the Units is hereinafter collectively called the “Prospectus.”

Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”) pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”), on or before the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference in this Agreement to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and any other information which is “contained, “included,” “described,” “referenced,” “set forth” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and any other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, as the case may be.

The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for, and comply with the conditions for the use of, Form S-3 under the Securities Act, including but not limited to Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3. The aggregate market value of the outstanding voting and non-voting common equity (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) of the Company held by persons other than affiliates of the Company (pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act Regulations, those that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control, or are controlled by, or are under common control with, the Company) (the “Non-Affiliate Shares”), has been equal to or greater than $75 million (calculated by multiplying (x) the highest price at which the common equity of the Company closed on the Exchange (as defined below) since the date of the filing of the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K times (y) the number of Non-Affiliate Shares) since the date of the filing of the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K. The Company is not a shell company (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) and has not been a shell company for at least 12 calendar months previously and if it has been a shell company at any time previously, has filed current Form 10 information (as defined in Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3) with the Commission at least 12 calendar months previously reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

 

  A- 2  

 

 

(b) Assurances . The Registration Statement, as amended, (and any further documents to be filed with the Commission) contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, each as of its respective date, comply or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations. Each of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, did not and will not contain as of the date thereof any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and none of such documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (with respect to Incorporated Documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus), in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. No post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement reflecting any facts or events arising after the date thereof which represent, individually or in the aggregate, a fundamental change in the information set forth therein is required to be filed with the Commission. Except for this Agreement, there are no documents required to be filed with the Commission in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby that (x) have not been filed as required pursuant to the Securities Act or (y) will not be filed within the requisite time period. Except for this Agreement, there are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Base Prospectus or Prospectus, or to be filed as exhibits or schedules to the Registration Statement, which have not been described or filed as required.

(c) Offering Materials . Neither the Company nor any of its directors and officers has distributed and none of them will distribute, prior to each Closing Date, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units, together with the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants (collectively, the “Securities”), other than the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, copies of the documents incorporated by reference therein and any other materials permitted by the Securities Act.

(d) Subsidiaries . All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company (the “ Subsidiaries ”) are set forth in the Incorporated Documents. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any liens, charges, security interests, encumbrances, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights or other restrictions (collectively, “Liens”), except as set forth in the Registration Statement. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

 

  A- 3  

 

 

(e) Organization and Qualification . The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other agreement entered into between the Company and the Investors, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated under the Prospectus (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “ Material Adverse Effect ”) and no an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened (“ Proceeding ”) has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

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

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

 

  A- 4  

 

 

(h) Filings, Consents and Approvals . The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Prospectus, other than: (i) the filing with the Commission of the Prospectus, (ii) application(s) to the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “ Trading Market ”) for the listing of the Securities for trading thereon in the time, manner and to the extent required by the Trading Market and (iii) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “ Required Approvals ”).

(i) Issuance of the Securities; Registration . The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Prospectus, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company.

(j) Capitalization . The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the SEC Reports. The Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic or current report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or restricted stock units under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. Common Stock Equivalents means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Units or as disclosed in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or the capital stock of any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or capital stock of any Subsidiary. The issuance and sale of the Units will not obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under any of such securities. There are no securities of the Company or any Subsidiary that have any anti-dilution or similar adjustment rights (other than adjustments for stock splits, recapitalizations, and the like) to the exercise or conversion price, have any exchange rights, or reset rights, other than the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 22, 2017, between the Company and the Placement Agent. There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or such Subsidiary. Except as provided in the Company’s equity incentive plan, the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Units. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.

 

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(k) SEC Reports; Financial Statements . Other than the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (the (“June 2017 Report”), the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the June 2017 Report, Preliminary Prospectus, Company Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus, being collectively referred to herein as the “ SEC Reports ”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has never been an issuer subject to Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.

(l) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments . Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its common stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company equity incentive plans. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one (1) Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.

(m) Litigation . Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “ Action ”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Prospectus or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.

 

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(n) Labor Relations . No material labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. No executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, to the knowledge of the Company, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Compliance . Except as disclosed in SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) Environmental Laws . The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands, or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder (“ Environmental Laws ”); (ii) have received all permits licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where in each clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Regulatory Permits . The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“ Material Permits ”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.

 

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(r) Title to Assets . The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens securing bank indebtedness owed to Opus Bank, Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries, Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made therefor in accordance with GAAP and, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties, and Liens granted to the Company’s creditors pursuant to the Security Agreement, dated October 31, 2017, by and between the Company and Collateral Services LLC. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

(s) Patents and Trademarks . The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “ Intellectual Property Rights ”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person, except as could not have or reasonably be expected to not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Insurance . The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.

(u) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees . Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for: (i) payment of salary, consulting fees or director fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.

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

 

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(w) Certain Fees . Except as set forth in the Prospectus, no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Prospectus. The Investors shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Prospectus.

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

(y) Registration Rights . Except as set forth in SEC Reports, no Person has any right to cause the Company or any Subsidiary to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary.

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

 

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

(bb) Disclosure . Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Prospectus, the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Investors or their agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information which is not otherwise disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus, any Company Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Company understands and confirms that the Investors will rely on the foregoing representation in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All of the disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Investors regarding the Company and, its Subsidiaries, their respective businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The press releases disseminated by the Company during the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement taken as a whole do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made and when made, not misleading.

(cc) No Integrated Offering . Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.

(dd) Solvency . Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of each Closing Date and except as set forth in the SEC Reports, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder, (i) the anticipated fair saleable value of the Company’s business and its assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from each Closing Date. As of the date hereof, there has been no material change to the Indebtedness set forth in SEC Reports, detailing all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Indebtedness ” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Except as described in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

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(ee) Tax Status . Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim.

(ff) Foreign Corrupt Practices . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

(gg) Accountants . To the knowledge and belief of the Company, its accounting firm (i) is a registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) shall express its opinion with respect to the financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

(hh) Regulation M Compliance . The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Company’s placement agent in connection with the placement of the Securities.

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

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

(kk) Bank Holding Company Act . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “ BHCA ”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ Federal Reserve ”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.

 

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

(mm) Certificates . Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Placement Agent or to counsel for the Placement Agent shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Placement Agent as to the matters set forth therein.

(nn) Reliance . The Company acknowledges that the Placement Agent will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and warranties and hereby consents to such reliance.

(oo) FINRA Affiliations . There are no affiliations with any FINRA member firm among the Company’s officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any five percent (5%) or greater stockholder of the Company.

Section  3. Delivery and Payment . Each Closing shall occur at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 (or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Placement Agent and the Company) (“ Placement Agent Counsel ”). Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at each Closing payment of the purchase price for the Securities sold on such Closing Date shall be made by Federal Funds wire transfer, against delivery of such Securities, and such Securities shall be registered in such name or names and shall be in such denominations, as the Placement Agent may request at least one business day before the time of purchase (as defined below).

Deliveries of the documents with respect to the purchase of the Securities, if any, shall be made at the offices of Placement Agent Counsel. All actions taken at a Closing shall be deemed to have occurred simultaneously.

Section  4. Covenants and Agreements of the Company . The Company further covenants and agrees with the Placement Agent as follows:

(a) Registration Statement Matters . The Company will advise the Placement Agent promptly after it receives notice thereof of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to any Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed and will furnish the Placement Agent with copies thereof. The Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of any Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the Offering. The Company will advise the Placement Agent, promptly after it receives notice thereof (i) of any request by the Commission to amend the Registration Statement or to amend or supplement any Prospectus or for additional information, and (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any order directed at any Incorporated Document, if any, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or any Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the institution or threatened institution of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or a Prospectus or for additional information. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or prevention or suspension of such use. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or order or notice of prevention or suspension at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment, or will file a new registration statement and use its best efforts to have such new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A, 430B and 430C, as applicable, under the Securities Act, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder, and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) are received in a timely manner by the Commission.

 

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(b) Amendments and Supplements to a Prospectus and Other Matters . The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement, the Incorporated Documents and any Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with the distribution of Securities contemplated by the Incorporated Documents or any Prospectus (the “ Prospectus Delivery Period ”), any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the opinion of the Placement Agent or counsel for the Placement Agent, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Incorporated Documents or any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Incorporated Documents or any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any Incorporated Document to comply with any law, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its own expense to the Placement Agent and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Incorporated Documents or any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus that is necessary in order to make the statements in the Incorporated Documents and any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or so that the Registration Statement, the Incorporated Documents or any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, will comply with law. Before amending the Registration Statement or supplementing the Incorporated Documents or any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in connection with the Offering, the Company will furnish the Placement Agent with a copy of such proposed amendment or supplement and will not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Placement Agent reasonably objects.

(c) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to a Prospectus . The Company will furnish the Placement Agent, without charge, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the last Closing Date of the Offering, as many copies of the Incorporated Documents and any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any Incorporated Documents, if any) as the Placement Agent may reasonably request.

(d) Free Writing Prospectus . The Company covenants that it will not, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Placement Agent, make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a Company Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “ free writing prospectus ” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act. In the event that the Placement Agent expressly consents in writing to any such free writing prospectus (a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus ”), the Company covenants that it shall (i) treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as a Company Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) comply with the requirements of Rule 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

(e) Transfer Agent . The Company will maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

(f) Earnings Statement . As soon as practicable and in accordance with applicable requirements under the Securities Act, but in any event not later than 18 months after the last Closing Date, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Placement Agent an earnings statement, covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the last Closing Date, that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

 

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(g) Periodic Reporting Obligations . During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will duly file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Trading Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act within the time periods and in the manner required by the Exchange Act.

(h) Additional Documents . The Company will enter into any subscription, purchase or other customary agreements as the Placement Agent or the Investors deem necessary or appropriate to consummate the Offering, all of which will be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, Placement Agent and the Investors. The Company agrees that the Placement Agent may rely upon, and each is a third party beneficiary of, the representations and warranties, and applicable covenants, set forth in any such purchase, subscription or other agreement with Investors in the Offering.

(i) No Manipulation of Price .   The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.

(j) Acknowledgment . The Company acknowledges that any advice given by the Placement Agent to the Company is solely for the benefit and use of the Board of Directors of the Company and may not be used, reproduced, disseminated, quoted or referred to, without the Placement Agent’s prior written consent.

(k) Approval by Shareholders . The Company agrees to file a proxy statement under Section 14a of the Exchange Act or information statement pursuant to Section 14c of the Exchange Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission and obtain approval of the Offering from the Company’s shareholders of the Offering, including issuances in excess of the maximum number of shares issuable under the rules or regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Shareholder Approval”). The Company will be subject to the Equity Sale Restriction (as hereafter defined), until Shareholder Approval is obtained.

Section  5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Placement Agent . The obligations of the Placement Agent hereunder shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof, in each case as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by each of the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder on and as of such dates, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from the FINRA . Each Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus (in accordance with Rule 424(b)) and “ free writing prospectus ” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), if any, shall have been duly filed with the Commission, as appropriate; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Securities or any other securities of the Company shall have been issued by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange; all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with; and the FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the placement terms and arrangements.

(b) Corporate Proceedings . All corporate proceedings and other legal matters in connection with this Agreement, the Registration Statement and each Prospectus, and the registration, sale and delivery of the Securities, shall have been completed or resolved in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent’s counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and information as it may reasonably have requested to enable such counsel to pass upon the matters referred to in this Section 5.

 

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(c) No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to each Closing Date, in the Placement Agent’s sole judgment after consultation with the Company, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company . The Placement Agent shall have received on each Closing Date an opinion of US legal counsel to the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, including, without limitation, a negative assurance letter addressed to the Placement Agent and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent.

(e) Officers’ Certificate . The Placement Agent shall have received on each Closing Date a certificate of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect that, and the Placement Agent shall be satisfied that, the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Incorporated Documents, any Prospectus, and this Agreement and to the further effect that:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of such Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date;

(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or any Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened under the Securities Act; no order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Securities or any other securities of the Company has been issued by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States;

(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective, at the time of sale, and at all times subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the Registration Statement and the Incorporated Documents, if any, when such documents became effective or were filed with the Commission, contained all material information required to be included therein by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the case may be, and in all material respects conformed to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the case may be, and the Registration Statement and the Incorporated Documents, if any, did not and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided, however, that the preceding representations and warranties contained in this paragraph (iii) shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Placement Agent expressly for use therein) and, since the effective date of the Registration Statement, there has occurred no event required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder to be set forth in the Incorporated Documents which has not been so set forth; and

(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Incorporated Documents and any Prospectus, there has not been: (a) any Material Adverse Change; (b) any transaction that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business; (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; (d) any material change in the capital stock (except changes thereto resulting from the exercise of outstanding stock options or warrants) or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary; (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company; or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any Subsidiary which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(f) Stock Exchange Listing . The Common Stock shall be registered under the Exchange Act and shall be listed on the Trading Market, and the Company shall not have taken any action designed to terminate, or likely to have the effect of terminating, the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting or suspending from trading the Common Stock from the Trading Market, nor shall the Company have received any information suggesting that the Commission or the Trading Market is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.

(g) Additional Documents . On or before each Closing Date, the Placement Agent and counsel for the Placement Agent shall have received such information and documents as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

(h) Subsequent Equity Sales . From the date hereof until the later of (i) 90 days after the Closing Date, or (ii) the date on which Shareholder Approval has been obtained, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents other than Exempt Issuances (as defined in the Company’s Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock) without written approval from the Placement Agent (the “Equity Sale Restriction”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at such time as each holder of Series C Preferred Stock owns less than 20% of the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock originally purchased in this Offering, the Company may issue or may enter into an agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents which do not constitute a Dilutive Issuance (as defined in the Company’s Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock).

(i) Lock-Up Agreements . Schedule 5(i) hereto contains a complete and accurate list of the Company’s officers and directors (collectively, the “Lock-Up Parties”). Each of the Lock-Up Parties has executed and delivered to the Placement Agent an executed Lock-Up Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), prior to the execution of this Agreement.

If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Placement Agent by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to a Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 6 (Payment of Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification and Contribution) and Section 8 (Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

Section 6. Payment of Expenses . The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation: (i) all expenses incident to the issuance, delivery and qualification of the Securities (including all printing and engraving costs); (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock; (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors; (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), the Preliminary Prospectus and each Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement; (vi) all filing fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the securities laws of any other country, and, if requested by the Placement Agent, preparing and printing a “ Blue Sky Survey ,” an “ International Blue Sky Survey ” or other memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Placement Agent of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions; (vii) if applicable, the filing fees incident to the review and approval by the FINRA of the Placement Agent’s participation in the offering and distribution of the Securities; (viii) the fees and expenses associated with including the Securities on the Trading Market; (ix) all costs and expenses incident to the travel and accommodation of the Company’s and the Placement Agent’s employees on the “ roadshow ,” if any; and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Part II of the Registration Statement.

 

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Section 7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agent, its affiliates and each person controlling the Placement Agent (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act), and the directors, officers, agents and employees of the Placement Agent, its affiliates and each such controlling person (the Placement Agent, and each such entity or person. an “ Indemnified Person ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages, judgments, assessments, costs and other liabilities (collectively, the “ Liabilities ”), and shall reimburse each Indemnified Person for all fees and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel for all Indemnified Persons, except as otherwise expressly provided herein) (collectively, the “ Expenses ”) as they are incurred by an Indemnified Person in investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any Actions, whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto, (i) caused by, or arising out of or in connection with, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Incorporated Document or by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (other than untrue statements or alleged untrue statements in, or omissions or alleged omissions from, information relating to an Indemnified Person furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person expressly for use in the Incorporated Documents) or (ii) otherwise arising out of or in connection with advice or services rendered or to be rendered by any Indemnified Person pursuant to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated thereby or any Indemnified Person’s actions or inactions in connection with any such advice, services or transactions; provided, however , that, in the case of clause (ii) only, the Company shall not be responsible for any Liabilities or Expenses of any Indemnified Person that are finally judicially determined to have resulted solely from such Indemnified Person’s (x) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with any of the advice, actions, inactions or services referred to above or (y) use of any offering materials or information concerning the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities in the Offering which were not authorized for such use by the Company and which use constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also agrees to reimburse each Indemnified Person for all Expenses as they are incurred in connection with enforcing such Indemnified Person’s rights under this Agreement.

(b) Upon receipt by an Indemnified Person of actual notice of an Action against such Indemnified Person with respect to which indemnity may be sought under this Agreement, such Indemnified Person shall promptly notify the Company in writing; provided that failure by any Indemnified Person so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have on account of this indemnity or otherwise to such Indemnified Person, except to the extent the Company shall have been prejudiced by such failure. The Company shall, if requested by the Placement Agent, assume the defense of any such Action including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent, which counsel may also be counsel to the Company. Any Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless: (i) the Company has failed promptly to assume the defense and employ counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such Action (including any impeded parties) include such Indemnified Person and the Company, and such Indemnified Person shall have been advised in the reasonable opinion of counsel that there is an actual conflict of interest that prevents the counsel selected by the Company from representing both the Company (or another client of such counsel) and any Indemnified Person; provided that the Company shall not in such event be responsible hereunder for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of separate counsel for all Indemnified Persons in connection with any Action or related Actions, in addition to any local counsel. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any Action effected without its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). In addition, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened Action in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not such Indemnified Person is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all Liabilities arising out of such Action for which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder. The indemnification required hereby shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred and is due and payable.

 

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(c) In the event that the foregoing indemnity is unavailable to an Indemnified Person other than in accordance with this Agreement, the Company shall contribute to the Liabilities and Expenses paid or payable by such Indemnified Person in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and to the Placement Agent and any other Indemnified Person, on the other hand, of the matters contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by the immediately preceding clause is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Placement Agent and any other Indemnified Person, on the other hand, in connection with the matters as to which such Liabilities or Expenses relate, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to ensure that all Indemnified Persons, in the aggregate, are not liable for any Liabilities and Expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by the Placement Agent pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph, the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and to the Placement Agent on the other hand, of the matters contemplated by this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (a) the total value paid or contemplated to be paid to or received or contemplated to be received by the Company in the transaction or transactions that are within the scope of this Agreement, whether or not any such transaction is consummated, bears to (b) the fees paid to the Placement Agent under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act, as amended, shall be entitled to contribution from a party who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.

(d) The Company also agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company for or in connection with advice or services rendered or to be rendered by any Indemnified Person pursuant to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated thereby or any Indemnified Person’s actions or inactions in connection with any such advice, services or transactions except for Liabilities (and related Expenses) of the Company that are finally judicially determined to have resulted solely from such Indemnified Person’s fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with any such advice, actions, inactions or services.

(e) The reimbursement, indemnity and contribution obligations of the Company set forth herein shall apply to any modification of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any termination of, or the completion of any Indemnified Person’s services under or in connection with, this Agreement.

Section  8. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or any person controlling the Company, of its officers, and of the Placement Agent set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Placement Agent, the Company, or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement. A successor to a Placement Agent, or to the Company, its directors or officers or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Agreement.

 

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Section  9. Notices . All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

If to the Placement Agent:

Aegis Capital Corp.

810 Seventh Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Mr. David Bocchi, Managing Director of Investment Banking

Fax No.: (212) 813-1047

With a copy to:

Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP

1185 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (212) 930-9725

Attention: Thomas A. Rose, Esq.

If to the Company:

Precipio, Inc.

4 Science Park

New Haven, CT 06511

Attention: Ilan Danieli

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Goodwin Procter LLP

The New York Times Building

620 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

Attention: Stephen M. Davis, Esq.

Fax No: 212-355-3333

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

Section  10. Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and to their respective successors, and personal representative, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

Section  11. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

Section  12. Governing Law Provisions . This Agreement shall be deemed to have been made and delivered in New York City and both this engagement letter and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed as to validity, interpretation, construction, effect and in all other respects by the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the Placement Agent and the Company: (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this engagement letter and/or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (ii) waives any objection which it may have or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Placement Agent and the Company further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that service of process upon the Company mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Placement Agent mailed by certified mail to the Placement Agent’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Placement Agent, in any such suit, action or proceeding. Notwithstanding any provision of this engagement letter to the contrary, the Company agrees that neither the Placement Agent nor its affiliates, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of the Placement Agent, its affiliates and each other person, if any, controlling the Placement Agent or any of its affiliates, shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company for or in connection with the engagement and transaction described herein except for any such liability for losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred by us that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of such individuals or entities. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provision of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

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Section  13. General Provisions .

(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof,. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

(b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Placement Agent has acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to the Company or any other person, (ii) the Placement Agent owes the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and (iii) the Placement Agent may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Placement Agent arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities

[ The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank. ]

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign below whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,

PRECIPIO, INC.
By:  

/s/ Ilan Danieli

  Name:  

Ilan Danieli

  Title:  

Chief Executive Officer

The foregoing Placement Agency Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

 

AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.

By:

 

/s/ David Bocchi

 

Name:

 

David Bocchi

 

Title:

 

Head of Investment Banking

 

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EXHIBIT A

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

November[●], 2017

Aegis Capital Corp.

810 Seventh Avenue, 18 th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that Aegis Capital Corp. (the “ Placement Agent ”) proposes to enter into Placement Agency Agreement (the “ Placement Agency Agreement ”) with Precipio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), providing for the placement (the “ Placement ”) of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, (the “ Shares ”) and warrants to purchase shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company.

To induce the Placement Agent to continue its efforts in connection with the Placement, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) relating to the Placement (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “ Lock-Up Securities ”); (2) 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 Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement relating to any Lock-Up Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent in connection with (a) transactions relating to Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Placement; provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Lock-Up Securities acquired in such open market transactions; (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (c) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution; (d) if the undersigned is, or directly or indirectly controls, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to any shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of similar equity interests in, the undersigned, as the case may be; (e) the transfer of Lock-Up Securities upon a vesting event of the Company’s securities or upon the exercise of options or warrants to purchase Lock-Up Securities, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis or to cover tax withholding obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or exercise, provided that the securities received upon such exercise shall remain subject to the restrictions provided for in this lock-up agreement; (f) if the undersigned is or was an officer, director or employee of the Company, transfers to the Company pursuant to the Company’s right of repurchase upon termination of the undersigned’s service with the Company; (g) transfers by operation of law, including pursuant to domestic relations or court orders; (h) the occurrence after the date hereof of any of (w) an acquisition 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 Company, by contract or otherwise) of 100% of the voting securities of the Company, (x) the Company merges into or consolidates with any other entity, or any entity merges into or consolidates with the Company, (y) the Company sells or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another person or (z) the commencement of a tender or exchange offer made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a change of control of the Company; or (i) transfers consented to in writing by the Placement Agent; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) or (d), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Placement Agent a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with this lock-up agreement.

 

  A- 22  

 

 

The undersigned agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement during the period from the date hereof to and including the 34 th day following the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the undersigned will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate any such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period (as may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed or “friends and family” Shares that the undersigned may purchase in the Placement; (ii) the Placement Agent agrees that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, the Placement Agent will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver; and (iii) the Company has agreed in the Placement Agency Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Placement Agent hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of Lock-Up Securities not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this lock-up agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of such transfer.

No provision in this agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the exercise, exchange or conversion by the undersigned of any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into Shares, as applicable; provided that the undersigned does not transfer the Shares acquired on such exercise, exchange or conversion during the Lock-Up Period, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this lock-up agreement. In addition, no provision herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the entry into or modification of a so-called “10b5-1” plan at any time (other than the entry into or modification of such a plan in such a manner as to cause the sale of any Lock-Up Securities within the Lock-Up Period).

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Placement Agent are relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Placement. The undersigned further understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

The undersigned understands that, if the Placement Agency Agreement is not executed by November 15, 2017, or if the Placement Agency Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares to be sold thereunder, then this lock-up agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect.

 

  A- 23  

 

Whether or not the Placement actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Placement will only be made pursuant to a Placement Agency Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Placement Agent.

 

 
  Very truly yours,
 
       
  (Name - Please Print)
 
       
  (Signature)  
 
       
  (Name of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
 
       
  (Title of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
 
  Address:    
 
     
 
     

 

  A- 24  

 

 

AMENDMENT TO PLACEMENT AGENCY AGREEMENT

This Amendment (this “ Amendment ”) to the Placement Agency Agreement (as defined below) is made and entered into as of November 9, 2017 by and between Precipio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Aegis Capital Corp., as lead placement agent (the “ Placement Agent ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Placement Agency Agreement.

RECITALS

W HEREAS , the Company and the Placement Agent entered into that certain Placement Agency Agreement dated November 2, 2017 (the “ Placement Agency Agreement ”);

W HEREAS , pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Placement Agency Agreement, any term of the Placement Agency Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Company and the Placement Agent;

W HEREAS , the Company and the Placement Agent desire to amend the Placement Agency Agreement as set forth below.

AGREEMENT

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing, and the representations, warranties, covenants and conditions set forth below, the Company and the Placement Agent, intending to be legally bound, hereby consent to the amendment of the Placement Agency Agreement and agree as follows:

 

1. Amendment to the Placement Agency Agreement .

 

  a. Section 4(k) of the Placement Agency Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Approval by Shareholders . The Company agrees to file a proxy statement under Section 14a of the Exchange Act or information statement pursuant to Section 14c of the Exchange Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission and obtain approval of the Offering from the Company’s shareholders, including, without limitation, the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock and the Warrants and the issuances of shares in excess of the maximum number of shares issuable under the rules or regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Shareholder Approval”). The Company will be subject to the Equity Sale Restriction (as hereafter defined), until Shareholder Approval is obtained.”

 

  b. Section 5(h) of the Placement Agency Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Subsequent Equity Sales . From the date hereof until the later of (i) 90 days after the Closing Date, or (ii) the date on which Shareholder Approval has been obtained, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents other than Exempt Issuances (as defined in the Company’s Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock) without written approval from the Placement Agent (the “Equity Sale Restriction”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at such time as each holder of Series C Preferred Stock owns less than 20% of the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock and less than 20% of the Warrants (based on number of shares underlying the Warrants) originally purchased in this Offering, the Company may issue or may enter into an agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents which do not constitute a Dilutive Issuance (as defined in the Warrants).”

 

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2. Miscellaneous .

a. To the extent that this Amendment would permit such actions if taken after the date hereof, all actions taken by the Company and the Placement Agent prior to the execution of this Amendment with respect to the Placement Agency Agreement are hereby authorized, approved and ratified.

b. Except as effected by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Placement Agency Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

c. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Amendment by signing any such counterpart. This Amendment may be executed and delivered by facsimile, or by e-mail in portable document format (.pdf) and delivery of the signature page by such method will be deemed to have the same effect as if the original signature had been delivered to the other parties.

d. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without reference to principles of conflict of laws or choice of laws.

e. The titles and subtitles used in this Amendment are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Amendment.

f. The Placement Agency Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amendment to Placement Agency Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 
  COMPANY:
 
  PRECIPIO, INC.
 
 

By:

 

  /s/ Ilan Danieli

    Name: Ilan Danieli
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amendment to Placement Agency Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 
  AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.
 
 

By:

 

  /s/ David Bocchi

    Name: David Bocchi
    Title:   Head of Investment Banking
 
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Annex B

PRECIPIO, INC.

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

Warrant No.: 2017 - [            ]    Number of Warrants: [                ] Date of Issuance:

November 9, 2017 (“ Issuance Date ”)

Expiration Date: May 9, 2023 (“ Expiration Date ”)

Precipio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, [            ], the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the “ Holder ”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, upon surrender of this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “ Warrant ”), at any time or times on or after May 9, 2018 (the “ Exercisability Date ”), but not after 5:30 p.m., New York Time, on the Expiration Date, [        ] fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (as defined below) (the “ Warrant Shares ”). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant shall have the meanings set forth in Section 16.

1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT .

(a) Mechanics of Exercise . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(d)), this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Exercisability Date, in whole or in part (but not as to fractional shares), by (i) delivery of a written notice to the Company, in the form attached hereto as, to the e-mail addresses set forth on, Exhibit A (the “ Exercise Notice ”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant and (ii) within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in below) following the date of exercise as aforesaid if both (A) the Holder is not electing a Cashless Exercise (as defined below) pursuant to Section 1(c) of this Warrant and (B) a registration statement registering the issuance of the Warrant Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), is effective and available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares, or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares, payment to the Company (the “ Warrant Agent ”) of an amount equal to the applicable Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (the “ Aggregate Exercise Price ”) in cash or by wire transfer to the Warrant Agent of immediately available funds (a “ Cash Exercise ”). No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. The Holder shall not be required to surrender this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder, provided that in the event of an exercise of this Warrant for all Warrant Shares then issuable hereunder, this Warrant is surrendered to the Warrant Agent by the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date on which the Warrant Agent has received each of the Exercise Notice and, if this Warrant is being exercised pursuant to a Cash Exercise, the Aggregate Exercise Price (the “ Exercise Delivery Documents ”). On or before date that is the earlier of (i) the earlier of (A) two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise and (B) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Company and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (the “ Share Delivery Date ”), the Warrant Agent shall, upon the request of the Holder, instruct the Company’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) to credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system provided the Holder causes its prime broker or their clearing agent to initiate a DWAC DEPOSIT for the number of shares of Common Stock, or if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (the “ FAST Program ”) or if the certificates are required to bear a legend regarding restriction on transferability, issue and dispatch by overnight courier to the address as specified in the Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise. Upon delivery of the Exercise Notice, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares, as the case may be, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a Cashless Exercise) is received within the earlier of (i) two Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then the Warrant Agent shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days after any exercise and at the Company’s own expense, issue a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. The Company shall pay any and all taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable based on the income of the Holder or in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrants in a name other than that of the Holder or an affiliate thereof. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise hereof. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the fifth Trading Day after such liquidated damages begin to accrue) for each Trading Day after such Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise.

 

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In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Warrant Shares or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise pursuant to an exercise on or before the Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “ Buy-In ”), then the Company shall within three (3) Trading Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “ Buy-In Price ”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such Warrant Shares or credit such Holder’s balance account with DTC) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Warrant Shares or credit such Holder’s balance account with DTC and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock, times (B) the Weighted Average Price of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise.

(b) Exercise Price . For purposes of this Warrant, “ Exercise Price ” means $1.63 per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

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(c) Cashless Exercise . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if a registration statement registering the issuance of the Warrant Shares under the Securities Act is not effective or available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares and an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is not available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Warrant Agent upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a “ Cashless Exercise ”):

Net Number = [(A-B) (X)]

                                 A

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

 

  A= as applicable: (i) the Weighted Average Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b)(64) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the Weighted Average Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or (iii) the Weighted Average Price on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day.

 

  B= the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder.

 

  C= the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the registered characteristics of the Warrants being exercised. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 1(c).

(d) Limitations on Exercises . The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the 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 the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company 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 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the 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% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), 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 exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61 st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained 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 this Warrant.

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(e) Rescission Rights . If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 1(a) by the Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

(f) No Fractional Shares or Scrip . No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share that the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price.

2. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES . The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

(a) Adjustment upon Subdivision or Combination of Shares of Common Stock . If the Company at any time on or after the Issuance Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time on or after the Issuance Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section 2(a) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

 

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(b) Other Events . If any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of Section 2(a) but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features to the holders of the Company’s equity securities), then the Company’s Board of Directors will make an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares so as to protect the rights of the Holder; provided , that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(b) will increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 2.

(c) Subsequent Equity Sales . If the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, as applicable, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, shall sell or grant any option to purchase, or sell or grant any right to reprice, or otherwise dispose of or issue (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition) any Common Stock or Convertible Securities, at an effective price per share less than the Exercise Price then in effect (such lower price, the “Base Share Price” and such issuances collectively, a “Dilutive Issuance”) (it being understood and agreed that if the holder of the Common Stock or Convertible Securities 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 less than the Exercise Price, such issuance shall be deemed to have occurred for less than the Exercise Price on such date of the Dilutive Issuance at such effective price), then simultaneously with the consummation of each Dilutive Issuance the Exercise Price shall be reduced and only reduced to equal the higher of the (i) Base Share Price or (ii) $0.05 (the “Floor Price” (such Floor Price to subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(a). For the avoidance of doubt, if more than one security is issued in a transaction that is being analyzed to determine whether a Dilutive Issuance has occurred and/or to determine a Base Share Price, each security so issued shall be analyzed separately with respect to such determinations such that the lowest effective price per share with respect to each such security shall be used. For example, if the existing exercise price under this Warrant is $1.00 and the Company issues units for $0.90 per unit, with each unit comprised of one (1) share of Common Stock and one (1) Warrant exercisable for one (1) share of Common Stock, which new warrant has an exercise price of $1.50 per share, the Base Share Price will be $0.90. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustments shall be made, paid or issued under this Section 2(c) in respect of an Exempt Issuance. The Company shall notify the Holder, in writing, no later than the Trading Day following the issuance or deemed issuance of any Common Stock or Convertible Securities subject to this Section 2(c), 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 Company provides a Dilutive Issuance Notice pursuant to this Section 2(c), upon the occurrence of any Dilutive Issuance, the Holder is entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares based upon the Base Share Price regardless of whether the Holder accurately refers to the Base Share Price in the Notice of Exercise. For all purposes of the foregoing (including, without limitation, determining the Base Share Price under this Section 3(b)), the following shall be applicable:

i. Issuance of Options . If the Company in any manner grants or sells any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Exercise Price then in effect, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 2(c)(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 Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest exercise price set forth in such Option for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof minus (2) the sum of all amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Option (or any other Person) upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof plus the value of any other consideration received or receivable by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Option (or any other Person). Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise 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 otherwise pursuant to the terms of 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 Company in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Exercise Price then in effect, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 2(c)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest conversion price set forth in such Convertible Security for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof minus (2) the sum of all amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person) upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security plus the value of any other consideration received or receivable by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person). Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof, and if any such issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of this Warrant has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 2(c), except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made by reason of such issuance or sale.

iii. Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion . If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time (other than proportional changes in conversion or exercise prices, as applicable, in connection with an event referred to in Section 2(a)), the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Exercise 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 2(c)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Issuance Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(c) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Exercise Price then in effect.

 

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

v. Record Date . If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issuance or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase (as the case may be).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Warrant, the provisions of Section 2(c) of this Warrant shall not become operative until the Company has obtained approval of its stockholders of the issuance of Warrants and shares of the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement, including issuances in excess of the maximum number of shares issuable under the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market.

(d) Par Value . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Warrant, in no event shall the Exercise Price be reduced below the par value of the Company’s Common Stock.

3. RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS . If the Company shall declare or make 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 Warrant, then, in each such case:

(a) any Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to receive the Distribution shall be reduced, effective as of the close of business on such record date, to a price determined by multiplying such Exercise Price by a fraction of which (i) the numerator shall be the Weighted Average Price of the shares of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding such record date minus the value of the Distribution (as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors) applicable to one share of Common Stock, and (ii) the denominator shall be the Weighted Average Price of the shares of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding such record date; and

 

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(b) the number of Warrant Shares shall be increased to a number of shares equal to the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable immediately prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to receive the Distribution multiplied by the reciprocal of the fraction set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph (a); provided , that in the event that the Distribution is of shares of Common Stock or common stock of a company whose common shares are traded on a national securities exchange or a national automated quotation system (“ Other Shares of Common Stock ”), then the Holder may elect to receive a warrant to purchase Other Shares of Common Stock in lieu of an increase in the number of Warrant Shares, the terms of which shall be identical to those of this Warrant, except that such warrant shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Other Shares of Common Stock that would have been payable to the Holder pursuant to the Distribution had the Holder exercised this Warrant immediately prior to such record date and with an aggregate exercise price equal to the product of the amount by which the exercise price of this Warrant was decreased with respect to the Distribution pursuant to the terms of the immediately preceding paragraph (a) and the number of Warrant Shares calculated in accordance with the first part of this paragraph (b).

4. PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

(a) Purchase Rights . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time prior to the Expiration Date the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all of 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 exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) 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.

(b) Fundamental Transactions . Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental Transaction, then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 1(d) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 1(d) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise 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 Company shall apportion the Exercise 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 exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds within five Business Days of the Holder’s election (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction). The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “ Successor Entity ”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(b) 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, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable 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 exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise 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 exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant 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 Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.

 

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5. RESERVATION OF WARRANT SHARES . The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as herein provided, the number of shares of Common Stock which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this entire Warrant, free from preemptive or any other contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holder (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions in Section 2). Such reservation shall comply with the provisions of Section 1. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The Company will take all such actions as may be reasonably necessary to assure that such shares of Common Stock may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Common Stock may be listed.

6. WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

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7. REGISTRATION AND REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS .

(a) Registration of Warrant . The Company or its Transfer Agent shall register this Warrant, upon the records to be maintained by the Company or its Transfer Agent for that purpose (the “ Warrant Register ”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary. The Company or its Transfer Agent shall also register any transfer, exchange, reissuance or cancellation of any portion of this Warrant in the Warrant Register.

(b) Transfer of Warrant . This Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company, except as may otherwise be required by applicable securities laws. Subject to applicable securities laws, if this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, together with all applicable transfer taxes, whereupon the Company will, or will cause its Transfer Agent to, forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred. The acceptance of the new Warrant by the transferee thereof shall be deemed the acceptance by such transferee of all of the rights and obligations in respect of the new Warrant that the Holder has in respect of this Warrant.

(c) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form or the provision of reasonable security by the Holder to the Company and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.

(d) Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants . This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, together with all applicable transfer taxes, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(e)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided , however , that the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, shall not be required to issue Warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock hereunder.

(e) Issuance of New Warrants . Whenever the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant shall (i) be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 7(b) or Section 7(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, which is the same as the Issuance Date and (iv) have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.

8. NOTICES . Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with the information set forth in the Warrant Register. The Company shall give written notice to the Holder (i) reasonably promptly following any adjustment of the Exercise Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least ten (10) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation; provided , that in each case, such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.

 

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9. NONCIRCUMVENTION . The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall use all reasonable efforts to take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the Warrants, the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the Warrants then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercise).

10. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER . Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder.

11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY . No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Warrant Shares or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

12. GOVERNING LAW . This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York.

13. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS . This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant.

14. DISPUTE RESOLUTION . In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via email or facsimile within two (2) Trading Days of receipt of the Exercise Notice giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the Exercise Price or the Warrant Shares within five (5) Trading Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within two (2) Trading Days submit via email or facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Trading Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error. The expenses of the investment bank and accountant will be borne by the Company unless the investment bank or accountant determines that the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares by the Holder was incorrect, in which case the expenses of the investment bank and accountant will be borne by the Holder.

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15. REMEDIES, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF . The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder may cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to seek an injunction restraining any breach. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, if the Company is for any reason unable to issue and deliver Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company shall have no obligation to pay to the Holder any cash or other consideration or otherwise “net cash settle” this Warrant.

16. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS . For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) “ Bid Price ” 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 bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is 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 in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

(b) “ Black Scholes Value ” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black and Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg, L.P. (“Bloomberg”) determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date.

(c) “ Bloomberg ” means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

(d) “ Common Stock ” means (i) the Company’s shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and (ii) any share capital into which such Common Stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such Common Stock.

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

(f) “ Eligible Market ” means the Principal Market, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NYSE Amex LLC, The Nasdaq Stock Market, or the OTC Bulletin Board ® .

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(g) “ Exempt Issuance ” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock or options to employees, officers or directors of the Company 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 or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Company, (b) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any securities issued hereunder and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the Issuance Date, provided that such securities have not been amended since the Issuance Date to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities or to extend the term or such securities, and (c) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that 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 ninety (90) day period commencing on the Issuance Date, and provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equity holders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.

(h) “ Fundamental Transaction ” means that (A) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Person, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company to another Person, or (iii) allow another Person providing to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (iv) consummate a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination), or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock or (B) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock.

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

(j) “ Parent Entity ” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

(k) “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

(l) “ Placement Agency Agreement ” means the Placement Agency Agreement, dated November 2, 2017, by and between the Company and Aegis Capital Corp.

(m) “ Principal Market ” means The Nasdaq Capital Market.

(n) “ Successor Entity ” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

 

  B- 13  

 

 

(o) “ Trading Day ” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded; provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York Time).

(p) “ Weighted Average Price ” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “Volume at Price” function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink OTC Markets Inc. If the Weighted Average Price cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the Weighted Average Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 14 with the term “Weighted Average Price” being substituted for the term “Exercise Price.” All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any share dividend, share split or other similar transaction during such period.

[Signature Page Follows]

  B- 14  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

 

 
    PRECIPIO, INC.
 
  By:    
    Ilan Danieli, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

  B- 15  

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

EXERCISE

NOTICE

TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

PRECIPIO, INC.

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase                  of the shares of Common Stock (“ Warrant Shares ”) of Precipio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), evidenced by the attached Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the “ Warrant ”), by delivering this notice to the Company at the e-mail addresses set forth below. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

1. Exercise Price . The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as (check one):

 

  Cash Exercise under Section 1(a).

 

  Cashless Exercise under Section 1(c).

2. Cash Exercise . If the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise, the Holder shall pay the sum of $                 to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

3. Delivery of Warrant Shares . The Company shall deliver to the holder                  Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

4. Representations and Warranties . By its delivery of this Exercise Notice, the undersigned represents and warrants to the Company that in giving effect to the exercise evidenced hereby the Holder will not beneficially own in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock (determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) permitted to be owned under Section 1(d) of this Warrant to which this notice relates.

Company E-mail Addresses:

ciberger@precipiodx.com

idanieli@precipiodx.com

mgage@precipiodx.com

with copies to:

SDavis@goodwinlaw.com

THurley@goodwinlaw.com

DATED:                                 

 

(Signature must conform in all respects to name of the Holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)
 

 

Registered Holder

Address:    
 

  B- 16  

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice.

 

  PRECIPIO, INC.
By:    
Name:  
Title:  
 
  B- 17  

 

 

Annex C

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES,

RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

OF

SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

OF

PRECIPIO, INC.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE

DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Precipio, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), does hereby certify that, pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as amended from time to time, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and pursuant to the provisions of Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) duly adopted a resolution on November 1, 2017, providing for the issuance of up to Two Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Eight (2,748) shares of Preferred Stock, which shall be a series designated as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Series C Preferred ”).

Pursuant to such resolution and the authority conferred upon the Board by the Certificate of Incorporation, there is hereby created the Series C Preferred, which series shall have the following voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation:

TERMS OF SERIES C PREFERRED

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 7(e).

Beneficial Ownership Limitation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

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 6(c)(iv).

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and stock of any other class of securities into which such securities 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, rights, options, warrants 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.

  C- 1  

 

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

Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

Conversion Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(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 other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.

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 or options to employees, officers or directors of the Corporation pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted 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 pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of the Placement Agency Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of the Placement Agency Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of any such securities or to extend the term of such securities, (c) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Corporation, provided that 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 90 day period following the Original Issue Date, 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.

Fundamental Transaction ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).

Fundamental Transaction Amount ” means an amount equal to the cash consideration plus the non-cash consideration in the form issuable to the holders of the Common Stock (in the case of a reverse merger or similar transaction, shares of Common Stock issuable to the holders of the acquired company) per share of the Common Stock in the Fundamental Transaction multiplied by the number of Conversion Shares underlying the shares of Preferred Stock held by the Holder on date immediately prior to the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Holder ” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.

Liquidation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

New York Courts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).

Notice of Conversion ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(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.

  C- 2  

 

 

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 ” means Aegis Capital Corp.

Placement Agency Agreement ” means the placement agency agreement, dated as of November 2, 2017, among the Corporation and the Placement Agent, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

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

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 6(c).

Stated Value ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2, as the same may be increased pursuant to Section 3.

Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary of the Corporation and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation formed or acquired after the Original Issue Date.

Successor Entity ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).

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).

Transfer Agent ” means Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the current transfer agent of the Corporation, with a mailing address of 1110 Centre Point Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120, and any successor transfer agent of the Corporation.

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 principal Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is 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 in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (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 Holders of a majority in interest of the Preferred Stock then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Corporation, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Corporation.

Section 2 Designation, Amount and Par Value . The number of shares designated as Series C Preferred (“Preferred Stock”) shall be Two Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Eight (2,748) (which shall not be subject to increase without the written consent of all of the holders of the then outstanding Preferred Stock (each, a “ Holder ” and collectively, the “ Holders ,” which term “Holder” shall include a Holder’s transferees, successors and assigns and shall include, if the Preferred Stock is held in “street name”, a Participant or a designee appointed by such Participant (as defined below))). Each share of Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.01 per share and a stated value equal to $1,000 (the “ Stated Value ”). The shares of Preferred Stock may initially be issued and maintained in the form of securities held in book-entry form and the Depository Trust Company or its nominee (“ DTC ”) shall initially be the sole registered holder of the shares of Preferred Stock or may initially be issued in physical certificate form. “Participant” means institutions that have accounts with DTC with respect to the Preferred Stock in such institution’s accounts.

  C- 3  

 

Section 3 Dividends . Except for stock dividends or distributions for which adjustments are to be made pursuant to Section 7, Holders shall be entitled to receive, and the Corporation shall pay, dividends on shares of Preferred Stock equal (on an as-if-converted-to-Common-Stock basis, without regard to conversion limitations herein) to and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the Common Stock when, as and if such dividends are paid on shares of the Common Stock. Other than as set forth in the previous sentence, no other dividends shall be paid on shares of Preferred Stock, and the Corporation shall pay no dividends (other than dividends in the form of Common Stock) on shares of the Common Stock unless it simultaneously complies with the previous sentence.

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, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Preferred Stock or alter or amend this Certificate of Designation, (b) amend its certificate of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of the Holders, (c) increase the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock, or (d) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

Section 5 .  Liquidation . Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “ Liquidation ”), the Holders shall be entitled to receive out of the assets, whether capital or surplus, of the Corporation an amount equal to the par value, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, for each share of Preferred Stock before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, and if the assets of the Corporation shall be insufficient to pay in full such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the Holders shall be ratably distributed among the Holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full; and thereafter, the Holders shall be entitled to receive out of the assets, whether capital or surplus, of the Corporation the same amount that a holder of Common Stock would receive if the Preferred Stock were fully converted (disregarding for such purposes any conversion limitations hereunder) to Common Stock which amounts shall be paid pari passu with all holders of Common Stock. The Corporation shall deliver written notice of any such Liquidation, not less than 45 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each Holder.

Section 6 Conversion .

a)  Conversions at Option of Holder . Subject to rights of Holders as set forth in the last sentence of Section 6(c)(i) below, 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 Sections 6(d) and 6(e)) 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 or e-mail such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation (such date, the “ Conversion Date ”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Conversion, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Conversion Shares with respect to which the shares of Preferred Stock have been converted irrespective of the date of delivery of the Conversion Shares. 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 or redeemed in accordance with the terms hereof shall be canceled and shall not be reissued.

  C- 4  

 

Without limiting the rights and remedies of a holder of Preferred Stock hereunder and without limiting the right of a Holder to deliver a Notice of Conversion to the Corporation, a holder whose interest in the shares of Preferred Stock is a beneficial interest in certificate(s) representing the shares of Preferred Stock held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), may effect conversions made pursuant to this Section 6(a) by delivering to DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for conversion, complying with the procedures to effect conversions that are required by DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Notice(s)of Conversion delivered by 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date, the Corporation agrees to deliver the Conversion Shares subject to such notice(s) by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date.

b)  Conversion Price . The conversion price for the Preferred Stock shall equal $1.40, 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 (A) the number of Conversion Shares being acquired upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock, which Conversion Shares shall be free of restrictive legends and trading restrictions and (B) a bank check in the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends, if any. The Corporation shall use its best efforts to deliver the Conversion Shares required to be delivered by the Corporation under this Section 6 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Notice(s) of Conversion delivered on or prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date, which may be delivered at any time after the time of execution of the Placement Agency Agreement, the Corporation agrees to deliver the Conversion Shares subject to such notice(s) by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date.

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, in addition to any other rights herein, 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 115% 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 6(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.

  C- 5  

 

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 6(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 the 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 6(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.

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 be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 7) 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 issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  C- 6  

 

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.

vii.  Transfer Taxes and Expenses . The issuance of Conversion Shares on conversion of this 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.

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 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 6(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 6(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 6(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 two (2) Trading Days 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, up to 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 6(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 6(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 6(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.

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e)  Nasdaq . The Corporation shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Preferred Stock, if the issuance of such shares of Common Stock (taken together with any prior issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement) would exceed 1,961,914 shares of Common Stock, which is the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which the Corporation may issue upon conversion of the Preferred Stock without breaching the Corporation’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “ Conversion Cap ”), except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Corporation (A) obtains the approval of its stockholders as required by the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market for issuances of Common Stock in excess of such number of shares of Common Stock or (B) obtains a written opinion from outside counsel to the Corporation that such approval is not required, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder. Until such approval or written opinion is obtained, no purchaser of Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement shall be issued in the aggregate, upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, shares of Common Stock in an amount greater than the product of the Conversion Cap multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the purchase price of the shares of Preferred Stock issued to such Holder pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement and the denominator of which is the aggregate purchase price of all shares of Preferred Stock issued to the Holders as of the last Closing pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement (such number of shares, with respect to each Holder, the “ Conversion Cap Allocation ”). In the event that any Holder shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such Holder’s shares of Preferred Stock, the transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such Holder’s Conversion Cap Allocation with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock so transferred, and the restrictions of the prior sentence shall apply to such transferee with respect to the portion of the Conversion Cap Allocation allocated to such transferee. Upon conversion in full of a holder’s shares of Preferred Stock, the difference (if any) between such holder’s Conversion Cap Allocation and the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to such holder upon such holder’s conversion in full of such shares of Preferred Stock shall be allocated to the respective Conversion Cap Allocations of the remaining holders of shares of Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis in proportion to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock then held by each such holder. Prior to making any Dilutive Issuance, entering into any agreement to with respect to a Dilutive Issuance, or making any public announcement with respect to the foregoing, the Corporation shall file a proxy statement under Section 14a of the Exchange Act or information statement pursuant to Section 14c of the Exchange Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission and obtain approval from the Corporation’s shareholders of the financing transaction pursuant to which shares of Preferred Stock were issued, including issuances in excess of the maximum number of shares issuable under the rules or regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market.

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Section 7 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, or payment of a dividend on, 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 7(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.

b)  Subsequent Equity Sales . If, prior to the two (2) year anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Corporation or any Subsidiary, as applicable sells 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 ”) (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, make-whole provisions that result in the payment or issuance of cash, shares of Common Stock or any other consideration, 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), then the Conversion Price shall be reduced to equal the higher of the (i) Base Conversion Price or (ii) $0.05 (the “ Floor Price ”), which Floor Price shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 7(a). For the avoidance of doubt, if more than one security is issued in a transaction that is being analyzed to determine whether a Dilutive Issuance has occurred and/or to determine a Base Conversion Price, each security so issued shall be analyzed separately with respect to such determinations such that the lowest effective price per share with respect to each such security shall be used. For example, if the existing conversion price hereunder is $1.00 and the Company issues units for $0.90 per unit, with each unit comprised of one (1) share of Common Stock and one (1) Warrant exercisable for one (1) share of Common Stock, which new warrant has an exercise price of $1.50 per share, the Base Conversion Price will be $0.90. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment will be made under this Section 7(b) in respect of an Exempt Issuance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment will be made under this Section 7(b) in respect of an Exempt Issuance. The Corporation shall notify the Holders in writing, no later than the Trading Day following the issuance of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents subject to this Section 7(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 7(b), upon the occurrence of any Dilutive Issuance, the Holders are entitled to receive a number of Conversion Shares based upon the Base Conversion Price on or after the date of such Dilutive Issuance, regardless of whether a Holder accurately refers to the Base Conversion Price in the Notice of Conversion. For all purposes of the foregoing (including, without limitation, determining the Base Conversion Price under this Section 7(b)), the following shall be applicable:

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  i. Issuance of Options . If the Corporation in any manner grants or sells any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Conversion Price then in effect, 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 Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 7(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 Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Corporation with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest exercise price set forth in such Option for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof minus (2) the sum of all amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Option (or any other Person) upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof plus the value of any other consideration received or receivable by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Option (or any other Person). Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or otherwise pursuant to the terms of or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

 

  ii. Issuance of Convertible Securities . If the Corporation in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Conversion Price then in effect, 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 7(b)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Corporation with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest conversion price set forth in such Convertible Security for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof minus (2) the sum of all amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person) upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security plus the value of any other consideration received or receivable by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person). Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof, and if any such issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of this Warrant has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 7(b), except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made by reason of such issuance or sale.

 

 

 

iii. Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion . If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time (other than proportional changes in conversion or exercise prices, as applicable, in connection with an event referred to in Section 7(a)), the Conversion Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 7(b)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Initial Exercise Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(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 gross amount of consideration received by the Corporation therefor (without deduction for underwriting discounts, commissions or the like). 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 for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the VWAPs of such security for each of the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the 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 Holder. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “ Valuation Event ”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10th) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Corporation and the Holder. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Corporation.

 

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

c)  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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d)  Fundamental Transaction .

i. If, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding, (i) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another Person, (ii) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Corporation or another Person) is completed pursuant to which all holders of equity instruments equal and subordinate to this Preferred Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “ Fundamental Transaction ”), then, upon any subsequent conversion of this 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 Sections 6(d) or 6(e) 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 Sections 6(d) or 6(e) 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 in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(d) 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, 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 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 with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Corporation herein.

  C- 11  

 

ii. Notwithstanding Section 7(d)(i), in the event the Corporation is not the Successor Entity of a Fundamental Transaction or in the event of a reverse merger or similar transaction where the Corporation is the surviving entity, then, automatically and contemporaneous with the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction or reverse merger, the Successor Entity (or Corporation in the event of a reverse merger or similar transaction) shall purchase such Holder’s then outstanding Preferred Stock from such Holder by paying and issuing, in the event that such consideration given to the holders of the Common Stock is non-cash consideration, as the case may be, to such Holder (or canceling such Holder’s outstanding Preferred Stock and converting it into the right to receive) an amount equal to the Fundamental Transaction Amount (without regard to any limitation in Sections 6(d) or 6(e)) of the then outstanding Preferred Stock of the Holder on the date immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction. Such Fundamental Transaction Amount shall be paid in the same form and mix (be it securities, cash or property, or any combination of the foregoing) as the consideration received by the Common Stock in the Fundamental Transaction.

e)  Subsequent Rights Offerings . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 7(a) 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 of 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, 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.

f) Calculations . All calculations under this Section 7 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 7, 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.

 

  C- 12  

 

g)  Notice to the Holders .

i.  Adjustment to Conversion Price . Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 7, the Corporation shall promptly deliver to each Holder by facsimile or e-mail a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

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, 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 e-mail to each Holder at its last facsimile number or e-mail 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 this 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.

Section 8 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, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation, at the address set forth above Attention: Chief Financial Officer, facsimile: 203-901-1289, email: ciberger@precipiodx.com 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 8. 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, by email, 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. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail at the email address set forth 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 at the email address set forth 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. To the extent that any notice provided pursuant to this Certificate of Designation constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Corporation or any Subsidiaries, the Corporation shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Designation, where this Certificate of Designation provides for notice of any event to a Holder, if the Preferred Stock is held in global form by DTC (or any successor depositary), such notice may be delivered via DTC (or such successor depositary) pursuant to the procedures of DTC (or such successor depositary).

  C- 13  

 

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 and accrued dividends, 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 hereof 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 Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. All legal proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Certificate of Designation (whether brought against the Corporation or a Holder, 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 ”). Each of the Corporation and each Holder 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, 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. Each of the Corporation and each Holder 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 entity or person 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. Each of 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.

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.

  C- 14  

 

 

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 shall be made 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 Redeemed Preferred Stock . Shares of Series C Preferred may only be issued pursuant to the Placement Agency Agreement. If any shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted, redeemed 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 Series C Preferred.

[ Signature page follows ]

 

  C- 15  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Precipio, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Designation to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

 
 
  By:   /s/ Ilan Danieli
   

Name: Ilan Danieli

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

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 C Convertible Preferred Stock indicated below into shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of Precipio, Inc., a Delaware 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. 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:

 

  C- 16  

 

 

 

 

Annex D

PRECIPIO, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2017 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

The name of the plan is the Precipio, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of Precipio, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its businesses to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

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

“Administrator” means either the Board or the compensation committee of the Board or a similar committee performing the functions of the compensation committee and which is comprised of not less than two Non-Employee Directors who are independent.

“Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Cash-Based Awards, Performance Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights.

“Award Certificate” means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

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

“Cash-Based Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive a cash-denominated payment.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

“Consultant” means any natural person that provides bona fide services to the Company, and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

“Covered Employee” means an employee who is a “Covered Employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the grantee.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan becomes effective as set forth in Section  21 .

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

  D- 1  

 

 

“Fair Market Value” of the Stock on any given date means the fair market value of the Stock determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the Stock is admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), NASDAQ Global Market or another national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to market quotations. If there are no market quotations for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there are market quotations.

“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” or “Stock Option” means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section  5.

“Performance-Based Award” means any Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Award or Cash-Based Award granted to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Performance Criteria” means the criteria that the Administrator selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for an individual for a Performance Cycle. The Performance Criteria (which shall be applicable to the organizational level specified by the Administrator, including, but not limited to, the Company or a unit, division, group, or Subsidiary of the Company) that will be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: total shareholder return, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, net income (loss) (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization), changes in the market price of the Stock, economic value-added, funds from operations or similar measure, sales or revenue, acquisitions or strategic transactions, operating income (loss), cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow), return on capital, assets, equity, or investment, return on sales, gross or net profit levels, productivity, expense, margins, operating efficiency, customer satisfaction, working capital, earnings (loss) per share of Stock, sales or market shares and number of customers, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group. The Administrator may appropriately adjust any evaluation performance under a Performance Criterion to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Cycle: (i) asset write-downs or impairments, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reporting results, (iv) accruals for reorganizations and restructuring programs, and (v) any item of an unusual nature or of a type that indicates infrequency of occurrence, or both, including those described in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s authoritative guidance and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition of operations appearing the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year.

“Performance Cycle” means one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Criteria will be measured for the purpose of determining a grantee’s right to and the payment of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Award or Cash-Based Award, the vesting and/or payment of which is subject to the attainment of one or more Performance Goals. Each such period shall not be less than 12 months.

“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Cycle, the specific goals established in writing by the Administrator for a Performance Cycle based upon the Performance Criteria.

“Performance Share Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals.

“Restricted Shares” means the shares of Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture or the Company’s right of repurchase.

  D- 2  

 

 

“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

“Restricted Stock Units” means an Award of stock units subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

“Sale Event” shall mean (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding stock immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding stock or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Stock of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.

Sale Price ” means the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable, or otherwise to be received by stockholders, per share of Stock pursuant to a Sale Event.

“Section  409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

“Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section  3.

“Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive shares of Stock having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has at least a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.

“Ten Percent Owner” means an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation.

“Unrestricted Stock Award” means an Award of shares of Stock free of any restrictions.

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

(a)     Administration of Plan . The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.

(b)     Powers of Administrator . The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

(i)    to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

(ii)    to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Cash-Based Awards, Performance Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;

(iii)    to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by any Award;

 

  D- 3  

 

 

(iv)    to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees, and to approve the forms of Award Certificates;

(v)    to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award in circumstances involving the grantee’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment, or a change in control (including a Sale Event);

(vi)    subject to the provisions of Section  5(c) , to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised; and

(vii)    at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan grantees.

(c)     Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards . Subject to applicable law, the Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to the granting of Awards to individuals who are (i) not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and (ii) not Covered Employees. Any such delegation by the Administrator shall include a limitation as to the amount of Stock underlying Awards that may be granted during the period of the delegation and shall contain guidelines as to the determination of the exercise price and the vesting criteria. The Administrator may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Administrator’s delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan.

(d)     Award Certificate . Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Certificates that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award and the provisions applicable in the event employment or service terminates.

(e)     Indemnification . Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Administrator (and any delegate thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under the Company’s articles or bylaws or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.

(f)     Foreign Award Recipients . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Administrator determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section  3(a) hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act or any other applicable United States securities law, the Code, or any other applicable United States governing statute or law.

  D- 4  

 

SECTION 3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION

(a)     Stock Issuable . The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 6,056,166 shares (the “Initial Limit”), subject to adjustment as provided in Section  3(c) , plus on January 1, 2019 and each January 1 thereafter, the number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be cumulatively increased by five percent of the number of shares of Stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 (the “Annual Increase”). Subject to such overall limitation, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed the Initial Limit cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the Annual Increase for such year or 500,000 shares of Stock, subject in all cases to adjustment as provided in Section  3(c) . For purposes of this limitation, the shares of Stock underlying any Awards that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. In the event the Company repurchases shares of Stock on the open market, such shares shall not be added to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitations, shares of Stock may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award; provided , however , that Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to no more than 1,000,000 may be granted to any one individual grantee during any one calendar year. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Company.

(b)     Maximum Awards to Non-Employee Directors . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the value of all Awards awarded under this Plan and all other cash compensation paid by the Company to any Non-Employee Director in any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000. For the purpose of this limitation, the value of any Award shall be its grant date fair value, as determined in accordance with ASC 718 or successor provision but excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting provisions.

(c)     Changes in Stock . Subject to Section  3(d) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding shares of Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Stock or other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Administrator shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, including the maximum number of shares that may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options, (ii) the number of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that can be granted to any one individual grantee and the maximum number of shares that may be granted under a Performance-Based Award, (iii) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iv) the repurchase price, if any, per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and (v) the exercise price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price ( i.e. , the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) as to which such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights remain exercisable. The Administrator shall also make equitable or proportionate adjustments in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration cash dividends paid other than in the ordinary course or any other extraordinary corporate event. The adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

  D- 5  

 

 

(d)     Mergers and Other Transactions . In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the parties thereto may cause the assumption or continuation of Awards theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree. To the extent the parties to such Sale Event do not provide for the assumption, continuation or substitution of Awards, upon the effective time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted hereunder shall terminate. In such case, except as may be otherwise provided in the relevant Award Certificate, all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the Sale Event shall become fully exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, all other Awards with time-based vesting, conditions or restrictions shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, and all Awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals may become vested and nonforfeitable in connection with a Sale Event in the Administrator’s discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant Award Certificate. In the event of such termination, (i) the Company shall have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Sale Price multiplied by the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights; or (ii) each grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator, to exercise all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable) held by such grantee. The Company shall also have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding other Awards in an amount equal to the Sale Price multiplied by the number of vested shares of Stock under such Awards.

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY

Grantees under the Plan will be such full or part-time officers and other employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS

(a)     Award of Stock Options . The Administrator may grant Stock Options under the Plan. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve.

Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section  5 shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable. If the Administrator so determines, Stock Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the optionee’s election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish.

(b)     Exercise Price . The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section  5 shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the option price of such Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the grant date.

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(c)     Option Term . The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the Stock Option is granted. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

(d)     Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder . Stock Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date. The Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.

(e)     Method of Exercise . Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods except to the extent otherwise provided in the Option Award Certificate:

(i)    In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;

(ii)    Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership following such procedures as the Company may prescribe) of shares of Stock that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

(iii)    By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Company shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or

(iv)    With respect to Stock Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. The transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Option Award Certificate or applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold with respect to the optionee). In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of attested shares. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Stock Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Stock Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

(f)     Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options . To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

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SECTION 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

(a)     Award of Stock Appreciation Rights . The Administrator may grant Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan. A Stock Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive shares of Stock having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

(b)     Exercise Price of Stock Appreciation Rights . The exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.

(c)     Grant and Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Administrator independently of any Stock Option granted pursuant to Section  5 of the Plan.

(d)     Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined on the date of grant by the Administrator. The term of a Stock Appreciation Right may not exceed ten years. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

SECTION 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

(a)     Nature of Restricted Stock Awards . The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Award is any Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

(b)     Rights as a Stockholder . Upon the grant of the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Shares and receipt of dividends; provided that if the lapse of restrictions with respect to the Restricted Stock Award is tied to the attainment of performance goals, any dividends paid by the Company during the performance period shall accrue and shall not be paid to the grantee until and to the extent the performance goals are met with respect to the Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Shares shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section  7(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Shares shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section  7(d) below, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.

(c)     Restrictions . Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Restricted Stock Award Certificate. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section  18 below, in writing after the Award is issued, if a grantee’s employment (or other service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Restricted Shares that have not vested at the time of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to such grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be deemed to have been reacquired by the Company at its original purchase price (if any) from such grantee or such grantee’s legal representative simultaneously with such termination of employment (or other service relationship), and thereafter shall cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the grantee or rights of the grantee as a stockholder. Following such deemed reacquisition of Restricted Shares that are represented by physical certificates, a grantee shall surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without consideration.

(d)     Vesting of Restricted Shares . The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Shares and the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Shares and shall be deemed “vested.”

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SECTION 8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

(a)     Nature of Restricted Stock Units . The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Unit is an Award of stock units that may be settled in shares of Stock upon the satisfaction of such restrictions and conditions at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees. Except in the case of Restricted Stock Units with a deferred settlement date that complies with Section 409A, at the end of the vesting period, the Restricted Stock Units, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of shares of Stock. Restricted Stock Units with deferred settlement dates are subject to Section 409A and shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

(b)     Election to Receive Restricted Stock Units in Lieu of Compensation . The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a grantee to elect to receive a portion of future cash compensation otherwise due to such grantee in the form of an award of Restricted Stock Units. Any such election shall be made in writing and shall be delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Administrator and in accordance with Section 409A and such other rules and procedures established by the Administrator. Any such future cash compensation that the grantee elects to defer shall be converted to a fixed number of Restricted Stock Units based on the Fair Market Value of Stock on the date the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the grantee if such payment had not been deferred as provided herein. The Administrator shall have the sole right to determine whether and under what circumstances to permit such elections and to impose such limitations and other terms and conditions thereon as the Administrator deems appropriate. Any Restricted Stock Units that are elected to be received in lieu of cash compensation shall be fully vested, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate.

(c)     Rights as a Stockholder . A grantee shall have the rights as a stockholder only as to shares of Stock acquired by the grantee upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that the grantee may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the stock units underlying his Restricted Stock Units, subject to the provisions of Section  11 and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.

(d)     Termination . Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section  18 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s right in all Restricted Stock Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

SECTION 9. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock . The Administrator may grant (or sell at par value or such higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award under the Plan. An Unrestricted Stock Award is an Award pursuant to which the grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such grantee.

SECTION 10. CASH-BASED AWARDS

Grant of Cash-Based Awards . The Administrator may grant Cash-Based Awards under the Plan. A Cash-Based Award is an Award that entitles the grantee to a payment in cash upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals. The Administrator shall determine the maximum duration of the Cash-Based Award, the amount of cash to which the Cash-Based Award pertains, the conditions upon which the Cash-Based Award shall become vested or payable, and such other provisions as the Administrator shall determine. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the Administrator. Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award and may be made in cash.

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SECTION 11. PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS

(a)     Nature of Performance Share Awards . The Administrator may grant Performance Share Awards under the Plan. A Performance Share Award is an Award entitling the grantee to receive shares of Stock upon the attainment of performance goals. The Administrator shall determine whether and to whom Performance Share Awards shall be granted, the performance goals, the periods during which performance is to be measured, which may not be less than one year except in the case of a Sale Event, and such other limitations and conditions as the Administrator shall determine.

(b)     Rights as a Stockholder . A grantee receiving a Performance Share Award shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares of Stock actually received by the grantee under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the Award but not actually received by the grantee. A grantee shall be entitled to receive shares of Stock under a Performance Share Award only upon satisfaction of all conditions specified in the Performance Share Award Certificate (or in a performance plan adopted by the Administrator).

(c)     Termination . Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section  18 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s rights in all Performance Share Awards shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

SECTION 12. PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS TO COVERED EMPLOYEES

(a)     Performance-Based Awards . The Administrator may grant one or more Performance-Based Awards in the form of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Share Awards or Cash-Based Award payable upon the attainment of Performance Goals that are established by the Administrator and relate to one or more of the Performance Criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. The Administrator shall define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for any Performance Cycle. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business unit, or an individual. Each Performance-Based Award shall comply with the provisions set forth below.

(b)     Grant of Performance-Based Awards . With respect to each Performance-Based Award granted to a Covered Employee, the Administrator shall select, within the first 90 days of a Performance Cycle (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) the Performance Criteria for such grant, and the Performance Goals with respect to each Performance Criterion (including a threshold level of performance below which no amount will become payable with respect to such Award). Each Performance-Based Award will specify the amount payable, or the formula for determining the amount payable, upon achievement of the various applicable performance targets. The Performance Criteria established by the Administrator may be (but need not be) different for each Performance Cycle and different Performance Goals may be applicable to Performance-Based Awards to different Covered Employees.

(c)     Payment of Performance-Based Awards . Following the completion of a Performance Cycle, the Administrator shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Cycle have been achieved and, if so, to also calculate and certify in writing the amount of the Performance-Based Awards earned for the Performance Cycle. The Administrator shall then determine the actual size of each Covered Employee’s Performance-Based Award.

(d)     Maximum Award Payable . The maximum Performance-Based Award payable to any one Covered Employee under the Plan for a Performance Cycle is 1,000,000 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section  3(c) hereof) or $1,000,000 in the case of a Performance-Based Award that is a Cash-Based Award.

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SECTION 13. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

(a)     Dividend Equivalent Rights . The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights under the Plan. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to the grantee. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any grantee as a component of an award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Share Award or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Certificate. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of an Award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Share Award shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled only upon settlement or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award.

(b)     Termination . Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section  18 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

SECTION 14. TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS

(a)     Transferability . Except as provided in Section  14(b) below, during a grantee’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the grantee, or by the grantee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the grantee’s incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.

(b)     Administrator Action . Notwithstanding Section  14(a) , the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide either in the Award Certificate regarding a given Award or by subsequent written approval that the grantee (who is an employee or director) may transfer his or her Non-Qualified Stock Options to his or her immediate family members, to trusts for the benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award. In no event may an Award be transferred by a grantee for value.

(c)     Family Member . For purposes of Section  14(b) , “family member” shall mean a grantee’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the grantee’s household (other than a tenant of the grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the grantee) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the grantee) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.

(d)     Designation of Beneficiary . To the extent permitted by the Company, each grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantee’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the grantee’s estate.

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SECTION 15. TAX WITHHOLDING

(a)     Payment by Grantee . Each grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld by the Company with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee. The Company’s obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or stock certificates) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the grantee.

(b)     Payment in Stock . Subject to approval by the Administrator, a grantee may elect to have the Company’s minimum required tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due. The Administrator may also require Awards to be subject to mandatory share withholding up to the required withholding amount. For purposes of share withholding, the Fair Market Value of withheld shares shall be determined in the same manner as the value of Stock includible in income of the Participants.

SECTION 16. SECTION  409A AWARDS

To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a grantee who is then considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the grantee’s separation from service, or (ii) the grantee’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. Further, the settlement of any such Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A.

SECTION 17. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.

(a)     Termination of Employment . If the grantee’s employer ceases to be a Subsidiary, the grantee shall be deemed to have terminated employment for purposes of the Plan.

(b)    For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment:

(i)    a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or

(ii)    an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.

SECTION 18. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent. The Administrator is specifically authorized to exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or effect the repricing of such Awards through cancellation and re-grants. To the extent required under the rules of any securities exchange or market system on which the Stock is listed, to the extent determined by the Administrator to be required by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code, or to ensure that compensation earned under Awards qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Nothing in this Section  18 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section  3(c) or 3(d) .

 

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SECTION 19. STATUS OF PLAN

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.

SECTION 20. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a)     No Distribution . The Administrator may require each person acquiring Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.

(b)     Delivery of Stock Certificates . Stock certificates to grantees under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company. Uncertificated Stock shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a Stock transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Administrator deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed, quoted or traded. All Stock certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.

(c)     Stockholder Rights . Until Stock is deemed delivered in accordance with Section  20(b) , no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights of a stockholder will exist with respect to shares of Stock to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Stock Option or any other action by the grantee with respect to an Award.

(d)     Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights . Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

(e)     Trading Policy Restrictions . Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures, as in effect from time to time.

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(f)     Clawback Policy . Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s clawback policy, as in effect from time to time.

SECTION 21. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

This Plan shall become effective upon stockholder approval in accordance with applicable state law, the Company’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, and applicable stock exchange rules. No grants of Stock Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date and no grants of Incentive Stock Options may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Board.

SECTION 22. GOVERNING LAW

This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.

DATE APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS:                    December 17, 2017

DATE APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS:

 

 

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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000350144_1 R1.0.1.17 PRECIPIO INC FOUR SCIENCE PARK NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT 06511 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 1 and 2. For Against Abstain 1 To approve, for purposes of complying with applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, (i) the potential issuance of more than 20% of the Company's common stock pursuant to the Company's November 2017 registered direct offering of the Company's Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (Series C Preferred Stock) and warrants to purchase common stock (Warrants) and (ii) the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock and Warrants. For Against Abstain 2 To approve an amendment and restatement of the Company's 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the 2017 Plan) to (i) increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan by 5,389,500 shares to 6,056,166 shares; (ii) increase the maximum number of shares that may be granted in the form of stock options or stock appreciation rights to any one individual in any one calendar year and the maximum number of shares underlying any award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation to any one individual in any performance cycle, in each case to 1,000,000 shares of common stock; (iii) increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan as incentive stock options to 6,056,166 shares, cumulatively increased on January 1, 2019 and on each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the annual increase for such year or 500,000 shares; and (iv) add an evergreen provision, pursuant to which the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan will be automatically increased each year beginning on January 1, 2019 by 5% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser number of shares determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. For address change/comments, mark here. (see reverse for instructions) Yes No Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting 0000350144_2 R1.0.1.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting: The Notice & Proxy Statement is available at www.proxyvote.com PRECIPIO, INC. Annual Meeting of Shareholders January 30, 2018 11:00 AM This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors The shareholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Ilan Danieli and Carl Iberger, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of Common stock of PRECIPIO, INC. that the shareholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of shareholder(s) to be held at 11:00 AM, EST on 1/30/2018, at the Company’s principal executive offices, 4 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations. (If you noted any Address Changes and/or Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) Address change/comments: Continued and to be signed on reverse side