UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
June 18, 2025 (June 17, 2025)
Bakkt Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-39544 | 98-1550750 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification Number) |
10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000,
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
(Address, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (678) 534-5849
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ | Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share | BKKT | The New York Stock Exchange | ||
Warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock | BKKT WS | The New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 | Entry into Material Definitive Agreements. |
Securities Purchase Agreement
On June 17, 2025, Bakkt Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with YA II PN, LTD., a Cayman Islands exempt limited company (the “Investor”).
Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Investor will purchase a $25 million convertible debenture (the “Convertible Debenture”) from the Company for a price of $23.75 million (the “Purchase Amount”) in a private placement (the “Private Placement”).
The Private Placement closed on June 18, 2025. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement for working capital and general corporate purposes.
The Convertible Debenture accrues interest on the outstanding principal balance at an annual rate equal to 0%, which will increase to an annual rate of 18% upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Convertible Debenture) for so long as the Event of Default remains uncured. The Convertible Debenture will mature on the first anniversary of the closing date, as may be extended at the option of the Investor (the “Maturity Date”).
For so long as there is a balance outstanding under the Convertible Debenture, the Investor, in its sole discretion, may deliver to the Company a conversion notice (the “Conversion Notice”) to cause any portion of the outstanding and unpaid balance under the Convertible Debenture to be converted (the “Conversion Amount”) into the Company’s Class A common stock (the “Class A Common Stock”, and together with the Company’s Class V common stock, the “Common Stock”). The Conversion Amount will not exceed the balance owed under the Convertible Debenture on the date of delivery of the Conversion Notice.
The shares of Class A Common Stock will be issued and sold to the Investor at a per share price (the “Conversion Price”) equal to the lower of (i) $14.51 per share or (ii) 97% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price during the five consecutive trading days immediately preceding the conversion date (the “Variable Price”), but which Variable Price shall not be lower than $2.418. The shares of Class A Common Stock will be issued and sold to the Investor at the Conversion Price that would be applicable to the Conversion Amount selected by the Investor if such amount were to be converted as of the date of delivery of the Conversion Notice. The amount outstanding under the Convertible Debenture will then be offset by the Conversion Amount.
To the extent any balance remains outstanding under the Convertible Debenture on the Maturity Date, the Company will pay to the Investor such outstanding balance in cash.
The Company has paid the Investor a one-time due diligence and structuring fee of $25,000.
Under the listing rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE Rules”) and pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, in no event may the Company issue or sell to the Investor shares of Class A Common Stock in excess of 2,827,906 shares (the “Exchange Cap”), which is 19.99% of the aggregate amount of Common Stock outstanding on the date of the Purchase Agreement, unless the Company obtains stockholder approval to issue shares of Class A Common Stock in excess of the Exchange Cap. The Company may issue any shares of Class A Common Stock under the Purchase Agreement only in compliance with applicable NYSE Rules.
In addition, the Company may not issue or sell any shares of Class A Common Stock to the Investor under the Purchase Agreement or under the Convertible Debenture, if, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by the Investor, the Investor’s beneficial ownership would exceed 4.99% of the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
The Company cannot assign the Purchase Agreement or any rights or obligations thereunder without the prior written consent of the Investor. The Investor may assign all, or a portion, of its rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement without the consent of the Company, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be the Investor thereunder.
The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, covenants, warranties, conditions, and indemnification obligations of the parties, including limitations on the Company’s incurrence of additional indebtedness, subject to certain exceptions. The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement and are subject to limitations agreed upon by the parties.
The Company’s obligations with respect to the Purchase Agreement and under the Convertible Debenture are guaranteed by Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Bakkt Opco”), pursuant to a global guaranty agreement (the “Guarantee Agreement”) entered into by Bakkt Opco in favor of the Investor on June 17, 2025.
In connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file and have declared effective a registration statement to register the resale of the Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Convertible Debenture.
The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Debenture, the Guarantee Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, the Convertible Debenture which is filed as Exhibit 10.2, the Guarantee Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3, and the Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4, respectively, and each is incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment to ICE Credit Facility
As previously reported, on August 12, 2024, the Company, Bakkt Opco (the “Borrower”), the subsidiaries of the Company party thereto as guarantors and Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc. (“ICE”), as lender, entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement (the “ICE Credit Facility”). On June 17, 2025, the Company, the Borrower and ICE entered into an amendment to the ICE Credit Facility (the “Amendment”) to permit the transactions described under “Securities Purchase Agreement” above.
The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information set forth above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report with respect to the Convertible Debenture and the Guarantee Agreement is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Item 3.02 | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
The disclosure set forth above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report relating to the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock to the Investor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, including any shares to be issued in connection with a Conversion Notice, and relating to the issuance of the Convertible Debenture, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The offer and sale of shares of Class A Common Stock and the issuance of the Convertible Debenture pursuant to the Purchase Agreement was and will be made in reliance upon the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This Current Report shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy the securities discussed herein, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
On June 17, 2025, the Company filed (1) an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (“Amendment No. 1”) to provide for officer exculpation as permitted by Delaware law, and (2) an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (“Amendment No. 2”) to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 30,000,000 shares to 60,000,000 shares and, accordingly, to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock from 40,000,000 to 70,000,000.
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
On June 17, 2025, the Company held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, 3,249,680 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and 7,089,014 shares of the Company’s Class V common stock, representing 74.7% of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of April 14, 2025, the record date for the Annual Meeting, and constituting a quorum for the transaction of business, were present in person or by proxy and voted on the following six proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2025.
1. | The stockholders elected the three individuals listed below as directors to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company, each to serve until the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successor is duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. The voting results were as follows: |
Name |
Votes For | Votes Withheld | Broker Non-Votes | |||
Michelle J. Goldberg |
8,009,157 | 457,994 | 1,871,543 | |||
Akshay Naheta |
8,313,259 | 153,892 | 1,871,543 | |||
Jill Simeone |
7,330,540 | 1,136,611 | 1,871,543 |
2. | The stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan to authorize 979,201 additional shares of Class A Common Stock. The voting results were as follows: |
Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||
7,006,758 | 1,451,771 | 8,622 | 1,871,543 |
3. | The stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to provide for officer exculpation as permitted by Delaware law. The voting results were as follows: |
Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||
7,152,645 | 1,307,454 | 7,052 | 1,871,543 |
4. | The stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 30,000,000 shares to 60,000,000 shares and, accordingly, to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock from 40,000,000 to 70,000,000. The voting results were as follows: |
Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||
9,721,116 | 595,687 | 21,891 | — |
5. | The stockholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers. The voting results were as follows: |
Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||
6,836,126 | 1,615,055 | 15,970 | 1,871,543 |
6. | The stockholders have voted for “ONE YEAR”, on a non-binding advisory basis, on the proposal regarding the frequency of future stockholder advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers. The voting results were as follows: |
1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||
8,379,134 | 17,284 | 50,507 | 20,226 | 1,871,543 |
The Company has considered the outcome of the advisory vote on the frequency of advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers and has determined, as was recommended with respect to this proposal by the Company’s Board of Directors in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, that the Company will hold future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers on an annual basis until the occurrence of the next advisory vote on the frequency of such votes. The next advisory vote regarding the frequency of advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers is required to occur no later than the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
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Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this Form 8-K:
+ | Certain schedules, exhibits and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company will provide a copy of such omitted materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. |
† | Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to Item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. |
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Private Placement. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “will,” “likely,” “expect,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “outlook,” “grow,” “progress,” “potential” or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond the Company’s control.
Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from the results anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of the following factors, among others: the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s ability to grow and manage growth profitably; the possibility that the Company may have to repay any outstanding amounts due under the Convertible Debenture in cash at the Maturity Date; the Company’s ability to deliver Class A Common Stock to the Investor upon conversion of the Convertible Debenture; the possibility that the Company may be unable to obtain the applicable regulatory approvals to execute on the cooperation agreement with Distributed Technologies Research Global Ltd. (“DTR”); finalizing the proposed commercial agreement with DTR prior to the deadline on July 31, 2025, which was extended from June 17, 2025; whether such proposed commercial agreement with DTR will be executed on terms favorable to the Company or if at all, or be completed on the expected timeline, and whether the Company will be able to successfully integrate its operations with those of DTR, including its infrastructure, and achieve the expected benefits therefrom; the regulatory environment for crypto currencies and digital stablecoin payments; changes in the Company’s business strategy, including its adoption of its updated investment policy (“Investment Policy”) as described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2025 (the “June 10, 2025 8-K”); the price of digital assets, including Bitcoin; risks associated with owning digital assets, including Bitcoin, including price volatility, limited liquidity and trading volumes, relative anonymity, potential widespread susceptibility to market abuse and manipulation, compliance and internal control failures at exchanges and other risks inherent in its entirely electronic, virtual, form and decentralized network; the fluctuation of the Company’s operating results, including because the Company may be required to account for its digital assets at fair value; the Company’s ability to time the price of its purchase of digital assets pursuant to its strategy; the impact of the market value of digital assets on
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the Company’s ability to satisfy its financial obligations, including any debt financings; unrealized fair value gains on its digital asset holdings subjecting the Company to the corporate alternative minimum tax; legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets and enhanced regulatory oversight of companies holding digital assets including the possibility that regulators reclassify any digital assets the Company holds, including Bitcoin, as a security causing the Company to be in violation of securities laws and be classified as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940; competition by other Bitcoin treasury companies and the availability of spot-traded products for Bitcoin; enhanced regulatory oversight as a result of the Company’s updated Investment Policy; the possibility of experiencing greater fraud, security failures or operational problems on digital asset trading venues compared to trading venues for more established asset classes, and any malfunction, breakdown or abandonment of the underlying blockchain protocols, or other technological difficulties, may prevent access to or use of such digital assets; the concentration of the Company’s expected digital asset holdings relative to non-digital assets; the inability to use the Company’s digital asset holdings as a source of liquidity to the same extent as cash and cash equivalents, due to, for example, risks associated with digital assets and other risks inherent to its entirely electronic, virtual form and decentralized network; the Company or a third-party service provider experiencing a security breach or cyber-attack where unauthorized parties obtain access to its digital assets; the loss of access to or theft or data loss of the Company’s digital assets, which could be unrecoverable due to the immutable nature of blockchain transactions; if the Company elects to hold its digital assets through a third-party custodian, the loss of direct control over its digital assets and dependence on the custodian’s security practices and operational integrity which may lead to the loss of its digital assets as a result of the insolvency of the custodian, theft by employees or insiders of the custodian or if the custodian’s security measures are comprised, including as a result of a cyber-attack; the Company not being subject to the legal and regulatory protections applicable to investment companies such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, or to obligations applicable to investment advisers; the non-performance, breach of contract or other violations by counterparties assisting the Company in effecting its updated Investment Policy; the Company’s future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash, including funds to satisfy its liquidity needs and continued access to the line of credit with Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc.; changes in the market in which the Company competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution or changes in applicable laws or regulations; changes in the markets that the Company targets; volatility and disruptions in the crypto, digital payments and stablecoin markets that subject the Company to additional risks, including the risk that banks may not provide banking services to the Company and market sentiments regarding crypto currencies, digital payments and stablecoins; the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other macroeconomic, geopolitical, business, and/or competitive factors; the Company’s ability to launch new services and products, including with its expected commercial partners, or to profitably expand into new markets and services; the Company’s ability to execute its growth strategies, including identifying and executing acquisitions and divestitures and the Company’s initiatives to add new clients; the Company’s ability to reach definitive agreements with its expected commercial counterparties; the Company’s ability to successfully complete a strategic transaction of the Loyalty business; the Company’s failure to comply with extensive government regulations, oversight, licensure and appraisals; uncertain and evolving regulatory regime governing blockchain technologies, stablecoins, digital payments and crypto; the Company’s ability to establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures; the exposure to any liability, protracted and costly litigation or reputational damage relating to the Company’s data security; the impact of any goodwill or other intangible assets impairments on the Company’s operating results; the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its securities on the New York Stock Exchange; and other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and the risks regarding the Company’s adoption of its updated Investment Policy set forth in Exhibit 99.1 to the June 10, 2025 8-K.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date on which such statements are made and are based on information available to us as of the date of this Current Report.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||||
Date: June 18, 2025 | ||||||
/s/ Marc D’Annunzio | ||||||
Name: Marc D’Annunzio | ||||||
General Counsel and Secretary |
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Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC.
Bakkt Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Corporation), certifies that:
1. | The name of the Corporation is Bakkt Holdings, Inc. The Corporations original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 15, 2021. |
2. | The Corporations Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, is hereby further amended by inserting a new Article XVI, immediately following Article XV, to read as follows: |
ARTICLE XVI
Section 16.1 Limited Liability of Officers. No officer of the Corporation will have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as an officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of officers, then the liability of an officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. No amendment, repeal or elimination of this Article XVI shall eliminate or reduce the effect thereof in respect of any state of facts existing or act or omission occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article XVI, would accrue or arise, or otherwise adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of an officer of the Corporation existing prior to such amendment, repeal or elimination.
3. | This Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. |
4. | This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective on June 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. |
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Amendment is duly executed by the undersigned officer of the Corporation on June 17, 2025.
By: |
/s/ Marc DAnnunzio | |
Name: |
Marc DAnnunzio | |
Title: |
General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 3.2
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC.
Bakkt Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Corporation), certifies that:
1. | The name of the Corporation is Bakkt Holdings, Inc. The Corporations original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 15, 2021. |
2. | The Corporations Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, is hereby further amended by amending and restating the first sentence of Article IV, Section 4.1 in its entirety, to read as follows: |
The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 71,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (Preferred Stock), and (ii) 70,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock), which consists of (A) 60,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (Class A Common Stock) and (B) 10,000,000 shares of Class V common stock (Class V Common Stock).
3. | This Certificate of Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. |
4. | This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective on June 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. |
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Amendment is duly executed by the undersigned officer of the Corporation on June 17, 2025.
By: | /s/ Marc DAnnunzio | |
Name: | Marc DAnnunzio | |
Title: | General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 10.1
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to
item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of June 17, 2025, is between BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, with principal executive offices located at 10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000, Alpharetta, Georgia, 30009 (the Company), and each of the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyer attached as Schedule I hereto (individually, a Buyer and collectively the Buyer).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Company and the Buyer desire to enter into this transaction for the Company to sell and the Buyer to purchase the Convertible Debentures (as defined below) pursuant to an exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D (Regulation D) promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) thereunder;
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, the Company shall issue and sell to the Buyer, as provided herein, and the Buyer shall purchase convertible debentures in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Convertible Debentures) in the aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 (the Subscription Amount), which shall be convertible into shares of the Companys Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Shares) (as converted, the Conversion Shares), which shall be purchased upon the signing this Agreement (the consummation of such purchases, the Closing) at a purchase price equal to 95% of the Subscription Amount (the Purchase Price) in the respective amounts set forth opposite the Buyers name on Schedule I to this Agreement;
WHEREAS, on or before the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1(c) below), the parties are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement (the Registration Rights Agreement) pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws;
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company is delivering Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions) to its transfer agent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B;
WHEREAS, on or before the Closing Date, Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, shall enter into a subsidiary guaranty agreement (the Subsidiary Guaranty) in favor of the Buyer; and
WHEREAS, the Convertible Debentures and the Conversion Shares are collectively referred to herein as the Securities.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. | PURCHASE AND SALE OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES |
(a) Purchase of Convertible Debentures. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company at the Closing, Convertible Debentures with principal amount corresponding to the Subscription Amount set forth opposite the Buyers name on Schedule I attached hereto.
(b) Closing Date. The Closing shall occur remotely by conference call and electronic delivery of documentation. The Closing shall take place on the Business Day on which the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below are satisfied or waived (or such other date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and the Buyer) (the Closing Date). As used herein Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
(c) Form of Payment; Deliveries. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date, (i) the Buyer shall deliver to the Company, in immediately available funds to a bank account designated in writing by the Company, the Purchase Price for the Convertible Debentures to be issued and sold to the Buyer at the Closing, minus the remaining $15,000 of the one-time due diligence and structuring fee to be paid directly from the proceeds of the Closing as set forth herein, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to the Buyer, Convertible Debentures which the Buyer is purchasing at the Closing with a principal amount corresponding with the Subscription Amount set forth opposite the Buyers name on Schedule of Buyer attached as Schedule I hereto, duly executed on behalf of the Company.
(d) Maximum Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue any Common Shares pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby or any other Transaction Documents (as defined below) (including the Conversion Shares) if the issuance of Common Shares would exceed the aggregate number of Common Shares that the Company may issue in this transaction in compliance with the Companys obligations under the rules or regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (such number of Common Shares which may be issued without violating such rules and regulations is 2,827,906 which the Company represents to the Buyer is 19.99% of the aggregate number of Class A Common Stock and Class V Common Stock outstanding (and shall be referred to as the Exchange Cap)), except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Company (A) obtains the approval of its stockholders as required by the applicable rules of the NYSE for
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issuances of Common Shares in excess of such amount or (B) obtains advice from outside counsel to the Company that such approval is not required in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NYSE. The Exchange Cap shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction.
2. | BUYERS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. |
The Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company with respect to only itself that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:
(a) Investment Purpose. The Buyer is acquiring the Securities for its own account for investment purposes and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered under or exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, the Buyer does not agree, or make any representation or warranty, to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with, or pursuant to, a registration statement covering such Securities or an available exemption under the Securities Act. The Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person (as defined below) to distribute any of the Securities in violation of applicable securities laws. As used herein, Person means a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
(b) Accredited Investor Status. The Buyer is an Accredited Investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D.
(c) Reliance on Exemptions. The Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Buyers compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Buyer to acquire the Securities.
(d) Information. The Buyer and its advisors (and its counsel), if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information the Buyer deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its purchase of the Securities, which have been requested by the Buyer. The Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by the Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect the Buyers right to rely on the Companys representations and warranties contained in Section 3 below. The Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. The Buyer understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to Buyer in connection with the purchase of the Securities constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. The Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice, as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.
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(e) Transfer or Resale. The Buyer understands that: (i) the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) the Buyer shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements, or (C) the Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurances (in the form of seller and broker representation letters) that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, Rule 144), in each case following the applicable holding period set forth therein; and (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144 and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the Securities Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Securities may be pledged in connection with a bona fide margin account or other loan or financing arrangement secured by the Securities and any such bona fide pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting such a bona fide pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, this Section 2(e).
(f) Legends. The Buyer agrees to the imprinting, so long as its required by this Section 2(f), of a restrictive legend on the Securities in substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND THOSE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THEY ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES AND THOSE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THEY ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED SOLELY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TOWARD RESALE AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
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Certificates evidencing the Conversion Shares shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth above), (i) following any proposed sale of such Conversion Shares pursuant to a registration statement covering the resale of such security that is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) following any sale of such Conversion Shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the SEC). If a legend is not required pursuant to the foregoing, the Company shall no later than two Trading Days (or such earlier date as required pursuant to the Exchange Act (as defined below) or other applicable law, rule or regulation for the settlement of a trade initiated on the date the Buyer delivers such legended certificate representing such securities to the Company) following the delivery by the Buyer to the Company or the transfer agent (with notice to the Company) of a legended certificate representing such securities (endorsed or with stock powers attached, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer, if applicable), together with any other deliveries from the Buyer as may be required above in this Section 2(f), as directed by the Buyer, either: (A) provided that the Companys transfer agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit the aggregate number of shares of Common Shares to which the Buyer shall be entitled to the Buyers or its designees balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system or (B) if the Companys transfer agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to the Buyer, a certificate representing such securities that is free from all restrictive and other legends, registered in the name of the Buyer or its designee. The Company shall be responsible for any transfer agent fees or DTC fees with respect to any issuance of Securities or the removal of any legends with respect to any Securities in accordance herewith. The Buyer agrees that the removal of a restrictive legend from certificates representing Securities as set forth in this Section 2(f) is predicated upon the Companys reliance that the Buyer will sell any Securities pursuant to either the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption therefrom, and that if Securities are sold pursuant to a registration statement, they will be sold in compliance with the plan of distribution set forth therein.
(g) Organization; Authority. The Buyer is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(h) Authorization, Enforcement. The Transaction Documents to which the Buyer is a party have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Buyer and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Buyer enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors rights and remedies.
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(i) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Buyer, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Buyer is a party or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to the Buyer, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.
(j) Certain Trading Activities. The Buyer has not directly or indirectly, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with the Buyer, engaged in any transactions in the securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any Short Sales (as defined below) involving the Companys securities) during the period commencing as of the time that the Buyer first contacted the Company or the Companys agents regarding the specific investment in the Company contemplated by this Agreement and ending immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement by the Buyer.
(k) No General Solicitation. The Buyer is not purchasing or acquiring the Securities as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
(l) Not an Affiliate. The Buyer is not (i) an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) a beneficial owner of more than 10% of the shares of Common Shares (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)).
3. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. |
Except as set forth (i) under the corresponding section of the schedule (dated as of the date of this Agreement) attached hereto as Schedule II (Schedule II) which Schedule II shall be deemed a part hereof and to qualify any representation or warranty otherwise made herein to the extent of such disclosure, or (ii) in the SEC Documents (as defined below) that are available on the SECs website through the EDGAR system at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date of this Agreement (unless the context provides otherwise), the Company hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth below to the Buyer:
(a) Organization and Qualification. The Company and significant subsidiary, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (each a Significant Subsidiary) are entities duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction (to the extent the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) in
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which they are formed and have the requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted. The Company and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign entity to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction (to the extent the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). As used in this Agreement, Material Adverse Effect means any material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, assets, liabilities,) or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the transactions contemplated hereby or in any of the other Transaction Documents or any other agreements or instruments to be entered into by the Company in connection herewith or therewith or (iii) the authority or ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. Subsidiaries means any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns a majority of the outstanding capital stock having voting power or holds a majority of the equity or similar interest of such Person, and each of the foregoing, is individually referred to herein as a Subsidiary.
(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Convertible Debentures, the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures), have been duly authorized by the Companys board of directors. This Agreement has been, and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party will be prior to the Closing, duly executed and delivered by the Company, and each constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors rights and remedies and except as rights to indemnification and to contribution may be limited by federal or state securities law. Transaction Documents means, collectively, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Convertible Debentures, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Closing Statement, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (each as may be amended from time to time), and any other document or instrument mutually designated by the Company and the Buyer as a Transaction Document.
(c) Issuance of Securities. The issuance of the Securities has been duly authorized and, upon issuance and payment in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents the Securities shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, mortgages, defects, claims, liens, pledges, charges, taxes, rights of first refusal, encumbrances, security interests and other encumbrances (collectively Liens) with respect to the issuance thereof. As of the Closing Date, the Company shall have reserved from its duly
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authorized capital stock not less than the Required Reserve Amount (as defined herein). Upon issuance or conversion in accordance with the Convertible Debentures, the Conversion Shares, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights or Liens with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Shares.
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Convertible Debentures, the Conversion Shares, and the reservation for issuance of the Conversion Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of Incorporation (as defined below), Bylaws (as defined below), certificate of formation, memorandum of association, articles of association, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including, without limitation, U.S. federal and state securities laws and regulations, the securities laws of the jurisdictions of the Companys incorporation or in which it or its subsidiaries operate and the rules and regulations of the NYSE (the Principal Market, provided however, that in the event the Companys Common Shares are ever listed or traded on any of the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market, the Principal Market shall mean that market on which the Common Shares is then listed or traded) and including all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected, in the case of (ii) or (iii) which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Consents. Assuming the accuracy of Buyers representations and warranties in Section 2, the Company is not required to obtain any consent from, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than any filings as may be required by any federal or state securities agencies and any filings as may be required by the Principal Market), any Governmental Entity (as defined below) or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, the failure of which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company or any Subsidiary is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been or will be obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing Date, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries are aware of any facts or circumstances which might prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company is not in violation of the requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which could reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the
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Common Shares in the foreseeable future. The issuance of all of the Securities hereunder does not require obtaining the approval of the shareholders of the Company or any other Person or Governmental Entity. Governmental Entity means any nation, state, county, city, town, village, district, or other political jurisdiction of any nature, federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, or other government, governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal), multi-national organization or body; or body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, including any entity or enterprise owned or controlled by a government or a public international organization or any of the foregoing, in each case with competent jurisdiction.
(f) Acknowledgment Regarding Buyers Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arms length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) to its knowledge, an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, Rule 144)) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) to its knowledge, a beneficial owner of more than 10% of the Common Shares (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act). The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer (nor any affiliate of any Buyer) is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by the Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to the Buyers purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to the Buyer that the Companys decision to enter into the Transaction Documents to which it is a party has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.
(g) No Integrated Offering. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of shareholders of the Company under any applicable shareholders approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated for quotation. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps that would cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings of securities of the Company.
(h) Dilutive Effect. The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Conversion Shares will increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges its obligation to issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures in accordance with the terms thereof is, absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other shareholders of the Company.
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(i) Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, interested shareholders, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement), shareholders rights plan or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or otherwise which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Companys issuance of the Securities and any Buyers ownership of the Securities.
(j) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. During the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, proxy statements, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits and appendices included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the SEC Documents), it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the timely filing of the SEC Documents includes any documents filed by any permitted filing deadline extension under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act. The Company has delivered or has made available to the Buyer or their respective representatives true, correct and complete copies (except to the extent that the Company has redacted portions of such copies in accordance with applicable laws) of each of the SEC Documents not available on the EDGAR system. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect as of the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments which will not be material, either individually or in the aggregate). The reserves, if any, established by the Company or the lack of reserves, if applicable, are reasonable based upon facts and circumstances known by the Company on the date hereof and there are no loss contingencies that are required to be accrued by the Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board which are not provided for by the Company in its
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financial statements or otherwise. No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to the Buyer which is not included in the SEC Documents (including, without limitation, information referred to in Section 2(d) or in the Schedule II to this Agreement) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstance under which they are or were made. The Company is not currently contemplating to amend or restate any of the financial statements (including, without limitation, any notes or any letter of the independent accountants of the Company with respect thereto) included in the SEC Documents (the Financial Statements), nor is the Company currently aware of facts or circumstances which would require the Company to amend or restate any of the Financial Statements, in each case, in order for any of the Financials Statements to be in compliance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Company has not been informed by its independent accountants that they recommend that the Company amend or restate any of the Financial Statements or that there is any need for the Company to amend or restate any of the Financial Statements.
(k) Absence of Certain Changes. Since the date of the Companys most recent audited financial statements contained in a Form 10-K, there has been no Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any law or statute relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or winding up, nor does the Company or any Subsidiary have any knowledge or reason to believe that any of their respective creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the Closing, will not be Insolvent (as defined below). For purposes of this Section 3(k), Insolvent means, (i) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (A) the present fair saleable value of the Companys and its Subsidiaries assets is less than the amount required to pay the Companys and its Subsidiaries total Indebtedness (as defined below), or (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries are unable to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured.
(l) No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities, Developments or Circumstances. Since the date of the Companys most recent Form 10-K, no event, liability, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or is reasonably expected to exist or occur specific to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or condition (financial or otherwise), that (i) would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws on a registration statement filed with the SEC relating to an issuance and sale by the Company of its Common Shares and which has not been publicly announced, (ii) would have a material adverse effect on any Buyers investment hereunder or (iii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(m) Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term under its Articles of Incorporation, any certificate of designation, preferences or rights of any other outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Bylaws or their organizational charter, certificate of formation, memorandum of association, articles of association, Articles of Incorporation or certificate of incorporation or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except in all cases for violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. During the one year prior to the date hereof, (i) the Common Shares have been listed or designated for quotation on the Principal Market, (ii) trading in the Common Shares has not been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market and (iii) the Company has received no communication, written or oral, from the SEC or the Principal Market regarding the suspension or delisting of the Common Shares from the Principal Market, which has not been publicly disclosed. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit. There is no agreement, commitment, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the conduct of business by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted other than such effects, individually or in the aggregate, which have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(n) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Since October 15, 2021, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, nor any other Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (individually and collectively, a Company Affiliate) have violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the FCPA) or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, nor has any Company Affiliate offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money, or offered, given, promised to give, or authorized the giving of anything of value, to any officer, employee or any other Person acting in an official capacity for any Governmental Entity to any political party or official thereof or to any candidate for political office (individually and collectively, a Government Official) or to any Person under circumstances where such Company Affiliate knew or was aware of a high probability that all or a portion of such money or thing of value would be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official, for the purpose, in violation of applicable law, of: (i) (A) influencing any act or decision of such Government Official in his/her official capacity, (B) inducing such Government Official to do or omit to do any act in violation of his/her lawful duty, (C) securing any improper advantage, or (D) inducing such Government Official to influence or affect any act or decision of any Governmental Entity, or (ii) assisting the Company or its Subsidiaries in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, the Company or its Subsidiaries.
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(o) Equity Capitalization.
(i) Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (A) 60,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, of which, 6,969,532 are issued and outstanding, (B) (A) 10,000,000 shares of Class V common stock, of which, 7,177,076 are issued and outstanding, and (C) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which are issued and outstanding. As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved 14,208,224 Common Shares for issuance to parties or Persons other than the Buyer.
(ii) Valid Issuance; Available Shares. All of such outstanding shares are duly authorized and have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Set forth in Schedule II to this Agreement is the number of Common Shares that are (A) reserved for issuance pursuant to Convertible Securities (as defined below) (other than the Convertible Debentures) and (B) that are, as of the date hereof, owned by Persons who are affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act and calculated based on the assumption that only officers, directors and holders of at least 10% of the Companys issued and outstanding Common Shares are affiliates without conceding that any such Persons are affiliates for purposes of federal securities laws) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except for Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc., to the Companys knowledge, no Person owns 10% or more of the Companys issued and outstanding Common Shares (calculated based on the assumption that all Convertible Securities (as defined below), whether or not presently exercisable or convertible, have been fully exercised or converted (as the case may be) taking account of any limitations on exercise or conversion (including blockers) contained therein without conceding that such identified Person is a 10% shareholder for purposes of federal securities laws). Convertible Securities means any capital stock or other security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is at any time and under any circumstances directly or indirectly convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any capital stock or other security of the Company (including, without limitation, Common Shares) or any of its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Existing Securities; Obligations. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents: (A) none of the Companys or any Subsidiarys shares, interests or capital stock is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or Liens suffered or permitted by the Company or any Subsidiary; (B) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants,
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scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (C) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the Securities Act (except pursuant to this Agreement); (D) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (E) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; and (F) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has entered into any Variable Rate Transaction.
(iv) Organizational Documents. The Company has furnished to the Buyer or filed on EDGAR true, correct and complete copies of the Companys Articles of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the Articles of Incorporation), and the Companys bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the Bylaws), and the terms of all convertible securities and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto.
(p) Indebtedness and Other Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, (i) has any outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound, other than the ICE Credit Facility (as defined below) and the ICE TSA (as defined below) (ii) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) has any financing statements securing obligations in any amounts filed in connection with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than in connection with the ICE Credit Facility; (iv) is in violation of any term of, or in default under, any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (v) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Companys officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents which are not so disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Companys or its Subsidiaries respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or would not have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement: (x) Indebtedness of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, capital leases to the extent required by GAAP) (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), (C) all reimbursement or
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payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (G) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above; and (y) Contingent Obligation means, as to any Person, any direct liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.
(q) Litigation. There is no action, suit, arbitration, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by the Principal Market, any court, public board, other Governmental Entity or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Common Shares or any of the Companys or its Subsidiaries officers or directors, whether of a civil or criminal nature or otherwise, in their capacities as such, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. After reasonable inquiry of its employees, the Company is not aware of any event which might result in or form the basis for any such action, suit, arbitration, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding. Without limitation of the foregoing, there has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the SEC involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any current or former director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is the subject of any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Entity that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Tax Status. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has timely made or filed all material foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction in which it is subject to taxes, (ii) has timely paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. The Company has not received written notice of any unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction in which the Company currently files a tax return, and the officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries know of no basis for any such claim where the failure to pay would have or would be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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(s) Internal Accounting and Disclosure Controls. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Issuer, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Issuer are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Issuer and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Issuers assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant, Governmental Entity or other Person relating to any potential material weakness or significant deficiency in any part of the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(t) Investment Company Status. The Company is not, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities will not be, an investment company, an affiliate of an investment company, a company controlled by an investment company or an affiliated person of, or promoter or principal underwriter for, an investment company as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(u) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. In accordance with the previous sentence, the Company currently maintains no insurance policies. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will be unable to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(v) Registration Eligibility. The Company is eligible to register the resale of the Conversion Shares by the Buyer using Form S-1 or Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act.
(w) Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has not been for the last year an issuer identified in, or subject to, Rule 144(i).
(x) Sanctions Matters. Since October 15, 2021, (A) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or controlled affiliate of the Company or any director or officer of any Subsidiary, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majestys Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authorities, including, without limitation, designation on OFACs Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List or OFACs Foreign Sanctions Evaders List or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions), or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (including, without limitation, the Crimea, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, the Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic in Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Sudan and Syria (the Sanctioned Countries)), and (B) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction was the subject of Sanctions or was a Sanctioned Country.
(y) Disclosure. The Company confirms that neither it nor, to the Companys knowledge, any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Buyers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes material, non-public information concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than the existence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(z) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
(aa) Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Buyers representations and warranties set forth in Section 2, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Buyer as contemplated hereby. The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Principal Market.
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(bb) No Disqualification Events. With respect to Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506(b) under the Securities Act (Regulation D Securities), none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering contemplated hereby, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Companys outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an Issuer Covered Person and, together, Issuer Covered Persons) is subject to any of the Bad Actor disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a Disqualification Event), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Buyer a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
(cc) Other Covered Persons. The Company is not aware of any Person that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of Buyer or potential purchasers in connection with the sale of any Regulation D Securities.
(dd) No Disagreements with Accountants and Lawyers. There are no material disagreements of any kind presently existing, or reasonably anticipated by the Company to arise, between the Company and the accountants and lawyers formerly or presently employed by the Company and the Company is current with respect to any fees owed to its accountants and lawyers which could affect the Companys ability to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. In addition, on or prior to the date hereof, the Company had discussions with its accountants about its financial statements previously filed with the SEC. Based on those discussions, the Company has no reason to believe that it will need to restate any such financial statements or any part thereof.
4. | COVENANTS. |
(a) Form D and Blue Sky. The Company shall file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to the Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company shall, on or before the Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to, qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyer at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or Blue Sky laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyer on or prior to the Closing Date. Without limiting any other obligation of the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall timely make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, all applicable federal securities laws and all applicable Blue Sky laws), and the Company shall comply with all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations and the like relating to the offering and sale of the Securities to the Buyer.
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(b) Reporting Status. For the period beginning on the date hereof, and ending 6 months after the date on which all the Convertible Debentures are no longer outstanding (the Reporting Period), the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file on a timely basis all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the timely filing of the SEC Documents includes any documents filed by any permitted filing deadline extension under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), and the Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the Exchange Act even if the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would no longer require or otherwise permit such termination.
(c) Use of Proceeds. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the transactions contemplated herein to repay any loans to any executives or employees of the Company or to make any payment in respect of related party debt unless such related party debt is Permitted Indebtedness. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds from the transactions contemplated herein, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person (a) for the purpose of funding or facilitating any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions or is a Sanctioned Country, or (b) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions or Applicable Laws by any Person (including any Person participating in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Buyer, loan, invest, transfer or downstream any cash proceeds, or assets or property acquired with cash proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Convertible Debentures to any Subsidiary, other than to Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC, unless the Buyer and the Subsidiary enter into a guarantee in the form of the Subsidiary Guaranty.
(d) Listing. To the extent applicable, the Company shall promptly secure the listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all of the Underlying Securities (as defined below) on the Principal Market, subject to official notice of issuance, and shall use reasonable efforts to maintain such listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all Underlying Securities from time to time issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents on such Principal Market for the Reporting Period. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action which could be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Shares on a Principal Market during the Reporting Period. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 4(d). Underlying Securities means the (i) the Conversion Shares, and (ii) any common shares of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares, including, without limitation, (1) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2) shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Shares are converted or exchanged without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Convertible Debentures.
(e) Fees. The Company shall pay to YA II PN, Ltd., as the Buyer (the YA II), a one-time due diligence and structuring fee of $25,000, of which $10,000 was paid upon signing the term sheet and the remaining $15,000 shall be paid upon the Closing and shall be deducted from the gross proceeds of the Closing and paid to YA II.
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(f) Pledge of Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company acknowledges and agrees that, subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, the Securities may be pledged by the Buyer in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities.
(g) Disclosure of Transactions. The Company shall, on or before the first Business Day after the date of this Agreement, file with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K describing all the material terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in the form required by the Exchange Act and attaching all the material Transaction Documents (including, required exhibits, the Current Report). From and after the filing of the Current Report, the Company shall have publicly disclosed all material, non-public information (if any) provided to the Buyer by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. In addition, effective upon the filing of the Current Report, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents under any agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates, employees or agents, on the one hand, and the Buyer or any of its affiliates, on the other hand, shall terminate.
(h) Limitations on Disclosure. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and each of its and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents not to, provide any Buyer with any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the date hereof without first obtaining the express prior written consent of the Buyer (which may be granted or withheld in the Buyers sole discretion). To the extent that the Company delivers any material, non-public information to the Buyer without the Buyers consent, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Buyer shall not have any duty of confidentiality with respect to, or a duty not to trade on the basis of, such material, non-public information. Without the prior written consent of the Buyer (which may be granted or withheld in the Buyers sole discretion), the Company shall not (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and affiliates to not) disclose the name of the Buyer in any filing, announcement, release or otherwise.
(i) Reservation of Shares. So long as any of the Convertible Debentures remain outstanding the Company shall have reserved from its duly authorized capital stock, and shall have instructed its transfer agent to irrevocably reserve, the maximum number of shares of Common Shares issuable upon (i) conversion of all Convertible Debentures (assuming for purposes hereof that (x) such Convertible Debentures are convertible at the Floor Price (as defined therein) as of the date of determination and (y) any such conversion shall not take into account any limitations on the conversion of the Convertible Debentures set forth therein) (the Required Reserve Amount); provided that at no time shall the number of shares of Common Shares reserved pursuant to this Section be reduced other than proportionally in connection with any conversion and/or redemption, or reverse stock split. If at any time the number of Common Shares authorized to be issued is not sufficient to meet the Required Reserve Amount, the Company will promptly take all corporate action necessary to authorize and reserve a sufficient number of shares, including, without limitation, calling a special meeting of stockholders to authorize additional shares to meet the Companys obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents, in the case of an insufficient number of authorized shares, recommending that stockholders vote in favor of an increase in such authorized number of shares sufficient to meet the Required Reserve Amount.
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(j) Stockholder Approval. If at any time while any Debentures remain outstanding the number of Common Shares that remain available for issuance under the Exchange Cap have an aggregate market value (based on a price per Common Share equal to the average VWAP over the prior five (5) Trading Day period) of less than the outstanding balance owed under all Debentures then outstanding (the date of the first such occurrence, the Event Date), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, on or before the 60th day following the Event Date (the Stockholder Meeting Deadline), call and hold a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of seeking the approval of its stockholders as required by the applicable rules of the Principal Market (the Stockholder Approval), for issuances of shares in excess of the Exchange Cap, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its stockholders approval of such resolutions and to cause the Board of Directors of the Company to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such resolutions and the board of directors of the Company will recommend that the Companys stockholders vote in favor of such resolution.
(k) Conduct of Business. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity, except where such violations would not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) (i) Except as expressly set forth below, the Buyer covenants that from and after the date hereof through and ending when no Convertible Debentures remain outstanding (the Restricted Period), no Buyer or any of its officers, or any entity managed or controlled by the Buyer (collectively, the Restricted Persons and each of the foregoing is referred to herein as a Restricted Person) shall, directly or indirectly, engage in any short sale (as such term is defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act) of the Common Shares, either for its own principal account or for the principal account of any other Restricted Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly understood and agreed that nothing contained herein shall (without implication that the contrary would otherwise be true) prohibit any Restricted Person during the Restricted Period from: (1) selling long (as defined under Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO) Common Shares; or (2) selling a number of Common Shares equal to the number of Underlying Shares that such Restricted Person is entitled to receive, but has not yet received from the Company or the transfer agent, upon the completion of a pending conversion of the Convertible Debentures for which a valid Conversion Notice (as defined in the Convertible Debentures) has been submitted to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Convertible Debentures, in each case subject to applicable law.
(m) Trading Information. Upon the Companys request, the Buyer agrees to provide the Company with trading reports setting forth the number and average sales prices of Conversion Shares sold the Buyer during the prior trading week.
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(n) Prohibited Transactions. From the date hereof until all of the Convertible Debentures have been repaid or converted into Common Shares, the Company agrees to not directly or indirectly enter into any contract, agreement or other item that would restrict or prohibit any of the Companys obligations to the Buyer under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, any payments required by the Company to the Buyer as set forth in the Convertible Debentures.
(o) From the date hereof until all the Convertible Debentures have been repaid or converted, without the prior written consent of the Buyer, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries (whether or not a subsidiary on the date hereof) to, directly or indirectly (i) other than Permitted Indebtedness, enter into, create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, (ii) other than Permitted Liens, enter into, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any of its property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired or any interest therein or any income or profits therefrom, (iii) amend its charter documents, including, without limitation, its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, in any manner that materially and adversely affects any rights of the holders of the Convertible Debentures, (iv) make any payments in respect of any related party debt unless such related party debt is Permitted Indebtedness, or (v) enter into, agree to enter into, or effect any Variable Rate Transaction other than with the Buyer.
Permitted Indebtedness shall mean: (i) indebtedness evidenced by the Convertible Debentures; (ii) indebtedness described on Schedule II attached hereto or incurred pursuant to the $40.0 million revolving credit facility entered into on August 12, 2024 with Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc. (ICE), a major shareholder, that matures on December 31, 2026 (the ICE Credit Facility) or incurred pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement entered into on August 10, 2021 with ICE (the ICE TSA); (iii) indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition or lease of any equipment or real estate, including capital lease obligations with no recourse other than to such equipment or real estate; (iv) indebtedness related to utilization of the Companys Purchase Card Facility for loyalty business working capital purposes, (v) indebtedness (A) the repayment of which has been subordinated to the payment of the Convertible Debentures on terms and conditions acceptable to the Buyer, including with regard to interest payments and repayment of principal, (B) which does not mature or otherwise require or permit redemption or repayment prior to or on the 91st day after the maturity date of any Convertible Debentures then outstanding; and (C) which is not secured by any assets of the Company or its subsidiaries; (vi) indebtedness associated with acquiring new intellectual property assets and licenses, so long as the proceeds are going to the party(ies) from which the Company is acquiring the assets, licenses, and other properties and (vii) any indebtedness (other than the indebtedness set out in (i) (vi) above) incurred after the date hereof, provided that such indebtedness does not exceed $1,000,000 at any given time.
Permitted Liens shall mean (1) any security interest granted to the Buyer to secure the obligations under the Convertible Debentures; (2) any prior security interest granted to the Buyer; (3) existing Liens disclosed by the Company on Schedule II attached hereto, or existing Liens in connection with the ICE Credit Facility; (4) inchoate Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due, as to which the grace period, if
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any, related thereto has not yet expired, or being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (5) Liens of carriers, materialmen, warehousemen, mechanics and landlords and other similar Liens which secure amounts which are not yet overdue by more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (6) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to other persons not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Company; (7) Liens securing capitalized lease obligations and purchase money indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing an acquisition or lease; (8) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, municipal zoning ordinances and other similar charges or encumbrances, and minor title deficiencies, in each case not securing debt and not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Company and not materially detracting from the value of the property subject thereto; (9) Liens arising out of the existence of judgments or awards which judgments or awards do not constitute an Event of Default; (10) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation claims, unemployment insurance, pension liabilities and social security benefits and Liens securing the performance of bids, tenders, leases and contracts in the ordinary course of business, statutory obligations, surety bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (other than appeal bonds) incurred in the ordinary course of business (exclusive of obligations in respect of the payment for borrowed money); (11) Liens in favor of a banking institution arising by operation of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and contractual set-off rights held by such banking institution and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry and only burdening deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; (12) usual and customary set-off rights in leases and other contracts; (13) escrows in connection with acquisitions and dispositions and (14) royalties and other rights to revenue derived from the sale of the Companys products that are granted in the ordinary course of business.
Variable Rate Transaction shall mean a transaction in which the Company (i) issues or sells any equity, warrants, or debt securities that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive additional Common Shares either (A) at a conversion price, exercise price, exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the Common Shares at any time after the initial issuance of such security, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Shares (including, without limitation, any full ratchet or weighted average anti-dilution provisions, but not including any standard anti-dilution protection for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split or other similar transaction), (ii) enters into or effects any agreement, including but not limited to an equity line of credit, ATM agreement or other continuous offering or similar offering of Common Shares, or (iii) enters into or effects any forward purchase agreement, equity pre-paid forward transaction or other similar offering of securities where the purchaser of securities of the Company receives an upfront or periodic payment of all, or a portion of, the value of the securities so purchased, and the Company receives proceeds from such purchaser based on a price or value that varies with the trading prices of the Common Shares.
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5. | REGISTER; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS; LEGEND. |
(a) Register. The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices or with the Transfer Agent (or at such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to each holder of Securities), a register for the Convertible Debentures in which the Company shall record the name and address of the Person in whose name the Convertible Debentures have been issued (including the name and address of each transferee), the amount of Convertible Debentures held by such Person. The Company shall keep the register open and available at all times during business hours for inspection of any Buyer or its legal representatives.
(b) Transfer Restrictions. The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an Affiliate of the Buyer or in connection with a pledge as contemplated herein, the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of the Buyer under this Agreement.
(c) Conversion and Exercise Procedures. The form of Conversion Notice included in the Convertible Debentures set forth the totality of the procedures required of the Buyer in order to convert the Convertible Debentures. Except as provided in Section 2(f) and Section 5(b), no additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of the Buyer to convert their Convertible Debentures. The Company shall honor conversions of the Convertible Debentures and shall deliver the Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Convertible Debentures.
6. | CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANYS OBLIGATION TO SELL. |
The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Convertible Debentures to the Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Companys sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Buyer with prior written notice thereof:
(a) The Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.
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(b) The Buyer and each other Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Purchase Price (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(d), if any) for the Convertible Debentures being purchased by the Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with a letter, duly executed by an officer of the Company, setting forth the wire amounts of the Buyer and the wire transfer instructions of the Company (the Closing Statement).
(c) The representations and warranties of the Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), and the Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.
7. | CONDITIONS TO THE BUYERS OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE. |
The obligation of the Buyer hereunder to purchase its Convertible Debentures at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Buyers sole benefit and may be waived by the Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:
(a) The Company shall have duly executed and delivered to the Buyer each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to the Buyer a Convertible Debenture with a principal amount corresponding to the Subscription Amount set forth opposite the Buyers name on the Schedule of Buyer attached as Schedule I for the Closing.
(b) The Buyer shall have received the opinion of counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(c) The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a certificate evidencing the incorporation and good standing of the Company as of a date within ten days of the Closing Date
(d) Each and every representation and warranty of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties qualified by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions set forth in each Transaction Document required to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date.
(e) The Common Shares (A) shall be designated for quotation or listed (as applicable) on the Principal Market and (B) shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor shall suspension by the SEC or the Principal Market have been threatened, as of the Closing Date, either (I) in writing by the SEC or the Principal Market or (II) by receiving a notification from the Principal Market of falling below the minimum maintenance requirements of the Principal Market that is not subject to a cure period.
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(f) No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(g) The Buyer shall have received the Closing Statement.
(h) (i) From the date hereof to the applicable Closing, trading in the Common Shares shall not have been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market (except for any suspension of trading of limited duration agreed to by the Company, which suspension shall be terminated prior to the Closing), and (ii) at any time from the date hereof to the applicable Closing Date, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service, or on the Principal Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities nor shall there have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of the Buyer, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Securities at the Closing.
(i) The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company approving the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(j) The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a compliance certificate executed by an executive officer of the Company certifying that Company has complied with all of the conditions precedent to the applicable Closing set forth herein and which may be relied upon by the Buyer as evidence of satisfaction of such conditions without any obligation to independently verify.
(k) The Company and ICE shall have amended the ICE Credit Facility to permit the issuance of the Convertible Debentures, and the performance by the Company thereof, including, without limitation the issuance of the Conversion Shares pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Documents.
8. | TERMINATION. |
In the event that the First Closing shall not have occurred with respect to the Buyer within five (5) days of the date hereof, then the Buyer shall have the right to terminate its obligations under this Agreement with respect to itself at any time on or after the close of business on such date without liability of the Buyer to any other party; provided, however, (i) the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8 shall not be available to the Buyer if the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to have been consummated by such date is the result of the Buyers breach of this Agreement and (ii) the abandonment of the sale and purchase
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of the Convertible Debentures shall be applicable only to the Buyer providing such written notice, provided further that no such termination shall affect any obligation of the Company under this Agreement to reimburse the Buyer for the expenses described herein. Nothing contained in this Section 8 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
9. | MISCELLANEOUS. |
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall, in all respects, be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws (excluding the principles of conflict of laws) of the State of New York (including Section 5-1401 and Section 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York), including all matters of construction, validity and performance.
(b) Jurisdiction; Venue; Service.
(i) The Company hereby irrevocably consents to the non-exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state courts of the State of New York (the Governing Jurisdiction) and, if a basis for federal jurisdiction exists, the non-exclusive personal jurisdiction of any United States District Court for the Governing Jurisdiction.
(ii) The Company agrees that venue shall be proper in any court of the Governing Jurisdiction selected by the Buyer or, if a basis for federal jurisdiction exists, in any United States District Court in the Governing Jurisdiction. The Company waives any right to object to the maintenance of any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, in any of the state or federal courts of the Governing Jurisdiction on the basis of improper venue or inconvenience of forum.
(iii) Any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or tort or otherwise, brought by the Company against the Buyer arising out of or based upon this Agreement or any matter relating to this Agreement, or any other Transaction Document, or any contemplated transaction, shall be brought in a court only in the Governing Jurisdiction. The Company shall not file any counterclaim against the Buyer in any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding brought by the Buyer against the Company in a jurisdiction outside of the Governing Jurisdiction unless under the rules of the court in which the Buyer brought such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding the counterclaim is mandatory, and not permissive, and would be considered waived unless filed as a counterclaim in the suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding instituted by the Buyer against the Company. The Company agrees that any forum outside the Governing Jurisdiction is an inconvenient forum and that any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding brought by the Company against the Buyer in any court outside the Governing Jurisdiction should be dismissed or transferred to a court located in the Governing Jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Company
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irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not bring or commence any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Buyer arising out of or based upon this Agreement or any matter relating to this Agreement, or any other Transaction Document, or any contemplated transaction, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State Court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court. The Company and the Buyer agree that a final judgment in any such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(iv) The Company and the Buyer irrevocably consent to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail postage prepaid, to it at the address provided for notices in this Agreement, such service to become effective thirty (30) days after the date of mailing.
(v) Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Buyer to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or to otherwise proceed against the Company or any other Person in the Governing Jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction.
(c) THE PARTIES MUTUALLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ALL CLAIMS OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTER RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, OR ANY CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTION. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A WAIVER OF A LEGAL RIGHT AND THAT THE PARTIES EACH MAKE THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CHOICE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL SUCH CLAIMS SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A JUDGE OF A COURT HAVING JURISDICTION, WITHOUT A JURY.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
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(e) Headings; Gender. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms including, includes, include and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words without limitation. The terms herein, hereunder, hereof and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
(f) Entire Agreement, Amendments. This Agreement supersedes all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyer, the Company, their affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters discussed herein, and this Agreement and the instruments referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Buyer.
(g) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing by letter and email and will be deemed to have been delivered: upon the later of (A) either (i) receipt, when delivered personally or (ii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same and (B) receipt, when sent by electronic mail. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company, to: | Bakkt Holdings, Inc. 10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000 Alpharetta, GA 30009 Attention: Marc DAnnunzio Email: [***] | |
With Copy to: | Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 125 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 Attention: Jared Fishman, Matt Goodman and Mario Schollmeyer Email: [***] |
If to the Buyer, to its address and e-mail address set forth on the Schedule of Buyer, with copies to the Buyers representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyer,
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With copy to: | David Fine, Esq. c/o Yorkville Advisors Global, LP 1012 Springfield Avenue Mountainside, NJ 07092 Email: [***] |
or to such other address, e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) electronically generated by the senders e-mail service provider containing the time, date, recipient e-mail address or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any purchasers of any of the Convertible Debentures (but excluding any purchasers of Underlying Securities, unless pursuant to a written assignment by the Buyer). The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Buyer. In connection with any transfer of any or all of its Securities, the Buyer may assign all, or a portion, of its rights and obligations hereunder in connection with such Securities without the consent of the Company, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be the Buyer hereunder with respect to such transferred Securities.
(i) Indemnification.
(i) Indemnification by the Company. In consideration of the Buyers execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of the Companys other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer and each holder of any Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors and employees (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the Buyer Indemnitees) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable and documented attorneys fees and disbursements (the Indemnified Liabilities), incurred by any Buyer Indemnitee as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (i) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in any of the Transaction Documents, (ii) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary contained in any of the Transaction Documents or (iii) any cause of action, suit, proceeding or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary) or which otherwise involves such Indemnitee that arises out of or results from (A) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents, (B) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of
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the Securities, or (C) any disclosure properly made to the Buyer pursuant to Section 4(g), or (D) the status of the Buyer or holder of the Securities either as an investor in the Company pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or as a party to this Agreement (including, without limitation, as a party in interest or otherwise in any action or proceeding for injunctive or other equitable relief). To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.
(ii) Indemnification by the Buyer. In consideration of the Companys execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, and in addition to all of the Buyers other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Buyer shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Company and all of its stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors and employees (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the Company Indemnitees) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by any Company Indemnitees as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (i) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Buyer in any of the Transaction Documents, (ii) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Buyer or any Subsidiary contained in any of the Transaction Documents or (iii) any cause of action, suit, proceeding or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Buyer or any Subsidiary) or which otherwise involves such Company Indemnitee that arises out of or results from (A) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents, (B) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities, or (C) the status of the Company a party to this Agreement (including, without limitation, as a party in interest or otherwise in any action or proceeding for injunctive or other equitable relief). To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Buyer may be unenforceable for any reason, the Buyer shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.
(iii) Promptly after receipt by the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee under this Section 9(i) of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving an Indemnified Liability, the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee, as applicable, shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnified party under this Section 9(i), deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually reasonably satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party if: (A) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (B) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Indemnified Liability and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee in any such Indemnified Liability; or (C) the named parties to any such Indemnified Liability (including any impleaded parties) include both the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee and the indemnifying party, and the Buyer
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Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee and the indemnifying party (in which case, if the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party), provided further, that in the case of clause (C) above the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one (1) separate legal counsel for the Buyer Indemnitees or Company Indemnitees. The Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Indemnified Liability by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee which relates to such action or Indemnified Liability. The indemnifying party shall keep the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. The indemnifying party shall not, without the prior written consent of the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnitee of a release from all liability in respect to such Indemnified Liability or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve the indemnifying party of any liability to the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee under this Section 9(i), except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(iv) The indemnification required by this Section 9(i) shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, within ten (10) days after bills supporting the Indemnified Liabilities are received by the indemnifying party.
(v) The indemnity agreement contained herein shall be in addition to (A) any cause of action or similar right of the Buyer Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee against the indemnifying party or others, and (B) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
(j) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Akshay Naheta | |
Name: | Akshay Naheta | |
Title: | Co CEO |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
BUYER: | ||||
YA II PN, LTD. | ||||
By: Yorkville Advisors Global, LP | ||||
Its: Investment Manager | ||||
By: Yorkville Advisors Global II, LLC | ||||
Its: General Partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Matt Beckman | |||
Name: | Matt Beckman | |||
Title: | Member |
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LIST OF EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT A: FORM OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
EXHIBIT B: FORM OF IRREVOCABLE TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS
EXHIBIT C: FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANYS COUNSEL
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
36
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF IRREVOCABLE TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS
COMPANY LETTERHEAD
[______], 2025
TA INFO
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
Ladies and Gentlemen:
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company) and YA II PN, LTD. (the Investor) have entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of June 17, 2025 (the Agreement), providing for the issuance of Convertible Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 (the Debentures) convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (Common Shares).
A copy of the form of Debentures is attached hereto. You should familiarize yourself with your issuance and delivery obligations, as Transfer Agent, contained therein. The shares to be issued are to be registered in the names of the registered holder of the securities submitted for conversion.
You are hereby irrevocably authorized and instructed to reserve a sufficient number of Common Shares of the Company for issuance upon full conversion of the Debentures in accordance with the terms thereof. The number of Common Shares so reserved is shall initially be ________________ shares, as may be increased by the Company in accordance with the Agreement.
The ability to convert the Debentures in a timely manner is a material obligation of the Company pursuant to such securities. Your firm is hereby irrevocably authorized and instructed to issue Common Shares of the Company (with or without any restrictive legend) to the Investors without any further action or confirmation by the Company: (A) upon your receipt from any Investor of: (i) a notice of conversion (Conversion Notice) executed by the Investor; and (ii) an opinion of counsel of the Company or the Investor, in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions (and satisfactory to the transfer agent), to the effect that the Common Shares of the Company issued to such Investor pursuant to the Conversion Notice either (x) are not restricted securities as defined in Rule 144 and should be issued to such Investor without any restrictive legend or (y) registration under the Securities Act is not required in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares; and (B) the number of shares to be issued is less than 4.99% of the total issued Class A common stock of the Company.
The Company hereby requests that your firm act immediately, without delay and without the need for any action or confirmation by the Company with respect to the issuance of Common Shares pursuant to any Conversion Notices received from any Investor.
The Company shall indemnify you and your officers, directors, principals, partners, agents and representatives, and hold each of them harmless from and against any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its attorneys) incurred by or asserted against you or any of them arising out of or in connection with the instructions set forth herein, the performance of your duties hereunder and otherwise in respect hereof, including the costs and expenses of defending yourself or themselves against any claim or liability hereunder, except that the Company shall not be liable hereunder as to matters in respect of which it is determined that you have acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. You shall have no liability to the Company in respect to any action taken or any failure to act in respect of this if such action was taken or omitted to be taken in good faith, and you shall be entitled to rely in this regard on the advice of counsel.
The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the foregoing (irrevocable instructions) and does hereby extend the Companys irrevocable agreement to indemnify your firm for all loss, liability or expense in carrying out the authority and direction herein contained on the terms herein set forth.
The Company agrees that in the event that the Transfer Agent resigns as the Companys transfer agent, the Company shall engage a suitable replacement transfer agent that will agree to serve as transfer agent for the Company and be bound by the terms and conditions of these Irrevocable Instructions within three business days.
The Investors are intended to be and are third party beneficiaries hereof, and no amendment or modification to the instructions set forth herein may be made without the consent of each such Investor.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
Very truly yours, | ||
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
YA II PN, Ltd. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Date | ||
Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
[TRANSFER AGENT] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Date: |
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANYS COUNSEL
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF BUYER
[Intentionally omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K]
SCHEDULE II
[Intentionally omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K]
Exhibit 10.2
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to
item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
NEITHER THIS DEBENTURE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS DEBENTURE IS CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE. THESE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC.
CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE
Original Principal Amount: $25,000,000
Issuance Date: June 18, 2025
Number: BKKT-1
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC., an entity organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Company), hereby promises to pay to the order of YA II PN, LTD., or its registered assigns (the Holder) the amount set out above as the Original Principal Amount (or such lesser amount as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to repayment, redemption, conversion or otherwise, the Principal) and the Payment Premium, as applicable, in each case when due, and to pay interest (Interest) on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate (as defined below) from the date set out above as the Issuance Date (the Issuance Date) until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date or acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). The Issuance Date is the date of the first issuance of this Convertible Debenture (as amended, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, this Debenture) regardless of the number of transfers and regardless of the number of instruments, which may be issued to evidence such Debenture. This Debenture was originally issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of June 17, 2025, between the Company and the Buyers listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto (as it may be amended from time to time, the Securities Purchase Agreement). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section (11).
(1) GENERAL TERMS
(a) Maturity Date. On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest, and any other amounts outstanding pursuant to the terms of this Debenture. The Maturity Date shall be June 18, 2026, as may be extended at the option of the Holder. Other than as specifically permitted by this Debenture, the Company may not prepay or redeem any portion of the outstanding Principal and accrued and unpaid Interest.
(b) Interest Rate and Payment of Interest. Interest shall accrue on the outstanding Principal balance hereof at an annual rate equal to 0% (Interest Rate), which Interest Rate shall increase to an annual rate of 18.00% upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (for so long as such event remains uncured). Interest shall be calculated based on a 365-day year and the actual number of days elapsed, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
(c) Optional Redemption. The Company at its option shall have the right, but not the obligation, to redeem (Optional Redemption) early a portion or all amounts outstanding under this Debenture as described in this Section; provided, that the Company provides the Holder with written notice (each, a Redemption Notice) of its desire to exercise an Optional Redemption, which Redemption Notice (i) shall be delivered to the Holder after the close of regular trading hours on a Trading Day, and (ii) may only be given if the VWAP of the Common Shares was less than the Fixed Price on the date such Redemption Notice is delivered, unless otherwise agreed by the Holder. Each Redemption Notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the outstanding balance of the Debenture to be redeemed and the Redemption Amount. The Redemption Amount shall be an amount equal to (a) the outstanding Principal balance being redeemed by the Company plus (b) the Payment Premium in respect of such Principal amount plus (c) all accrued and unpaid interest hereunder as of the date of such redemption. After receipt of a Redemption Notice, the Holder shall have two (2) Trading Days (beginning with the Trading Day immediately following the date such Redemption Notice is delivered to the Holder in accordance with this term of this Section 1(d)) to elect to convert all or any portion of this Debenture. On the third (3rd) Trading Day following the delivery of the applicable Redemption Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Holder the Redemption Amount with respect to the Principal amount redeemed to the extent not converted and otherwise after giving effect to conversions or other payments made during such ten (10) Trading Day period.
(d) Other than as specifically set forth in this Debenture, the Company shall not have the ability to make any early repayments without the consent of or at the request of the Holder.
(e) Payment Dates. 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.
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(2) EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
(a) An Event of Default, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body, in each case of competent jurisdiction) shall have occurred:
(i) The Companys failure to pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Redemption Amount, Payment Premium, Interest, or other amounts when and as due under this Debenture or any other Transaction Document and within three Trading Days after such payment is due;
(ii) (A) The Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall commence, or there shall be commenced against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, any proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect or any successor thereto, or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company commences any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, in any such bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding which remains undismissed for a period of sixty one (61) days; (B) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; (C) any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered; (D) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company suffers any appointment of any custodian, private or court appointed receiver or the like for it or all or substantially all of its property which continues undischarged or unstayed for a period of sixty one (61) days; (E) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes a general assignment of all or substantially all of its assets for the benefit of creditors; or (F) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall fail to pay, shall state that it is unable to pay, or shall be unable to pay, its debts generally as they become due;;
(iii) The Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall default in any of its obligations under any note, debenture, mortgage, credit agreement or other facility, indenture agreement or other instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in an amount exceeding $1,000,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created and such default is not cured within the time prescribed by the documents governing such indebtedness or if no time is prescribed, within ten (10) Trading Days, and as a result, such indebtedness becomes or is declared due and payable;
(iv) A final judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate are rendered against the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within sixty (60) days after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged, settled or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within sixty (60) days after the expiration of such stay; provided, however, any judgment which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a creditworthy party shall not be included in calculating the $1,000,000 amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the Holder a written statement from such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity within sixty (60) days of the issuance of such judgment;
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(v) The Common Shares shall cease to be quoted or listed for trading, as applicable, on any Principal Market for a period of ten (10) consecutive Trading Days;
(vi) A Change of Control Transaction shall occur unless in connection with such Change of Control Transaction this Debenture is retired;
(vii) The Companys (A) failure to deliver the required number of Common Shares to the Holder within two Trading Days after the applicable Share Delivery Date or (B) written notice to any holder of the Debenture, including by way of public announcement, at any time, of its intention not to comply with a request for conversion of all or a portion of this Debenture into Common Shares that is tendered in accordance with the provisions of this Debenture;
(viii) The Company shall fail for any reason to deliver the payment in cash pursuant to a Buy-In (as defined below) within five Business Days after such payment is due;
(ix) The Companys failure to timely file with the Commission any Periodic Report other than a Current Report on Form 8-K on or before the due date of such filing as established by the Commission, it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that due date includes any permitted filing deadline extension under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act, and such event has not been cured within five (5) Business Days after such the occurrence thereof;
(x) At any time after the Stockholder Meeting Deadline, the Company has issued substantially all of the Common Shares available under the Exchange Cap, and such event has not been cured within fifteen (15) Business Days after such the occurrence thereof;
(xi) The daily VWAP is less than the Floor Price then in effect for five Trading Days during a period of seven consecutive Trading Days, and such event has not been cured within ten (10) Business Days after such the occurrence thereof;
(xii) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Company in any Transaction Document or in any certificate or document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be untrue in any material respect as of the date made or deemed made.
(xiii) (A) Any material provision of any Transaction Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, ceases to be in full force and effect, provided that no such provision shall be deemed to cease to be in full force and effect to the extent it is severable from a separate provision of such Agreement that ceases to be in full force and effect; (B) the Company or any other Person, acting in bad faith, contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Transaction Document; or (C) the Company, acting in bad faith, denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Transaction Document, or purports in writing to revoke, terminate (other than in accordance with the relevant termination provisions) or rescind any Transaction Document;
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(xiv) The Company uses the proceeds of the issuance of this Debenture, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof), or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose;
(xv) Any Event of Default (as defined in the Other Debentures or in any Transaction Document other than this Debenture) occurs with respect to any Other Debentures; or
(xvi) The Company shall fail to observe or perform any material covenant, agreement or warranty contained in, or otherwise commit any material breach or default of any provision of this Debenture (except as may be otherwise covered by Sections (2)(a)(i) through (2)(a)(xv) hereof) or any other Transaction Document, which is not cured or remedied within the time prescribed or if no time is prescribed within thirty (30) Business Days.
(b) During the time that any portion of this Debenture is outstanding, if any Event of Default has occurred (other than an event with respect to the Company described in Section (2)(a)(ii)), the full unpaid Principal amount of this Debenture, together with the Payment Premium in respect of such Principal amount, and all interest and other amounts owing in respect of this Debenture to the date of acceleration, shall become, at the Holders election given by notice pursuant to Section (5), immediately due and payable in cash; provided that, in the case of any event with respect to the Company described in Section (2)(a)(ii), the full unpaid Principal amount of this Debenture, together with the Payment Premium in respect of such Principal amount, and all accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts owing in respect of this Debenture to the date of acceleration, shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company. Furthermore, in addition to any other remedies, the Holder shall have the right (but not the obligation) to convert, on one or more occasions all or part of the Debenture in accordance with Section (3) (and subject to the limitations set out in Section (3)(c)(i) and Section (3)(c)(ii)) at any time after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing until all amounts outstanding under this Debenture have been repaid in full. The Holder need not provide, and the Company hereby waives, any presentment demand, protest or other notice of any kind (other than any required notice of conversion), and the Holder may immediately enforce any and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and all other remedies available to it under applicable law. Such declaration may be rescinded and annulled by the Holder in writing at any time prior to payment hereunder. No such rescission or annulment shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(3) CONVERSION OF DEBENTURE. This Debenture shall be convertible into Common Shares, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (3).
(a) Conversion Right. Subject to the limitations of Section (3)(c), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, the Holder shall be entitled to convert any portion of the outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount into fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares in accordance with Section (3)(b), at the Conversion Price. The number of Common Shares
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issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount pursuant to this Section (3)(a) shall be determined by dividing (x) such Conversion Amount by (y) the Conversion Price. The Company shall not issue any fraction of a Common Shares upon any conversion. All calculations under this Section (3) shall be rounded to the nearest $0.0001. If the issuance would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Common Share, the Company shall round such fraction of a Common Share up to the nearest whole share. The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp and similar taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Common Shares upon conversion of any Conversion Amount.
(b) Mechanics of Conversion.
(i) Optional Conversion. To convert any Conversion Amount into Common Shares on any date (a Conversion Date), the Holder shall (A) transmit by email (or otherwise deliver), for receipt on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York time, on such date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the Conversion Notice) to the Company and (B) if required by Section (3)(b)(iii), surrender this Debenture to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Company (or an indemnification undertaking reasonably satisfactory to the Company with respect to this Debenture in the case of its loss, theft or destruction). On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice (the Share Delivery Date), the Company shall (X) if legends are not required to be placed on certificates or the book-entry position of the Common Shares and provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in the Depository Trust Companys (DTC) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, instruct such transfer agent to credit such aggregate number of Common Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled to the Holders or its designees balance account with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver to the address as specified in the Conversion Notice, a certificate or book-entry position, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Common Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required pursuant to rules and regulations of the Commission. If this Debenture is physically surrendered for conversion and the outstanding Principal of this Debenture is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after receipt of this Debenture and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the holder a new Debenture representing the outstanding Principal not converted. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Shares issuable upon a conversion of this Debenture shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Shares upon the receipt by the Company of a Conversion Notice.
(ii) Companys Failure to Timely Convert. If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date to issue and deliver a certificate to the Holder or credit the Holders balance account with DTC for the number of Common Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon such Holders conversion of any Conversion Amount, and if on or after such Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) Common Shares to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of Common Shares issuable upon such conversion that the Holder anticipated receiving from the Company (a Buy-In), then the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holders
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request and in the Holders discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holders total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out of pocket expenses, if any) for the Common Shares so purchased (the Buy-In Price), at which point the Companys obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such Common Shares) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Common Shares to which the Holder is entitled with respect to such Conversion Notice 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 Common Shares, multiplied by (B) the Closing Price on the Conversion Date.
(iii) Book-Entry. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon conversion of any portion of this Debenture in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Debenture to the Company unless (A) the full Conversion Amount represented by this Debenture is being converted or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with prior written notice (which notice may be included in a Conversion Notice) requesting reissuance of this Debenture upon physical surrender of this Debenture. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the Principal and Interest converted and the dates of such conversions or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and the Company, so as not to require physical surrender of this Debenture upon any conversion.
(c) Limitations on Conversions.
(i) Beneficial Ownership. The Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of this Debenture to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion, the Holder (or any of such Holders Affiliates or any other Person who would be a beneficial owner of Common Shares beneficially owned by the Holder for purposes of Section 13(d) or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including any group as defined thereunder of which the Holder is a member), together with any Affiliate thereof, would beneficially own (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in excess of 4.99% of the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. Since the Holder will not be obligated to report to the Company the number of Common Shares it may hold at the time of a conversion hereunder, unless the conversion at issue would result in the issuance of Common Shares in excess of 4.99% of the then outstanding Common Shares without regard to any other shares which may be beneficially owned by the Holder or an Affiliate thereof, the Holder shall have the authority and obligation to determine whether the restriction contained in this Section will limit any particular conversion hereunder and to the extent that the Holder determines that the limitation contained in this Section applies, the determination of which portion of the Principal amount of this Debenture is convertible shall be the responsibility and obligation of the Holder. If the Holder has delivered a Conversion Notice for a Principal amount of this Debenture that, without regard to any other shares that the Holder or its Affiliates may beneficially own, would result in the issuance in excess of the permitted amount hereunder, the Company shall notify the Holder of this fact and shall honor the conversion for the maximum Principal amount permitted to be converted on such Conversion Date in accordance with Section (3)(a) and, any Principal amount tendered for conversion in excess of the permitted amount hereunder shall remain outstanding under this Debenture. The provisions of this Section may be waived by a Holder (but only as to itself and not to any other Holder) upon not less than 65 days prior notice to the Company. Other Holders shall be unaffected by any such waiver.
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(ii) Principal Market Limitation. Notwithstanding anything in this Debenture to the contrary, the Company shall not issue any Common Shares upon conversion of this Debenture, or otherwise, to the extent that such issuance of Common Shares would violate the Exchange Cap as set forth in Section 1(d) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(iii) Other Conversion Limitations. During each Calendar Month the Holder agrees that it shall not convert, together with its Affiliates, more than an aggregate amount of Principal equal to the product of (a) the percentage of the total Principal amount of the debentures issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement represented by this Debenture and all Other Debentures that were purchased by such Holder (together with its Affiliates) and (b) $6,250,000 (the Conversion Cap); provided, however, that foregoing limitation in this Section (3)(c)(iii) shall not apply (A) at any time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and (B) with respect to any conversions where the Conversion Price is greater than or equal to the Fixed Price, and may be waived with written consent of the Company. Any unused portion of the Conversion Cap in one Calendar Month may not be carried over to a subsequent Calendar Month.
(d) Other Provisions.
(i) All calculations under this Section (3) shall be rounded to the nearest $0.0001 or whole share.
(ii) So long as this Debenture or any Other Debentures remain outstanding, the Company shall have reserved from its duly authorized share capital, and shall have instructed the Transfer Agent to irrevocably reserve, the maximum number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of this Debenture and the Other Debentures (assuming for purposes hereof that (x) this Debenture and such Other Debentures are convertible at the Floor Price as of the date of determination, and (y) any such conversion shall not take into account any limitations on the conversion of the Debenture or Other Debentures set forth herein or therein (the Required Reserve Amount)), provided that at no time shall the number of Common Shares reserved pursuant to this Section (3)(d)(ii) be reduced other than pursuant to the conversion of this Debenture and the Other Debentures in accordance with their terms, and/or cancellation, or reverse stock split. If at any time while this Debenture or any Other Debentures remain outstanding, the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved Common Shares to satisfy the obligation to reserve for the issuance the Required Reserve Amount, the Company will promptly take all corporate action necessary to propose to a meeting of its shareholders an increase of its authorized share capital necessary to meet the Companys obligations pursuant to this Debenture, and cause its board of directors to recommend to the shareholders that they approve such proposal.
(iii) Nothing herein shall limit a Holders right to pursue actual damages or declare an Event of Default pursuant to Section (2) herein for the Companys failure to deliver certificates representing Common Shares upon conversion within the period specified herein and such Holder shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief, in each case without the need to post a bond or provide other security. The exercise of any such rights shall not prohibit the Holder from seeking to enforce damages pursuant to any other Section hereof or under applicable law.
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(iv) Legal Opinions. The Company is obligated to cause its legal counsel to deliver legal opinions to the Companys transfer agent in connection with any legend removal upon the expiration of any holding period or other requirement for which the Underlying Shares may bear legends restricting the transfer thereof (i) following any sale of such Underlying Shares pursuant to Rule 144, (ii) if such Underlying Shares are eligible for sale and about to be sold under Rule 144, or (iii) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the SEC); provided, however, that such Holder has delivered such reasonably requested representations to such transfer agent, the Company and the Companys legal counsel in connection with the request for such opinion. To the extent a legal opinion is not provided (either timely or at all), then, in addition to being an Event of Default hereunder, the Company agrees to reimburse the Holder for all reasonable costs incurred by the Holder in connection with any legal opinions paid for by the Holder in connection with the sale or transfer of the Underlying Shares. The Holder shall notify the Company of any such costs and expenses it incurs that are referred to in this section from time to time and all amounts owed hereunder shall be paid by the Company with reasonable promptness.
(e) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Subdivision or Combination of Common Shares. If the Company, at any time while this Debenture is outstanding, shall (i) pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions on its shares of Common Shares or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide outstanding Common Shares into a larger number of shares, (iii) combine (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue by reclassification of Common Shares any shares of capital stock of the Company, then each of the Fixed Price and the Floor Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of Common Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section shall become effective, in the case of a dividend distribution, immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution or, in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification, and shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision, combination or re-classification.
(f) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Issuance of Common Shares. If the Company, at any time while this Debenture is outstanding, issues or sells any Common Shares or Convertible Securities (other than shares issued or sold by the Company in connection with any Excluded Securities), for a consideration per share (the New Issuance Price) less than a price equal to the Fixed Price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale (such price the Applicable Price) (the foregoing a Dilutive Issuance), then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance the Fixed Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For the purposes hereof, if the Company in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities (other than shares issued or sold by the Company in connection with any Excluded Securities) and the
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lowest price per share for which one Common Share is issuable upon such conversion or exchange or exercise thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such Common Share 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. No further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such Common Share upon conversion or exchange or exercise of such Convertible Securities.
(g) Other Corporate Events. In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Shares (a Corporate Event), the Company shall make appropriate provision to ensure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon a conversion of this Debenture, at the Holders option, (i) in addition to the Common Shares receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets to which the Holder would have been entitled with respect to such Common Shares had such Common Shares been held by the Holder upon the consummation of such Corporate Event (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Debenture) or (ii) in lieu of the Common Shares otherwise receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets received by the holders of Common Shares in connection with the consummation of such Corporate Event in such amounts as the Holder would have been entitled to receive had this Debenture initially been issued with conversion rights for the form of such consideration (as opposed to Common Shares) at a conversion rate for such consideration commensurate with the Conversion Price. Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holders. The provisions of this Section shall apply similarly and equally to successive Corporate Events and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion or redemption of this Debenture.
(h) Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to Section (3) hereof, the Company shall promptly provide the Holder with a written notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
(i) In case of any (1) merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, or (2) sale by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of all or substantially all of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or a series of related transactions, a Holder shall have the right to (A) exercise any rights under Section (3)(f), (B) convert the aggregate amount of this Debenture then outstanding into the shares of stock and other securities, cash and property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of Common Shares following such merger, consolidation or sale, and such Holder shall be entitled upon such event or series of related events to receive such amount of securities, cash and property as the Common Shares into which such aggregate Principal amount of this Debenture could have been converted immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or sales would have been entitled, or (C) in the case of a merger or consolidation, require the surviving entity to issue to the Holder a convertible debenture with a Principal amount equal to the aggregate Principal amount of this Debenture then held by such Holder, plus all accrued and unpaid Interest and other amounts owing thereon, which such newly issued convertible debenture shall have terms identical (including with respect to conversion) to the terms of this Debenture, and shall be entitled to all of the rights and privileges of the Holder of this Debenture set forth herein and the agreements pursuant to which this
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Debenture was issued. In the case of clause (C), the conversion price applicable for the newly issued shares of convertible preferred stock or convertible debentures shall be based upon the amount of securities, cash and property that each Common Shares would receive in such transaction and the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness or closing date for such transaction. The terms of any such merger, sale or consolidation shall include such terms so as to continue to give the Holder the right to receive the securities, cash and property set forth in this Section upon any conversion or redemption following such event. This provision shall similarly apply to successive such events.
(4) REISSUANCE OF THIS DEBENTURE.
(a) Transfer. If this Debenture is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Debenture to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Debenture (in accordance with Section (4)(d)), registered in the name of the registered transferee or assignee, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Holder (along with any accrued and unpaid Interest thereof) and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Debenture (in accordance with Section (4)(d)) to the Holder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Debenture, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of Section (3)(b)(iii) following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Debenture, the outstanding Principal represented by this Debenture may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Debenture.
(b) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Debenture. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Debenture, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form and substance and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Debenture, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Debenture (in accordance with Section (4)(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.
(c) Debenture Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Debenture is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Debenture or Debentures (in accordance with Section (4)(d)) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal of this Debenture, and each such new Debenture will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.
(d) Issuance of New Debentures. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Debenture pursuant to the terms of this Debenture, such new Debenture (i) shall be of like tenor with this Debenture, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Debenture, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Debenture being issued pursuant to Section (4)(a) or Section (4)(c), the Principal designated by the Holder which, when added to the Principal represented by the other new Debentures issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Debenture immediately prior to such issuance of new Debentures), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Debenture, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Debenture, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Debenture, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest from the Issuance Date.
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(5) NOTICES. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms hereof must be in writing by letter or electronic mail (e-mail) and will be deemed to have been delivered (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally, (ii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, as applicable or (iii) receipt, when sent by e-mail, and, in each case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company, to: |
Bakkt Holdings, Inc. | |
10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000 | ||
Alpharetta, GA 30009 | ||
Attention: Marc DAnnunzio | ||
Email: [***] | ||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 125 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 Attention: Jared Fishman, Matt Goodman and Mario Schollmeyer Email: [***] | |
If to the Holder: |
YA II PN, Ltd | |
c/o Yorkville Advisors Global, LLC 1012 Springfield Avenue | ||
Mountainside, NJ 07092 | ||
Attention: Mark Angelo | ||
Telephone: [***] | ||
Email: [***] |
or at such other address and/or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party in accordance with this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (a) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (b) electronically generated by the senders email service provider containing the time, date, recipient email address or (c) provided by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service or receipt by e-mail in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
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(6) Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this Debenture shall alter or impair the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the Principal of, and Interest and other charges (if any) on, this Debenture at the time, place, and rate, and in the currency, herein prescribed. This Debenture is a direct obligation of the Company. As long as this Debenture is outstanding, the Company shall not and shall cause each of its subsidiaries not to, without the consent of the Holder, (i) amend its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents so as to adversely affect any rights of the Holder; (ii) repay, repurchase or offer to repay, repurchase or otherwise acquire shares of its Common Shares or other equity securities; (iii) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing; or (iv) enter into any agreement, arrangement or transaction in or of which the terms thereof would restrict, materially delay, conflict with or impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the this Debenture, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Company to make cash payments hereunder.
(7) This Debenture shall not entitle the Holder to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends and other distributions, or to receive any notice of, or to attend, meetings of stockholders or any other proceedings of the Company, unless and to the extent converted into Common Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.
(8) CHOICE OF LAW; VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
(a) Governing Law. This Debenture and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall, in all respects, be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws (excluding the principles of conflict of laws) of the State of New York (the Governing Jurisdiction) (including Section 5-1401 and Section 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York), including all matters of construction, validity and performance.
(b) Jurisdiction; Venue; Service.
(i) The Company hereby irrevocably consents to the non-exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state courts of the Governing Jurisdiction and, if a basis for federal jurisdiction exists, the non-exclusive personal jurisdiction of any United States District Court for the Governing Jurisdiction.
(ii) The Company agrees that venue shall be proper in any court of the Governing Jurisdiction selected by the Holder or, if a basis for federal jurisdiction exists, in any United States District Court in the Governing Jurisdiction selected by the Holder. The Company waives any right to object to the maintenance of any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, in any of the state or federal courts of the Governing Jurisdiction on the basis of improper venue or inconvenience of forum.
(iii) Any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or tort or otherwise, brought by the Company against the Holder arising out of or based upon this Debenture or any matter relating to this Debenture, or any other Transaction Document, or any contemplated transaction, shall be brought in a court only in the Governing Jurisdiction. The Company shall not file any counterclaim against the Holder in any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding brought by the Holder against the Company in a jurisdiction outside of the Governing Jurisdiction unless under the rules of the
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court in which the Holder brought such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding the counterclaim is mandatory, and not permissive, and would be considered waived unless filed as a counterclaim in the suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding instituted by the Holder against the Company. The Company agrees that any forum outside the Governing Jurisdiction is an inconvenient forum and that any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding brought by the Company against the Holder in any court outside the Governing Jurisdiction should be dismissed or transferred to a court located in the Governing Jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Company irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not bring or commence any suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Holder arising out of or based upon this Debenture or any matter relating to this Debenture, or any other Transaction Document, or any contemplated transaction, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State Court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court. The Company and the Holder agree that a final judgment in any such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(iv) The Company and the Holder irrevocably consent to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such suit, claim, action, litigation or proceeding by e-mail or the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail postage prepaid, to it at the e-mail address or physical address, as applicable, provided for notices in this Note, such service to become effective thirty (30) days after the date of such e-mail or mailing, as applicable. The Company and the Holder each irrevocably waive any defense it may have on the grounds of insufficient or improper service with respect to service of process effected in accordance with this Section (8)(b)(iv).
(v) Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Holder to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or to otherwise proceed against the Company or any other Person in the Governing Jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction.
(c) THE PARTIES MUTUALLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ALL CLAIMS OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS DEBENTURE OR ANY MATTER RELATING TO THIS DEBENTURE, OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, OR ANY CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTION. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A WAIVER OF A LEGAL RIGHT AND THAT THE PARTIES EACH MAKE THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH COUNSEL OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CHOICE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL SUCH CLAIMS SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A JUDGE OF A COURT HAVING JURISDICTION, WITHOUT A JURY.
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(9) Any waiver by the Holder of a breach of any provision of this Debenture 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 Debenture. The failure of the Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Debenture on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Debenture. Any waiver must be in writing.
(10) If any provision of this Debenture is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Debenture 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 shall violate applicable laws governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum permitted rate of Interest. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the Principal of or interest on this Debenture as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Debenture, and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefits or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Holder, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
(11) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Debenture, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Affiliate means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with, that Person and shall include any Person that directly or indirectly owns 10% or more of any class of Capital Stock of the Person specified.
(b) Applicable Price shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(f).
(c) Approved Stock Plan means any employee benefit plan or share incentive plan which has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to which the Companys securities may be issued to any employee, officer or director for services provided to the Company.
(d) Bloomberg means Bloomberg Financial Markets (or if not available, a similar service provider of national recognized standing).
(e) Business Day means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other government action to close.
(f) Buy-In shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(b)(ii).
(g) Buy-In Price shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(b)(ii).
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(h) Calendar Month means the period from the first day of a month to the last day of the same month.
(i) Capital Stock means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt any indebtedness convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing.
(j) Change of Control Transaction means the earliest to occur of:
(a) the acquisition by any Person or group, including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities, other than ICE or an Affiliate of ICE, of the direct or indirect beneficial ownership of Capital Stock representing more than 30% of the total voting power of all of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC (Bakkt Opco);
(b) a transaction or a series of related transactions occurs that results in the holders of the total voting power of all of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company existing immediately prior to the commencement of such transaction(s), together, ceasing to beneficially own at least 60% of the total voting power of all of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company;
(c) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the Companys board of directors cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of such board of directors on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to such board of directors was approved by individuals referred to in the preceding clause (i) constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of such board of directors or (iii) whose election or nomination to such board of directors was approved by individuals referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of such board of directors; or
(d) the Company ceases to be the managing member of Bakkt Opco.
For purposes of this definition of Change of Control Transaction including other defined terms used herein in connection with this definition (i) beneficial ownership shall be as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof and (ii) the words Person and group shall be within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.
(k) Closing Price means the price per share in the last reported trade of the Common Shares on a Principal Market or on the exchange which the Common Shares is then listed as quoted by Bloomberg.
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(l) Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(m) Common Shares means the shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001, of the Company and stock of any other class into which such shares may hereafter be changed or reclassified.
(n) Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
(o) Conversion Amount means the portion of the Principal, Interest, or other amounts outstanding under this Note to be converted, redeemed or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being made.
(p) Conversion Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(b)(i).
(q) Conversion Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(b)(i).
(r) Conversion Price means, as of any Conversion Date or other date of determination the lower of (i) $14.51 per Common Share (the Fixed Price), or (ii) 97% of the lowest daily VWAP during the 5 consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Conversion Date or other date of determination (the Variable Price), but which Variable Price shall not be lower than the Floor Price. The Conversion Price shall be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the other terms and conditions of this Note.
(s) Convertible Securities means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares.
(t) Dilutive Issuance shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(f).
(u) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(v) Exchange Cap shall have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(w) Excluded Securities means any Common Shares issued or issuable or deemed to be issued by the Company: (i) under any Approved Stock Plan, (ii) upon conversion of any of the Debentures issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (including the Debentures and Other Debentures and the Common Shares issued in connection with this Debenture and any of the Other Debentures); (iii) upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Options or Convertible Securities which are outstanding on the day immediately preceding the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement; provided, that such issuance of Common Shares upon exercise of such Options or Convertible Securities is made pursuant to the terms of such Options or Convertible Securities in effect on such date and such Options or Convertible Securities are not amended, modified or changed on or after such date, or (iv) upon a stock split, reverse stock split, distribution of bonus shares, combination or other recapitalization events.
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(x) Floor Price solely with respect to the Variable Price, shall mean $2.418 per Common Share.
(y) Fundamental Transaction means any of the following: (1) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person and the Company is the non-surviving company (other than a merger or consolidation with a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company for the purpose of redomiciling the Company), (2) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (3) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Shares are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, or (4) the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Shares or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Shares is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property.
(z) Governmental Authority means any federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court (including any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union or the European Central Bank), in each case, whether associated with a state or locality of the U.S., the U.S., or a foreign government.
(aa) ICE means Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its permitted successors and assigns.
(bb) Material Adverse Effect has the meaning given such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(cc) New Issuance Price shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(f).
(dd) Optional Redemption shall have the meaning set forth in (1)(c).
(ee) Options means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares or Convertible Securities.
(ff) Other Debentures means any other debentures issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement and any other debentures, notes, or other instruments issued in exchange, replacement, or modification of the foregoing.
(gg) Payment Premium means 5% of the Principal Amount being paid.
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(hh) Periodic Reports shall mean all of the Companys reports required to be filed by the Company with the Commission under applicable laws and regulations (including, without limitation, Regulation S-K), including annual reports (on Form 10-K), quarterly reports (on Form 10-Q), and current reports (on Form 8-K), for so long as any amounts are outstanding under this Debenture; provided that all such Periodic Reports shall include, when filed, all information, financial statements, audit reports (when applicable) and other information required to be included in such Periodic Reports in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
(ii) Person means any natural person, corporation, unlimited liability company, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or any other entity..
(jj) Principal Market means the New York Stock Exchange, provided however, that in the event the Common Stock is ever listed or traded on any of the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market, the Principal Market shall mean that market on which the Common Shares is then listed or traded.
(kk) Redemption Amount shall have the meaning set forth in (1)(c).
(ll) Redemption Notice shall have the meaning set forth in (1)(c).
(mm) Registration Rights Agreement has the meaning given such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(nn) Registration Statement means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, covering among other things the resale of the Underlying Shares and naming the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder.
(oo) Securities means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as securities or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing; provided that Securities shall not include any earn-out agreement or obligation or any employee bonus or other incentive compensation plan or agreement.
(pp) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(qq) Share Delivery Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section (3)(b)(i).
(rr) Subsidiary shall mean any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, (x) owns a majority of the outstanding capital stock or holds a majority of the equity or similar interest of such Person or (y) controls or operates all or substantially all of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and the foregoing are collectively referred to herein as Subsidiaries.
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(ss) Trading Day means a day on which the Common Shares are quoted or traded on a Principal Market on which the Common Shares are then quoted or listed; provided, that in the event that the Common Shares are not listed or quoted, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.
(tt) Transaction Document has the meaning given such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(uu) Underlying Shares means the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of this Debenture in accordance with the terms hereof.
(vv) Voting Stock shall mean, with respect to any Person, shares of such Persons Capital Stock that is at the time generally entitled, without regard to contingencies, to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person. To the extent that a partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement or other agreement governing a partnership or limited liability company provides that the members of the board of directors of such partnership or limited liability company (or, in the case of a limited partnership whose business and affairs are managed or controlled by its general partner, the board of directors of the general partner of such limited partnership) are appointed or designated by one or more Persons rather than by a vote of Voting Stock, each of the Persons who are entitled to appoint or designate the members of such board of directors will be deemed to own a percentage of Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company equal to (a) the aggregate votes entitled to be cast on such board of directors by the members of such board of directors which such Person or Persons are entitled to appoint or designate divided by (b) the aggregate number of votes of all members of such board of directors .
(ww) VWAP means, for any Trading Day, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Shares for such Trading Day on the Principal Market during regular trading hours as reported by Bloomberg L.P.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Convertible Debenture to be duly executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date set forth above.
COMPANY: | ||
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Akshay Naheta | |
Name: Akshay Naheta | ||
Title:Co CEO |
EXHIBIT I
CONVERSION NOTICE
(To be executed by the Holder in order to Convert the Debenture)
TO: CHAMPION
Via Email:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert a portion of the outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount of Debenture No. BKKT-1 into Common Shares of BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC., according to the conditions stated therein, as of the Conversion Date written below.
Conversion Date: |
Principal Amount to be Converted: |
Accrued Interest to be Converted: |
Total Conversion Amount to be converted: |
Fixed Price: |
Variable Price: |
Applicable Conversion Price: |
Number of Common Shares to be issued:
|
Please issue the Common Shares in the following name and deliver them to the following account: |
Issue to: |
Broker DTC Participant Code: |
Account Number: |
Authorized Signature: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: |
|
Exhibit 10.3
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to
item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
GLOBAL GUARANTY AGREEMENT
This Guaranty (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this Guaranty) is made as of June 17, 2025, by Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Guarantor) in favor of YA II PN, LTD. (YA II or the Creditor), with respect to all obligations of BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Debtor) owed to the Creditor.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Creditor and the Debtor have entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Agreement) on June 17, 2025 pursuant to which the Creditor shall purchase a convertible debenture (the Convertible Debenture) to be issued by the Debtor to the Creditor, pursuant to and upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement, in the amount of $25 million;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Creditors obligation to purchase the Convertible Debenture from the Debtor, the Guarantor has agreed to guarantee all of the Debtors obligations under the Agreement and the Convertible Debenture (together, the Transaction Documents). The Creditor is only willing to enter into the Agreement and purchase the Convertible Debenture from the Debtor if the Guarantor agrees to execute and deliver to the Creditor this Guaranty; and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is, or will be at the time of issuance of the Convertible Debenture, wholly owned, or a majority owned subsidiary of the Debtor and will benefit, directly or indirectly, from the Debtor entering into the Transaction Documents and extensions of credit the Creditor will make to Debtor;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor covenants and agrees as follows:
1. Guaranty of Payment and Performance. The Guarantor hereby guarantees to the Creditor the full, prompt and unconditional payment when due (whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), and the performance, of all liabilities, agreements and other obligations of the Debtor to the Creditor contained in the Transaction Documents (all the foregoing, collectively, the Obligations). This Guaranty is an absolute, unconditional and continuing guaranty of the full and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations and not of their collectability only and is in no way conditioned upon any requirement that the Creditor first attempt to collect or require the performance of any of the Obligations from the Debtor or resort to any security or other means of obtaining their payment. Should the Debtor default in the payment or performance of any of the Obligations, the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall become immediately due and payable to the Creditor, without demand or notice of any nature, all of which are expressly waived by the Guarantor.
2. Limited Guaranty. The liability of the Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the amount of the Obligations due to the Creditor.
3. Waivers by Guarantor; Creditors Freedom to Act. The Guarantor hereby agrees that the Obligations will be paid and performed strictly in accordance with their terms regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Creditor with respect thereto. The Guarantor waives presentment, demand, protest, notice of acceptance, notice of Obligations incurred and all other notices of any kind, all defenses that may be available by virtue of any valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect (other than payment in full of the Obligations), any right to require the marshalling of assets of the Debtor, and all suretyship defenses generally. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guarantor agrees to the provisions of any instrument evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with any Obligation and agrees that the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder shall not be released or discharged, in whole or in part, or otherwise affected by (i) the failure of the Creditor to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Debtor; (ii) any extensions or renewals of, or alteration of the terms of, any Obligation or any portion thereof unless entered into by the Creditor; (iii) any rescissions, waivers, amendments or modifications of any of the terms or provisions of any agreement evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with any Obligation unless entered into by the Creditor; (iv) the substitution or release of any entity primarily or secondarily liable for any Obligation; (v) the adequacy of any rights the Creditor may have against any collateral or other means of obtaining payment or performance of the Obligations; (vi) the impairment of any collateral securing the Obligations, including without limitation the failure to perfect or preserve any rights the Creditor might have in such collateral or the substitution, exchange, surrender, release, loss or destruction of any such collateral; (vii) failure to obtain or maintain a right of contribution for the benefit of such Guarantor; (viii) errors or omissions in connection with the Creditors administration of the Obligations (except behavior constituting bad faith); or (ix) any other act or omission that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a release or discharge of any Guarantor, all of which may be done without notice to any Guarantor.
4. Unenforceability of Obligations Against Debtor. If for any reason the Debtor is under no legal obligation to discharge or perform any of the Obligations, or if any of the Obligations have become irrecoverable from the Debtor by operation of law or for any other reason, this Guaranty shall nevertheless be binding on the Guarantor to the same extent as if the Guarantor at all times had been the principal obligor on all such Obligations. In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of the Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Debtor, or for any other reason, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with any Obligation shall be immediately due and payable by the Guarantor.
5. Subrogation; Subordination. Until the payment and performance in full of all Obligations, the Guarantor shall not exercise any rights against the Debtor arising as a result of payment by the Guarantor hereunder, by way of subrogation or otherwise, and will not prove any claim in competition with the Creditor in respect of any payment hereunder in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings of any nature; the Guarantor will not claim any set-off or counterclaim against the Debtor in respect of any liability of the Guarantor to the Debtor; and the Guarantor waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any collateral that may be held by the Creditor. The payment of any amounts due with respect to any indebtedness of the Debtor now
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or hereafter held by the Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the prior payment in full of the Obligations. The Guarantor agrees that after the occurrence of any default in the payment or performance of the Obligations, the Guarantor will not demand, sue for or otherwise attempt to collect any such indebtedness of the Debtor to the Guarantor until the Obligations shall have been paid or performed in full. If, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Guarantor shall collect, enforce or receive any amounts in respect of such indebtedness, such amounts shall be collected, enforced and received by the Guarantor as trustee for the Creditor and be paid over to the Creditor on account of the Obligations without affecting in any manner the liability of the Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty.
7. Termination; Reinstatement. This Guaranty is irrevocable and shall continue until such time as the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid or performed in full. This Guaranty shall be reinstated if at any time any payment made or value received with respect to an Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Creditor upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Debtor, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made or value received.
8. Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty shall be binding upon the Guarantor, its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Creditor and the Creditors shareholders, officers, directors, agents, successors and assigns.
9. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty nor consent to any departure by the Guarantor therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Creditor. No failure on the part of the Creditor to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.
10. Notices. All notices and other communications called for hereunder to the Creditor or the Debtor shall be made in writing as provided in the Agreement. All notices and other communications called for hereunder to the Guarantor shall be made in writing as provided on Schedule I attached hereto or as the Guarantor may otherwise notify the Creditor.
11. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction Waiver of Jury Trial. This Guaranty is intended to take effect as a sealed instrument and shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (excluding the laws applicable to conflicts or choice of law). The Guarantor agrees that any suit for the enforcement of this Guaranty may be brought in the courts of the State of New York, New York County and consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court and to service of process in any such suits being made upon any Guarantor by mail at the address set forth at the head of this Guaranty. The Guarantor hereby waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit or any such court or that such suit was brought in an inconvenient court. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, THE PERFORMANCE THEREOF OR THE FINANCINGS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON
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CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.
12. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Guaranty may be executed in identical counterparts, both which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. Facsimile or other electronically scanned and delivered signatures (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com), including by e-mail attachment, shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes of this Guaranty.
[Rest of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be executed and delivered as a sealed instrument as of the date appearing on page one.
Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC |
By: /s/ Marc DAnnunzio |
Name: Marc DAnnunzio |
Title: General Counsel |
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Schedule I
The Guarantor
Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC
10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Attention: Marc DAnnunzio
Email: [***]
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Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of June 17, 2025, is made by and between YA II PN, LTD., a Cayman Islands exempt limited company (the Investor), and BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Company). The Investor and the Company may be referred to herein individually as a Party and collectively as the Parties.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto of even date herewith (the Securities Purchase Agreement), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Investor up to $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible debentures (the Convertible Debentures), which shall be convertible into shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 (the Common Shares) (as converted, the Conversion Shares). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
B. Pursuant to the terms of, and in consideration for the Investor entering into, and to induce the Investor to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the Securities Act), and applicable state securities laws and other rights as provided for herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Effective Date means the date that the applicable Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
(b) Effectiveness Deadline means, (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(b), the 15th calendar day (or 60th calendar day if the SEC notifies the Company that it will review the Registration Statement) following the filing thereof and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the earlier of the (A) 75th calendar day following the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement and (B) no later than the fifth Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such additional Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review.
(c) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) Filing Deadline means, (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the 5th Business Day following the closing of the issuance of the Debentures and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Person means a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
(f) Prospectus means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
(g) Registrable Securities means all of (i) the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures, (ii) the additional shares issuable in connection with any anti-dilution provisions of the Convertible Debentures (without giving effect to any limitations on exercise set forth in the Convertible Debentures, as applicable) and (iii) any Common Shares issued or issuable with respect to any shares described in subsections (i) and (ii) above by way of any stock split, stock dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event or otherwise (in each case without giving effect to any limitations on exercise set forth in the Convertible Debentures, as applicable).
(h) Registration Statement means any registration statement of the Company filed pursuant to this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
(i) Required Registration Amount means (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement at least 10,339,123 Common Shares issued or to be issued upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures, and (ii) with respect to subsequent Registration Statements such number of Common Shares as requested by the Investor in an amount equal to the maximum number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion of all Convertible Debentures then outstanding (any such conversion shall not take into account any limitations on the conversion of the Convertible Debentures set forth therein), in each case subject to any cutback set forth in Section 2(d).
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(j) Rule 144 means Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto.
(k) Rule 415 means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
(l) SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at the time.
(m) Securities Act shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals above.
(n) SEC Guidance means (i) any current comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff and (ii) the Securities Act.
2. REGISTRATION.
(a) Registration Period. The Companys registration obligations set forth in this Section 2 including its obligations to file Registration Statements, obtain effectiveness of Registration Statements, and maintain the continuous effectiveness of any Registration Statement that has been declared effective shall begin on the date hereof and continue until all the Registrable Securities have been sold or may be sold without any restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 (the Registration Period).
(b) Mandatory Registration. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, (i) on or prior to the Filing Deadline, prepare and file with the SEC an initial Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if the Company is not then eligible, on Form S-1) or any successor form thereto covering the resale by the Investor of Registrable Securities, and (ii) on or prior to the 30th calendar day following receipt of each written notice by the Investor (a Demand Notice) delivered pursuant to the terms hereof, prepare and file an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Investor of Registrable Securities not covered by the initial Registration Statement. Each Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least the number of Common Shares equal to the Required Registration Amount as of date the Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC. Each Registration Statement shall contain Selling Stockholders and Plan of Distribution sections. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have each Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 am, New York time on the Business Day following the date of effectiveness, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement. Prior to the filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC, the Company shall furnish a draft of the Registration Statement to the Investor for their review and reasonable comment. The Investor shall furnish comments on the
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Registration Statement to the Company within 24 hours of the receipt thereof from the Company. For the purposes hereof, the Investor shall be entitled to deliver a Demand Notice to the Company at any time during the Registration Period if at such time (i) no Registration Statement is then in effect which the Investor may use to resell Registrable Securities, or (ii) a Registration Statement is effective, but the holder has resold substantially all of the Common Shares registered on such Registration Statement to the extent that additional Registrable Securities remain issuable.
(c) Amendments and Supplements. During the Registration Period, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection with a Registration Statement, which Prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, (ii) prepare and file with the SEC additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (iii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iv) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the SEC with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably practicable provide the Investor true and complete copies of all substantive and material correspondence from and to the SEC relating to a Registration Statement (provided that the Company may excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information as to any Investor which has not executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company) and (v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 2(c)) by reason of the Companys filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act, the Company shall incorporate such report by reference into the Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.
(d) Reduction of Registrable Securities Included in a Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in the event that the SEC requires the Company to reduce the number of Registrable Securities to be included in a Registration Statement in order to allow the Company to rely on Rule 415 with respect to a Registration Statement, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such Registration Statement (which may be a subsequent Registration Statement if the Company needs to withdraw a Registration Statement and refile a new Registration Statement in order to rely on Rule 415) only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities as the SEC shall permit. Any Registrable Securities that are excluded in accordance with the foregoing terms are hereinafter referred to as Cut Back Securities. To the extent Cut Back Securities exist, promptly following such time as may be permitted by the SEC, the Company shall be required to file a Registration Statement covering
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the resale of the Cut Back Securities (subject also to the terms of this Section) and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective as promptly as practicable thereafter, but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, to the extent necessary, the Company shall be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance Unless otherwise directed in writing by a holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced as follows: (i) first, the Company shall reduce or eliminate any securities to be included other than Registrable Securities; and (ii) second, the Company shall reduce Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by such holders (or as otherwise expressly directed by the SEC).
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
(a) The Company shall, not less than three Business Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one Business Day prior to the filing of any related amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements (except for annual reports on Form 10-K, supplements and amendments to update the Registration Statement solely for information reflected in the Companys annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K), furnish to each Investor copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the Investors review and reasonable comment. The Investor shall furnish comments on such documents to the Company within 24 hours of receipt thereof from the Company. The Company shall not file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Investor shall reasonably object in good faith on the Business Day it is notified in accordance with this Section 3(a), unless the Company determines in good faith that such filing is required by applicable law.
(b) The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) an electronic copy of such Registration Statement as declared effective by the SEC and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) an electronic of the final prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents, which are not publicly available through EDGAR, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
(c) To the extent required by blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in the United States, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during
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the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (w) make any change to its articles of incorporation or by-laws, (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(c), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
(d) At any time prior to the end of the Registration Period, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event or development, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic information), and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to the Investor. The Company shall also promptly notify each Investor in writing (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to the Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Companys reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate. The Company shall respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from the SEC with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto.
(e) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction within the United States of America and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
(f) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning the Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary or (on the advice of counsel) advisable to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
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public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning the Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, if permitted by applicable law, give prompt written notice to the Investor and allow the Investor, at the Investors expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
(g) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all the Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which the Common Shares is then listed. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(g).
(h) The Company shall reasonably cooperate with the holders of the Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such Registration Statement or Rule 144 free of any restrictive legends and representing such number of Common Shares and registered in such names as the holders of the Registrable Securities may reasonably request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement or Rule; provided, that the Company may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of The Depository Trust Companys Direct Registration System.
(i) Within one Business Day after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTOR.
(a) The Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d) the Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until the Investors receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(d) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, subject to compliance with the securities laws, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver Common Shares to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investors receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d) and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
(b) The Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
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5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
Each party shall bear its own fees and expenses related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and in connection with the registration and disposition of Registrable Securities shall be paid by the Company, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers expenses, and fees and expenses of the Companys counsel and accountants (except legal fees of Investors counsel associated with the review of the Registration Statement). The Investor shall pay any sales or brokerage commissions and fees and expenses of counsel for, and other expenses of, the Investor incurred in connection with registration of Registrable Securities.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
With respect to Registrable Securities which are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Investor, the directors, officers, partners, employees of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an Indemnified Person), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several (collectively, Claims) incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto (Indemnified Damages), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (Blue Sky Filing), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation there under relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, Violations) except in each case as arises from such Indemnified Persons own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company shall reimburse the Investor and each such controlling person promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or disbursements or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to
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the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (x) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (y) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c); and (z) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person.
(b) In connection with a Registration Statement, the Investor agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers, employees, representatives, or agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each an Indemnified Party), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or is based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(d), such Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the prospectus was corrected and such new prospectus was delivered to each Investor prior to such Investors use of the prospectus to which the Claim relates.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
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Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one (1) counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(d) The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
(e) The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities; and (iii) no party shall be entitled to contribution in connection with claims arising from such partys own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
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8. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investor to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, and as a material inducement to the Investors purchase of the Convertible Debentures, the Company represents, warrants, and covenants to the following:
(a) The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and has filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months prior to the date hereof (or for such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports), other than Form 8-K reports.
(b) During the Registration Period, the Company shall file with the SEC in a timely manner all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the Companys obligations under the Securities Purchase Agreement, it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that a timely filing includes any permitted filing deadline extension under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act) and such reports shall conform in all material respects to the requirement of the Exchange Act and the SEC for filing thereunder.
(c) The Company shall furnish to the Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company (unless available on the SECs website), and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investor to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 9 shall be binding upon the Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to fewer than all of the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities or owns the right to receive the Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
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(b) The Company shall not include any other securities on a Registration Statement unless otherwise agreed by the Investor.
(c) Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered pursuant to the notice provisions of the Securities Purchase Agreement or to such other address and/or electronic mail address and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) electronically generated by the senders email service provider containing the time, date, and recipient email or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with this section.
(d) Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
(e) The laws of the State of New York shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and the Investors as its stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement 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 jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, sitting in New York County, New York and federal courts for the Southern District of New York sitting New York, New York, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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(f) This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Investor hereunder may only be assigned upon the transfer of a Convertible Debenture or the Conversion Shares issued pursuant to a Convertible Debenture pursuant to the terms and restrictions on transfer set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement and the applicable Convertible Debenture. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the parties. No assignment by any party hereto of such partys rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (A) written notice of such assignment and (B) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement).
(g) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, both which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. Facsimile or other electronically scanned and delivered signatures (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com), including by e-mail attachment, shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes of this Agreement.
(i) Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(j) The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
(k) This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investor and the Company have caused their signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
COMPANY: | ||
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Akshay Naheta | |
Name: | Akshay Naheta | |
Title: | Co CEO | |
INVESTOR: | ||
YA II PN, LTD. | ||
By: | Yorkville Advisors Global, LP | |
Its: | Investment Manager | |
By: Yorkville Advisors Global II, LLC Its: General Partner | ||
By: /s/ Matt Beckman | ||
Name: Matt Beckman | ||
Title: Member |
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Exhibit 10.5
FIRST AMENDMENT TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
This First Amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement (this Amendment) is made as of June 17, 2025 (the Effective Date), by and among Bakkt Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Holdings), Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Borrower), and Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Lender).
WHEREAS, Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries of Holdings from time to time party thereto and the Lender previously entered into that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024 (as amended, amended and restated, restated, supplemented, modified or otherwise in effect from time to time prior to the date hereof, the Existing Credit Agreement, and as further amended by this Amendment, the Credit Agreement); and
WHEREAS, Holdings, the Borrower and the Lender have agreed to amend the Existing Credit Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the above premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Lender hereby covenants and agrees as follows:
1. | Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement. |
2. | Amendments. The Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows: |
(a) | The following new definition is added to Section 1.01 of the Existing Credit Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order: |
Convertible Debenture means that certain convertible debenture, to be issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2025, by and between Holdings and the Buyers listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto, as may be amended from time to time.
(b) | Section 6.01 of the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting and at the end of clause (m) thereof, replacing . with ; and at the end of clause (n) thereof, and adding a new clause thereto that reads as follows: |
(o) Indebtedness outstanding under the Convertible Debenture in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof.
(c) | Section 6.04(b) is hereby amended by deleting and; at the end of clause (iii) thereof, replacing . with ; and at the end of clause (iv) thereof, and adding a new clause thereto that reads as follows: |
(v) payments on or with respect to any obligations under the Convertible Debenture.
3. Representations and Warranties. Holdings and the Borrower hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant that as of the Effective Date:
(a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) each of the representations and warranties set forth in Article 3 of the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents is true and correct in all material respects (except that any representations and warranties which are themselves qualified by materiality are true and correct in all respects) as of the Effective Date, except in the case of any such representation and warranty that expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty was true and correct in all material respects (except that any representations and warranties which are themselves qualified materiality were true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date; and
(c) each of Holdings and the Borrower has the power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform this Amendment. This Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings and the Borrower, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
4. | Agreement of Holdings and the Borrower. Not later than three (3) Business Days after the Effective Date, the Borrower shall (a) prepay the principal owed with respect to all outstanding Loans, together with accrued interest thereon, (b) pay the $2,210,000 in fees owed by Holdings to the Lender pursuant to that certain Transition Services Agreement dated November 10, 2021 between Lender and Holdings and (c) reimburse the Lender for legal fees incurred by it in connection with the Loan Agreement in an amount equal to $255,825. The failure to comply with this agreement shall constitute an immediate Event of Default. |
5. | Reaffirmation of Loan Documents. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the parties hereto agree that all terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents remain in full force and effect. Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby acknowledges, confirms and agrees that the Collateral shall continue to secure all applicable Obligations at any time and from time to time outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as such Obligations may have been amended pursuant to this Amendment. |
6. | Amendment, Modification and Waiver. This Amendment may not be amended, modified or waived except as permitted by Section 8.02(b) of the Credit Agreement. |
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7. | Fees and Expenses. Holdings and the Borrower agree to reimburse the Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with this Amendment to the extent reimbursable by Holdings and the Borrower pursuant to, and subject to the limitations in, Section 8.03 of the Credit Agreement. |
8. | Miscellaneous. |
(a) | This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document. |
(b) | Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement and all other Loan Documents are and shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed. |
(c) | The execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment shall not constitute a waiver of any provision of, or operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Lender under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents. |
(d) | This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. An executed facsimile or electronic copy of this Amendment shall be effective for all purposes as an original hereof. Any signature to this Amendment or any document signed or to be signed in connection with this Amendment may be delivered by facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) or any electronic signature complying with the US federal ESIGN Act of 2000 or the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. |
(e) | This Amendment expresses the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the amendments contemplated hereby. No prior negotiations or discussions shall limit, modify or otherwise affect the provisions hereof. |
(f) | Any determination that any provision of this Amendment or any application hereof is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect and in any instance shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision in any other instance, or the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provisions of this Amendment. |
(g) | The provisions of Section 8.10 and 8.11 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference into this Amendment mutatis mutandis, as if originally made a part hereof. |
[Signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the date first above written.
HOLDINGS: | ||
BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Akshay Naheta | |
Name: Akshay Naheta | ||
Title: Co CEO | ||
BORROWER: | ||
BAKKT OPCO HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: | /s/ Marc DAnnunzio | |
Name: Marc DAnnunzio | ||
Title: General Counsel |
LENDER: | ||||
INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation | ||||
By: | /s/ Martin Hunter | |||
Name: Martin Hunter | ||||
Title: Senior Bice President, Tax & Treasurer |