UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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): November 1, 2016
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 000-51872 | 87-0645394 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
||
202 S. Dean St. Englewood, NJ 07631 | ||||
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(201) 258-3770
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On November 1, 2016, Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) conducted the initial closing (the “Initial Closing”) of a private placement offering to accredited investors (the “Offering”) of the Company’s units of its securities by entering into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with an “accredited investor” (“Investor”) for aggregate gross proceeds of $100,000.
The Company is offering, through its placement agent, Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. (the “Placement Agent”), a minimum of $100,000 up to a maximum of $400,000 of units of its securities (each, a “Unit” and collectively, the “Units”), with each Unit consisting of (a) a 10% Convertible Unsecured Promissory Note in the aggregate face principal amount of $100,000 (the “Note”), convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Conversion Shares”) at an initial conversion price of $0.30 per share (the “Conversion Price”), and (b) a five-year warrant (“Warrants”) to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) at $0.30 per share (“Exercise Price”) .
The Conversion Price of the Note and the Exercise Price of the Warrants are subject to adjustment for issuances of the Company’s common stock or any equity linked instruments or securities convertible into the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of less than the prevailing Conversion Price or Exercise Price. Such adjustment shall result in the Conversion Price and Exercise Price being reduced to such lower purchase price, subject to carve-outs as described therein.
The Note issued to the Investor at the Initial Closing, bears interest at a rate of ten percent (10%) per annum and matures on the first (1 st ) anniversary of the issuance date, November 1, 2017.
In connection with the Offering, the Company retained the Placement Agent, a registered FINRA broker dealer, to carry out the Offering on a “best-efforts” basis. For services in its capacity as Placement Agent, the Company agreed to pay the Placement Agent, subject to certain exceptions: (i) a cash fee equal to ten percent (10%) of the aggregate gross proceeds raised by the Placement Agent in the Offering, (ii) a non-accountable expense allowance of three percent (3%) of the aggregate gross proceeds raised by the Placement Agent in the Offering, and (iii) shares of Common Stock equal to ten percent (10%) of the number of Conversion Shares that are issuable upon conversion of the Notes sold in the Offering. The Placement Agent may reallocate a portion of its compensation to other licensed securities broker-dealers assisting in the sale and placement of the Units.
Additionally, on December 22, 2016, the Company entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subsequent Accredited Investor Subscription Agreement”), substantially the same in form and substance to the Subscription Agreement, with an accredited investor (“Accredited Investor”) for aggregate gross proceeds of $225,000 (the “Subsequent Debt Financing”). Though not part of the Offering, the Accredited Investor was issued a Note and Warrants on identical terms as those investing in the Offering. The Placement Agent did not receive compensation for the Subsequent Debt Financing.
The foregoing description of the Offering does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Subscription Agreement, the Note and the Warrant, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2 and Exhibit 4.1, respectively.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of the Registrant.
Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference.
The securities issued pursuant to the Offering were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), but qualified for exemption under Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D the Securities Act.
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Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
The information provided under this Item 7.01 is "furnished"
and shall not be deemed "filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission or incorporated by reference in any filing
under the Securities Exchange Act or 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933.
We have authored a white paper on the Company’s “digital arbitrage” which includes a discourse on how to make
and scale money making opportunities on the internet.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits – The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |
10.1 | Form of Subscription Agreement* | |
10.2 | Form of Promissory Note* | |
10.3 | Form of Warrant* | |
99.1 | White Paper* |
*Filed herewith
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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.
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
Dated: January 17, 2017 | By: | /s/ Jeremy Frommer |
Jeremy Frommer
Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 10.1
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of ____________, 2016, by and between Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), and the subscriber identified on the signature page hereto (the “ Subscriber ”).
WHEREAS , the Company and the Subscriber are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon an exemption from securities registration afforded by the provisions of Section 4(2)and/or Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”), as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”); and
WHEREAS , the Company is offering (the “ Offering ”), on a “best efforts” basis, through Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc., as placement agent (the “ Placement Agent ”), a minimum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) (the “ Minimum Amount ”) and a maximum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) (the “ Maximum Amount ”) of units (the “ Units ”) consisting of the Company’s 10% Unsecured Convertible Notes (“ Convertible Notes ”) convertible into shares (the “ Conversion Shares ”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”), in the form annexed as Exhibit A and five-year common stock purchase warrants (the “ Warrants ”) in the form annexed as Exhibit B , to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “ Warrant Shares ”). The Convertible Notes, the Conversion Shares the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities ”; and
WHEREAS , the Company and the Placement Agent may mutually agree to increase the size of the Offering by $100,000 in order to cover over-allotments of the Units; and
WHEREAS, the minimum subscription amount is $100,000; however, the Company may, in its sole discretion, accept subscriptions from Subscribers for lesser amounts; and
WHEREAS , the Offering commenced on November 1, 2016 and will continue until November 30, 2016, subject to prior sale of all of the Units or withdrawal of the Offering; however the Company and the Placement Agent may, with or without notice to the Subscribers, extend the offering period by an additional period not to exceed thirty (30) days (the “ Offering Period ”); and
WHEREAS , the subscription proceeds of the sale of the Convertible Notes and the Warrants contemplated hereby (“ Purchase Price ”) shall be held in escrow by Cross River Bank (the “ Escrow Agent ”) pursuant to the terms of an Escrow Agreement (the “ Escrow Agreement ”); and
WHEREAS, Subscribers are not parties to the Escrow Agreement, and the escrow agent is appointed for administrative convenience only and not to protect the interests of Subscribers; and
WHEREAS, the Escrow Agreement provides that a condition of the release of Subscribers’ funds from escrow is that the Minimum Amount has been subscribed for; and
WHEREAS , the Units will only be sold to “accredited investors” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D of the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, an initial closing of the Offering will take place upon receipt and acceptance by the Company of subscriptions for at least the Minimum Amount; and thereafter, additional closings of the Offering will take place during the Offering Period at the direction of the Company and the Placement Agent; and
WHEREAS , counterpart signature pages to this Agreement will evidence the several purchases and sales to Subscribers in the Offering; and
WHEREAS , each of the Subscribers desires to purchase and the Company desires to sell to each such Subscriber, that number of Units set forth on the applicable signature page hereof on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement, the Company and the Subscribers hereby agree as follows:
1. Closings; Purchase and Sale of Shares and Warrants .
(a) Closings . Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Investment Term Sheet accompanying this Agreement, an initial closing of the Offering will take place upon receipt and acceptance by the Company of subscriptions for at least the Minimum Amount; and thereafter, additional closings of the Offering will take place during the Offering Period at the direction of the Company and the Placement Agent. Each date on which the Escrow Agent disburses funds received from one or more Subscribers to the Units in accordance with the provisions of the Escrow Agreement shall be a “ Closing Date ” with respect to such released funds and the corresponding purchase and sale of Units. Such purchases, sales and disbursements are individually referred to herein as a “ Closing ” and collectively as the “ Closings ;” the Closing at which at least the Minimum Amount is disbursed from escrow shall be referred to herein as the “ Initial Closing; ” and the date on which any Closing takes place shall be referred to herein as a “ Closing Date .” At a Closing, each Subscriber whose subscription funds are to be disbursed from escrow shall purchase, and the Company shall sell to each such Subscriber, the Units subscribed to hereunder and accepted by the Company.
(b) Time Effective Clauses . All time effective clauses not specifically related to an actual Closing Date shall be deemed to have commenced as of the Initial Closing Date.
2. Convertible Note and Warrant .
(a) Convertible Notes . On the Closing Date, each Subscriber shall purchase and the Company shall sell to each such Subscriber, Units including a Convertible Note in the amount designated on such Subscriber’s signature page hereto for such Subscriber’s Purchase Price indicated thereon.
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(b) Warrants. On the Closing Date, the Company shall issue and deliver to each Subscriber, one (1) Warrant to purchase up to the number of Warrant Shares that is equal to 100% of the dollar amount designated on such Subscriber’s signature page (by way of example a $100,000 subscription will result in the issuance of a Warrant to purchase 100,000 Warrant Shares of Common Stock. The exercise price to acquire a Warrant Share upon exercise of a Warrant shall be $0.30, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrants. The Warrants shall be exercisable in whole or in part and from time to time during the five (5) year period after the Closing Date. The Warrants may be exercised on a “cashless” basis to the extent set forth in the Warrant.
3. Payment and Allocation of Purchase Price . In consideration of the issuance of the Convertible Notes and Warrants on the Closing Date, each Subscriber shall pay such Subscriber’s Purchase Price, as set forth on the corresponding signature pages hereto. The Purchase Price shall be payable to “Cross River Bank, as Escrow Agent.” The number of Warrant Shares eligible for purchase by each such Subscriber is set forth on the corresponding signature pages hereto. The Purchase Price will be allocated among the components of the Convertible Notes and Warrants so that each component of same will be fully paid and non-assessable.
4. Subscriber Representations and Warranties . Each of the Subscribers, severally but not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with the Company that, with respect only to such Subscriber:
(a) Organization and Standing of Subscriber . If Subscriber is an entity, Subscriber is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation. If the Subscriber is a natural person, Subscriber has the legal capacity and power to enter into this Agreement.
(b) Authorization and Power . Subscriber has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to purchase the Units being sold to such Subscriber hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Subscriber, and the consummation by such Subscriber of the transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and no further consent or authorization of Subscriber or its board of directors, manager(s), trustee, stockholders, partners, members or beneficiaries, as applicable, is required. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subscriber and constitutes, or shall constitute, when executed and delivered, a valid and binding obligation of such Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with the terms thereof.
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(c) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by such Subscriber of the transactions contemplated hereby or relating hereto do not and will not (i) result in a violation of such Subscriber’s charter documents, bylaws or other organizational documents, if applicable; (ii) conflict with nor constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under any agreement to which such Subscriber is a party; or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule or regulation, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental agency applicable to such Subscriber or its properties (except for such conflicts, defaults and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Subscriber). Such Subscriber is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for such Subscriber to execute, deliver or perform any of such Subscriber’s obligations under this Agreement, nor to purchase the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, provided that for purposes of the representation made in this sentence, such Subscriber is assuming and relying upon the accuracy of the relevant representations and agreements of the Company herein.
(d) Receipt of Information . Subscriber believes it has received all the information it considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to invest the Securities and to accept the Securities. Subscriber further represents that through its representatives it has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the business, properties and financial condition of the Company and to obtain additional information (to the extent the Company possessed such information or could acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify the accuracy of any information furnished to it or to which it had access.
(e) Information on Subscriber . Subscriber is, and will be at the time of the conversion of the Convertible Notes and exercise of the Warrants, an “ accredited investor ,” as such term is defined in Regulation D promulgated by the Commission under the 1933 Act, is experienced in investments and business matters, has made investments of a speculative nature and has purchased securities of United States publicly-owned companies in private placements in the past and, with its representatives, has such knowledge and experience in financial, tax and other business matters as to enable such Subscriber to utilize the information made available by the Company to evaluate the merits and risks of, and to make an informed investment decision with respect to, the proposed purchase, which such Subscriber hereby agrees represents a speculative investment. Such Subscriber has the authority and is duly and legally qualified to purchase and own the Securities. Such Subscriber is able to bear the risk of such investment for an indefinite period and to afford a complete loss thereof. The information set forth on the signature page hereto regarding such Subscriber is accurate.
(f) Purchase of Convertible Notes and Warrants . On the Closing Date, Subscriber will purchase the Convertible Notes and Warrants, as principal for its own account, for investment only and not with a view toward, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or any distribution thereof.
(g) Compliance with Securities Act . Subscriber understands and agrees that the Securities have not been registered under the 1933 Act or any applicable state securities laws by reason of their issuance in a transaction that does not require registration under the 1933 Act (based in part on the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber contained herein), and that such Securities must be held indefinitely unless a subsequent disposition is registered under the 1933 Act or any applicable state securities laws or is exempt from such registration.
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(h) Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares Legend . The Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares shall bear the following or substantially similar legend:
“ THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, NOR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER AND REASONABLY APPROVED BY THE COMPANY), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES .”
(i) Convertible Notes and Warrants Legend . The Convertible Notes and Warrants shall bear the following or substantially similar legend:
“ NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE OR EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER AND REASONABLY APPROVED BY THE COMPANY), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES .”
(j) Communication of Offer . At no time was Subscriber presented with or solicited by any leaflet, newspaper or magazine article, radio or television advertisement, or any other form of general advertising or solicited or invited to attend a promotional meeting otherwise than in connection and concurrently with such communicated offer.
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(k) Restricted Securities . Subscriber understands that the Securities have not been registered under the 1933 Act and such Subscriber shall not sell, offer to sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise transfer any of the Securities unless pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act, or unless an exemption from registration is available. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, such Subscriber may transfer (without restriction and without the need for an opinion of counsel as permitted under applicable law) the Securities: (i) to such Subscriber’s Affiliates (as defined below), provided that each such Affiliate is an “accredited investor,” as such term is defined under Regulation D, and such Affiliate agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement; (ii) to such Subscriber’s Immediate Family (as defined below), provided the Immediate Family member agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement; (iii) to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which the Securities are to be passed to Subscriber’s designated beneficiaries; or (iv) by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. For the purposes of this Agreement, an “ Affiliate ” of any person or entity means any other person or entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such person or entity. Without limiting the foregoing, each Subsidiary (as defined herein) is an Affiliate of the Company. For purposes of this definition, “ control ” means the power to direct the management and policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Immediate Family ” means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law.
(l) No Governmental Review . Subscriber understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other governmental or state agency has passed on or made recommendations or endorsement of the Securities or the suitability of the investment in the Securities, nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(m) Independent Decision . The decision of Subscriber to purchase Securities has been made by such Subscriber independently of any other Subscriber and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company which may have been made or given by any other Subscriber or by any agent or employee of any other Subscriber, and no Subscriber or any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Subscriber (or any other Person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions.
(n) Financial Statements or Representations . Subscriber confirms its understanding that it has had the opportunity to review the Company's financial reports and disclosures filed with the SEC, including all applicable risk factors prior to subscribing. The Subscriber further confirms its understanding that those risk factors include the potential loss of its entire investment.
(o) Correctness of Representations . Subscriber represents that the foregoing representations and warranties are true and correct as of the date hereof and, unless Subscriber otherwise notifies the Company in writing prior to the Closing Date, shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date.
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(p) Survival. The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date.
5. Company Representations and Warranties . Except as set forth in the Schedules hereto, the Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each Subscriber that:
(a) Due Incorporation . The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, other than those jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein). For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, prospects, properties or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any entity at any date, any direct or indirect corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, joint venture or other business entity of which (A) more than 30% of (i) the outstanding capital stock having (in the absence of contingencies) ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managing body of such entity, (ii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership or limited liability company or (iii) in the case of a trust, estate, association, joint venture or other entity, the beneficial interest in such trust, estate, association or other entity business is, at the time of determination, owned or controlled directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, by such entity, or (B) is under the actual control of the Company. As of the Closing Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries and the Company’s ownership interests therein are described in the Company's filings with the SEC (the “ SEC Documents ”). The Company represents that it owns all of the equity of the Subsidiaries and rights to receive equity of the Subsidiaries free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims, except as set forth in the SEC Documents. No person or entity other than the Company has the right to receive any equity interest in the Subsidiaries.
(b) Outstanding Stock; Capitalization . All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock and equity interests in the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. The Capitalization of the Company is accurately set forth in the SEC Documents. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, there are no options, warrants or rights to subscribe to securities, rights, understandings or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for or granting any right to subscribe for any shares of capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries. There are no outstanding agreements or preemptive or similar rights affecting the Company’s Common Stock or equity.
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(c) Authority; Enforceability . This Agreement, the Convertible Notes, Warrants, the Escrow Agreement, and any other agreements delivered or required to be delivered together with or pursuant to this Agreement or in connection herewith (collectively, the “ Transaction Documents ”) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and/or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and are valid and binding agreements of the Company and/or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity. The Company and/or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, have full corporate power and authority necessary to enter into and deliver the Transaction Documents and to perform their obligations thereunder.
(d) Consents . No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, governmental agency or body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates, or the Company’s stockholders is required for the execution by the Company of the Transaction Documents and compliance and performance by the Company and the Subsidiaries of their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Securities, other than a Form D to be filed with the SEC and compliance with applicable state securities laws. The Transaction Documents and the Company’s performance of its obligations thereunder have been unanimously approved by the Company’s board of directors in accordance with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Any such qualifications and filings will, in the case of qualifications, be effective upon Closing, and will, in the case of filings, be made within the time prescribed by law.
(e) No Violation or Conflict . Conditioned upon the representations and warranties of Subscriber in Section 4 hereof being materially true and correct, neither the issuance nor the sale of the Securities nor the performance of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company, will:
(i) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would be reasonably likely to constitute a default) under (A) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (B) to the Company’s knowledge, any decree, judgment, order, law, treaty, rule, regulation or determination applicable to the Company of any court, governmental agency or body, or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company or over the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (C) the terms of any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness, or any agreement, stock option or other similar plan, indenture, lease, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument to which the Company or any of its Affiliates is a party, by which the Company or any of its Affiliates is bound, or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its Affiliates is subject or (D) the terms of any “lock-up” or similar provision of any underwriting or similar agreement to which the Company, or any of its Affiliates is a party, except the violation, conflict, breach or default of which would not have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(ii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Securities or any of the assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
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(f) The Securities . The Securities upon issuance:
(i) are, or will be, free and clear of any security interests, liens, claims or other encumbrances, subject only to restrictions upon transfer under the 1933 Act and any applicable state securities laws;
(ii) have been, or will be, duly and validly authorized and on the dates of issuance of the Convertible Notes and Warrants, the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, and the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants, such Convertible Notes, Warrants, Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(iii) will not have been issued or sold in violation of any preemptive or other similar rights of the holders of any securities of the Company or rights to acquire securities or debt of the Company;
(iv) will not subject the holders thereof to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and
(v) conditioned upon the representations and warranties of the Subscribers as set forth in Section 4 hereof being materially true and correct, will not result in a violation of Section 5 under the 1933 Act.
(g) Litigation. There is no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation before any court, governmental agency or body, or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company, or any of its Affiliates that would affect the execution by the Company or the complete and timely performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents. Except as otherwise disclosed in the SEC Documents, there is no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, basis for or threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation before any court, governmental agency or body, or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company, or any of its Affiliates which litigation if adversely determined would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) No Market Manipulation . The Company and its Affiliates have not taken, and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or affect the price at which the Securities may be issued or resold.
(i) Defaults. The Company is not in violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws. The Company is (i) not in default under or in violation of any other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties are bound or affected, which default or violation would have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) not in default with respect to any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body or subject to or party to any order of any court or governmental authority arising out of any action, suit or proceeding under any statute or other law respecting antitrust, monopoly, restraint of trade, unfair competition or similar matters which default would have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) not in violation of any statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority which violation would have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(j) No Integrated Offering . Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has directly or indirectly made any offers or sales of any security of the Company nor solicited any offers to buy any security of the Company under circumstances that would cause the offer of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the 1933 Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions. No prior offering will impair the exemptions relied upon in this Offering or the Company’s ability to timely comply with its obligations hereunder. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates will take any action or suffer any inaction or conduct any offering other than the transactions contemplated hereby that may be integrated with the offer or issuance of the Securities or that would impair the exemptions relied upon in this Offering or the Company’s ability to timely comply with its obligations hereunder.
(k) No General Solicitation . Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor to its knowledge, 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 1933 Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
(l) Dilution . The Company’s executive officers and directors understand the nature of the Securities being sold hereby and recognize that the issuance of the Securities will have a potential dilutive effect on the equity holdings of other holders of the Company’s equity or rights to receive equity of the Company. The board of directors of the Company has concluded, in its good faith business judgment, that the issuance of the Securities is in the best interests of the Company. The Company specifically acknowledges that its obligation to issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Convertible Notes and the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants is binding upon the Company and enforceable regardless of the dilution such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company or parties entitled to receive equity of the Company.
(m) 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 previously and presently employed by the Company, including, but not limited to, disputes or conflicts over payment owed to such accountants and lawyers, nor have there been any such disagreements during the two years prior to the Closing Date.
(n) Investment Company . Neither the Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any Affiliate of the Company is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(o) Foreign Corrupt Practices . Neither the Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
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(p) Company Predecessor and Subsidiaries . The Company makes each of the representations contained in Sections 5(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (j), (k), (l), (n), (o), and (p) of this Agreement, as same relate or could be applicable to each Subsidiary. All representations made by or relating to the Company of a historical or prospective nature and all undertakings described in Section 8 shall relate, apply and refer to the Company and the Subsidiaries and their predecessors and successors.
(q) Exchange Act Registration and Reports Filed Thereunder . The Company’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the Company has filed all reports required to be filed by it thereunder. The SEC Documents are true, complete and accurate and do not misrepresent a material fact, do not omit to state a material fact and do not omit any fact necessary to make any statement made therein not misleading under the circumstances under which they are made.
(r) Correctness of Representations . The Company represents that the foregoing representations and warranties are true and correct as of the date hereof in all material respects, and, unless the Company otherwise notifies the Subscribers prior to the Closing Date, shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date; provided that if such representation or warranty is made as of a different date, such representation or warranty shall be true as of such date.
(s) Survival . The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date.
5. Regulation D Offering . The offer and issuance of the Securities to the Subscribers is being made pursuant to an exemption from the registration provisions of the 1933 Act afforded by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
6. Broker’s Commission/Finder’s Fee . The Company on the one hand, and each Subscriber, for itself and not on behalf of any other Subscriber, on the other hand, agrees to indemnify the other against and hold the other harmless from any and all liabilities to any Persons claiming brokerage commissions or similar fees on account of services purported to have been rendered on behalf of the indemnifying party in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and arising out of such party’s actions. Except for Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc., the Company represents that to the best of its knowledge there are no parties entitled to receive fees, commissions, finder’s fees, due diligence fees or similar payments in connection with the Offering.
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7. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with the Subscribers as follows:
(a) Registration Rights . Purchasers of Convertible Notes and Warrants in the Offering shall be entitled to the registration rights described on Annex A to this Agreement, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
(b) Stop Orders . Subject to the prior notice requirement described in Section 8(g) hereof, the Company will advise the Subscribers, within twenty-four (24) hours after it receives notice of issuance by the Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory authority of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending any offering of any securities of the Company, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Common Stock of the Company for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any such purpose. The Company will not issue any stop transfer order or other order impeding the sale, resale or delivery of any of the Securities, except as may be required by any applicable federal or state securities laws, provided at least five (5) business days prior notice of such instruction is given to the Subscribers.
(c) Books and Records . The Company will keep true records and books of account in which full, true and correct entries in all material respects will be made of all dealings or transactions in relation to its business and affairs in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis.
(d) Governmental Authorities . The Company shall duly observe and conform in all material respects to all valid requirements of governmental authorities relating to the conduct of its business or to its properties or assets.
(e) Intellectual Property . The Company shall maintain in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights and franchises and all licenses and other rights to use intellectual property owned or possessed by it and reasonably deemed to be necessary to the conduct of its business, unless it is sold for value.
(f) Properties . The Company will keep its properties in good repair, working order and condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and from time to time make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, additions and improvements thereto as the Company shall reasonably determine; and the Company will at all times comply with each provision of all leases and claims to which it is a party or under which it occupies or has rights to property if the breach of such provision could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company will not abandon any of its assets, except for those assets which have negligible or marginal value , are obsolete or for which it is prudent to do so under the circumstances as reasonably determined by the Company.
(g) Notices . For so long as the Subscribers hold any Convertible Notes or Warrants, the Company will maintain a United States address and United States fax number for notice purposes under the Transaction Documents.
(h) Notice of Event of Default . The Company agrees to notify Subscriber of the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined and employed in the Transaction Documents) not later than ten (10) days after any of the Company’s officers or directors becomes aware of such Event of Default.
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8. Covenants of the Company Regarding Indemnification .
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, reimburse and defend the Subscribers, the Subscribers’ officers, directors, agents, counsel, Affiliates, members, managers, control persons, and principal shareholders, against any claim, cost, expense, liability, obligation, loss or damage (including reasonable legal fees) of any nature, incurred by or imposed upon the Subscribers or any such person which results, arises out of or is based upon (i) any material misrepresentation by Company or breach of any representation or warranty by Company in this Agreement or in any Exhibits or Schedules attached hereto in any Transaction Document, or other agreement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith, now or after the date hereof; or (ii) after any applicable notice and/or cure periods, any breach or default in performance by the Company of any covenant or undertaking to be performed by the Company hereunder, or any other agreement entered into by the Company and Subscribers relating hereto.
(b) In no event shall the liability of the Subscribers or permitted successor hereunder or under any Transaction Document or other agreement delivered in connection herewith be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds actually received by such Subscriber or successor upon the sale of Registrable Securities (as defined herein).
10. Miscellaneous .
(a) Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, or facsimile addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice in accordance with this Section 10(a). Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by facsimile with accurate confirmation generated by the transmitting facsimile machine at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received, or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be: (i) if to the Company, to: Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., 202 S Dean Street, Englewood New Jersey, 07631, Attn: Jeremy Frommer, facsimile: (201) 608-7536, with a copy by fax only to (which shall not constitute notice): Lucosky Brookman LLP, 101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830, Attn: Joseph M. Lucosky, Esq., facsimile: (732) 395-4400, and (ii) if to a Subscriber, to: the addresses and fax numbers indicated on the signature page hereto.
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(b) Entire Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement and other documents delivered in connection herewith represent the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by a writing executed by all parties. Neither the Company nor the Subscribers has relied on any representations not contained or referred to in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents. No right or obligation of the Company shall be assigned without prior notice to and the written consent of the Subscribers.
(c) Counterparts/Execution . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different signatories hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile transmission, PDF, electronic signature or other similar electronic means with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
(d) Law Governing this Agreement . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereof or any other State. Any action brought by any party hereto against the other concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be brought only in the state courts of New Jersey or in the federal courts located in the state of New Jersey. The parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waive any objection to jurisdiction and venue of any action instituted hereunder and shall not assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue or based upon forum non conveniens . The parties executing this Agreement and other agreements referred to herein or delivered in connection herewith on behalf of the Company agree to submit to the in personam jurisdiction of such courts and hereby irrevocably waive trial by jury. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement delivered in connection herewith is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of any agreement. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding in connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this 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 other manner permitted by law.
(e) Specific Enforcement, Consent to Jurisdiction . The Company and each Subscriber hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction in New Jersey of such court, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing in this Section shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. Subject to Section 10(d) hereof, the Company and the Subscribers acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to which any of them may be entitled by law or equity.
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(f) Damages . In the event the Subscriber is entitled to receive any liquidated or other damages pursuant to the Transactions Documents, the Subscriber may elect to receive the greater of actual damages or such liquidated damages. In the event the Subscriber is granted rights under different sections of the Transaction Documents relating to the same subject matter or which may be exercised contemporaneously, or pursuant to which damages or remedies are different, Subscriber is granted the right in Subscriber’s absolute discretion to proceed under such section as Subscriber elects.
(g) Maximum Payments . Nothing contained herein or in any document referred to herein or delivered in connection herewith shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable law. In the event that the rate of interest or dividends required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Company to the Subscribers and thus refunded to the Company. The Company agrees that it may not, and actually waives any right to, challenge the effectiveness or applicability of this Section 10(g).
(h) Calendar Days . All references to “days” in the Transaction Documents shall mean calendar days unless otherwise stated. The terms “business days” and “trading days” shall mean days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading for three or more hours. Time periods shall be determined as if the relevant action, calculation or time period were occurring in New York City. Any deadline that falls on a non-business day in any of the Transaction Documents shall be automatically extended to the next business day and interest, if any, shall be calculated and payable through such extended period.
(i) Captions; Certain Definitions . The captions of the various sections and paragraphs of this Agreement have been inserted only for the purposes of convenience; such captions are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed in any manner to modify, explain, enlarge or restrict any of the provisions of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement the term “ person ” shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.
(j) Severability . In the event that any term or provision of this Agreement shall be finally determined to be superseded, invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable pursuant to applicable law by an authority having jurisdiction and venue, that determination shall not impair or otherwise affect the validity, legality or enforceability: (i) by or before that authority of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement, which shall be enforced as if the unenforceable term or provision were deleted, or (ii) by or before any other authority of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
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(k) Successor Laws . References in the Transaction Documents to laws, rules, regulations and forms shall also include successors to and functionally equivalent replacements of such laws, rules, regulations and forms. A successor rule to Rule 144(b)(1)(i) shall include any rule that would be available to a non-Affiliate of the Company for the sale of Common Stock not subject to volume restrictions and after a six month holding period.
(l) Maximum Liability . In no event shall the liability of the Subscribers or permitted assign hereunder or under any Transaction Document or other agreement delivered in connection herewith be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds actually received by such Subscriber or successor upon the sale of Conversion Shares.
(m) Independent Nature of Subscribers . The Company acknowledges that the obligations of each Subscriber under the Transaction Documents are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Subscriber, and no Subscriber shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Subscriber under the Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges that each Subscriber has represented that the decision of each Subscriber to purchase Securities has been made by such Subscriber independently of any other Subscriber and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company which may have been made or given by any other Subscriber or by any agent or employee of any other Subscriber, and no Subscriber or any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Subscriber (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. The Company acknowledges that nothing contained in any Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Subscriber pursuant hereto or thereto shall be deemed to constitute the Subscribers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Subscribers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges that it has elected to provide all Subscribers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because Company was required or requested to do so by the Subscribers. The Company acknowledges that such procedure with respect to the Transaction Documents in no way creates a presumption that the Subscribers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby.
(n) Equal Treatment . No consideration shall be offered or paid to any person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is also offered to all the Subscribers and their permitted successors and assigns.
[-SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW-]
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Please acknowledge your acceptance of the foregoing Subscription Agreement by signing and returning a copy to the undersigned whereupon it shall become a binding agreement between us.
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
a Nevada corporation | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Dated: | ___________ ___, 2016 |
PURCHASE | CONVERTIBLE | |||||
SUBSCRIBER | PRICE | NOTES | WARRANTS | |||
Name of Subscriber: | ||||||
Address: | ||||||
Fax No.: | ||||||
Taxpayer ID# (if applicable): | ||||||
or Social Security # | ||||||
(Signature) | ||||||
By: |
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ANNEX A – REGISTRATION RIGHTS
1. Piggyback Registration. Each purchaser of Convertible Notes and Warrants in the Offering (the “ Holder ”) shall be entitled to the following “piggy-back” registration rights covering the Registrable Securities only during such period(s) as there is no effective Resale Registration Statement covering resale of the Holder’s Registrable Securities:
(a) Grant of Right . The Holder shall have the right, for a period of five (5) years after the final Closing Date of the Offering, to include the Registrable Securities as part of any registration of securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145 promulgated under the Act or pursuant to Form S-8 or any equivalent form) provided , however , that if, solely in connection with any primary underwritten public offering for the account of the Company, the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall, in its reasonable discretion, impose a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in a registration statement because, in such underwriter(s)’ judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such registration statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which the Holder requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall reasonably permit. The Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of such securities in such registration statement or are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities.
(b) Terms . The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2 hereof, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less than thirty (30) days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to be given for each registration statement filed by the Company until such time as all of the Registrable Securities have been sold by the Holder. The holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the “piggy-back” rights provided for herein by giving written notice, within ten (10) days of the receipt of the Company’s notice of its intention to file a registration statement. Except as otherwise provided in this Warrant, there shall be no limit on the number of times the Holder may request registration under this Section 2; provided, however, that such registration rights shall terminate on the sixth anniversary of the final Closing of the Offering.
(c) Upon the proper and lawful transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any Holder thereof prior to such time as the Registrable Securities have been resold pursuant to a registration statement contemplated by this Section 2, the registration rights attendant to such Registrable Securities shall be transferable hereunder if:
(i) such Holder gives prior written notice to the Company;
(ii) such transfer is otherwise in compliance with this Subscription Agreement; and
(iii) such transfer is otherwise effected in accordance with applicable securities laws.
A-1
Exhibit 10.2
EXHIBIT A – FORM OF NOTE
INTERESTS REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATES AND ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS. THE INTERESTS ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTION ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED HEREUNDER AND PERMITTED UNDER SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM.
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.
10.0% CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE
Englewood,
NJ
Date: __________
No. JMDA-CN-2016- ___
THIS CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE (this “ Note ”) is one of a duly authorized issue of promissory notes of JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada having its principal address at 202 South Dean Street, Englewood, New Jersey 07631 (the “ Company ”), designated as its 10.0% Convertible Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amount not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (the “ Notes ”). The Notes will be issued under and pursuant to the terms and provisions of a Subscription Agreement of even date herewith (the “ Subscription Agreement ”) entered into by the Company with the original purchaser therein who is referred to in this Note as the original holder (the “ Original Holder ”). This Note is subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Subscription Agreement, to which reference is hereby made for the terms and provisions thereof.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company promises to pay to ___________________________ , or permitted assigns (the “ Holder ”), the principal sum of U.S. $______________ on _________, 2017 (the “ Maturity Date ”), and to pay interest on the principal sum outstanding under this Note (the “ Outstanding Principal Amount ”), at the rate of 10.0% per annum due and payable semi-annually in arrears on the 1st day of April and November of each year (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”), with the first such payment due on April 1, 2017, subject to Section 1 hereof. Accrual of interest shall commence on the first day to occur after the date hereof and shall continue until payment in full of the Outstanding Principal Amount and all interest hereunder has been made. The principal of and interest on this Note are payable in such coin or currency of the United States of America as of the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, provided, however, that in lieu of paying such interest in coin or currency, the Company may, at its option (the “ Stock Issuance Option ”), pay interest on this Note, for any Interest Payment Date, by issuing to the Holder that number of shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, (the “ Common Stock ”) of the Company (such shares of Common Stock, the “ Interest Shares ”) equal to the amount of the interest payable for such Interest Payment Date divided by the lesser of (the “ Interest Option Share Price ”) (i) the Conversion Price and (ii) the VWAP (as defined below) for a share of Common Stock, as reported by Bloomberg LP, over the 20 trading days prior to the Interest Payment Date. If the Company exercises the Stock Issuance Option, then the Company shall (a) provide a statement to the Holder in the form of Exhibit 1 hereto (the “ Stock Option Issuance Statement ”) on or before the Interest Payment Date and (b) promptly (but in no event later than 30 days after providing the Stock Option Issuance Statement) issue a stock certificate to the Holder for the Interest Shares. The Company may not exercise the Stock Issuance Option unless, on the Interest Payment Date (a) the Company is not in default of any obligation owed to the Note holders, (b) the Company’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or (g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and the Company has no reason to believe that its Common Stock will be deregistered therefrom, and (c) the Company is current in its reporting requirements under the Exchange Act.
This Note is subject to the following additional provisions:
1. Payment.
(a) Interest. Payment of interest on this Note, including any default interest, shall be made to the Holder on or before the close of business on the Interest Payment Date (or if the Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the first Business Day after the Interest Payment Date) in the year of the relevant payment dates, and shall be deemed made when mailed to his address as last reported to the Company. Where required, calculations and respective interest on this Note will be made on the basis of a 360 day year consisting of 12 months, 30 days each and, in the case of an uncompleted month, the actual number of days elapsed. In the event that this Note is converted into Common Stock as provided in Section 5 hereof, interest will be paid up to but not including the date of the Company’s receipt of the Forced Conversion Notice (defined below).
(b) Principal. Payment of the full Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note shall be made on the Maturity Date (or if the Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then the first Business Day after the Maturity Date) to the Holder at his address as last reported to the Company and shall be deemed made when received.
2. Prepayment. The Company may not prepay any portion of the Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note.
3. Ranking. The Notes are unsecured and shall rank senior to all new unsecured indebtedness of the Company.
4. Conversion.
(a) Voluntary Conversion by Holder. The Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note may be converted at any time and from time to time in whole or in part, at the option of the Holder, into shares of Common Stock. If this Note is called for prepayment, the Holder may convert it at any time before the close of business on the fifth business day prior to the prepayment date.
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(b) Conversion of this Note at the Option of the Company. The Company shall have the right to convert up to 20% of the original principal amount of this Note into shares of Common Stock upon thirty days prior written notice thereof to the Holder (the “Forced Conversion Notice”), provided, that each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) the shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company are freely tradable either because such shares are registered pursuant to an effective registration statement or are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 and the Company has taken all necessary action to ensure such shares are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144, (ii) the VWAP exceeds $1.25 per share, and (iii) the 20 day average daily volume exceeds $100,000. The Company may issue a subsequent Forced Conversion Notice only after the expiration of a period of thirty (30) days from the thirty (30) day notice period for the prior Forced Conversion Notice, and may continue to issue Forced Conversion Notices in accordance herewith until all principal under this Note is converted. As used herein “VWAP” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the primary national securities exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which the Common Stock is then listed (subject to official notice of issuance) (or, if such market is not the principal trading market for such security, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded) during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “Volume at Price” function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly Pink Sheets LLC). If VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined in good faith by the Company and the Agent designated by the Holder. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.
(c) Manner of Conversion and Conversion Price. The initial conversion price shall be equal to $0.30 per share of Common Stock (the “ Conversion Price ”). To determine the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note, divide the Outstanding Principal Amount to be converted (which shall include all accrued interest, if any) by the Conversion Price in effect on the conversion date. To convert this Note, the Holder must (1) complete and sign the conversion notice in the form of Exhibit 2 hereto (the “ Conversion Notice ”), (2) surrender this Note to the Company, (3) furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if required by the Company, and (4) pay any transfer or similar tax if required. The Holder may convert a portion of this Note if the portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.
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(d) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issued upon conversion of this Note. In place of a fractional share, the Company shall pay the holder of this Note an amount in cash equal to the product of such fraction and the Conversion Price.
(e) Adjustment for Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Company:
(i) pays a stock dividend or makes a distribution on its outstanding shares of Common Stock in shares of its Common Stock;
(ii) subdivides its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares; or
(iii) combines its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares;
then the conversion privilege and the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such action shall be adjusted so that upon conversion the Holder may receive the number of shares of capital stock of the Company which the Holder would have owned immediately prior to such action. The adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record date in the case of a stock dividend or distribution and immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision or combination. If after an adjustment a Holder upon conversion may receive shares of two or more classes of capital stock of the Company, the Company shall determine the allocation of the adjusted Conversion Price between the classes of capital stock. After such allocation, the conversion privilege and the Conversion Price of each class of capital stock shall thereafter be subject to adjustment on terms comparable to those applicable to Common Stock in this subsection.
(f) Reorganization, Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale. In the case of any reclassification, capital reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or any other change in the Common Stock of the Company, other than as a result of a subdivision, combination, or stock dividend provided for in sub-clause (e) hereof (any of which, a “ Change Event ”), then lawful provision shall be made, and duly executed documents evidencing the same from the Company or its successor shall be delivered to the Holder, such that the Holder shall have the right at any time prior to the expiration of this Note to purchase, at a total price equal to that payable upon the exercise of this Note (subject to the adjustment of the Conversion Price as provided in this Section), the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities and property receivable in connection with such Change Event by a holder of the same number of shares of Common Stock as were purchasable by the Holder immediately prior to such Change Event. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Conversion Price, but the aggregate Conversion Price shall remain the same. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, with respect to any Change Event, the Holder shall have the right to elect prior to the consummation of such event or transaction to give effect to the exercise its right to convert into Common Stock and receive the securities and other consideration issued to holder of Common Stock in the Change Event in lieu of giving effect to the provisions of this Section.
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(g) When Adjustment May be Deferred. No adjustment in the Conversion Price need be made unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Conversion Price. Any adjustments that are not made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be.
(h) Voluntary Reduction. The Company from time to time may reduce the Conversion Price by any amount for any period of time if the period is at least 20 days and if the reduction is irrevocable during the period, provided, that (a) such reduction is accomplished so as to comply with then applicable SEC rules, regulations and policies and (b) in no event may the Conversion Price be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock.
(i) Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice of the adjustment.
(j) Share Adjustment. Until the Expiration Date, if the Company shall issue any Common Stock, except for Excepted Issuances (as defined below), prior to the complete exercise of this Warrant for a consideration less than the Purchase Price that would be in effect at the time of such issuance, then, and thereafter successively upon each such issuance, the Purchase Price shall be reduced to such other lower price for then outstanding Notes. For purposes of this adjustment, the issuance of any security or debt instrument of the Company carrying the right to convert such security or debt instrument into Common Stock or of any warrant to purchase Common Stock shall result in an adjustment to the Purchase Price upon the issuance of the of the above-described security, debt instrument, warrant, right, or option if such security or debt instrument may be converted or exercised at a price lower than the Purchase Price in effect upon such issuance and again at any time upon any actual, permitted, optional, or allowed issuances of shares of Common Stock upon any actual, permitted, optional, or allowed exercise of such conversion or purchase rights if such issuance is at a price lower than the Purchase Price in effect upon any actual, permitted, optional, or allowed such issuance. Common Stock issued or issuable by the Company for no consideration will be deemed issuable or to have been issued for $0.001 per share of Common Stock. Excepted Issuances means: (i) the Company’s issuance of Common Stock in full or partial consideration in connection with a strategic merger, acquisition, consolidation or purchase of substantially all of the securities or assets of a corporation or other entity, so long as such issuances are not for the purpose of raising capital and which holders of such securities or debt are not at any time granted registration rights, (ii) the Company’s issuance of securities in connection with strategic license agreements and other partnering arrangements, so long as such issuances are not for the purpose of raising capital and which holders of such securities or debt are not at any time granted registration rights, (iii) the Company’s issuance of Common Stock or the issuances or grants of options to purchase Common Stock to employees, directors, and consultants, pursuant to employee stock option plans, (iv) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Warrant and (v) issuance of Common Stock as a result of the exercise of this Warrant. “ Additional Common Shares ” means all Common Stock (including reissued shares) Issued after the date hereof.
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5. Events of Default. If one or more of the following events shall occur (each an “ Event of Default ”):
(a) the nonpayment of any Outstanding Principal Amount, interest or other payment under this Note when the same shall become due and payable;
(b) a default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) of the Company or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary, which default shall constitute a failure to pay any portion of interest or principal when due after any applicable grace period or shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, provided, that, the aggregate indebtedness in default under this clause (b) is in excess of $500,000. For purposes of this Note, “Subsidiary” means any entity of which at least a majority of capital stock (or equivalent) having ordinary voting power in the election of directors or other governing body of such entity is owned by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries;
(c) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money are entered by a court of competent jurisdiction against the Company or any Subsidiary which remains unpaid or unstayed and undischarged for a period (during which execution shall not be effectively stayed) or 30 days after the date on which the right to appeal has expired, provided, that, the aggregate of all such judgments exceeds $500,000;
(d) (i) the Company or any significant Subsidiary shall file a petition under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or shall consent to or acquiesce in the appointment of a receiver for all or a substantial part of its property; or (ii) a petition under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or for the appointment of a receiver with respect to all or a substantial part of the Company’s or any significant Subsidiary’s property, shall be filed against the Company or any significant Subsidiary and remain undismissed for at least 60 days;
(e) a dissolution of the Company;
(f) the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;
(g) the Company shall default in the observance or performance of any of its obligations under this Note or the Subscription Agreement;
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(h) any material representation or warranty made by the Company in this Note or the Subscription Agreement proves to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or
(i) any event resulting in the Common Stock no longer being quoted on the Over The Counter Venture Market (“OTCQB”); failure to comply with the requirements for continued quotation on the OTCQB for a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days; or notification from the OTCQB that the Debtor is not in compliance with the conditions for such continued quotation and such non-compliance continues for thirty (30) days following such notification;
then, and so long as such Event of Default is continuing for a period of three (3) calendar days in the case of non-payment under Section 5(a) and for a period of ten (10) calendar days in the case of events under other subsections of Section 5 (and the event which would constitute such Event of Default, if curable, has not been cured), by written notice to the Company: (i) all amounts then unpaid under this Note, including accrued but unpaid interest, shall bear interest at the default rate of (a) fifteen percent (15%) per annum for the first ninety (90) days that an Event of Default is continuing and increasing to (b) eighteen percent (18%) per annum thereafter; and (ii) all obligations of the Company under this Note shall be immediately due and payable (except with respect to any Event of Default set forth in Section 5(a) hereof, in which case all obligations of the Company under this Note shall automatically become immediately due and payable without the necessity of any notice or other demand to the Company) without presentment, demand, protest or any other action nor obligation of the Holder of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and the Holder may exercise any other remedies the Holder may have at law or in equity.
6. Affirmative Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees that, so long as this Note remains outstanding and unpaid, or any other amount is owing to the Holder hereunder, the Company will and will cause each of its subsidiaries to:
(a) Books of Account. Keep its books of account in accordance with good accounting practices.
(b) Insurance. Maintain insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations, as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion, in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Company operates.
(c) Preservation of Properties; Compliance with Law. Maintain and preserve all of its properties that are used or that are useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and comply with the charter and bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of the Company, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Company or any of its property or to which each the Company or any of its property is subject.
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(d) Taxes. Duly pay and discharge all taxes or other claims, which might become a lien upon any of its property except to the extent that any thereof are being in good faith appropriately contested with adequate reserves provided therefor.
(e) Reservation of Shares. At all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock and issuable upon conversion of this Note to provide for the issuance of all of the Shares. Prior to complete conversion of this Note, the Company shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance hereunder without the written consent of the Holder except for a reduction proportionate to a reverse stock split effected for a business purpose other than affecting the requirements of this Section, which reverse stock split affects all shares of Common Stock equally.
(f) Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Notes solely for general working capital purposes. At all times comply with the ranking requirement set forth in Section 3 hereof.
7. Status of Holder. The Company may treat the Original Holder of this Note as the absolute owner of this Note for the purpose of making payments of principal or interest and for all other purposes and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary unless this Note is transferred in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Securities Act Restrictions. This Note and the Common Stock issuable by the Company upon conversion hereof have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), are deemed to be unregistered or restricted securities, and neither this Note, the Common Stock nor any interest in this Note or Common Stock may be sold, offered for sale, pledged or otherwise disposed of without compliance with applicable securities laws.
9. Expenses. The Company shall pay upon demand any and all reasonable expenses, incurred or paid by the Holder following the occurrence of an Event of Default in connection with collecting upon, or enforcing this Note, including, without limitation, the expenses and reasonable fees of legal counsel, court costs and the cost of appellate proceedings.
10. No Waiver of Rights. The Holder may, without notice, extend the time of payment of this Note, postpone the enforcement hereof or grant any other indulgence without affecting or diminishing the Holder’s right of recourse against the Company, which right is hereby expressly reserved. The failure or delay by the Holder in exercising any of its rights hereunder in any instance shall not constitute a waiver thereof in that or any other instance. The Holder may not waive any of its rights except by an instrument in writing signed by the Holder.
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11. Transfer of Note. Subject to the provisions contained herein, this Note is intended to be a negotiable instrument and may be transferred to any person or entity by the (then) Holder hereof without the prior written consent of the Company or any other person or entity. In the event of any such transfer, upon due presentment for exchange of this Note, the Company will execute and deliver in exchange a new Note or Notes, mutatis mutandis , equal in aggregate principal amount to the then Outstanding Principal Amount. However, no such exchange shall be required to entitle a transferee to enjoy all of the rights and benefits of the Holder hereof. Each Note presented for exchange shall (if so required by the Company) be duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by the Holder or its attorney duly authorized in writing.
12. Notices. All notices or other communications given or made pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made if and when (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iii) delivered by reputable overnight courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery to the parties. Notices shall be sent to the Company at its principal place of business and to the Holder at the address set forth at the outset of this Note, or at such other address as the Holder may designate in a notice for that purpose.
13. Payments Unconditional. All payments under this Note shall be made without defense, set-off or counterclaim, free and clear of and without deduction for any taxes of any nature now or hereafter imposed.
14. Waiver of Demand, Presentment, etc. The Company hereby expressly waives demand and presentment for payment, notice of nonpayment, protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, notice of acceleration or intent to accelerate, bringing of suit and diligence in taking any action to collect amounts called for hereunder and shall be directly and primarily liable for the payment of all sums owing and to be owing hereunder, regardless of and without any notice, diligence, act or omission as or with respect to the collection of any amount called for hereunder. The Company agrees that, in the event of an Event of Default, to reimburse the Holder for all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees of one counsel) incurred in connection with the enforcement and collection of this Note.
15. Usury Laws. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Note, interest under this Note shall not exceed the maximum rate permitted by law; and if any amount is paid under this Note as interest in excess of such maximum rate, then the amount so paid will not constitute interest but will constitute a prepayment on account of the Outstanding Principal Amount. The Company will not assert, plead (as a defense or otherwise) or in any manner whatsoever claim (and will actively resist any attempt to compel it to assert, plead or claim) in any action, suit or proceeding that any interest rate under this Note violates present or future usury or other laws relating to the interest payable on any indebtedness hereunder and will not otherwise avail itself (and will actively resist any attempt to compel it to avail itself) of the benefits of any such laws.
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16. Headings. The headings in this Note are solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect its interpretation.
17. Assignment. This Note is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. The Company shall not be permitted to assign its obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Holder.
18. Entire Agreement. Each of the parties hereby covenants that this Note is intended to and does contain and embody herein all of the understandings and agreements, both written and oral, of the parties hereby with respect to the subject matter of this Note, and that there exists no oral agreement or understanding, express or implied liability, whereby the absolute, final and unconditional character and nature of this Note shall be in any way invalidated, empowered or affected.
19. No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution, sale of assets or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the holder of this Note against impairment.
20. Laws of the State of New Jersey.
(a) This Note shall be deemed to be made in, governed by and interpreted under and construed in all respects in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, regardless of the place of domicile or residence of either party.
(b) For purposes of any proceeding involving this Note or any of the obligations of the Company, the Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New Jersey and of the United States having jurisdiction in the State of New Jersey, and agrees not to raise and waives any objection to or defense based upon the venue of any such court or based upon forum non conveniens . The Company agrees not to bring any action or other proceeding with respect to this Note or with respect to any of its obligations hereunder in any other court unless such courts of the State of New Jersey and of the United States determine that they do not have jurisdiction in the matter.
[ Signature Page Follows ]
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[COMPANY
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
10.0% CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be executed as of the date set forth above.
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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EXHIBIT 1
STOCK ISSUANCE OPTION STATEMENT
Date: | _________________ |
To: | [Name of Holder of Note] (“ Holder ”) |
Re: | 10.0% Convertible Promissory Note (the “ Note ”) of JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. (the “ Company ”) No. MEEC-CN-2013-_____, in the face principal amount of U.S. $__________. |
In lieu of paying interest on the above-referenced Note in coin or currency, the Company hereby elects to issue shares of Common Stock, for the Interest Payment Date indicated below. The Company hereby certifies to the Holder, its successors and assigns that the number of shares of Common Stock set forth below is calculated in accordance with the Note. Capitalized terms used in this Statement and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Note.
Interest Payment Date: | _________________ | ||
Amount of Interest Payable: | U.S. $____________ | ||
Interest Option Share Price | U.S. $____________ | ||
Interest Shares: | _________________ |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Statement has been duly executed and delivered on the date first written above.
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
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EXHIBIT 2
CONVERSION NOTICE
The undersigned irrevocably exercises the option to convert U.S $___________ principal amount of the 10.0% Convertible Promissory Note (the “ Note ”) of JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. (the “ Company ”) registered in the name of the undersigned into common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Note and directs that the securities issuable upon conversion be issued and delivered to the undersigned.
Dated: ____________________ | ||
Print Name of Holder | ||
Signature and title (if applicable) |
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Exhibit 10.3
EXHIBIT B – FORM OF WARRANT
NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES .
Right to Purchase ______ shares of Common Stock of Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. (subject to adjustment as provided herein)
FORM OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
No. __________ | Issue Date: _____________ |
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. , a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Nevada (the “ Company ”), hereby certifies that, for value received, _______________, with an address at ____________, or its assigns (the “ Holder ”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company at any time after the Issue Date until 5:00 p.m., E.D.T. on the five (5) year anniversary of the Issue Date (the “ Expiration Date ”), up to _______ fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) at a per share purchase price of $0.30. The aforedescribed purchase price per share, as adjusted from time to time as herein provided, is referred to herein as the “ Purchase Price .” The number and character of such shares of Common Stock and the Purchase Price are subject to adjustment as provided herein. The Company may reduce the Purchase Price for some or all of the Warrants, temporarily or permanently, provided such reduction is made as to all outstanding Warrants for all Holders of such Warrants. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Subscription Agreement (the “ Subscription Agreement ”) entered into by the Company and Holder pursuant to which this Warrant has been issued.
As used herein the following terms, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following respective meanings:
(a) The term “ Company ” shall mean Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
(b) The term “ Common Stock ” includes (i) the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share and (ii) any other securities into which or for which any of the securities described in (i) may be converted or exchanged pursuant to a plan of recapitalization, reorganization, merger, sale of assets or otherwise.
(c) The term “ Other Securities ” refers to any stock (other than Common Stock) and other securities of the Company or any other person (corporate or otherwise) which the holder of the Warrant at any time shall be entitled to receive, or shall have received, on the exercise of the Warrant, in lieu of or in addition to Common Stock, or which at any time shall be issuable or shall have been issued in exchange for or in replacement of Common Stock or Other Securities pursuant to Section 5 hereof or otherwise.
(d) The term “ Warrant Shares ” shall mean the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant.
1. Exercise of Warrant .
1.1. Number of Shares Issuable upon Exercise . From and after the Issue Date through and including the Expiration Date, the Holder shall be entitled to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant in whole in accordance with the terms of Section 1.2 hereof or upon exercise of this Warrant in part in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof, shares of Common Stock of the Company, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
1.2. Full Exercise . This Warrant may be exercised in full by the Holder hereof by delivery to the Company of an original or facsimile copy of the form of subscription attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “ Subscription Form ”) duly executed by such Holder and delivered within two (2) business days thereafter of payment, in cash, wire transfer or by certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Company, in the amount obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is then exercisable by the Purchase Price then in effect. The original Warrant is not required to be surrendered to the Company until it has been fully exercised.
1.3. Partial Exercise . This Warrant may be exercised in part (but not for a fractional share) by delivery of a Subscription Form in the manner and at the place provided in Section 1.2 hereof, except that the amount payable by the Holder on such partial exercise shall be the amount obtained by multiplying (a) the number of whole shares of Common Stock designated by the Holder in the Subscription Form by (b) the Purchase Price then in effect. On any such partial exercise, upon the written request of the Holder, provided the Holder has surrendered the original Warrant, the Company, at its expense, will forthwith issue and deliver to or upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant of like tenor, in the name of the Holder hereof or as such Holder (upon payment by such Holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may request, the whole number of shares of Common Stock for which such Warrant may still be exercised.
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1.4. Fair Market Value . For purposes of this Warrant, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of a particular date (the “ Determination Date ”) shall mean:
(a) If the Company’s Common Stock is traded on an exchange or on the NASDAQ Global Market, NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the NYSE AMEX Equities, then the average of the closing sale prices of the Common Stock for the five (5) trading days immediately prior to (but not including) the Determination Date;
(b) If the Company’s Common Stock is not traded on an exchange or on the NASDAQ Global Market, NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the NYSE AMEX Equities, but is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board or in the over-the-counter market or Pink Sheets, then the average of the closing bid and ask prices reported for the five (5) trading days immediately prior to (but not including) the Determination Date;
(c) Except as provided in clause (d) below and Section 3.1 hereof, if the Company’s Common Stock is not publicly traded, then as the Holder and the Company shall mutually agree, or in the absence of such an agreement after good faith efforts of the Company and the Holder to reach an agreement, by arbitration in accordance with the rules then standing of the American Arbitration Association, before a single arbitrator to be chosen from a panel of persons qualified by education and training to pass on the matter to be decided; or
(d) If the Determination Date is the date of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or any event deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up pursuant to the Company’s charter, then all amounts to be payable per share to holders of the Common Stock pursuant to the charter in the event of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, plus all other amounts to be payable per share in respect of the Common Stock in liquidation under the charter, assuming for the purposes of this clause (d) that all of the shares of Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of all of the Warrants are outstanding at the Determination Date.
1.5. Company Acknowledgment . The Company will, at the time of the exercise of the Warrant, upon the request of the Holder hereof, acknowledge in writing its continuing obligation to afford to such Holder any rights to which such Holder shall continue to be entitled after such exercise in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant. If the Holder shall fail to make any such request, such failure shall not affect the continuing obligation of the Company to afford to such Holder any such rights.
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1.6. Delivery of Stock Certificates, etc. on Exercise . The Company agrees that, provided the purchase price listed in the Subscription Form is received as specified in Section 2 hereof, the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to be issued to the Holder hereof as the record owner of such shares as of the close of business on the date on which delivery of a Subscription Form shall have occurred and payment made for such shares as aforesaid. As soon as practicable after the exercise of this Warrant in full or in part and the payment is made, and in any event within five (5) business days thereafter (“ Warrant Share Delivery Date ”), the Company, at its expense (including the payment by it of any applicable issue taxes), will cause to be issued in the name of, and delivered to, the Holder hereof, or as such Holder (upon payment by such Holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may direct in compliance with applicable securities laws, a certificate or certificates for the number of duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) to which such Holder shall be entitled on such exercise, plus, in lieu of any fractional share to which such Holder would otherwise be entitled, cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the then Fair Market Value of one full share of Common Stock, together with any other stock or other securities and property (including cash, where applicable) to which such Holder is entitled upon such exercise pursuant to Section 1 hereof or otherwise. The Company understands that a delay in the delivery of the Warrant Shares after the Warrant Share Delivery Date could result in economic loss to the Holder. As compensation to the Holder for such loss, the Company agrees to pay (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty) to the Holder for late issuance of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant the proportionate amount of $100 per business day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date for each $10,000 of Purchase Price of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercised which are not timely delivered. The Company shall promptly pay any payments incurred under this Section in immediately available funds upon demand. Furthermore, in addition to any other remedies which may be available to the Holder, in the event that the Company fails for any reason to effect delivery of the Warrant Shares by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Holder may revoke all or part of the relevant Warrant exercise by delivery of a written notice to such effect to the Company, whereupon the Company and the Holder shall each be restored to their respective positions immediately prior to the exercise of the relevant portion of this Warrant, except that the liquidated damages described above shall be payable through the date notice of revocation or rescission is given to the Company.
1.7. Buy-In . In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to deliver to a Holder the Warrant Shares as required pursuant to this Warrant, and the Holder or a broker on the Holder’s behalf, purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder was entitled to receive from the Company (a “ Buy-In” ), then the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder (in addition to any remedies available to or elected by the Holder) the amount by which (A) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (B) the aggregate Purchase Price of the Warrant Shares required to have been delivered together with interest thereon at a rate of 15% per annum, accruing until such amount and any accrued interest thereon is paid in full (which amount shall be paid as liquidated damages and not as a penalty). For purposes of illustration, if a Holder purchases shares of Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to $10,000 of Purchase Price of Warrant Shares to have been received upon exercise of this Warrant, the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000, plus interest. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In, which shall include evidence of the price at which such Holder had to purchase the Common Stock in an open-market transaction or otherwise.
2. Payment of Purchase Price; Cashless Exercise .
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(a) Payment upon exercise may be made at the written option of the Holder either in (i) cash, wire transfer or by certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Company equal to the applicable aggregate Purchase Price, (ii) by delivery of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with Section (b) below or (iii) by a combination of any of the foregoing methods, in each case accompanied by delivery of a properly endorsed Subscription Form, for the number of Common Stock specified in such form (as such exercise number shall be adjusted to reflect any adjustment in the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holder per the terms of this Warrant) and the Holder shall thereupon be entitled to receive the number of duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) determined as provided herein. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, payment upon exercise may be made in the manner described in Section 2(b) below only with respect to Warrant Shares not included for unrestricted public resale in an effective registration statement on the date notice of exercise is given by the Holder.
(b) If the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock is greater than the Purchase Price (at the date of calculation as set forth below), in lieu of exercising this Warrant for cash, the Holder may elect to receive shares equal to the value (as determined below) of this Warrant (or the portion thereof being cancelled) by delivery of a properly endorsed Subscription Form delivered to the Company by any means described in Section 13 hereof, in which event the Company shall issue to the holder a number of shares of Common Stock computed using the following formula:
X=Y (A-B)
A
Where X= the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holder
Y= | the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable under the Warrant or, if only a portion of the Warrant is being exercised, the portion of the Warrant being exercised (at the date of such calculation) | |
A= | Fair Market Value | |
B= | Purchase Price (as adjusted to the date of such calculation) |
For purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act, it is intended, understood and acknowledged that the Warrant Shares issued in a cashless exercise transaction in the manner described above shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued.
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3. Adjustment for Reorganization, Consolidation, Merger, etc .
3.1. Fundamental Transaction . If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (A) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, (B) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (C) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another entity) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, (D) the Company consummates a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, or spin-off) with one or more persons or entities whereby such other persons or entities acquire more than the 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by such other persons or entities making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other persons or entities making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination), (E) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate Common Stock of the Company, or (F) the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (in any such case, a “ Fundamental Transaction” ), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder, (a) upon exercise of this Warrant, the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “ Alternate Consideration” ) receivable upon or as a result of such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets by a Holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such event or (b) if the Company is acquired in (1) a transaction where the consideration paid to the holders of the Common Stock consists solely of cash, (2) a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the 1934 Act, or (3) a transaction involving a person or entity not traded on a national securities exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market, cash equal to the Black-Scholes Value (as defined herein). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Purchase Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Purchase Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Company or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall issue to the Holder a new warrant consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder’s right to exercise such warrant into Alternate Consideration. The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Fundamental Transaction is effected include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this Section 3.1 and insuring that this Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to a Fundamental Transaction. “ Black-Scholes Value ” shall be determined in accordance with the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg L.P. using (i) a price per share of Common Stock equal to the Volume Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock for the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (ii) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of this Warrant as of the date of such request and (iii) an expected volatility equal to the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg L.P. determined as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction.
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3.2. Continuation of Terms . Upon any reorganization, consolidation, merger or transfer (and any dissolution following any transfer) referred to in this Section 3 hereof, this Warrant shall continue in full force and effect and the terms hereof shall be applicable to the Other Securities and property receivable on the exercise of this Warrant after the consummation of such reorganization, consolidation or merger or the effective date of dissolution following any such transfer, as the case may be, and shall be binding upon the issuer of any Other Securities, including, in the case of any such transfer, the person acquiring all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company, whether or not such person shall have expressly assumed the terms of this Warrant as provided in Section 5 hereof.
3.3 Share Issuance . Until the Expiration Date, if the Company shall issue any Common Stock, except for Excepted Issuances (as defined below), prior to the complete exercise of this Warrant for a consideration less than the Purchase Price that would be in effect at the time of such issuance, then, and thereafter successively upon each such issuance, the Purchase Price shall be reduced to such other lower price for then outstanding Warrants. For purposes of this adjustment, the issuance of any security or debt instrument of the Company carrying the right to convert such security or debt instrument into Common Stock or of any warrant to purchase Common Stock shall result in an adjustment to the Purchase Price upon the issuance of the of the above-described security, debt instrument, warrant, right, or option if such security or debt instrument may be converted or exercised at a price lower than the Purchase Price in effect upon such issuance and again at any time upon any actual, permitted, optional, or allowed issuances of shares of Common Stock upon any actual, permitted, optional, or allowed exercise of such conversion or purchase rights if such issuance is at a price lower than the Purchase Price in effect upon any actual, permitted, optional, or allowed such issuance. Common Stock issued or issuable by the Company for no consideration will be deemed issuable or to have been issued for $0.001 per share of Common Stock. Excepted Issuances means: (i) the Company’s issuance of Common Stock in full or partial consideration in connection with a strategic merger, acquisition, consolidation or purchase of substantially all of the securities or assets of a corporation or other entity, so long as such issuances are not for the purpose of raising capital and which holders of such securities or debt are not at any time granted registration rights, (ii) the Company’s issuance of securities in connection with strategic license agreements and other partnering arrangements, so long as such issuances are not for the purpose of raising capital and which holders of such securities or debt are not at any time granted registration rights, (iii) the Company’s issuance of Common Stock or the issuances or grants of options to purchase Common Stock to employees, directors, and consultants, pursuant to employee stock option plans, (iv) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Warrant and (v) issuance of Common Stock as a result of the exercise of this Warrant.
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4. Registration Rights . The Holder of this Warrant shall have such registration rights for the Warrant Shares as are contained in the Subscription Agreement.
5. Extraordinary Events Regarding Common Stock . In the event that the Company shall (a) issue additional shares of Common Stock as a dividend or other distribution on outstanding Common Stock, (b) subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (c) combine its outstanding shares of the Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such event, the Purchase Price shall, simultaneously with the happening of such event, be adjusted by multiplying the then Purchase Price by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the product so obtained shall thereafter be the Purchase Price then in effect. The Purchase Price, as so adjusted, shall be readjusted in the same manner upon the happening of any successive event or events described in this Section 5 . The number of shares of Common Stock that the Holder of this Warrant shall thereafter, on the exercise hereof, be entitled to receive shall be adjusted to a number determined by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise (but for the provisions of this Section 5) be issuable on such exercise by a fraction of which (a) the numerator is the Purchase Price that would otherwise (but for the provisions of this Section 5) be in effect, and (b) the denominator is the Purchase Price in effect on the date of such exercise.
6. Certificate as to Adjustments . In each case of any adjustment or readjustment in the shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) issuable on the exercise of the Warrants or in the Purchase Price, the Company at its expense will promptly cause its Chief Financial Officer or other appropriate designee to compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms of the Warrant and prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based, including a statement of (a) the consideration received or receivable by the Company for any additional shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold, (b) the number of shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) outstanding or deemed to be outstanding, and (c) the Purchase Price and the number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of this Warrant, in effect immediately prior to such adjustment or readjustment and as adjusted or readjusted as provided in this Warrant. The Company will forthwith mail a copy of each such certificate to the Holder of the Warrant and any Warrant Agent (as defined herein) of the Company (appointed pursuant to Section 11 hereof). Holder will be entitled to the benefit of the adjustment regardless of the giving of such notice. The timely giving of such notice to Holder is a material obligation of the Company.
7. Reservation of Stock, etc. Issuable on Exercise of Warrant; Financial Statements . The Company will at all times reserve and keep available, solely for issuance and delivery on the exercise of the Warrants, all shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) from time to time issuable on the exercise of the Warrant. This Warrant entitles the Holder hereof, upon written request, to receive copies of all financial and other information distributed or required to be distributed to the holders of the Company’s Common Stock.
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8. Assignment; Exchange of Warrant . Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, this Warrant, and the rights evidenced hereby, may be transferred by any registered holder hereof (a “ Transferor” ). On the surrender for exchange of this Warrant, with the Transferor’s endorsement in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (the “ Transferor Endorsement Form” ) and together with an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company that the transfer of this Warrant will be in compliance with applicable securities laws, the Company will issue and deliver to or on the order of the Transferor thereof a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, in the name of the Transferor and/or the transferee(s) specified in such Transferor Endorsement Form (each a “ Transferee” ), calling in the aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the number of shares of Common Stock called for on the face or faces of the Warrant so surrendered by the Transferor.
9. Replacement of Warrant . On receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of this Warrant, on delivery of an indemnity agreement or security reasonably satisfactory in form and amount to the Company or, in the case of any such mutilation, on surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company at its expense, twice only, will execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.
10. Maximum Exercise . The Holder shall not be entitled to exercise this Warrant on an exercise date, in connection with that number of shares of Common Stock which would be in excess of the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates on an exercise date, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant with respect to which the determination of this limitation is being made on an exercise date, which would result in beneficial ownership by the Holder and its Affiliates of more than 4.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on such date. For the purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the Holder shall not be limited to aggregate exercises which would result in the issuance of more than 4.99%. The Holder may allocate which of the equity of the Company deemed beneficially owned by the Holder shall be included in the 4.99% amount described above and which shall be allocated to the excess above 4.99%. The restriction described in this paragraph may be waived, in whole or in part, upon sixty-one (61) days’ prior notice from the Holder to the Company to increase such percentage.
11. Warrant Agent . The Company may, by written notice to the Holder, appoint an agent (a “ Warrant Agent ”) for the purpose of issuing Common Stock (or Other Securities) on the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to Section 1 hereof, exchanging this Warrant pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and replacing this Warrant pursuant to Section 9 hereof, or any of the foregoing, and thereafter any such issuance, exchange or replacement, as the case may be, shall be made at such office by such Warrant Agent.
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12. Transfer on the Company’s Books . Until this Warrant is transferred on the books of the Company, the Company may treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.
13. Notices . All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, or facsimile addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by the transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be: (i) if to the Company, to Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc., 202 South Dean Street, Englewood, NJ, Attn: Jeremy Frommer, with a copy by fax only to (which shall not constitute notice) Lucosky Brookman LLP, 101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830, Attn: Joseph M. Lucosky, Esq., facsimile: (732) 395-4401, and (ii) if to the Holder, to the address and facsimile number listed on the first paragraph of this Warrant.
14. Law Governing This Warrant . This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws or of any other State. Any action brought by either party hereto against the other concerning the transactions contemplated by this Warrant shall be brought only in the state courts of New Jersey or in the federal courts located in the state of New Jersey. The parties to this Warrant hereby irrevocably waive any objection to jurisdiction and venue of any action instituted hereunder and shall not assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue or based upon forum non conveniens . The Company and the Holder waive trial by jury. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Warrant or any other agreement delivered in connection herewith is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform to, such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of any agreement. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding in connection with this Warrant or any other transaction document by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
[-Signature Page Follows-]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Warrant as of the date first written above.
JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit A
FORM OF EXERCISE
(to be signed only on exercise of Warrant)
TO: JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.
The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant (No.___), hereby irrevocably elects to purchase (check applicable box):
____ _________ shares of the Common Stock covered by such Warrant; or
____ the maximum number of shares of Common Stock covered by such Warrant pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in Section 2 of the Warrant.
The undersigned herewith makes payment of the full purchase price for such shares at the price per share provided for in such Warrant, which is $_______. Such payment takes the form of (check applicable box or boxes):
____ $_______ in lawful money of the United States; and/or
____ the cancellation of such portion of the attached Warrant as is exercisable for a total of _________shares of Common Stock (using a Fair Market Value of $_______ per share for purposes of this calculation); and/or
____ the cancellation of such number of shares of Common Stock as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in Section 2 of the Warrant, to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in Section 2.
After application of the cashless exercise feature as described above, __________shares of Common Stock are required to be delivered pursuant to the instructions below.
The undersigned requests that the certificates for such shares be issued in the name of, and delivered to_________________________________________________, whose address is _______________________________________________________________
___________________________________ .
The undersigned represents and warrants that all offers and sales by the undersigned of the securities issuable upon exercise of the within Warrant shall be made pursuant to registration of the Common Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
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Dated: ________________ | ||
(Signature must conform to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant) | ||
(Address) |
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Exhibit B
FORM
OF TRANSFEROR ENDORSEMENT
(To be signed only on transfer of Warrant)
For value received, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and transfers unto the person(s) named below under the heading “Transferees” the right represented by the within Warrant to purchase the percentage and number of shares of Common Stock of JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. to which the within Warrant relates specified under the headings “Percentage Transferred” and “Number Transferred,” respectively, opposite the name(s) of such person(s) and appoints each such person Attorney to transfer its respective right on the books of JERRICK MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC., with full power of substitution in the premises.
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Exhibit 99.1
Jerrick’s Digital Arbitrage
by Jeremy Frommer
Ideology of the Internet:
There are two fundamental macro problems with the Internet for the global market of writers, bloggers, promoters, designers, artists, video producers and scores of other creative individuals. Collectively, this group contributes to and creates over 3.5 million articles and blogs that are published daily worldwide.
The problems are not the complex macro issues that behemoths like Amazon or Google face. Those companies and many more like them are now entrenched within the digital ethos. They are no longer simply utilizing the Internet, they are part of the Internet’s actual landscape. We, who use the Internet, pay them all a toll one way or another. If not with money, then with our data and information.
For the general public, those big cornerstone digital infrastructures (CDI) are simply channels for addressing the general needs of the public. Specifically, the entire Internet evolved as a means to exchange and communicate information resources and services. And, as the Internet became increasingly accessed, it developed into a utility for individuals to improve quality of life through efficiency. Deliver me light bulbs, find me a movie theatre, what time is it in China? They are utilities, they are services, and they are transaction-based. It is the time saving attribute that has served as the catalyst for exponential growth in research and development. Continuously increasing processing power and access to data has driven the exponential rate of development and the amount of transactions that can be processed.
Google is so transaction-based that even a simple search can equate to essentially conducting a transaction. You asked to search for something and, as such, provided a basic, yet useful, piece of information. You paid in data. The fact that you ask for a particular item is a bit of individual data that can be exploited.
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“What time is the new superhero movie playing in New York City?”
This simple question structure, with your particular digital profile, has value to Google. Your digital footprint is accretive to their analysis of proactive human behavior. It is one of many things Google analyzes to improve the efficiency and experience on the Internet for each user. In exchange, Google’s algorithms search all the data that is fundamentally available online and returns an answer tailored to each user. Essentially, in exchange for your personal data, Google offers you more (transaction-oriented) data.
“Movie X is playing at 10:00 pm at the theatre nearest you.”
It gets even deeper than that, given the likelihood that the individual’s next action is reactive to the new data, Google is paid again by this additional data. Google creates transactional opportunities based on your proactive and reactive behavior. Managing this never-ending and ever-evolving algorithmic process and all the problems associated with it are the types of issues that CDIs face.
By comparison, the “creative” (as well as general) public, as individuals, suffers from two more personal yet fundamental macro problems, which are ideological in nature. Since the creation of the Internet and the beginning of the digital age, there has been an ongoing effort to solve for these two problems. I am not referring to basic daily nuisances such as “how do I tweet?” or “I forgot my password,” which are simply CDI functions and part of their utilitarian nature. Solving problems to improve efficiency.
Fundamentally, we – as Americans – are all capitalists in one way or another. Capitalism is woven into the fabric of our culture, as is individual freedoms. So it is logical that the two problems are a product of a capitalistic ideology and a free society having essentially created the Internet and formed the digital age.
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The Problems:
Problem 1 – How can I make money on the Internet?
Problem 2 – How can I scale the money I can make on the Internet?
Jerrick’s Solution:
People essentially want to know how they – as an individual – can use the Internet to make money or gain fame and influence. Every advance in technology has been met with the same questions at ever-increasing intensity. Sociologically, every new platform is viewed through that lens.
The creators of Instagram did not set out to build a platform from which influencers could profit by selling space on their accounts’ feeds to brands that want to associate with them as influencers. In fact, Instagram has never provided a single tool to facilitate that process. It has been the platforms’ users that try to figure out how to monetize it, not the creators (unless, of course, it was for the creators to make money).
I believe that fundamentally, similar to the Instagram example, corporate forces embedded in the Internet do not advocate for a free capitalistically driven Internet. It is not in their interest.
But what if you approached building a company from the point of partnering with the general public – with individuals – thereby eliminating the problem?
That is why Jerrick built Vocal .
There is a negligible chance of the average individual ever making money on the Internet. Even if one figures out how to make money, the odds of being able to scale an opportunity are remote because the deck is stacked against the individual entrepreneur, small brand or amateur promoter -- remember the Instagram example.
People often wonder: if the odds are so slim of achieving monetary success on the Internet, why do so many people continue to chase an unrealistic probability? I am always stunned when those same people asking this question, are the same people who are gambling big money in Las Vegas or buying lottery tickets or risking hard earned money in the stock market with little to no experience.
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Everyone’s an addict to one vice or another, the most popular of which is money. We all are confident believers. The confident believer normally has an edge in their respective challenge, so it should come as no surprise that in the biggest competition in the world, American capitalism, people never stop trying to make money on the Internet.
This fundamental belief gives Jerrick its edge. Instead of trying to figure out how to make money off the public, we would rather partner with them and make money together.
Digital entrepreneurs are the same aggressive capitalistic types who seek fame and riches. It is the same group that is always chasing an edge. They are the influencers who try to make money on Instagram, irrespective of its creator’s intention. What better partner could a company hope for? The supply of prospective partners is vast and it creates one side of Jerrick’s digital strategy. By partnering with content creators and influencers, Jerrick taps into the supply side of digital product or content.
Digital Arbitrage:
By paying writers on a per-view basis, the option embedded in a viral post is maintained by the writer, as well as the publisher. If a post goes viral, the writer will get to capitalize perpetually on the upside.
I refer to the supply side as the left side or buy side of the Digital Arbitrage Trade or Transaction (DATT).
The right side or the sell side of the trade is the sale or sponsorship of a page of content done through a digital interface similar to that of Facebook or Reddit. This side of the trade is made up of inward bound revenue opportunities.
Simply existing at a particular tier of the Internet presents revenue opportunities. Most websites that are reliant on outsourced technology and commercial content management platforms cannot take advantage of their opportunistic position in the evolving architecture of the Internet. Unless a website has substantial control over its content platform, which can only be achieved through a proprietary technology build, most will not be able to transition through the next evolution of the web.
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Monthly metrics of a site naturally draw brands that have marketing dollar capacities to fill. The key is to give them a proper interface that allows for a strong user experience, a targeted community backed by statistical data and, most importantly, transparent reporting of impressions. A content creator is paid X dollars per 1000 reads on the left side of the DATT, and a brand pays X*5 per 1000 reads on the right side of the trade.
Leveling the Playing Field:
By bringing efficiency to the market, leveling the playing field, and providing transparency through vocal.media, Jerrick disrupts the digital spread inherent in online financial transacting. If making money on the Internet becomes more readily attainable, then the larger digital institutions would need to work that much harder to maintain financial flexibility. As a result, there would be further exponential rates of growth in yet another area of the digital infrastructure. If institutionalized businesses like Google need to eventually distribute or share revenues with content creators, they will be forced to identify other areas to make more efficient in order to recapture the lost revenues. This perpetual process is what causes the extraordinary exponential growth rates. Since the Internet is an intangible concept, its scalability is theoretically infinite. As a culture, we have yet to scratch the surface of the efficiencies. This growth affects all of science, from life extension to space travel. More data builds upon more data.
Ironically, as the Millennial generation has become increasingly skeptical of big digital institutions, making money has become less important to them than just having their voice heard. This contrasts greatly with the founding fathers of the Internet. It is part of the disconnect between data mining companies like Google and the next generation of Internet users. Nearly a billion articles were written last year by hundreds of millions of people simply trying to have their voice heard. Less than a decade ago there was no opportunity for any of them to reach even small networks of friends, peers or family.
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The birth of social media changed all that. With social media, everyone could have their voice heard; everyone could have their fifteen minutes of fame. Its birth would quell the masses for nearly a decade as the institutions entrenched themselves into the global architecture of the Internet. Much like the coliseums did for ancient Roman cultures, the Internet captures the global imagination of the people.
Sure, you could have your voice heard, and for a decade the institutions sucked in everything you had to say for free, until they had so much data and knowledge that it became almost impossible for anyone to profit off of their voice, their creativity or their networks. Eventually, it again became difficult to distinguish yourself in a world of a billion voices all speaking at the same time.
Stages of Digital Evolution:
We are in the third stage of digital media evolution. Stage one began in the mid 1990’s with the advent of the Internet and ended in 2002. This was the Internet in its infancy, with only a minimal understanding of the exponentially growing world of technology and content, let alone digital media. The first stage of the Internet revolved around commerce, transactions and utilitarian needs.
The 1990’s witnessed the birth of two of the CDIs, Amazon and eBay, the godfathers of online commerce. Well over a decade later Amazon opened up its product advertising API program, introducing a new era of commerce with their affiliate partners program. This is the first instance of an institutional CDI sharing revenues with the next generation of commerce oriented digital entrepreneurs. Many CDIs will follow this ideology and by 2025 it will be a routine business practice. Ultimately digital commerce, banking and content will unite the world in a global digital community.
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The late 1990’s was a time when Netflix was battling Blockbuster by mailing out DVDs. It would not be until 2007, with over one billion DVDs delivered, that Netflix would truly embark on a digital strategy.
Originally, the Internet served utilitarian or commerce based purposes, such as Ask Jeeves and Pets.com. The web browser was the first legitimate digital tool. A digital tool was an intangible resource that allowed for the human brain to evolve faster. Digital tools allow the brain to spend less time accessing less important functions such as data storage and simple calculations and more time on higher functions like data analysis and synthesis. This has led to an accelerated rate of intellectual evolution.
The digital age began with the giant billboard advertising mentality where digital entrepreneurs would raise millions of dollars to pay for a single ad on the Super Bowl, or some brilliant guy bought a seat at a Yankee game behind home plate and held up a sign during the game that said “Stupid.com” and we all ran to Ask Jeeves what Stupid.com was.
Google beat out the most likely candidates to dominate data on the Internet: Microsoft and Apple – forget Yahoo. That, in hindsight, was a small skirmish for Google. Forget AOL because it was run by executives who believed modems would be “as good as it got.” As a culture we needed to see the first institutional businesses fail to understand that there would always be better, and nothing would ever be “as good as it gets” for a very long time.
Google crushed many a digital icon. Visionaries ran Google; these individuals saw the forest for the trees. You have to forgive IBM, they were not seeing the big picture. Science fact was catching up with science fiction. And if you thought science fiction was better served at the movies, you didn’t understand Generation X. I am Generation X. Star Wars was as much a statement about where we could go as a species as it was about how much money science fiction films make at the theaters.
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As a CDI, Google began expanding its reach into other businesses than just data assembly. They became a revenue machine. Google, as defined by the Alphabet name change, realized that in the digital space, the strength of the company was not in specifically what they could create; it was the strength of the creators and visionaries to continue creating and to constantly maintain the flexibility to pivot to the most desirable space on the Internet. In the pre-digital age, the ability to pivot was seen as a reaction to negative business conditions. Today the ability to pivot is praised for its proactive ability to respond to business evolution. The shift in philosophy is due to the deep amalgamation of technology into workflows for creative professionals.
Google realized that in the digital world, it is about gaining endless real estate that is being created daily by the same world, perpetually reliant on consuming data.
The now defunct Ask Jeeves thought that the future was a British digital butler to whom you type questions. As it turned out, the future was a woman named Siri with whom you could talk, argue and get angry.
The second stage I call The Rise of Content, and it lasted from 2001 to 2012. This period was the birth of content and the granddaddy CDI of all, Wikipedia, born Jan 15th 2001. The post-9/11 decade saw a new age of information as scores of the biggest news organizations scrambled to create online presences; Apple coined the word apps, Starbucks offered free wireless access and the mobile revolution began. Much of this was due to the first systemic shift in intellectual brainpower from downtown New York's financial community to Silicon Valley, driven by the horror and financial turmoil created by 9/11. The existing news agencies – not digital- content savvy – did not notice as CDI Bloomberg took a digital top down approach to the media industry and eventually put hundreds of years of publication brainpower out of business.
Many people initially thought apps would be the medium through which people consume content, but mobile tech quickly changed that quickly and now it is relegated to the gaming industry where there really are no unchallengeable CDIs. That is why gaming is still seen as the wild west of digital development as it influences the future of virtual reality. Instead, as in Microsoft, Apple and Sony’s case, apps are a part of broader CDI strategies; they are more utility than substance.
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The third stage began shortly after the financial crisis came to a close at the end of 2011. Once again, there was a major shift in sheer brainpower from the world of finance to the world of digital media.
Another major factor in the birth of this third stage of the digital evolution was the rise of the Millennial generation. These individuals were born with an almost innate sense of technology that begs many questions of established evolutionary science.
As the first generation to never know a world without the Internet, the Millennial generation is positioned to be the greatest generation ever, but we won’t know their true contribution until they fully mature.
Social Media & Blogs:
Social media had existed for at least six years prior to 2011. Created by Generation X, it had the unique luck of timing to be the first post digital era application or utility perfectly formatted for the first Millennials turning 12 years of age. Dry credit markets and a skeptical private equity community curtailed the growth of social media products, allowing Facebook to gain significant traction to become the first social media CDI.
The new generation of Millennials consumed data differently than Generation X. They also shopped differently. And now they were taking senior positions in content companies and commerce sites, ushering in the era of content to commerce: a world in which window displays, shopping aisles, supply rooms and many employees were rapidly becoming obsolete.
“Brand has become a perception, and perception will often match reality over time. Sometimes it will be ahead, other times it will be behind. But brand is simply a collective impression some have about a product.” – Elon Musk
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The third stage of the digital evolution, content to commerce, though driven in great part by the Millennial generation, was being institutionalized by a now more mature Generation X that was either still migrating away from finance or coming off a decade of experience in Silicon Valley.
People had originally presumed the only way to monetize the power of the Internet was commerce, but commerce sites offered little rich content for Google to measure. After some commerce sites like Amazon were established as CDIs, the market turned its attention to software as a service (SaaS) models. SaaS led to the creation of content management platforms (CMP) that could be licensed to users looking to make money on the Internet. Thus was born the first CMP CDI, WordPress.
WordPress was the first institutionalized company to tackle the management of long form content. Short form content was, and still is, the purview of social media. Ecommerce, digital assets and online traffic marketers offered an endless canvass for a new generation of entrepreneurs, transitioning from the world of finance to the digital world. Never before had a single systemic shift in the market like the financial crisis caused such a fast social migration of talent to a new industry. The level of intellect being plowed into technology was explosive. CMPs offered all of these entrepreneurs a technology infrastructure that a mere seven years ago would have cost nearly 50x to maintain. However, today, that fractional cost seems too much for a platform that has shown little advancement in half a decade.
Content has become so important in the digital space that the most important question is where to put it all. This paved the way for blog sites and WordPress to conquer the then-unexplored territory of the digital ethos. Blog sites were born for people to have their voice heard and Google to search what they had to say. It dominated Internet content from 2002 to 2007 and is responsible for the birth of Reddit. Its greatest strength was its division of content into categories and a self-monitoring filtration and moderation architecture.
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The blog site ultimately didn't work. Your closest friends could hear your voice. You emailed them your newest creation and perhaps a few of them commented. Because of the limited flexibility of early blog sites, content creation was limited, search engine optimization (SEO) was a relatively new concept and voices were drowned out by the lack of organization and distribution that blog sites offered. Social media filled the gap, but decided to limit the creative boundaries of content, adapting a short form content strategy. At the time, the notion of a long form social media site was not yet conceptualized.
There was certainly no way to monetize content as an individual -- there was no market for your voice. Only YouTube offered the novel concept of monetizing video content. The monetization algorithms were kept proprietary, so creators never knew exactly how much they were making and why.
Of all the brilliant methods Google came up with to protect creator’s content and copyright, the best was to essentially stop paying people . Since its inception, YouTube had essentially been paying millions of people to put copyrighted material on video channels. Today, with the exception of the top tier of original content creators, YouTube no longer pays any material value for video content.
Things in the digital world basically remained relatively stagnant throughout the financial crisis. There was very little innovation in content, media and monetization on the Internet during those years.
By comparison, social media exploded along with valuations for any company that could both generate content and sell advertising, irrespective of net earnings. Even the old blog sites jumped on the display advertising bubble.
Now, people would have their voice heard by their friends without an email, and these friends could share their content. Meanwhile, the social media sites that had earlier derided advertising as the end of quality content all jumped on the advertising train. It was low risk, high reward, but the novelty came to an end the moment the innovation train started up again in 2012. Many of these sites continue to burn investors’ cash with no possibility of revival without a brand new content management platform, and even then a complete overhaul of the user experience would be necessary.
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The Future:
By 2014, if you really wanted your voice heard on a social media platform, you were asked to pay another advertising fee to “boost” your content. So, finally, you could have your voice heard, but only if you were willing to pay for it and not profit from it. Almost no one can properly monetize their content on social media, and if social media moved in that direction it would literally have to change its entire business model. That does not mean there are not avenues to take within social media that can create revenue opportunities for content creators, but there really are not systemic solutions.
Like the commerce companies before it, the social media platforms in 2015 opened their platforms to affiliate links, for the first time allowing individuals, companies, and brands to sell products directly to consumers. That scratches the surface of what social media will have to do to attract quality content and increase users in years to come, if they even decide to pursue long form content solutions.
Social media created a fundamental problem for Google and the natural order of the Internet. Google needs rich content to rank uniform resource locators (URL) and data. Social media evolved into a direct competitor to the historical gatekeepers of the Internet since the fall of AOL. Some companies were convinced that they didn't even need websites and migrated to social media sites like Facebook. They were wrong.
The fundamental problem for social media is that it wasn't created to solve the macro problem of how to create searchable rich content; it was a way to communicate with friends. It was meant to replace email, not a website. It never intended to go head to head with Google.
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There was no hybrid of social media and long form rich content until the creation of Medium, founded by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams.
Williams had the foresight to understand that, fundamentally, social media would never be able to properly do long form content inside the searchable web. That is why social media constantly chases utilitarian upgrades like Snapchat and Instagram. Social Media CDIs cannot easily pivot the core model, but they can continue to grow audiences by acquiring new platforms that attract audiences. As development of these platforms continue, the original core models of Facebook become less relevant than gathering data from new sites. The next great wave of acquisitions will be long form social platforms.
Vocal is the Answer:
1. | With vocal.media , content creators are given a tool to optimize SEO while creating rich, qualitative content. The user dashboard allows creators to track their contents’ performance and earn per read. Creators can be anywhere, anytime and create any type (written, video or image based) content for Jerrick’s Vocal platform. |
2. | Vocal pays its content creators based on the performance metrics of their content. As Jerrick makes money by charging advertisers on the same cost per impression (CPM) model as it pays content creators, it creates a digital arbitrage. Paying providers X dollars and charging advertisers more than X per CPM creates the arbitrage spread. Both content creators and advertisers are given proprietary digital dashboards to track financials. Jerrick and content creators benefit by increasing views and payouts. It is a partnership born out of mutual benefit. |
3. | Jerrick’s proprietary (patent filed) architecture allows rich content publishing in a web-based environment by anyone globally, and the ability to track the performance of the content and be paid for it. This concept does not exist anywhere on the web other than YouTube and Spotify. Vocal, like Medium, self amplifies through proprietary algorithms and social media. |
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Vocal Advantages:
1. | Vocal allows users to monetize through self-amplification. Users benefit from the community aspect of individual verticals resting on a single technology architecture. For example, Joe creates an article that is going viral; because Mike's content is recommended in Joe's article, Mike also begins to monetize. This creates tight communities, similar to those successfully made on Reddit, and “gamifies” the community. |
2. | Since Vocal's network of sites are niche oriented, content performs better and does not get lost like in YouTube's saturated marketplace of content. |
3. | Content produced on Vocal conforms to the highest standards of search engine optimization. Our content creation tools help users build content that not only looks great, but performs well on Google. |
4. | Vocal's network, i.e., genre specific verticals, provide a user experience beyond Reddit's platform drawbacks. Vocal allows creators to produce rich experiences for their content. |
5. | Vocal's monetization strategy can only be implemented from inception. Previous competitors would have significant barriers to adjusting strategy and would be more compelled to buy smaller start-ups and continue proof of concept long before building internal infrastructure. |
6. | Vocal is a multi-site platform, allowing content to be driven between sites through algorithmic direction and an internal targeted advertising platform. |
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Jerrick Media Holdings:
One of the key aspects of the Vocal platform is that it was built to correct the fundamental errors Jerrick saw in its branded content sites using cumbersome, off-the-shelf commercial content platforms. Some analysts believe that as much as 90% of all websites are constructed on these types of platforms.
After year one, we began an exhaustive search to find the right external development team to partner with our internal group. We wanted to build our own content management platform.
We knew we could never grow our platform unless it had, theoretically, unlimited scalability. After development began we realized that what we were building would go far beyond our original needs. It would create exponential growth by scaling both horizontally and vertically at the same time.
Horizontally, it grows by adding new website portals (Music, Food, Relationship, etc.) and vertically, by adding an infinite amount of content creators, users and brands. Our staff is comparatively small relative to our current and (perhaps) our future competitors and requires only minimal additions for scale.
Success has been a function of always moving forward. Our ideas and vision developed, pivoted and moved forward. We were also uniquely positioned to take advantage of what was an evolutionary spurt in new technology applications for content management, from Skimlinks to Embedly, both algorithmically developed efficiency tools.
Inspiration for our culture was drawn from my partner Rick Schwartz’s days at the iconic film company Miramax and my positive influences from Wall Street partnerships. Our company is as strong as the people who run it and our employees are a reflection of the culture. The only way to create culture is through partnership.
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Jerrick has a library of original and acquired content. With Vocal we share in a financial partnership with the community of content creators.
In January of 2016, Jerrick completed what is technically called a reverse merger. We bought a pre-existing public company that was closing its operating business, then moved all of our assets and IP into that company and assumed control. The process took well over a year. It was a very logical way to create a publicly traded company for legitimate entrepreneurs and creative professionals. During the early part of the 21 st century, a vast amount of private companies had promised eye-popping valuations to its employees and officers who were given stock in the company. It was stock that could not truly be quantified or monetized, as there was no public market for the securities; you could not sell the stock and there was no market to buy it even if you could.
With the collapse of so many tech start-up companies during the financial crisis, it became apparent that the Millennial generation had no trust in something they could not see with their own eyes. They certainly would not buy into partnership at the level it takes to build best in class cultures, unless they actually could see the potential future reward. As such, we decided over four years ago that no matter what we built, one of the premises would be a richly rewarded corporate culture, and the best way to do that is via the stock market.
We have created a new, long form social platform for the market and an opportunity to partner with the global content creator and digital marketing communities.
Thank you to the talented group of Jerrick employees that comprise the collective intelligence of our company.
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