UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2021
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission File No. 001-39500
Creatd, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 87-0645394 | |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
2050 Center Avenue Suite 640
Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024
(Address of principal executive offices)
(201) 258-3770
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock, par value $0.001 | CRTD | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Common Stock Purchase Warrants | CRTDW | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of a “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company,” and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One)
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of May 14, 2021, the Company had 10,989,566 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AND OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. You can find many (but not all) of these statements by looking for words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions in this Form 10-Q. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions; prospective products, applications, customers and technologies; future performance or results of anticipated products; anticipated expenses; and projected financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
● | our ability to continue as a going concern; |
● | our operating expenses exceed our revenues and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future; |
● |
our ability to obtain additional capital, which may be difficult to raise as a result of our limited operating history or any number of other reasons; |
● | our ability provide digital content that is useful to users; |
● | our ability to retain existing users or add new users; |
● | competition from traditional media companies; |
● | general economic conditions and events and the impact they may have on us and our users; and |
● | other factors discussed in this Form 10-Q. |
We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this Form 10-Q, particularly in the “Risk Factors” section, that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make or collaborations or strategic partnerships we may enter into.
You should read this Form 10-Q and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “Creatd,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer collectively to Creatd, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
ii
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Creatd,
Inc.
March 31, 2021
Index to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1 |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31,
2021 |
December 31,
2020 |
|||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current Assets | ||||||||
Cash | $ | 2,802,772 | $ | 7,906,782 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net | 151,729 | 90,355 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
566,727 |
23,856 | ||||||
Total Current Assets | 3,521,228 | 8,020,993 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 58,849 | 56,258 | ||||||
Intangible assets | 929,459 | 960,611 | ||||||
Goodwill | 1,035,795 | 1,035,795 | ||||||
Deposits and other assets | 291,836 | 191,836 | ||||||
Marketable securities | 62,733 | 62,733 | ||||||
Minority investment in businesses | 317,096 | 217,096 | ||||||
Operating lease right of use asset | 219,449 | 239,158 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 6,436,445 | $ | 10,784,480 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
Current Liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 1,849,136 | $ | 2,638,688 | ||||
Derivative liabilities | 344,404 | 42,231 | ||||||
Share liability | 187,500 | - | ||||||
Convertible Notes, net of debt discount and issuance costs | 239,544 | 897,516 | ||||||
Current portion of operating lease payable | 87,912 | 79,816 | ||||||
Note payable - related party, net of debt discount | 5,397 | - | ||||||
Note payable, net of debt discount and issuance costs | 1,423,995 | 1,221,539 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 148,760 | 88,637 | ||||||
Total Current Liabilities | 4,286,648 | 4,968,427 | ||||||
Non-current Liabilities: | ||||||||
Note payable | 54,298 | 213,037 | ||||||
Operating lease payable | 130,303 | 157,820 | ||||||
Total Non-current Liabilities | 184,601 | 370,857 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | 4,471,249 | 5,339,284 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
Series E Preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 20,000,000 shares authorized; 1,088 and 7,738 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | 1 | 8 | ||||||
Common stock par value $0.001: 100,000,000 shares authorized; 10,925,026 issued and 10,915,676 outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and | ||||||||
8,736,378 issued and 8,727,028 outstanding as of December 31, 2020 | 10,925 | 8,737 | ||||||
Additional paid in capital | 80,633,380 | 77,505,013 | ||||||
Subscription receivable | - | (40,000 | ) | |||||
Accumulated deficit | (78,572,159 | ) | (71,928,922 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | (44,545 | ) | (37,234 | ) | ||||
Less: Treasury stock, 5,657 and 5,657 shares, respectively | (62,406 | ) | (62,406 | ) | ||||
1,965,196 | 5,445,196 | |||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | $ | 6,436,445 | $ | 10,784,480 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
2 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited)
For the three months Ended |
For the
three months Ended |
|||||||
March 31,
2021 |
March 31,
2020 |
|||||||
Net revenue | $ | 743,913 | $ | 293,142 | ||||
Gross margin | 743,913 | 293,142 | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Research and development | 328,852 | 135,570 | ||||||
General and administrative | 6,361,058 | 1,983,521 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 6,689,910 | 2,119,091 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (5,945,997 | ) | (1,825,949 | ) | ||||
Other income (expenses) | ||||||||
Other income | - | 63,556 | ||||||
Interest expense | (198,671 | ) | (375,530 | ) | ||||
Accretion of debt discount and issuance cost | (497,165 | ) | (186,947 | ) | ||||
Derivative expense | (100,502 | ) | - | |||||
Change in fair value of derivative liability | (197,389 | ) | - | |||||
Settlement of vendor liabilities | 92,909 | (126,087 | ) | |||||
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt | 203,578 | (535,040 | ) | |||||
Other expenses, net | (697,240 | ) | (1,160,048 | ) | ||||
Loss before income tax provision | (6,643,237 | ) | (2,985,997 | ) | ||||
Income tax provision | - | - | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (6,643,237 | ) | $ | (2,985,997 | ) | ||
Deemed dividend | - | - | ||||||
Inducement expense | - | - | ||||||
Net loss attributable to common shareholders | (6,643,237 | ) | (2,985,997 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive loss | ||||||||
Net loss | (6,643,237 | ) | (2,985,997 | ) | ||||
Currency translation gain (loss) | (7,311 | ) | (9,239 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive loss | $ | (6,650,548 | ) | $ | (2,995,236 | ) | ||
Per-share data | ||||||||
Basic and diluted loss per share | $ | (0.68 | ) | $ | (0.96 | ) | ||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 9,836,443 | 3,101,387 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3 |
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
Series E | Additional | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Treasury stock | Paid In | Subscription | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Receivable | Deficit | Income | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2021 | 7,738 | $ | 8 | 8,736,378 | $ | 8,737 | (5,657 | ) | $ | (62,406 | ) | $ | 77,505,013 | $ | (40,000 | ) | $ | (71,928,922 | ) | $ | (37,234 | ) | $ | 5,445,196 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation | - | - | 112,261 | 112 | - | - | 1,345,803 | - | - | - | 1,345,915 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued for prepaid services | - | - | 40,000 | 40 | - | - | 191,960 | - | - | - | 192,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued to settle vendor liabilities | - | - | 44,895 | 45 | - | - | 181,341 | - | - | - | 181,386 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued upon conversion of notes payable | - | - | 65,328 | 65 | - | - | 142,735 | - | - | - | 142,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of warrants to stock | - | - | 302,434 | 302 | - | - | 1,272,370 | - | - | - | 1,272,672 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash received for preferred series E and warrants | 40 | - | - | - | - | - | (4,225 | ) | 40,000 | - | - | 35,775 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion of preferred series E to stock | (6,690 | ) | (7 | ) | 1,623,730 | 1,624 | - | - | (1,617 | ) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | (7,311 | ) | (7,311 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 | - | - | - | - | - | -- | - | - | (6,643,237 | ) | - | (6,643,237 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2021 | 1,088 | $ | 1 | 10,925,026 | $ | 10,925 | (5,657 | ) | $ | (62,406 | ) | $ | 80,633,380 | $ | - | $ | (78,572,159 | ) | $ | (44,545 | ) | $ | 1,965,196 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4 |
Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 (Unaudited)
Series A Preferred Stock | Series B Preferred Stock | Series D Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Treasury stock | Additional Paid In | Accumulated | Other Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Income | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2019 | - | $ | - | - | $ | - | - | $ | - | 3,059,646 | $ | 3,060 | (159,850 | ) | $ | (367,174 | ) | $ | 36,391,818 | $ | (44,580,437 | ) | $ | (5,995 | ) | $ | (8,558,728 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued with notes payable | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2,683 | 3 | - | - | 31,635 | - | - | 31,638 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued for services | - | - | - | - | - | - | 50,000 | 50 | - | - | 584,950 | - | - | 585,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued to settle vendor liabilities | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23,565 | 23 | - | - | 235,612 | - | - | 235,635 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conversion of warrants to stock | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5,000 | 5 | - | - | 5,767 | - | - | 5,772 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock warrants issued with note payable | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 504,856 | - | - | 504,856 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | (9,239 | ) | (9,239 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | (2,985,997 | ) | - | (2,838,498 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2020 | - | $ | - | - | $ | - | - | $ | - | 3,140,894 | $ | 3,141 | (159,850 | ) | $ | (367,174 | ) | $ | 37,754,638 | $ | (47,566,434 | ) | $ | (15,234 | ) | $ | (10,191,063 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6 |
March 31, 2021
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 – Organization and Operations
Creatd, Inc., formerly Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. (“we,” “us,” the “Company,” or “Creatd”), is a technology company focused on the development of digital communities, marketing branded digital content, and e-commerce opportunities. Creatd’s content distribution platform, Vocal, delivers a robust long-form, digital publishing platform organized into highly engaged niche-communities capable of hosting all forms of rich media content. Through Creatd’s proprietary algorithm dynamics, Vocal enhances the visibility of content and maximizes viewership, providing advertisers access to target markets that most closely match their interests.
The Company was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on December 30, 1999 under the name LILM, Inc. The Company changed its name on December 3, 2013 to Great Plains Holdings, Inc. as part of its plan to diversify its business.
On February 5, 2016 (the “Closing Date”), GTPH, GPH Merger Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of GTPH (“Merger Sub”), and Jerrick Ventures, Inc., a privately-held Nevada corporation headquartered in New Jersey (“Jerrick”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger”) pursuant to which the Merger Sub was merged with and into Jerrick, with Jerrick surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GTPH (the “Merger”). GTPH acquired, pursuant to the Merger, all of the outstanding capital stock of Jerrick in exchange for issuing Jerrick’s shareholders (the “Jerrick Shareholders”), pro-rata, a total of 475,000 shares of GTPH’s common stock. In connection therewith, GTPH acquired 33,415 shares of Jerrick’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Jerrick Series A Preferred”) and 8,064 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Jerrick Series B Preferred”).
In connection with the Merger, on the Closing Date, GTPH and Kent Campbell entered into a Spin-Off Agreement (the “Spin-Off Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Campbell purchased from GTPH (i) all of GTPH’s interest in Ashland Holdings, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, and (ii) all of GTPH’s interest in Lil Marc, Inc., a Utah corporation, in exchange for the cancellation of 39,091 shares of GTPH’s Common Stock held by Mr. Campbell. In addition, Mr. Campbell assumed all debts, obligations and liabilities of GTPH, including any existing prior to the Merger, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Spin-Off Agreement.
Upon closing of the Merger on February 5, 2016, the Company changed its business plan to that of Jerrick.
Effective February 28, 2016, GTPH entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Statutory Merger Agreement”) with Jerrick, pursuant to which GTPH became the parent company of Jerrick Ventures, LLC, a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Jerrick (the “Statutory Merger”) and GTPH changed its name to Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. to better reflect its new business strategy.
On September 11, 2019, the Company acquired 100% of the membership interests of Seller’s Choice, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (“Seller’s Choice”). Seller’s Choice is digital e-commerce agency based in New Jersey (see Note 4).
On September 9, 2020, the Company filed a certificate of amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to change our name to “Creatd, Inc.”, which became effective on September 10, 2020.
Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
Management of the Company is responsible for the selection and use of appropriate accounting policies and the appropriateness of accounting policies and their application. Critical accounting policies and practices are those that are both most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results and require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. The Company’s significant and critical accounting policies and practices are disclosed below as required by the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
7 |
Basis of Presentation
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and following the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP can be condensed or omitted. These interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the Company’s annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial information. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021 or any other interim period or for any other future year. These unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2020, included in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. The balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 has been derived from audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.
Use of Estimates and Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
These significant accounting estimates or assumptions bear the risk of change due to the fact that there are uncertainties attached to these estimates or assumptions, and certain estimates or assumptions are difficult to measure or value.
Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.
Management regularly evaluates the key factors and assumptions used to develop the estimates utilizing currently available information, changes in facts and circumstances, historical experience and reasonable assumptions. After such evaluations, if deemed appropriate, those estimates are adjusted accordingly.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Principles of consolidation
The Company consolidates all majority-owned subsidiaries, if any, in which the parent’s power to control exists.
As of March 31, 2021, the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries and/or entities are as follows:
Name of combined affiliate | State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization | Company Ownership Interest | ||||
Jerrick Ventures LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
Abacus Tech Pty Ltd | Australia | 100 | % | |||
Seller’s Choice, LLC | New Jersey | 100 | % | |||
Jerrick Global, LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
Give, LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
Creatd Partners LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
Sci-Fi Shop, LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
OG Collection LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
VMENA LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
Vocal For Brands, LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
Vocal Ventures LLC | Delaware | 100 | % | |||
What to Buy, LLC | Delaware | 100 | % |
All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.
8 |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value measurement disclosures are grouped into three levels based on valuation factors:
● | Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments |
● | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments and market corroborated inputs) |
● | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including our own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The Company’s Level 1 assets/liabilities include cash, accounts receivable, marketable trading securities, accounts payable, prepaid and other current assets, line of credit and due to related parties. Management believes the estimated fair value of these accounts at March 31, 2021 approximate their carrying value as reflected in the balance sheets due to the short-term nature of these instruments or the use of market interest rates for debt instruments.
The Company’s Level 2 assets/liabilities include certain of the Company’s notes payable and capital lease obligations. Their carrying value approximates their fair values based upon a comparison of the interest rate and terms of such debt given the level of risk to the rates and terms of similar debt currently available to the Company in the marketplace.
The Company’s Level 3 assets/liabilities include goodwill, intangible assets, marketable debt securities, equity investments at cost, and derivative liabilities, when they are recorded at fair value due to an impairment charge. Inputs to determine fair value are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques, including option pricing models and discounted cash flow models. Unobservable inputs used in the models are significant to the fair values of the assets and liabilities.
The following table provides a summary of the relevant assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on recurring basis:
Fair Value Measurements as of
March 31, 2021
Total |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities
(Level 1) |
Quoted Prices for Similar Assets or Liabilities
in Active Markets (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3) |
|||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Marketable securities - debt securities | $ | 62,733 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 62,733 | ||||||||
Total assets | $ | 62,733 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 62,733 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative liabilities | $ | 344,404 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 344,404 | ||||||||
Total Liabilities | 344,404 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 344,404 |
9 |
The following table shows the valuation methodology and unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on recurring basis as of March 31, 2021:
Fair Value | Valuation Methodology | Unobservable Inputs | ||||||||
Marketable securities - debt securities | $ | 62,733 | Discounted cash flow analysis | Expected cash flows from the investment | ||||||
Derivative liabilities | $ | 344,404 | Monte Carlo simulations and Binomial model | Risk free rate | ||||||
Expected volatility | ||||||||||
Drift rate |
The following table provides a summary of the relevant assets that are measured at fair value on non-recurring basis:
Fair Value Measurements as of
March 31, 2021
Total |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities
(Level 1) |
Quoted Prices for Similar Assets or Liabilities
in Active Markets (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3) |
|||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Equity investments, at cost | $ | 317,096 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 317,096 | ||||||||
Total assets | $ | 317,096 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 317,096 |
The following table shows the valuation methodology and unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets measured at fair value on non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2021:
Fair Value | Valuation Methodology | Unobservable Inputs | ||||||||
Equity investments, at cost | $ | 317,096 | Qualitative assessment per ASC 321-10-35 | Qualitative factors |
10 |
The Company valued the initial value of debt securities, which are investments in convertible notes receivable, by assessing the separate values of the debt and equity components for similar instruments convertible into private company equity (Level 3). The investment was initially measured at cost, which was determined to approximate fair value due to the lack of marketability of the conversion shares underlying these convertible instruments and the expected recoverability of the note principal. The key assumption affecting the level 3 fair values would be collectability of the notes. The Company monitors for impairment indicators at each balance sheet date.
Marketable debt securities as of March 31, 2021 are as follows:
Fair Value
Hierarchy |
Cost |
Unrealized Gains
(Loss) |
Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Marketable securities - debt securities | 3 | $ | 62,733 | $ | - | $ | 62,733 |
The change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on debt securities available for sale that has been included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income as a separate component of Stockholder’s Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $0 and $0, respectively.
The Company recognizes impairment on loans or notes receivable (that do not meet the definition of a debt security) when it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms, and the amount of loss can be estimated. The loss is estimated based on the present value of expected cash flows. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company recognized a $0 credit loss on debt marketable securities.
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
At times, cash balances may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurable limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances. As of March 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, cash amounts in excess of $250,000 were not fully insured. The uninsured cash balance as of March 31, 2021 was approximately $2.6 million. The Company does not believe it is exposed to significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.
Long-lived Assets Including Goodwill and Other Acquired Intangibles Assets
We evaluate the recoverability of property and equipment and acquired finite-lived intangible assets for possible impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The evaluation is performed at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Recoverability of these assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate from the use and eventual disposition. If such review indicates that the carrying amount of property and equipment and intangible assets is not recoverable, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to fair value. We have not recorded any significant impairment charges during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. We routinely review the remaining estimated useful lives of property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets. If we change the estimated useful life assumption for any asset, the remaining unamortized balance is amortized or depreciated over the revised estimated useful life.
During the year ended December 31, 2020 the Company completed its annual impairment test of goodwill. The Company performed the qualitative assessment as permitted by ASC 350-20 and determined that the fair value of the reporting unit was more likely than not equal or greater than the carrying value, including Goodwill. Based on completion of this annual impairment test, no impairment was indicated.
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Investments
Marketable securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings. Debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity or as trading are classified as available-for-sale, and are carried at fair market value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, included in the determination of comprehensive income and reported in stockholders’ equity.
The Company accounts for its investments in available-for-sale debt securities, in accordance with sub-topic 320-10 of the FASB ASC (“Sub-Topic 320-10”). Accrued interest on these securities is included in fair value and amortized cost.
Pursuant to Paragraph 320-10-35, investments in debt securities that are classified as available for sale shall be measured subsequently at fair value in the statement of financial position. Unrealized holding gains and losses for available-for-sale securities (including those classified as current assets) shall be excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income until realized.
The Company follows FASB ASC 320-10-35 to assess whether an investment in debt securities is impaired in each reporting period. An investment in debt securities is impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost. If the Company intends to sell the debt security (that is, it has decided to sell the security), an other-than-temporary impairment shall be considered to have occurred. If the Company more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis or it otherwise does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security, an other-than-temporary impairment shall be considered to have occurred. The Company considers the expected cash flows from the investment based on reasonable and supportable forecasts as well as several other factors to estimate whether a credit loss exists. If the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit loss, the other-than-temporary impairment shall be recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date.
The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in marketable securities - available-for-sale debt securities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
For the
three months ended March 31, 2021 |
||||
Total | ||||
Beginning of period | $ | 62,733 | ||
Purchase of marketable securities | - | |||
Interest due at maturity | - | |||
Other than temporary impairment | - | |||
Conversion of marketable securities | - | |||
March 31, 2021 | $ | 62,733 |
We invest in debt securities. Our investments in debt securities are subject to interest rate risk. To minimize the exposure due to an adverse shift in interest rates, we invest in securities with maturities of two years or less and maintain a weighted average maturity of one year or less. As of March 31, 2021, all of our investments had maturities between one and three years. The marketable debt security investments are evaluated for impairment if events or circumstances arise that indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.
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The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in equity investments, at cost that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:
For the
Three Months ended March 31, 2021 |
||||
Total | ||||
Beginning of period | $ | 217,096 | ||
Purchase of equity investments | 100,000 | |||
Conversion of marketable securities | - | |||
March 31, 2021 | $ | 317,096 |
The Company has elected to measure its equity securities without a readily determinable fair value at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. An election to measure an equity security in accordance with this paragraph shall be made for each investment separately.
The Company performed a qualitative assessment considering impairment indicators to evaluate whether these investments were impaired. Impairment indicators that the Company considered included the following: a) a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, credit rating, asset quality or business prospects of the investee; b) a significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic or technology environment of the investee; c) a significant adverse change in the general market condition of either the geographical area or the industry in which the investee operates; d) a bona fide offer to purchase or an offer by the investee to sell the investment; e) factors that raise significant concerns about the investee’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company follows subtopic 450-20 of the FASB ASC to report accounting for contingencies. Certain conditions may exist as of the date the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or un-asserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or un-asserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.
If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potential material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, and an estimate of the range of possible losses, if determinable and material, would be disclosed.
Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed.
Foreign Currency
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at our Consolidated Balance Sheet dates. Results of operations and cash flows are translated using the average exchange rates throughout the periods. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of assets and liabilities is included as a component of stockholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, which are included in SG&A, have not been significant in any period presented.
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Derivative Liability
The Company evaluates its debt and equity issuances to determine if those contracts or embedded components of those contracts qualify as derivatives to be separately accounted for in accordance with paragraph 815-10-05-4 and Section 815-40-25 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The result of this accounting treatment is that the fair value of the embedded derivative is marked-to-market each balance sheet date and recorded as either an asset or a liability. In the event that the fair value is recorded as a liability, the change in fair value is recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as other income or expense. Upon conversion, exercise or cancellation of a derivative instrument, the instrument is marked to fair value at the date of conversion, exercise or cancellation and then the related fair value is reclassified to equity.
In circumstances where the embedded conversion option in a convertible instrument is required to be bifurcated and there are also other embedded derivative instruments in the convertible instrument that are required to be bifurcated, the bifurcated derivative instruments are accounted for as a single, compound derivative instrument.
The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period. Equity instruments that are initially classified as equity that become subject to reclassification are reclassified to liability at the fair value of the instrument on the reclassification date. Derivative instrument liabilities will be classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument is expected within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
The Company adopted Section 815-40-15 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Section 815-40-15”) to determine whether an instrument (or an embedded feature) is indexed to the Company’s own stock. Section 815-40-15 provides that an entity should use a two-step approach to evaluate whether an equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded feature) is indexed to its own stock, including evaluating the instrument’s contingent exercise and settlement provisions. The Company changed its method of accounting for the debt and warrants through the early adoption of ASU 2017-11 during the three months ended December 31, 2017 on a retrospective basis.
The Company utilizes a Geometric Brownian Motion (“GBM”) model and a Binomial model to compute the fair value of the derivative and to mark to market the fair value of the derivative at each balance sheet date. The inputs utilized in the application of the GBM model included a starting stock price, an expected term of each debenture remaining from the valuation date to maturity, an estimated volatility, and a risk-free rate. The inputs utilized in the application of the Binomial model included a stock price on valuation date, an expected term of each debenture remaining from the valuation date to maturity, an estimated volatility, and a risk-free rate. The Company records the change in the fair value of the derivative as other income or expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Revenue Recognition
Under Topic 606, revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
We determine revenue recognition through the following steps:
● | identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer; |
● | identification of the performance obligations in the contract; |
● | determination of the transaction price. The transaction price for any given subscriber could decrease based on any payments made to that subscriber. A subscriber may be eligible for payment through one or more of the monetization features offered to Vocal creators, including earnings through reads (on a cost per mille basis) and cash prizes offered to Challenge winners; |
● | allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and |
● | recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation. |
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Revenue disaggregated by revenue source for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 consists of the following:
Three Months Ended
March 31, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Agency (Managed Services + Branded Content) | $ | 428,300 | $ | 248,251 | ||||
Platform (Creator Subscriptions) | 306,902 | 35,962 | ||||||
Affiliate Sales | 8,008 | 8,149 | ||||||
Other Revenue | 703 | 780 | ||||||
$ | 743,913 | $ | 293,142 |
Agency Revenue
Managed Services
The Company provides Studio/Agency Service offerings to business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) product and service brands which encompasses a full range of digital marketing and e-commerce solutions. The Company’s services include the setup and ongoing management of clients’ websites, Amazon and Shopify storefronts and listings, social media pages, search engine marketing, and other various tools and sales channels utilized by e-commerce sellers for sales and growth optimization. Contracts are broken into three categories Partners, Monthly Services, and Projects. Contract amounts for Partner and Monthly Services clients range from approximately $500-$7,500 per month while Project amounts vary depending on the scope of work. Partner and Monthly clients are billed monthly for the work completed within that month. Partner Clients may or may not have an additional billing component referred to as Sales Performance Fee, which is a fee based upon a previously agreed upon percentage point of the client’s total sales for the month. Some Partners may also have projects within their contracts that get billed and recognized as agreed upon project milestones are achieved. Revenue is recognized over time as service obligations and milestones in the contract are met.
Branded Content
Branded content represents the revenue recognized from the Company’s obligation to create and publish branded articles for clients on the Vocal platform and promote said stories, tracking engagement for the client. The performance obligation is satisfied when the Company successfully publishes the articles on its platform and meets any required promotional milestones as per the contract. The revenue is recognized over time as the services are performed and any required milestones are met.
Below are the significant components of a typical agreement pertaining to branded content revenue:
● | The Company collects fixed fees ranging from $10,000 to $110,000. | |
● | The articles are created and published within three months of the signed agreement, or as previously negotiated with the client. | |
● | The articles are promoted per the contract and engagement reports are provided to the client. | |
● | Most billing for contracts occurs 50% at signing and 50% upon completion of the services, with net payment terms varying per client. | |
● | Most contracts include provisions for clients to acquire content rights at the end of the campaign for a flat fee. |
Platform Revenue
Creator Subscriptions
Vocal+ is a premium subscription offering for Vocal creators. In addition to joining for free, Vocal creators now have the option to sign up for a Vocal+ membership for either $9.99 monthly or $99 annually, though these amounts are occasionally subject to promotional discounts. Vocal+ subscribers receive access to value-added features such as increased rate of cost per mille (thousand) (“CPM”) monetization, a decreased minimum withdrawal threshold, a discount on platform processing fees, member badges for their profiles, access to exclusive Vocal+ Challenges, and early access to new Vocal features. Subscription revenues stem from both monthly and annual subscriptions, the latter of which is amortized over a twelve-month period. Any customer payments received are recognized over the subscription period, with any payments received in advance being deferred until they are earned.
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The transaction price for any given subscriber could decrease based on any payments made to that subscriber. A subscriber may be eligible for payment through one or more of the monetization features offered to Vocal creators, including earnings through reads (on a cost per mille basis) and cash prizes offered to Challenge winners. Estimates are utilized for payments made for earnings through reads, by establishing the lifetime a subscriber has had a Vocal account, determining the percentage of that lifetime that the subscriber has been a paying customer, and applying that percentage to payments for earnings through reads in the relevant reporting period.
Affiliate Sales Revenue
Affiliate sales represents the commission the Company receives when a purchase is made through affiliate links placed within content hosted on the Vocal platform. Affiliate revenue is earned on a “click through” basis, upon referring visitors, via said links, to an affiliate’s site and having them complete a specific outcome, most commonly a product purchase. The Company uses multiple affiliate platforms, such as Skimlinks, Amazon, and Tune, to form and maintain thousands of vendor relationships. Each vendor establishes their own commission percentage, which typically range from 2-20%. The revenue is recognized upon receipt as reliable estimates could not be made.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue consists of billings and payments from clients in advance of revenue recognition. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had deferred revenue of $148,760 and $88,637, respectively.
Accounts Receivable and Allowances
Accounts receivable are recorded and carried when the Company has performed the work in accordance with managed services, project, partner, consulting and branded content agreements. For example, we bill a managed service client monthly when we have updated their Amazon store, modified SEO or completed the other services listed in the agreement. For projects and branded content, we will bill the client and record the receivable once milestones are reached that are set in the agreement. We make estimates for the allowance for doubtful accounts and allowance for unbilled receivables based upon our assessment of various factors, including historical experience, the age of the accounts receivable balances, credit quality of our customers, current economic conditions, and other factors that may affect our ability to collect from customers. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company recorded $997 as a bad debt expense. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company has an allowance for doubtful accounts of $81,506 and $80,509, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes compensation expense for all equity–based payments granted in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation”. Under fair value recognition provisions, the Company recognizes equity–based compensation net of an estimated forfeiture rate and recognizes compensation cost only for those shares expected to vest over the requisite service period of the award.
Restricted stock awards are granted at the discretion of the Company. These awards are restricted as to the transfer of ownership and generally vest over the requisite service periods, typically over a five-year period (vesting on a straight–line basis). The fair value of a stock award is equal to the fair market value of a share of Company stock on the grant date.
The fair value of an option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black–Scholes option valuation model. The Black–Scholes option valuation model requires the development of assumptions that are inputs into the model. These assumptions are the value of the underlying share, the expected stock volatility, the risk–free interest rate, the expected life of the option, the dividend yield on the underlying stock and the expected forfeiture rate. Expected volatility is benchmarked against similar companies in a similar industry over the expected option life and other appropriate factors. Risk–free interest rates are calculated based on continuously compounded risk–free rates for the appropriate term. The dividend yield is assumed to be zero as the Company has never paid or declared any cash dividends on its Common stock and does not intend to pay dividends on its Common stock in the foreseeable future. The expected forfeiture rate is estimated based on management’s best estimate.
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Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of equity–based payment awards requires the input of the subjective assumptions described above. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of equity–based payment awards represent management’s best estimates, which involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and the Company uses different assumptions, our equity–based compensation could be materially different in the future. The Company issues awards of equity instruments, such as stock options and restricted stock units, to employees and certain non-employee directors. Compensation expense related to these awards is based on the fair value of the underlying stock on the award date and is amortized over the service period, defined as the vesting period, using the cliff straight-line method. The vesting period is generally one to three years. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock units. Compensation expense is reduced for actual forfeitures as they occur.
Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share is determined using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents. In periods when losses are reported, which is the case for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
The Company had the following common stock equivalents at March 31, 2021 and 2020:
March 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Options | 2,350,062 | 303,833 | ||||||
Warrants | 6,273,778 | 268,660 | ||||||
Convertible notes - related party | - | 1,855 | ||||||
Convertible notes | 49,629 | 430,084 | ||||||
Totals | 8,673,469 | 1,004,432 |
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance
In December 2019, the FASB issued authoritative guidance intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes (ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”). This guidance eliminates certain exceptions to the general approach to the income tax accounting model and adds new guidance to reduce the complexity in accounting for income taxes. This guidance is effective for annual periods after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those annual periods. The updated guidance, which became effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU-2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 affects loans, debt securities, trade receivables, and any other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash. The ASU requires an entity to recognize expected credit losses rather than incurred losses for financial assets. ASU 2016-13 is effective for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This ASU amends the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity, and also improves and amends the related EPS guidance for both Subtopics. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods after December 15, 2021 and interim periods within those annual periods and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
In May 2021, the FASB issued authoritative guidance intended to clarify and reduce diversity in an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. (ASU 2021-04), “Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Topic 815). This guidance amendments provide measurement, recognition, and disclosure guidance for an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. This guidance is effective for annual periods after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, when adopted, will have a material effect on the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Note 3 – Going Concern
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that it will continue as a going concern, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business.
As reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements, as of March 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $78.6 million, a net loss of $6.6 million and net cash used in operating activities of $5.3 million for the reporting period then ended. The Company is in default on debentures as of the date of this filing. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year from the issuance of these financial statements.
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” and on March 10, 2020, declared it to be a pandemic. Actions taken around the world to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus include restrictions on travel, and quarantines in certain areas, and forced closures for certain types of public places and businesses. The COVID-19 coronavirus and actions taken to mitigate it have had and are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many countries, including the geographical area in which the Company operates. While it is unknown how long these conditions will last and what the complete financial impact will be to the Company, capital raising efforts and our operations may be negatively affected.
The Company is attempting to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenues; however, its cash position may not be sufficient to support its daily operations. While the Company believes in the viability of its strategy to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenues and in its ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering of its debt or equity securities, there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so on reasonable terms, or at all. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenues and its ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering.
The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Note 4 - Equity investments, at cost
The Company has elected to measure its equity securities without a readily determinable fair value at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. An election to measure an equity security in accordance with this paragraph shall be made for each investment separately.
The Company performed a qualitative assessment considering impairment indicators to evaluate whether these investments were impaired. Impairment indicators that the Company considered included the following: a) a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, credit rating, asset quality or business prospects of the investee; b) a significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic or technology environment of the investee; c) a significant adverse change in the general market condition of either the geographical area or the industry in which the investee operates; d) a bona fide offer to purchase or an offer by the investee to sell the investment; e) factors that raise significant concerns about the investee’s ability to continue as a going concern.
On October 2, 2020, the Company converted $102,096 of its marketable debt security into 119,355 shares of preferred stock or a 1.3% equity investment in a private company.
On October 23, 2020, the Company entered into an equity interest purchase agreement whereas the Company purchased 3.8% ownership of a private company for $115,000. On February 17, 2021 the Company entered into a membership interest purchase agreement whereas the Company purchased another 3.3% ownership of a private company for $100,000.
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Note 5 – Notes Payable
Notes payable as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:
Outstanding Principal as of | |||||||||||||||
March 31,
2021 |
December 31,
2020 |
Interest
Rate |
Maturity
Date |
||||||||||||
Seller’s Choice Note | $ | 660,000 | $ | 660,000 | 30 | % | September 2020 | ||||||||
The May 2020 PPP Loan Agreement | 412,500 | 412,500 | 1 | % | April 2022 | ||||||||||
The April 2020 PPP Loan Agreement | 262,432 | 282,432 | 1 | % | May 2022 | ||||||||||
The October 2020 Loan Agreement | 57,273 | 55,928 | 14 | % | July 21 | ||||||||||
The November 2020 Loan Agreement | - | 23,716 | 14 | % | May 2021 | ||||||||||
The February 2021 Loan Agreement | 86,089 | - | 14 | % | July 21 | ||||||||||
1,478,293 | 1,434,576 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Debt Discount | - | - | |||||||||||||
Less: Debt Issuance Costs | - | - | |||||||||||||
1,478,293 | 1,434,576 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Current Debt | (1,423,995 | ) | (1,221,539 | ) | |||||||||||
Total Long-Term Debt | $ | 54,298 | $ | 213,037 |
As of March 31, 2021, if PPP loans payable are not forgiven, remaining scheduled principal payments due on notes payable are as follows:
Twelve months ended March 31, | ||||
2021 | $ | 1,423,995 | ||
2022 | 54,298 | |||
$ | 1,478,293 |
Seller’s Choice Note
On September 11, 2019, the Company entered into Seller’s Choice Purchase Agreement with Home Revolution LLC (see Note 4). As a part of the consideration provided pursuant to the Seller’s Choice Acquisition, the Company issued the Seller’s Choice Note to the Seller in the principal amount of $660,000. The Seller’s Choice Note bears interest at a rate of 9.5% per annum and is payable on March 11, 2020 (the “Seller’s Choice Maturity Date”) at which time all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts become due. Upon maturity the Company utilized an automatic extension up to 6 months. This resulted in a 5% increase in the interest rate every month the Seller’s Choice Note is outstanding. As of March 31, 2021 the Company is in default on the Seller’s Choice note.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company accrued interest of $48,822.
The April 2020 PPP Loan Agreement
On April 30, 2020, the Company was granted a loan with a principal amount of $282,432 (the “Loan”), pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) under Division A, Title I of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was enacted on March 27, 2020. The Loan, which was in the form of a Note dated April 30, 2020 matures on April 30, 2022 and bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.00% per annum, payable monthly commencing on October 30, 2020. The Note may be prepaid by the Company at any time prior to maturity without payment of any premium. Funds from the Loan may only be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage payments, lease payments and utility payments.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company accrued interest of $696.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repaid $20,000 in principal.
The Company is in the process of returning the funds received from the Loan.
When the applications for PPP first opened up, there was limited available funding and much confusion surrounding the application process. The Company initially submitted its application for the May 2020 PPP Loan in early April but received no response in the aftermath of submitting the application. After consulting multiple advisors, the Company made the decision to apply elsewhere, due to the rampant media coverage of institutions running out of funding and the Company’s need for the capital and belief that if 2 separate loans were approved, the remaining application could simply be withdrawn.
Therefore, in late April, the company proceeded with applying for the April 2020 PPP Loan. After some conflicting communications regarding acceptance, the Company attempted to contact the lender to clarify but got no response. After continued attempts to follow up with both lenders, the Company received approval for the May 2020 PPP Loan and funding for the April 2020 PPP Loan on the same day, followed the next day by the funding of the May 2020 PPP Loan. The Company immediately separated the funds for the April 2020 PPP Loan into a separate reserved bank account with the intention of returning the funds. However, after several attempts to contact the lender with no response, the Company was faced with difficulty raising funds in the early-Covid economy and made the decision to utilize the funds for operations and pursue an installment repayment plan when they were able to reach the lender. As of the date of this filing, the Company has begun making repayments on the loan, absent a formal installment agreement due to difficulties reaching the lender. The Company intends to complete repayment before the end of 2021.
As each company is only permitted one loan under the CARES Act, there is a possibility the loan may be called by the SBA and the Company would have to repay the loan in full at such time.
The May 2020 PPP Loan Agreement
On May 4, 2020, Jerrick Ventures, LLC (“Jerrick Ventures”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, was granted a loan from PNC Bank, N.A. with a principal amount of $412,500, pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”). The Loan, which was in the form of a Note dated May 4, 2020 matures on May 4, 2022 and bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.00% per annum, payable monthly commencing on November 4, 2020. The Note may be prepaid by Jerrick Ventures at any time prior to maturity without payment of any premium. Funds from the Loan may only be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage payments, lease payments and utility payments. Jerrick Ventures intends to use the entire Loan amount for qualifying expenses. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the Loan may be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company accrued interest of $1,017.
The Company plans to apply for forgiveness of this loan and has begun discussions with the lender regarding that process.
The October 2020 Loan Agreement
On October 6, 2020, the Company entered into a secured loan agreement (the “October 2020 Loan Agreement”) with a lender (the “October 2020 Lender”), whereby the October 2020 Lender issued the Company a secured promissory note of A$74,300 AUD or $53,128 United States Dollars (the “October 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the October 2020 Loan Agreement, the October 2020 Note has an effective interest rate of 14%. The maturity date of the October 2020 Note is September 30, 2021 (the “October 2020 Maturity Date”) at which time all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts due under the October 2020 Loan Agreement are due. The loan is secured by the Australian research & development credit.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company accrued A$2565 in interest.
The November 2020 Loan Agreement
On November 24, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “November 2020 Loan Agreement”) with a lender (the “November 2020 Lender”) whereby the November 2020 Lender issued the Company a promissory note of $34,000 (the “November 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the November 2020 Loan Agreement, the November 2020 Note has an effective interest rate of 14%. The maturity date of the November 2020 Note is May 25, 2021 (the “November 2020 Maturity Date”), at which time all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts due under the November 2020 Note are due.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repaid $23,716 in principal and $4,736 of accrued interest.
20 |
The February 2021 Loan Agreement
On February 24, 2021, the Company entered into a secured loan agreement (the “February 2021 Loan Agreement”) with a lender (the “February 2021 Lender”), whereby the February 2021 Lender issued the Company a secured promissory note of A$111,683 AUD or $86,089 United States Dollars (the “February 2021 Note”). Pursuant to the February 2021 Loan Agreement, the February 2021 Note has an effective interest rate of 14%. The maturity date of the February 2021 Note is July 31, 2021 (the “February 2021 Maturity Date”) at which time all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts due under the February 2021 Loan Agreement are due. The loan is secured by the Australian research & development credit.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company accrued A$1,499 in interest.
Note 6 – Convertible Note Payable
Convertible notes payable as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:
Outstanding Principal as of | Warrants granted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31,
2021 |
December 31,
2020 |
Interest
Rate |
Conversion
Price |
Maturity
Date |
Quantity |
Exercise
Price |
||||||||||||||||||||
The September 2020 convertible Loan Agreement | - | 341,880 | 12 | % | $ | - | (*) | September 2021 | 85,555 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
The October 2020 convertible Loan Agreement | 169,400 | 169,400 | 6 | % | $ | - | (*) | October 2021 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
The First December 2020 convertible Loan Agreement | - | 600,000 | 12 | % | $ | - | (*) | December 2021 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
The Second December 2020 convertible Loan Agreement | 169,400 | 169,400 | 6 | % | $ | - | (*) | December 2021 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
338,800 | 1,280,680 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Debt Discount | (94,226 | ) | (309,637 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Debt Issuance Costs | (5,030 | ) | (73,527 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
239,544 | 897,516 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Current Debt | (239,544 | ) | (897,516 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Long-Term Debt | $ | - | $ | - |
(*) | As subject to adjustment as further outlined in the notes |
The First July 2020 Convertible Loan Agreement
On July 01, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “First July 2020 Loan Agreement”) with an individual (the “First July 2020 Lender”), whereby the First July 2020 Lender issued the Company a promissory note of $68,000 (the “First July 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the First July 2020 Loan Agreement, the First July 2020 Note has interest of twelve percent (10%). The First July 2020 Note matures on June 29, 2021.
Upon default or 180 days after issuance the First July 2020 Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Conversion Shares”) equal to 61% multiplied by the lowest trade of the common stock during the twenty (15) consecutive trading day period immediately preceding the date of the respective conversion.t
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the First July 2020 Note became convertible. Due to the fact that these convertible notes have an option to convert at a variable amount, they are subject to derivative liability treatment. The Company has applied ASC 815, due to the potential for settlement in a variable quantity of shares. The conversion feature has been measured at fair value using a Binomial model at the conversion date and the period end. The conversion feature of First July 2020 Note gave rise to a derivative liability of $112,743. The Company recorded $68,000 as a debt discount and $44,743 was recorded to derivative expense. The debt discount is charged to accretion of debt discount over the remaining term of the convertible note.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company converted $68,000 in principal and $3,400 in interest into 35,469 shares of the Company’s common stock.
The August 2020 Convertible Loan Agreement
On August 17, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “August 2020 Loan Agreement”) with an individual (the “August 2020 Lender”), whereby the August 2020 Lender issued the Company a promissory note of $68,000 (the “August 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the August 2020 Loan Agreement, the August 2020 Note has interest of twelve percent (12%). The August 2020 Note matures on August 17, 2021.
21 |
Upon default or 180 days after issuance the August 2020 Convertible Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Conversion Shares”) equal to 61% multiplied by the lowest trade of the common stock during the twenty (15) consecutive trading day period immediately preceding the date of the respective conversion.
The Company recorded a $3,000 debt discount relating to original issue discount associated with this note. The debt discount is being accreted over the life of the note to accretion of debt discount and issuance cost.t
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the August 2020 Note became convertible. Due to the fact that these convertible notes have an option to convert at a variable amount, they are subject to derivative liability treatment. The Company has applied ASC 815, due to the potential for settlement in a variable quantity of shares. The conversion feature has been measured at fair value using a Binomial model at the conversion date and the period end. The conversion feature of August 2020 Note gave rise to a derivative liability of $120,759. The Company recorded $65,000 was recorded as a debt discount and $55,759 was recorded to derivative expense. The debt discount is charged to accretion of debt discount over the remaining term of the convertible note.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company converted $68,000 in principal and $3,400 in interest into 29,859 shares of the Company’s common stock.
The September 2020 Convertible Loan Agreement
On September 23, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “September 2020 Loan Agreement”) with an individual (the “September 2020 Lender”), whereby the September 2020 Lender issued the Company a promissory note of $385,000 (the “September 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the September 2020 Loan Agreement, the September 2020 Note has interest of twelve percent (12%). The September 2020 Note matures on September 23, 2021.
Upon default or 180 days after issuance the Second July 2020 Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective conversion.
The Company recorded a $68,255 debt discount relating to original issue discount associated with this note. The Company recorded a $146,393 debt discount relating to 85,555 warrants issued to investors based on the relative fair value of each equity instrument on the dates of issuance. The debt discount is being accreted over the life of the note to accretion of debt discount and issuance cost.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company repaid $341,880 in principal and $46,200 in interest.
The October 2020 Convertible Loan Agreement
On October 2, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “October 2020 Loan Agreement”) with an individual (the “October 2020 Lender”), whereby the October 2020 Lender issued the Company a promissory note of $169,400 (the “October 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the October 2020 Loan Agreement, the October 2020 Note has interest of twelve percent (6%). The October 2020 Note matures on the first (12th) month anniversary of its issuance date.
Upon default or 180 days after issuance the October 2020 Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Conversion Shares”) equal to 75% of average the lowest three trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the fifteen-trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective conversion.
The Company recorded a $19,400 debt discount relating to original issue discount associated with this note. The debt discount is being accreted over the life of the note to accretion of debt discount and issuance cost.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Second July 2020 Note became convertible. Due to the fact that these convertible notes have an option to convert at a variable amount, they are subject to derivative liability treatment. The Company has applied ASC 815, due to the potential for settlement in a variable quantity of shares. The conversion feature has been measured at fair value using a Binomial model at the conversion date and the period end. The conversion feature of Second July 2020 Note gave rise to a derivative liability of $74,860. The Company recorded this as a debt discount. The debt discount is charged to accretion of debt discount over the remaining term of the convertible note.
22 |
The First December 2020 convertible Loan Agreement
On December 9, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “First December 2020 Loan Agreement”) with an individual (the “First December 2020 Lender”), whereby the First December 2020 Lender issued the Company a promissory note of $600,000 (the “First December 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the First December 2020 Loan Agreement, the First December 2020 Note has interest of twelve percent (12%). As additional consideration for entering in the First December 2020 convertible Loan Agreement, the Company issued 45,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The First December 2020 Note matures on the first (12th) month anniversary of its issuance date.
Upon default the First December 2020 Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Conversion Shares”) equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective conversion.
The Company recorded a $110,300 debt discount relating to original issue discount associated with this note. The Company recorded a $113,481 debt discount relating to 45,000 shares issued to investors based on the relative fair value of each equity instrument on the dates of issuance. The debt discount is being accreted over the life of the note to accretion of debt discount and issuance cost.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company repaid $600,000 in principal and $4,340 in interest.
The Second December 2020 Convertible Loan Agreement
On December 30, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “Second December 2020 Loan Agreement”) with an individual (the “Second December 2020 Lender”), whereby the Second December 2020 Lender issued the Company a promissory note of $169,400 (the “Second December 2020 Note”). Pursuant to the Second December 2020 Loan Agreement, the Second December 2020 Note has interest of twelve percent (6%). The Second December 2020 Note matures on the first (12th) month anniversary of its issuance date.
Upon default the Second December 2020 Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Conversion Shares”) equal to 75% of average the lowest three trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the fifteen-trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective conversion.
The Company recorded a $18,900 debt discount relating to original issue discount associated with this note. The debt discount is being accreted over the life of the note to accretion of debt discount and issuance cost.
Note 7 – Related Party
Notes payable
Notes payable – related party as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:
Outstanding Principal as of | Warrants granted | |||||||||||||||||||||
March 31,
2021 |
December 31,
2020 |
Interest
Rate |
Maturity
Date |
Quantity |
Exercise
Price |
|||||||||||||||||
The September 2020 Goldberg Loan Agreement | 16,705 | 16,705 | 7 | % | September 2022 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
The September 2020 Rosen Loan Agreement | 3,295 | 3,295 | 7 | % | September 2022 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
20,000 | 20,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Debt Discount | (14,603 | ) | (17,068 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Less: Debt Issuance Costs | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
5,397 | 2,932 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Current Debt | (5,397 | ) | (2,932 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | - | $ | - |
23 |
The September 2020 Goldberg Loan Agreement
On September 15, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “September 2020 Goldberg Loan Agreement”) with Goldberg whereby the Company issued a promissory note of $16,705 (the “September 2020 Goldberg Note”). Pursuant to the September 2020 Goldberg Loan Agreement, the September 2020 Goldberg Note has an interest rate of 7%. The maturity date of the September 2020 Goldberg Note is September 15, 2022 (the “September 2020 Goldberg Maturity Date”), at which time all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts due under note are due. The September 2020 Goldberg Loan is secured by the tangible and intangible property of the Company.
Since the September 2020 Goldberg Note has a make-whole provision if the shares of the Company’s common stock issued to the lender in accordance with the Lender’s Exchange Agreement (see note 11) have a value equal to or less than $7,737,594 determined by using the lowest VWAP of the last 30 days prior to September 14, 2021. The principal amount of the September 2020 Goldberg Note shall increase by 200% of the difference between the initial consideration and the September 14, 2021 value. The Company has applied ASC 815, due to the potential for settlement in a variable quantity of shares. The make-whole feature gave rise to a derivative liability of $2,557,275, of which $2,540,570 was recorded as a loss on extinguishment of debt and $16,705 as a debt discount. The debt discount is being accreted over the life of the note to accretion of debt discount and issuance cost. The derivative liability is marked to market as of March 31, 2021, and the change in derivative liability is recorded on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. See note 8.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company accrued interest of $288.
The September 2020 Rosen Loan Agreement
On September 15, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “September 2020 Rosen Loan Agreement”) with Rosen whereby the Company issued a promissory note of $3,295 (the “September 2020 Rosen Note”). Pursuant to the September 2020 Rosen Loan Agreement, the September 2020 Rosen Note has an interest rate of 7%. The maturity date of the September 2020 Rosen Note is September 15, 2022 (the “September 2020 Rosen Maturity Date”), at which time all outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts due under the note are due. The September 2020 Rosen Loan is secured by the tangible and intangible property of the Company.
Since the September 2020 Rosen Note has a make-whole provision if the shares of the Company’s common stock issued to the lender in accordance with the Lender’s Exchange Agreement (see note 11) have a value equal to or less than $554,924 determined by using the lowest VWAP of the last 30 days prior to September 14, 2021. The principal amount of the September 2020 Rosen Note shall increase by 200% of the difference the initial consideration and the September 14, 2021 value. The Company has applied ASC 815, due to the potential for settlement in a variable quantity of shares. The make-whole feature of gave rise to a derivative liability of $504,413, of which $501,118 was recorded as a loss on extinguishment of debt and $3,295 as a debt discount. The debt discount is being accreted over the life of the note to accretion of debt discount and issuance cost. The derivative liability is marked to market as of March 31, 2021, and the change in derivative liability is recorded on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss. See note 8.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company accrued interest of $57.
Officer compensation
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company paid $20,082 for living expenses for officers of the Company.
Note 8 – Derivative Liabilities
The Company has identified derivative instruments arising from a make-whole feature in the Company’s notes payable at March 31, 2021. For the terms of the make-whole features see the September 2020 Rosen Loan Agreement and the September 2020 Goldberg Loan Agreement in Note 7. The Company has also identified derivative instruments arising from convertible notes that have an option to convert at a variable number of shares in the Company’s convertible notes payable at March 31, 2021. For the terms of the conversion features see Note 7. The Company had no derivative assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2021.
24 |
The Company utilized a Geometric Brownian Motion (“GBM”) model and a binomial model to compute the fair value of the derivative and to mark to market the fair value of the derivative at each balance sheet date. The inputs utilized in the application of the GBM model and binomial model included a starting stock price, an expected term of each debenture remaining from the valuation date to maturity, an estimated volatility, and a risk-free rate.
Risk-free interest rate: The Company uses the risk-free interest rate of a U.S. Treasury Note adjusted to be on a continuous return basis to align with the GBM model and binomial model.
Dividend yield: The Company uses a 0% expected dividend yield as the Company has not paid dividends to date and does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near future.
Volatility: The Company calculates the expected volatility based on the company’s historical stock prices with a look back period commensurate with the period to maturity.
Expected term: The Company’s remaining term is based on the remaining contractual maturity of the convertible notes.
The following are the changes in the derivative liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Three Months Ended March 31,
2021 |
||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||
Derivative liabilities as January 1, 2021 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 42,231 | ||||||
Addition | - | - | 308,362 | |||||||||
Extinguishment | (203,578 | ) | ||||||||||
Changes in fair value | - | - | 197,389 | |||||||||
Derivative liabilities as March 31, 2021 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 344,404 |
Note 9 – Stockholders’ Equity
Shares Authorized
Prior to July 13, 2020, the Company was authorized to issue up to thirty-five million (35,000,000) shares of capital stock, of which fifteen million (15,000,000) shares are designated as common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and twenty million (20,000,000) are designated as “blank check” preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. The designations, rights, and preferences of such preferred stock are to be determined by the Company’s board of directors.
On July 13, 2020, the Company filed the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, which authorize the issuance of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
Preferred Stock
Series E Convertible Preferred Stock
On December 29, 2020 the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with thirty-three accredited investors whereby the Investors have agreed to purchase from the Company an aggregate of 7,778 shares of the Company’s Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share and 2,831,715 warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The Series E Preferred Stock is convertible into a total of 1,887,810 shares of Common Stock. The combined purchase price of one Conversion Share and one and a half warrant was $4.12. The aggregate purchase price for the Series E Preferred Stock and warrants was $7,777,777.77. The Company has recorded $817,353 to stock issuance costs, which are part of Additional Paid-in Capital.
The warrants are exercisable for a term of five-years from the date of issuance, at an exercise price of $4.50 per share. The warrants provide for cashless exercise to the extent that there is no registration statement available for the underlying shares of Common Stock.
25 |
The placement agent for the transaction and received cash compensation equal to 10% of the aggregate purchase price and warrants to purchase 471,953 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $5.15 per share (the “PA Warrants”). The PA Warrants are exercisable for a term of five-years from the date of issuance.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company received the $40,000 of the subscription receivable for the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock. The Company has recorded $4,225 to stock issuance costs, which are part of Additional Paid-in Capital.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, investors converted 6,690 shares of the Company’s Series E Convertible Preferred Stock into 1,623,730 shares of the Company’s common stock.
Common Stock
On January 14, 2021, the Company issued 30,000 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for services at a fair value of $133,200.
On January 20, 2021, the Company issued 40,000 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for a year of services at a fair value of $192,000. These shares were recorded as common stock issued for prepaid services and will be expensed over the life of the consulting contract to share based payments. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company recorded $36,822 to share based payments.
On February 1, 2021, the Company issued 50,000 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for services at a fair value of $196,000.
On February 3, 2021, the Company issued 1,929 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for services at a fair value of $8,198.
On February 18, 2021, the Company issued 10,000 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for services at a fair value of $48,000.
On February 18, 2021, the Company issued 10,417 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for services at a fair value of $50,002.
On February 26, 2021, the Company issued 291 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for services at a fair value of $1,499.
On March 17, 2021, the Company issued 9,624 shares of its restricted common stock to consultants in exchange for services at a fair value of $49,371.
On March 28, 2021, the Company issued 31,782 shares of its restricted common stock to settle outstanding vendor liabilities of $125,000.
On March 31, 2021, the Company issued 13,113 shares of its restricted common stock to settle outstanding vendor liabilities of $43,667. In connection with this transaction the Company also recorded a loss on settlement of vendor liabilities of $12,719.
Stock Options
The Company applied fair value accounting for all share-based payments awards. The fair value of each option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
26 |
The assumptions used for options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2021 are as follows:
March 31,
2021 |
||||
Exercise price | $ | 2.55 – 14.10 | ||
Expected dividends | 0 | % | ||
Expected volatility | 223.15 – 242.98 | % | ||
Risk free interest rate | 0.46 – 0.98 | % | ||
Expected life of option | 5 - 7 years |
The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option activity:
Options |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) |
||||||||||
Balance – December 31, 2020 – outstanding | 541,021 | 12.75 | 4.29 | |||||||||
Granted | 1,812,375 | 6.39 | 6.22 | |||||||||
Exercised | - | - | - | |||||||||
Cancelled/Modified | (3,334 | ) | 15.00 | - | ||||||||
Balance – March 31, 2021 – outstanding | 2,350,062 | 7.84 | 5.37 | |||||||||
Balance – March 31, 2021 – exercisable | 145,834 | $ | 23.97 | 1.55 |
Option Outstanding | Option Exercisable | |||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise price | Number Outstanding |
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Number Exercisable |
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) |
|||||||||||||||||
$ | 7.84 | 2,350,062 | 5.37 | 23.97 | 145,834 | 1.55 |
During the ended December 31, 2018 the Company granted options of 11,667 to consultants that has a fair value of $57,123. As of the date of this filing the company has not issued these options and they are recorded as an accrued liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Stock-based compensation for stock options has been recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and totaled $818,612, for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
As of March 31, 2021, there was $7,807,672 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested employee options granted under the Company’s share-based compensation plans that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.4 year.
Warrants
The Company applied fair value accounting for all share-based payments awards. The fair value of each warrant granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
Warrant Activities
The following is a summary of the Company’s warrant activity:
Warrant |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
|||||||
Balance – December 31, 2020 – outstanding | 6,130,948 | 4.96 | ||||||
Granted | 486,516 | 5.13 | ||||||
Exercised | (333,130 | ) | 4.69 | |||||
Cancelled/Modified | (10,556 | ) | 24.00 | |||||
Balance – March 31, 2021 – outstanding | 6,273,778 | 4.96 | ||||||
Balance – March 31, 2021 – exercisable | 6,273,778 | $ | 4.96 |
27 |
Warrants Outstanding | Warrants Exercisable | |||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise price |
Number
Outstanding |
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
Number
Exercisable |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price |
|||||||||||||||||
$ | 4.96 | 6,273,778 | 4.52 | 4.96 | 6,273,778 | 4.52 |
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company issued 302,404 shares of common stock to a certain warrant holder upon the exercise of a warrant to purchase 333,130 shares of common stock. The Company received $1,272,672 in connection with the exercise of a warrant.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 a total of 486,516 warrants were issued in connection with the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock raise.
Share-based awards, restricted stock award (“RSAs”)
On February 4, 2021 the Board resolved that, the Company shall pay each member of the Board, for each calendar quarter during which such member continues to serve on the Board, compensation as a group amounts to $62,500 per quarter. The shares vest one year after issuance. The $62,500 worth of Common Stock is based on the closing price on the last day of the quarter. Since the shares are based on a variable number of shares in a future period the Company classified this grant as a liability in accordance with ASC 480.
A summary of the activity related to RSUs for the three months ended March 31, 2021is presented below:
Restricted stock units (RSUs) | Total shares |
Grant date
fair value |
||||||
RSAs non-vested at January 1, 2021 | - | $- | ||||||
RSAs granted | 55,876 | $ 4.30 – 4.32 | ||||||
RSAs vested | - | $ | - | |||||
RSAs forfeited | - | $ | - | |||||
RSAs non-vested March 31, 2021 | 55,876 | $ 4.30 – 4.32 |
Stock-based compensation for RSA’s has been recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and totaled $228,535, for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies
The CARES Act lifts certain deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“2017 Tax Act”). Corporate taxpayers may carry back net operating losses (NOLs) originating between 2018 and 2020 for up to five years, which was not previously allowed under the 2017 Tax Act. The CARES Act also eliminates the 80% of taxable income limitations by allowing corporate entities to fully utilize NOL carryforwards to offset taxable income in 2018, 2019 or 2020. Taxpayers may generally deduct interest up to the sum of 50% of adjusted taxable income plus business interest income (30% limit under the 2017 Tax Act) for 2019 and 2020. The CARES Act allows taxpayers with alternative minimum tax credits to claim a refund in 2020 for the entire amount of the credits instead of recovering the credits through refunds over a period of years, as originally enacted by the 2017 Tax Act.
In addition, the CARES Act raises the corporate charitable deduction limit to 25% of taxable income and makes qualified improvement property generally eligible for 15-year cost-recovery and 100% bonus depreciation. The enactment of the CARES Act did not result in any material adjustments to our income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2020.
On March 26, 2020 and April 30, 2020, the Company received 2 separate loans pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) under Division A, Title I of the CARES Act.
When the applications for PPP first opened up, there was limited available funding and much confusion surrounding the application process. The Company initially submitted its application for the May 2020 PPP Loan in early April but received no response in the aftermath of submitting the application. After consulting multiple advisors, the Company made the decision to apply elsewhere, due to the rampant media coverage of institutions running out of funding and the Company’s need for the capital and belief that if 2 separate loans were approved, the remaining application could simply be withdrawn.
28 |
Therefore, in late April, the company proceeded with applying for the April 2020 PPP Loan. After some conflicting communications regarding acceptance, the Company attempted to contact the lender to clarify but got no response. After continued attempts to follow up with both lenders, the Company received approval for the May 2020 PPP Loan and funding for the April 2020 PPP Loan on the same day, followed the next day by the funding of the May 2020 PPP Loan. The Company immediately separated the funds for the April 2020 PPP Loan into a separate reserved bank account with the intention of returning the funds. However, after several attempts to contact the lender with no response, the Company was faced with difficulty raising funds in the early-Covid economy and made the decision to utilize the funds for operations and pursue an installment repayment plan when they were able to reach the lender. As of the date of this filing, the Company has begun making repayments on the loan, absent a formal installment agreement due to difficulties reaching the lender. The Company intends to complete repayment before the end of 2021.
As each company is only permitted one loan under the CARES Act, there is a possibility the loan may be called by the SBA and the Company would have to repay the loan in full at such time.
Litigation
On or about June 25, 2020, Home Revolution, LLC (“Home Revolution”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Home Revolution, LLC, et al. v. Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. et al., Case No. 2:20-cv-07775-JMV-MF. The Complaint alleges, among other things, that Creatd, Inc. breached the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, as modified, and ancillary transaction documents in connection with the acquisition of Seller’s Choice, LLC, from Home Revolution in September 2019. The Complaint additionally alleges violation of the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law, violations of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, fraud, equitable accounting, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and unjust enrichment. After filing the Complaint but prior to our Answer date, Home Revolution moved by order to show cause to have a receiver appointed by the Court to take over Creatd’s operations.
We submitted an opposition, and after oral arguments on August 13, 2020, the Court denied the receiver request in its entirety. We then filed a Motion to Dismiss on August 14, 2020 on a number of grounds, the most significant of which is that this is a simple (alleged) breach of Promissory Note case. Creatd is current on all payments under the Note, and because both parties are New Jersey entities a mere breach of contract and/or collection-based case is not appropriately venued in federal court. Upon receipt of our Motion to Dismiss, Home Revolution submitted an Amended Complaint, presumably in an effort to cure the problems with the Complaint which we identified in the Motion to Dismiss. Home Revolution has subsequently initiated a series of atypical procedures and, as a result, has (without following the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) moved for both default and to submit yet another newly Amended Complaint (the one precludes the other and vice versa).
After we submitted a motion to clear up the above, the Court reinstated the matter to the docket and permitted Plaintiff to file the Second Amended Complaint (we had no objection). We have filed a motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint. That will take some time to be decided. We expect no major event to occur for the next 12 months. Finally, we believe the lawsuit lacks merit and will vigorously challenge the action.
Lease Agreements
On May 5, 2018, the Company signed a 5-year lease for approximately 2,300 square feet of office space at 2050 Center Avenue Suite 640, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024. Commencement date of the lease is June 1, 2018. The total amount due under this lease is $411,150.
On April 1, 2019, the Company signed a 4-year lease for approximately 796 square feet of office space at 2050 Center Avenue Suite 660, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024. Commencement date of the lease is April 1, 2019. The total amount due under this lease is $108,229.
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The components of lease expense were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2021 |
||||
Operating lease cost | $ | 19,709 | ||
Short term lease cost | 3,714 | |||
Total net lease cost | $ | 23,423 |
Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows:
Three
Months Ended
|
||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | ||||
Operating lease payments | 26,646 | |||
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years): | 2.2 | |||
Weighted average discount rate: | 13 | % |
Total future minimum payments required under the lease as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:
Twelve Months Ending December 31, | ||||
2021 | $ | 82,336 | ||
2022 | 114,627 | |||
2023 | 53,094 | |||
Total | $ | 250,058 |
Rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $26,934.30 and $21,358, respectively.
Note 11 – Subsequent Events
On May 13, 2021, one of the Company’s vendors issued a credit memo crediting $399,050 for Q1 2021 services.
Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company entered into one promissory note agreement with net proceeds of $115,000, and subsequently repaid $28,403 towards the note.
Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company entered into convertible promissory notes with three investors for aggregate net proceeds of $3,860,000. The Company issued an aggregate of 1,090,908 warrants with an exercise price of $4.50.
Subsequent to March 31, 2021, a lender converted $169,400 in outstanding debt into 55,631 shares of Common Stock.
Subsequent to March 31, 2021, a total of 43,084 warrants were exercised via cashless exercise, resulting in the cancellation of 43,084 warrants, and the issuance of 18,259 shares of Common Stock.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
This Form 10-Q and other reports filed by Creatd, Inc. (the “Company”), from time to time with the SEC (collectively, the “Filings”) contain or may contain forward-looking statements and information that are based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, the Company’s management as well as estimates and assumptions made by Company’s management. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. When used in the Filings, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they relate to the Company or the Company’s management identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, including the risks relating to the Company’s business, industry, and the Company’s operations and results of operations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, or planned.
Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Our financial statements would be affected to the extent there are material differences between these estimates and actual results. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP and does not require management’s judgment in its application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a materially different result. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
We intend for this discussion to provide information that will assist in understanding our financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements, and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles affect our financial statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021.
Overview
Our mission is to empower creators, entrepreneurs, and brands through technology and partnership. We accomplish this through Creatd’s three main business pillars: Vocal Ventures, Creatd Partners, and Recreatd. At its core, Creatd centers around the philosophy that creators are the driving force that propels success in the digital realm. This philosophy is represented by a framework we call the Creatd Cycle, which operates on the premise that creators produce content that attracts audiences, who in turn attract brands who are interested in reaching those audiences.
Creatd’s first pillar, Vocal Ventures, houses our proprietary technology platforms, including Creatd’s flagship product, the Vocal platform, and its network of 37 wholly owned-and-operated creator communities. Through Vocal, creators can create and share their stories in a way that helps them get discovered by their ideal audiences and be rewarded for their creativity. Similarly, brands can access their ideal consumers and drive conversions for their products and services. The Vocal platform’s scalable and unique underlying agile framework lends itself well to future acquisitions and white-label opportunities for Creatd’s technology because of the ease with which other platforms can be integrated into our ecosystem.
Creatd Partners, Creatd’s second pillar, houses our brand-oriented initiatives, including our agency businesses, Vocal for Brands and Seller’s Choice, as well as its corporate ventures and investments. Both of these agencies serve a multitude of clients, while the venture arm looks to make direct investments in the ones that have significant upside opportunity. Creatd Partners pairs Creatd’s resources and Vocal’s proprietary technology, which were built to simultaneously amplify creators’ discoverability and potential reward and help direct-to-consumer brands achieve conversions and reach their target audiences, while generating value for all of Creatd’s stakeholders.
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Recreatd is the pillar which houses Creatd’s intellectual property and legacy media assets, including acquired artwork, photographs and media memorabilia. Recreatd represents an initiative by Creatd to revitalize transmedia content, utilizing Vocal Ventures’ technology, data, and marketing capabilities to reboot archival media assets and e-commerce properties. The Company’s ability to leverage its technology to revitalize this content represents a significant value proposition for media companies and publishers that are sitting on vast collections of content that are of supreme quality but are not in a suitable format for today’s consumer.
Vocal
Vocal, Creatd’s flagship product, is a robust, proprietary technology platform that provides best-in-class tools, safe and curated communities, and monetization opportunities that enable creators to find a receptive audience and get rewarded. Through Vocal, content creators can get discovered and monetize their content by connecting to their ideal audiences and partnering with the brands that want to reach those audiences.
Vocal+ is Creatd’s premium subscription membership program. Vocal+ members pay a membership fee for premium features, including receiving increased earnings for their content, reduced platform processing fees for Tips received, a Vocal+ badge on their creator page, eligibility to participate in exclusive Vocal+ Challenges, and more. Creators may sign up for a Vocal+ membership when they create an account, or they can upgrade an existing Vocal Free account to a Vocal+ account at any time.
Since its initial launch in 2016, Vocal has grown to be one of the fastest growing communities for content creators of all kinds, including writers, musicians, podcasters, photographers, and more; as of March 2021, Vocal has reached over 900,000 freemium creators and over 20,000 Vocal+ paid subscribers across its 38 owned and operated niche communities. Subsequent to the first quarter 2021, the Company announced that Vocal+ reached a new record high, surpassing 25,000 subscribers.
Vocal provides a broad stage for creators to connect with fans and find new audiences. In addition to enabling access to millions of unique monthly visitors, the platform provides creators with a full suite of tools and services for content creation, discovery, distribution, and monetization, including:
● | Easy-to use, rich media content editor: Vocal’s storytelling tools enable creators to produce beautiful and engaging stories in a simple, user-friendly interface, and incorporate rich-media content of all kinds, including streaming content, photos, videos, podcasts, product links, written text, and more. Vocal’s open canvas content creation editor makes it easy to create high-quality and engaging stories, and is a cost effective alternative to managing a blog content management system (CMS). |
● | Numerous Monetization Features: Both of Vocal’s membership tiers–Vocal freemium and the Vocal+ premium tier – provide multiple monetization opportunities for creators. Creators can earn money i) every time their story is read, ii) by competing in Challenges, iii) by receiving ‘tips’ and ‘bonuses’ iv) by collaborating on branded content campaigns through the company’s in-house agency, Vocal for Brands. For freemium members, content ‘reads’ are monetized at a rate of $3.80 per 1,000 reads (calculated based on time on page, scrolling behavior, and other internal metrics), whereas Vocal+ members monetize at $6.00 per 1,000 reads. These rates are subject to change based on market trends or the introduction of additional features and plan tiers. |
● | Brand-safe advertising platform: Vocal was designed to target consumers in an authentic, non-interruptive way. Brand partnerships and collaborations allow companies tap into the power of Vocal through campaign-optimized stories, authored by real Vocal creators, that build brand affinity, trust, and drive sales. |
● | Transparent Performance Data: Creators can view their “Stats” at any time to view their individual performance data, such as how many Reads a given story received, how much money they have earned, and how many Tips, Bonuses, or ‘Likes,’ they received. Additionally, Vocal users have the ability to view key metrics such as community-specific data and Vocal+ membership data. |
● | Valuable Audience: The nature of Vocal’s genre-specific (niche) community structure is such that it generates a positively selected audience, a quality which makes Vocal an attractive prospect for creators and brands alike. In a niche community, audiences are inherently more likely to be interested in the particular content housed in that community. |
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Vocal for Brands
Creatd’s internal content studio, Vocal for Brands, pairs leading brands with authentic creators to produce marketing campaigns that are non-interruptive, engaging, and direct-response driven. The key value propositions for brands include:
● | Authentic Storytelling: Our internal data group partners brands with real Vocal creators to tell their brand’s story in a way that is both engaging and trustworthy. In addition, brands can opt to sponsor a Challenge, which effectively yield a collection of crowdsourced branded content for brands and help them reach a wider audience. |
● | Valuable Audience: Vocal’s first-party data provides an opportunity to create highly targeted and segmented audiences to promote branded content. Most importantly, Vocal’s technology helps brands target the right audience by utilizing and applying that first-party data. |
● | Transparent Analytics: For every campaign we produce, our brand clients have access to story performance data, engagement data, behavioral data, and interest data. Brands can apply this data to further increase awareness and optimize audience targeting. |
Vocal’s first-party data enables our team to create highly targeted and segmented audiences for Vocal for Brands campaigns, and help the brand reach their ideal audience. Brands can access story performance data, engagement data, behavioral data, and sentiment data, all of which is used to further optimize the campaign’s success. The combination of Vocal’s hyper-engaged audiences, user-generated communities, and brand-safe environment help brands achieve maximum ROAS (return on ad spend).
Vocal for Brands typically collects fixed fees ranging from $10,000 to $110,000, depending on campaign duration and specific client objectives.
Additionally, with the introduction of Challenges in early first quarter 2020, brands can now collaborate with Vocal on a sponsored Challenge, prompting the creation of high-quality stories that are centered around the brand’s mission and further disseminated through creators’ respective social channels and promotional outlets.
Seller’s Choice
In addition to Vocal for Brands, Creatd supports brands by providing managed and performance marketing services through Seller’s Choice. an in-house marketing agency for DTC (direct-to-consumer) and e-commerce clients. Acquired by Creatd in September 2019, Seller’s Choice provides direct-to-consumer brands with design, development, strategy, and sales optimization services. Its status as an Amazon Solution Provider and its weighty operational structure made it an ideal candidate for acquisition in late 2019. Creatd’s business model is built to absorb distressed operational infrastructures, integrate the few best components, and shed the non-essential costs.
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Creatd Partners
Creatd Partners is the Company’s corporate venture arm, as well as the business division that encompasses management of Seller’s Choice and Vocal for Brands. Creatd Partners invests in qualified brands who are aligned with our corporate mission, such as direct-to-consumer brands, digital platforms, and technologies that support entrepreneurs and the creator economy. Creatd Partners was established with the aim of nurturing high-potential, early-stage companies that can meaningfully benefit by leveraging Creatd’s technology, resources and proven capacity to optimize visibility, reach, and conversions for direct-to-consumer products and services. Creatd Partners investments are subject to the completion of rigorous due diligence and independent valuation assessment and may encompass a combination of financial and operational support in exchange for an equity stake in the business.
Creatd Partners’ first investment is Plant Camp, a direct-to-consumer food company that creates healthy and nutritional upgrades to classic foods and was launched in December 2020. In first quarter 2021, the Company announced its second Creatd Partner investment, Untamed Photographer, an environmental art platform for wildlife photographers.
Creatd Partners is currently exploring future opportunities that fit its criteria and risk profile, seeking partner companies that combine a quality product, seasoned founders, and the ability to leverage Creatd’s platform technology.
Acquisition Strategy
Creatd’s hybrid finance and design culture is key to its acquisition strategy. Acquisition targets are companies that meet a set of opportunistic or financial standards or that are part of specific digital environments that are accretive and can seamlessly integrate into Creatd’s existing revenue lines. Creatd will continue to make strategic acquisitions when presented with opportunities that are in the interest of shareholder value.
Results of Operations
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table summarizes total current assets, liabilities and working capital at March 31, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020:
March 31,
2021 |
December 31,
2020 |
Increase /
(Decrease) |
||||||||||
Current Assets | $ | 3,521,228 | $ | 8,020,993 | $ | (4,499,765 | ) | |||||
Current Liabilities | $ | 4,286,648 | $ | 4,968,427 | $ | (681,779 | ) | |||||
Working Capital (Deficit) | $ | (765,420 | ) | $ | 3,052,566 | $ | (3,817,986 | ) |
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At March 31, 2021, we had a working capital (deficit) of $765,420 as compared to a working capital of $3,052,566 at December 31, 2020, a decrease in working capital of $3,817,986. The decrease is primarily attributable to a reduction in cash and an increase in derivative liability, share liability, deferred revenue and notes payable. This was offset by an increase in prepaid expense, and a decrease in accounts payable and convertible notes payable.
Net Cash
Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, was $5,296,638 and $1,314,863, respectively. The net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $6,643,237 and $2,985,997, respectively. This change is primarily attributable to the net loss for the current period offset by share-based payments in the amount of $1,570,239 to employees and consultants for services rendered, the accretion of debt discount and debt issuance costs of $497,165 due to the incentives given with debentures, and a gain on extinguishment of debt of $100,502 in addition to a change in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $370,528.
Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $212,637. This is attributable to the purchase of property and equipment, deposits on investments, and cash paid for the purchase of investments.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $412,576 and $1,430,826. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company was predominantly financed by net proceeds from the exercise of warrant of $1,312,672 and the proceeds from loans and notes of $85,500 to fund operations, the proceeds of which were partially offset by the repayment of notes and loans a of $985,596. Similarly, the Company’s financing activity for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 generated $1,475,610 from loans and notes, the proceeds of which were partially offset from repayment of notes of $115,000.
Summary of Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
Three Months Ended
March 31, |
||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Revenue | $ | 743,913 | $ | 293,142 | ||||
Operating Expenses | $ | 6,689,910 | $ | 2,119,091 | ||||
Loss from operations | $ | (5,945,997 | ) | $ | (1,825,949 | ) | ||
Other Expenses | $ | (697,240 | ) | $ | (1,160,048 | ) | ||
Net loss | $ | (6,643,237 | ) | $ | (2,985,997 | ) | ||
Loss per common share – basic and diluted | $ | (0.68 | ) | $ | (0.96 | ) |
Revenue
Revenue was $743,913 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to $293,142 for the comparable three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $450,771. The year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue is attributable to the steady growth of Vocal+ Creator Subscriptions as well as growth in the Company’s agency businesses, Vocal for Brands and Seller’s Choice, which have experienced an acceleration in revenues.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021, were $6,689,910 as compared to $2,119,091 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase of $4,570,819 in operating expenses is mainly related to a $993,000 increase in personnel compensation, as a result of the Company’s significantly increasing employee headcount; a $1.6 million increase in marketing expenditure, which will be actively managed to achieve optimum return on investment; $1.5 million in stock-based compensation to employees and consultants, as well as incentive-based options issued to employees.
Loss from Operations
Loss from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was $(5,945,997) as compared to $(1,825,949) for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in the loss from operations this quarter primarily reflects an increase in marketing due to the launch of a significant marketing campaign, and redundancies in new staff members and outsourced costs that will be eliminated over time. Going forward, the Company expects the loss from operations to return to base levels
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Other Income and Expenses
Other income and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $697,240 as compared to $1,160,048 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in first quarter 2021 other expenses was predominantly due to a gain on extinguishment of debt of $738,618 and a reduction in interest expense. This was offset by an increase in derivative expense, change in fair value of derivative liability, and accretion of debt discount and issuance cost.
Net Loss
Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was $6,643,237, or loss per share of $0.68, as compared to a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $2,985,997, or loss per share of $0.96, for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2021, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Significant Accounting Policies
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. During the three months ending March 31, 2021, we were not required to make any material estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. However, if we complete an acquisition, we will be required to make estimates and assumptions typical of other companies. For example, we will be required to make critical accounting estimates related to valuation and accounting for business combinations. The estimates will require us to rely upon assumptions that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimates are made, and changes in them are reasonably likely to occur from period to period. Changes in estimates used in these and other items could have a material impact on our financial statements in the future. Our estimates will be based on our experience and our interpretation of economic, political, regulatory, and other factors that affect our business prospects. Actual results may differ significantly from our estimates.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
There have been no material changes in our exposures to market risk since December 31, 2020. For details on the Company’s interest rate, foreign currency exchange, and credit risks, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Information About Market Risks” in our 2020 Annual Report.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are not effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. However, during first quarter 2021, the Company continued the complete review of all of its financial procedures and controls that was requisitioned and begun during 2020 and is continuing the process of updating and optimizing its infrastructure around these controls. The Company believes that this process will positively affect our internal control over financial reporting in the future.
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From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business.
On June 25, 2020, Home Revolution, LLC (“Home Revolution”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (the “Court”), entitled Home Revolution, LLC, et al v. Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. et al, Case No. 2:20-cv-07775-JMV-MF (the “Action”). The complaint for the lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the Company breached the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, as modified, and ancillary transaction documents in connection with the acquisition of Seller’s Choice, LLC, from Home Revolution in September 2019. The complaint additionally alleges violation of the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law, violations of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, fraud, equitable accounting, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and unjust enrichment.
The Company continues to believe that the Action lacks merit. In the event this Action is not summarily dismissed, the Company intends to vigorously challenge it. At this time, the Company is unable to estimate potential damage exposure, if any, related to the litigation.
In addition to the existing claim for damages contained in the Complaint, on July 29, 2020, Home Revolution moved, by order to show cause, for preliminary injunctive relief. On August 13, 2020, the Court denied Home Revolution’s request for a preliminary injunction.
Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows may be impacted by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including those set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, the occurrence of any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our actual results.
There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we issued securities that were not registered under the Securities Act and were not previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as listed below. All of the securities discussed in this Item 2 were issued in reliance on the exemption under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Employee Options Issuances
On February 19, 2021, the Company issued options to purchase 1,473,000 shares of Common Stock granted to management and employees under the Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. These options have an exercise price of $5.65, vest 50% on February 19, 2022 and 50% on February 19, 2023 and expire 5 years from the date of vesting.
Conversion of Outstanding Promissory Notes
On January 4, 2021, a lender converted $68,000 in promissory notes into 35,469 shares of Common Stock.
On February 22, 2021, a lender converted $68,000 in promissory notes into 29,859 shares of Common Stock.
Consultant Shares
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company issued 152,261 shares of Common Stock to consultants and employees.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
On May 14, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with three accredited investors (the “Investors”), whereby, at the closing, the Investors have agreed to purchase from the Company (i) convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $4,666,668 (the “Notes”), inclusive of original issuance discount, and (ii) 1,090,908 warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The Notes have a maturity date of November 22, 2022, with monthly installment payments due beginning six months from the date of issuance of the Notes. The Notes do not bear interest except in connection with a default, as described in the Notes. The Notes are convertible into shares of Common Stock at a fixed price of $5.00 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth in the Notes. The Company received $4.0 million of gross proceeds, reflecting an original issuance discount of $666,668.
The Warrants are exercisable for a term of five-years from the date of issuance, at an exercise price of $4.50 per share. The Warrants provide for cashless exercise to the extent that there is no registration statement available for the underlying shares of Common Stock.
The representations and warranties contained in the Purchase Agreement were made by the parties to, and solely for the benefit of, the other in the context of all of the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement and in the context of the specific relationship between the parties. The provisions of the Purchase Agreement, including the representations and warranties contained therein, are not for the benefit of any party other than the parties to the Purchase Agreement. The Purchase Agreement is not intended for investors and the public to obtain factual information about the current state of affairs of the parties.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission by not later than 15 business days from the date of the registration statement to register for resale the shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes and Warrants.
In connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into (a) that certain Security Agreement, granting a security interest in favor of Lind Global Macro Fund, LP as agent for the Investors (“Security Agreement”); and (b) that certain Trademark Security Agreement, granting a security interest in certain trademark collateral in favor of Lind Global Macro Fund, LP as agent for the Investors (the “Trademark Security Agreement”).
The closing of the Purchase Agreement occurred on May 17, 2021.
The above disclosure contains only a brief description of the material terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the Security Agreement, and the Trademark Security Agreement, and does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder, and such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the Security Agreement, and the Trademark Security Agreement, the forms of which are attached as Exhibits 10.1, 4.1, 4.2, 10.2, and 10.3, respectively, to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and are incorporated herein by reference.
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* | Filed herewith |
# |
This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CREATD, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jeremy Frommer | |
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
(Principal Executive Officer) |
By: | /s/ Chelsea Pullano | |
Name: | Chelsea Pullano | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTION VERSION
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS NOTE AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS NOTE MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
CREATD, INC.
Form of
Convertible Promissory
Note due November 14, 2022
Note No. ________ | $___________ |
Dated: May 14, 2021 (the “Issuance Date”) |
For value received, CREATD, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Maker” or the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to the order of _________________ (together with its successors and representatives, the “Holder”), in accordance with the terms hereinafter provided, the principal amount of ______________ ($_______) (the “Principal Amount”).
All payments under or pursuant to this Convertible Promissory Note (this “Note”) shall be made in United States Dollars in immediately available funds to the Holder at the address of the Holder set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as hereinafter defined) or at such other place as the Holder may designate from time to time in writing to the Maker or by wire transfer of funds to the Holder’s account, instructions for which are attached hereto as Exhibit A. The outstanding principal balance of this Note shall be due and payable on November 14, 2022 (the “Maturity Date”) or at such earlier time as provided herein; provided, that the Holder, in its sole discretion, may extend the Maturity Date to any date after the original Maturity Date. In the event that the Maturity Date shall fall on Saturday or Sunday, such Maturity Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day. All calculations made pursuant to this Note shall be rounded down to three decimal places.
ARTICLE 1
1.1 Purchase Agreement. This Note has been executed and delivered pursuant to, and is one of the Notes issued pursuant to, the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2021 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Maker, the other “Investors” (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) and the Holder. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
1.2 Interest. Except as set forth in Section 2.2, this Note shall not bear interest.
1.3 Principal Installment Payments. Commencing on the day that is the six (6) month anniversary of the Issuance Date, the Maker shall pay to the Holder the outstanding Principal Amount hereunder in monthly installments, on such date and each one (1) month anniversary thereof (each, a “Payment Date”), a payment equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) of the total Principal Amount (the “Monthly Payments”), until the Principal Amount has been paid in full prior to or on the Maturity Date or, if earlier, upon acceleration, conversion or redemption of this Note in accordance with the terms herein. The Monthly Payments shall be made in cash, in the amount of 103% of such Monthly Payment. The Maker and the Holder agree that all payments made under this Note, including the provisions of Section 1.3, shall be subject in all cases to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2.6 thereof.
1.4 Prepayment. At any time after the Issuance Date, but subject in all cases to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Maker may repay all (but not less than all) of the Outstanding Principal Amount upon at least ten (10) days’ written notice of the Holder (the “Prepayment Notice”). If the Maker elects to prepay this Note pursuant to the provisions of this Section 1.4, the Holder shall have the right, upon written notice to the Maker (a “Prepayment Conversion Notice”) within five (5) Business Days of the Holder’s receipt of a Prepayment Notice, to convert up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Principal Amount (the “Maximum Amount”) at the Conversion Price (as defined below), in accordance with the provisions of Article 3, specifying the Principal Amount (up to the Maximum Amount) that the Holder will convert. Upon delivery of a Prepayment Notice, the Maker irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, within five (5) Business Days of receiving a Prepayment Conversion Notice, and if no Prepayment Conversion Notice is received, within ten (10) Business Days of delivery of a Prepayment Notice: (i) repay the Outstanding Principal Amount minus the Principal Amount set forth in the Prepayment Conversion Notice and (ii) issue the applicable Conversion Shares to the Holder in accordance with Article 3. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Maker may not deliver a Prepayment Notice with respect to any Outstanding Principal Amount that is subject to a Conversion Notice delivered by the Holder in accordance with Article 3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any prepayments made under this Note, including the provisions of this Section 1.4, shall be subject in all cases to the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
1.5 Delisting from a Trading Market. If at any time the Common Stock ceases to be listed on a Trading Market, (i) the Holder may, after receiving the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, deliver a demand for payment to the Company and, if such a demand is delivered, the Company shall, within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of the demand for payment from the Holder, pay all of the Outstanding Principal Amount or (ii) the Holder may, at its election and upon receiving the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, after the six-month anniversary of the Issuance Date or earlier if a Registration Statement covering the Conversion Shares has been declared effective, upon notice to the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, convert all or a portion of the Outstanding Principal Amount at the Conversion Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any payments made under this Note, including the provisions of this Section 1.5, shall be subject in all cases to the terms of the Purchase Agreement
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1.6 Payment on Non-Business Days. Whenever any payment to be made shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment may be due on the next succeeding Business Day.
1.7 Transfer. This Note may be transferred or sold, subject to the provisions of Section 5.8 of this Note, or pledged, hypothecated or otherwise granted as security by the Holder.
1.8 Replacement. Upon receipt of a duly executed and notarized written statement from the Holder with respect to the loss, theft or destruction of this Note (or any replacement hereof), or, in the case of a mutilation of this Note, upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Maker shall issue a new Note, of like tenor and amount, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note.
1.9 Use of Proceeds. The Maker shall use the proceeds of this Note as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
1.10 Secured Note. The full amount of this Note is secured by the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) identified and described as security therefor in the Security Agreement dated as of May 14, 2021 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) by and among the Maker, Lind Global Macro Fund, LP, in its capacity as the agent for the Investors (in such capacity, the “Agent”), the other Investors and the Holder. The Holder acknowledges that, pursuant to the terms of the Security Agreement, the Maker has granted the security interest in favor of the Agent, and the Holder has no rights to take enforcement action with respect to the Collateral and all rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral are as set forth in the Security Agreement.
1.11 Status of Note. The obligations of the Maker under this Note shall be senior to all other existing Indebtedness and equity of the Company, other than Indebtedness owing to the other Investors under the other Notes (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) (the “Other Notes”) and the obligations of the Maker under this Note shall be pari passu with all other Indebtedness owing to the other Investors under the Other Notes. Upon any Liquidation Event (as hereinafter defined), but subject in all cases to the Purchase Agreement, the Holder will be entitled to receive, before any distribution or payment is made upon, or set apart with respect to, any Indebtedness of the Maker (other than Indebtedness in respect of the Other Notes) or any class of capital stock of the Maker, an amount equal to the Outstanding Principal Amount. For purposes of this Note, “Liquidation Event” means a liquidation pursuant to a filing of a petition for bankruptcy under applicable law or any other insolvency or debtor’s relief, an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Maker.
1.12 Tax Treatment. The Maker and the Holder agree that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and applicable state, local and non-U.S. income tax purposes, this Note is not intended to be, and shall not be, treated as indebtedness. Neither the Maker nor the Holder shall take any contrary position on any tax return, or in any audit, claim, investigation, inquiry or proceeding in respect of Taxes, unless otherwise required pursuant to a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any analogous provision of applicable state, local or non-U.S. law.
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ARTICLE 2
2.1 Events of Default. An “Event of Default” under this Note shall mean the occurrence of any of the events defined in the Purchase Agreement, and any of the additional events described below:
(a) Following a three (3) Business Day opportunity to cure, any default in the payment of (i) the Principal Amount hereunder when due; or (ii) liquidated damages in respect of this Note as and when the same shall become due and payable (whether on the Maturity Date or by acceleration or otherwise);
(b) the Maker shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Note or any Transaction Document, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the filing of a Registration Statement covering the resale of the Investor Shares within the timeframe set forth in the Purchase Agreement;
(c) the Maker’s notice to the Holder, including by way of public announcement, at any time, of its inability to comply (including for any of the reasons described in Section 3.6(a) hereof) or its intention not to comply with proper requests for conversion of this Note into shares of Common Stock;
(d) the Maker shall fail to (i) timely deliver the shares of Common Stock as and when required in Section 3.2; or (ii) make the payment of any fees and/or liquidated damages under this Note, the Purchase Agreement or the other Transaction Documents;
(e) default shall be made in the performance or observance of any material covenant, condition or agreement contained in the Purchase Agreement or any other Transaction Document that is not covered by any other provisions of this Section 2.1;
(f) at any time the Maker shall fail to have a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock authorized, reserved and available for issuance to satisfy the potential conversion in full (disregarding for this purpose any and all limitations of any kind on such conversion) of this Note or upon exercise of the Warrant;
(g) any representation or warranty made by the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries herein or in the Purchase Agreement, this Note, the Warrant or any other Transaction Document shall prove to have been false or incorrect or breached in a material respect on the date as of which made;
(h) unless otherwise approved in writing in advance by the Requisite Holders, the Maker shall, or shall announce an intention to pursue or consummate a Change of Control, or a Change of Control shall be consummated, or the Maker shall negotiate, propose or enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to any Change of Control;
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(i) the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries shall (A) default in any payment of any amount or amounts of principal of or interest (if any) on any Indebtedness (other than the Indebtedness hereunder), the aggregate principal amount of which Indebtedness is in excess of $250,000 or (B) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Indebtedness to cause with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;
(j) the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries shall: (i) apply for or consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property or assets; (ii) make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; (iii) commence a voluntary case under the United States Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect) or under the comparable laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic); (iv) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (v) acquiesce in writing to any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under United States Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect) or under the comparable laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic); (vi) issue a notice of bankruptcy or winding down of its operations or issue a press release regarding same; or (vii) take any action under the laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) analogous to any of the foregoing;
(k) a proceeding or case shall be commenced in respect of the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries, without its application or consent, in any court of competent jurisdiction, seeking: (i) the liquidation, reorganization, moratorium, dissolution, winding up, or composition or readjustment of its debts; (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like of it or of all or any substantial part of its assets in connection with the liquidation or dissolution of the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) similar relief in respect of it under any law providing for the relief of debtors, and such proceeding or case described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) shall continue undismissed, or unstayed and in effect, for a period of forty-five (45) days or any order for relief shall be entered in an involuntary case under United States Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect) or under the comparable laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) against the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries or action under the laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) analogous to any of the foregoing shall be taken with respect to the Maker or any of its Subsidiaries and shall continue undismissed, or unstayed and in effect for a period of forty-five (45) days;
(l) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $250,000 (or its equivalent in the relevant currency of payment) are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
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(m) the failure of the Maker to instruct its transfer agent to remove any legends from shares of Common Stock and issue such unlegended certificates to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days of the Holder’s request so long as the Holder has provided reasonable assurances to the Maker that such shares of Common Stock can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or any other applicable exemption;
(n) the Maker’s shares of Common Stock are no longer publicly traded or cease to be listed on the Trading Market or, after the six month anniversary of the Issuance Date, any Investor Shares may not be immediately resold under Rule 144 without restriction on the number of shares to be sold or manner of sale, unless such Investor Shares have been registered for resale under the 1933 Act and may be sold without restriction;
(o) the Maker consummates a “going private” transaction and as a result the Common Stock is no longer registered under Sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the 1934 Act;
(p) there shall be any SEC or judicial stop trade order or trading suspension stop-order or any restriction in place with the transfer agent for the Common Stock restricting the trading of such Common Stock;
(q) the Depository Trust Company places any restrictions on transactions in the Common Stock or the Common Stock is no longer tradeable through the Depository Trust Company Fast Automated Securities Transfer program;
(r) the Company’s Market Capitalization is below $3 million for ten (10) consecutive days; or
(s) the occurrence of a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Maker, or the Maker and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
2.2 Remedies Upon an Event of Default.
(a) Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default that has not been remedied within (i) two (2) Business Days for an Event of Default occurring by the Company’s failure to comply with Section 7.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement or Section 3.2 of this Note, or (ii) ten (10) Business Days for all other Events of Default, provided, however, that there shall be no cure period for an Event of Default described in Section 2.1(i), 2.1(j) or 2.1(k), the Maker shall be obligated to pay to the Holder the Mandatory Default Amount, which Mandatory Default Amount shall be earned by the Holder on the date the Event of Default giving rise thereto occurs and shall be due and payable on the earlier to occur of the Maturity Date, upon conversion, redemption or prepayment of this Note or the date on which all amounts owing hereunder have been accelerated in accordance with the terms hereof (provided all payments shall be subject to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement with respect to the holders of the Other Notes).
(b) Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Maker shall, as promptly as possible but in any event within one (1) Business Day of the occurrence of such Event of Default, notify the Holder of the occurrence of such Event of Default, describing the event or factual situation giving rise to the Event of Default and specifying the relevant subsection or subsections of Section 2.1 hereof under which such Event of Default has occurred.
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(c) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and shall not have been remedied within (i) two (2) Business Days for an Event of Default occurring by the Company’s failure to comply with Section 7.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement or Section 3.2 of this Note, or (ii) ten (10) Business Days for all other Events of Default, provided, however, that there shall be no cure period for an Event of Default described in Section 2.1(i), 2.1(j) or 2.1(k), the Holder may at any time at its option, subject to receiving the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, declare the Mandatory Default Amount due and payable, and thereupon, the same shall be accelerated and so due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, or notice, all of which are hereby expressly unconditionally and irrevocably waived by the Maker; provided, however, that (x) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described above, the Holder, in its sole and absolute discretion, but subject to receiving the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, may: (a) from time-to-time demand that all or a portion of the Outstanding Principal Amount be converted into shares of Common Stock at the then-current Conversion Price or (b) exercise or otherwise enforce any one or more of the Holder’s rights, powers, privileges, remedies and interests under this Note, the Purchase Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or applicable law and (y) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in clauses (k) or (l) above, the Mandatory Default Amount shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Maker. No course of delay on the part of the Holder (including because the Holder has not obtained the consent of the Requisite Holders) shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice the rights of the Holder. No remedy conferred hereby shall be exclusive of any other remedy referred to herein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. All payments shall be subject to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement with respect to the holders of the Other Notes.
ARTICLE 3
3.1 Conversion.
(a) Conversion. At any time following the date of effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering the applicable Conversion Shares (as set forth in the Purchase Agreement), this Note shall be convertible (in whole or in part), at the option of the Holder, into such number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing (x) that portion of the Outstanding Principal Amount that the Holder elects to convert (the “Conversion Amount”) by (y) the Conversion Price then in effect on the date on which the Holder delivers a notice of conversion, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Conversion Notice”), in accordance with Section 5.1 to the Maker. The Holder shall deliver this Note to the Maker at the address designated in the Purchase Agreement at such time that this Note is fully converted. With respect to partial conversions of this Note, the Maker shall keep written records of the amount of this Note converted as of the date of such conversion (each, a “Conversion Date”).
(b) Conversion Price. The “Conversion Price” means $5.00, and shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
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3.2 Delivery of Conversion Shares. As soon as practicable after any conversion in accordance with this Note and in any event within three (3) Trading Days thereafter (such date, the “Share Delivery Date”), the Maker shall, at its expense, cause to be issued in the name of and delivered to the Holder, or as the Holder may direct, a certificate or certificates evidencing the number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled on such conversion (the “Conversion Shares”), in such denominations as may be requested by the Holder, which certificate or certificates shall be free of restrictive and trading legends (except for any such legends as may be required under the 1933 Act). In lieu of delivering physical certificates for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of this Note, provided the Company’s transfer agent is participating in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer program or a similar program, upon request of the Holder, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to electronically transmit such shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note to the Holder (or its designee), by crediting the account of the Holder’s (or such designee’s) broker with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system (provided that the same time periods herein as for stock certificates shall apply) as instructed by the Holder (or its designee).
3.3 Ownership Cap. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Holder shall not be entitled to receive shares representing Equity Interests upon conversion of this Note to the extent (but only to the extent) that such exercise or receipt would cause the Holder Group (as defined below) to become, directly or indirectly, a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of a number of Equity Interests of a class that is registered under the 1934 Act which exceeds the Maximum Percentage (as defined below) of the Equity Interests of such class that are outstanding at such time. Any purported delivery of Equity Interests in connection with the conversion of this Note prior to the termination of this restriction in accordance herewith shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in the Holder Group becoming the beneficial owner of more than the Maximum Percentage of the Equity Interests of a class that is registered under the 1934 Act that is outstanding at such time. If any delivery of Equity Interests owed to the Holder following conversion of this Note is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this limitation, the Company’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and the Company shall deliver such Equity Interests as promptly as practicable after the Holder gives notice to the Company that such delivery would not result in such limitation being triggered or upon termination of the restriction in accordance with the terms hereof. To the extent limitations contained in this Section 3.3 apply, the determination of whether this Note is convertible and of which portion of this Note is convertible shall be the sole responsibility and in the sole determination of the Holder, and the submission of a notice of conversion shall be deemed to constitute the Holder’s determination that the issuance of the full number of Conversion Shares requested in the notice of conversion is permitted hereunder, and the Company shall not have any obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. For purposes of this Section 3.3, (i) the term “Maximum Percentage” shall mean 4.99%; provided, that if at any time after the date hereof the Holder Group beneficially owns in excess of 4.99% of any class of Equity Interests in the Company that is registered under the 1934 Act, then the Maximum Percentage shall automatically increase to 9.99% so long as the Holder Group owns in excess of 4.99% of such class of Equity Interests (and shall, for the avoidance of doubt, automatically decrease to 4.99% upon the Holder Group ceasing to own in excess of 4.99% of such class of Equity Interests); and (ii) the term “Holder Group” shall mean the Holder plus any other Person with which the Holder is considered to be part of a group under Section 13 of the 1934 Act or with which the Holder otherwise files reports under Sections 13 and/or 16 of the 1934 Act. In determining the number of Equity Interests of a particular class outstanding at any point in time, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Equity Interests of such class as reflected in (x) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (z) a more recent notice by the Company or its transfer agent to the Holder setting forth the number of Equity Interests of such class then outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall, within one (1) Business Day of such request, confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of Equity Interests of any class then outstanding. The provisions of this Section 3.3 shall be construed, corrected and implemented in a manner so as to effectuate the intended beneficial ownership limitation herein contained.
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3.4 Adjustment of Conversion Price.
(a) Until the Note has been paid in full or converted in full, the Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows (but shall not be increased, other than pursuant to Section 3.4(a)(i) hereof):
(i) Adjustments for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the Maker shall at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Issuance Date) effect a split of the outstanding Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the stock split shall be proportionately decreased. If the Maker shall at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Issuance Date), combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the combination shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustments under this Section 3.4(a)(i) shall be effective at the close of business on the date the stock split or combination occurs.
(ii) Adjustments for Certain Dividends and Distributions. If the Maker shall at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Issuance Date) make or issue or set a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, then, and in each event, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such event shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the applicable Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:
(1) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date; and
(2) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.
(iii) Adjustment for Other Dividends and Distributions. If the Maker shall at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Issuance Date) make or issue or set a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in other than shares of Common Stock, then, and in each event, an appropriate revision to the applicable Conversion Price shall be made and provision shall be made (by adjustments of the Conversion Price or otherwise) so that the Holder of this Note shall receive upon conversions thereof, in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable thereon, the number of securities of the Maker or other issuer (as applicable) or other property that it would have received had this Note been converted into Common Stock in full (without regard to any conversion limitations herein) on the date of such event and had thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Conversion Date, retained such securities (together with any distributions payable thereon during such period) or assets, giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this Section 3.4(a)(iii) with respect to the rights of the holders of this Note; provided, however, that if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this paragraph as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions.
(iv) Adjustments for Reclassification, Exchange or Substitution. If the Common Stock at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date (but whether before or after the Issuance Date) shall be changed to the same or different number of shares or other securities of any class or classes of stock or other property, whether by reclassification, exchange, substitution or otherwise (other than by way of a stock split or combination of shares or stock dividends provided for in Sections 3.4(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, or a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale of assets provided for in Section 3.4(a)(v) hereof), then, and in each event, an appropriate revision to the Conversion Price shall be made and provisions shall be made (by adjustments of the Conversion Price or otherwise) so that the Holder shall have the right thereafter to convert this Note into the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or other property receivable upon reclassification, exchange, substitution or other change, by holders of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Note might have been converted immediately prior to such reclassification, exchange, substitution or other change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(v) [Reserved.]
(vi) [Reserved.]
(vii) Consideration for Stock. In case any shares of Common Stock or any Common Stock Equivalents shall be issued or sold:
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(1) in connection with any merger or consolidation in which the Maker is the surviving corporation (other than any consolidation or merger in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Maker shall be changed to or exchanged for the stock or other securities of another corporation), the amount of consideration therefor shall be, deemed to be the fair value, as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Maker and approved by the Requisite Holders, of such portion of the assets and business of the nonsurviving corporation as such Board of Directors may determine to be attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Convertible Securities, rights or warrants or options, as the case may be; or
(2) in the event of any consolidation or merger of the Maker in which the Maker is not the surviving corporation or in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Maker shall be changed into or exchanged for the stock or other securities of another corporation or other property, or in the event of any sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Maker for stock or other securities or other property of any corporation, the Maker shall be deemed to have issued shares of its Common Stock, at a price per share equal to the valuation of the Maker’s Common Stock based on the actual exchange ratio on which the transaction was predicated, as applicable, and the fair market value on the date of such transaction of all such stock or securities or other property of the other corporation. If any such calculation results in adjustment of the applicable Conversion Price, or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note, the determination of the applicable Conversion Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or sale, shall be made after giving effect to such adjustment of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note. In the event Common Stock is issued with other shares or securities or other assets of the Maker for consideration which covers both, the consideration computed as provided in this Section 3.4(a)(vii) shall be allocated among such securities and assets as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Maker, and approved by the Requisite Holders.
(viii) Record Date. In case the Maker shall take record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities, then the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to be such record date.
(b) No Impairment. The Maker shall not, by amendment of its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Maker, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 3.4 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the Holder against impairment. In the event the Holder shall elect to convert this Note as provided herein, the Maker cannot refuse conversion based on any claim that the Holder or anyone associated or affiliated with the Holder has been engaged in any violation of law, violation of an agreement to which the Holder is a party or for any reason whatsoever, unless, an injunction from a court, or notice, restraining and or adjoining conversion of this Note shall have issued and the Maker posts a surety bond for the benefit of the Holder in an amount equal to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the Principal Amount of the Note the Holder has elected to convert, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of arbitration/litigation of the dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to the Holder (as liquidated damages) in the event it obtains judgment.
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(c) Certificates as to Adjustments. Upon occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price or number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note pursuant to this Section 3.4, the Maker at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to the Holder a certificate setting forth such adjustment and readjustment, showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Maker shall, upon written request of the Holder, at any time, furnish or cause to be furnished to the Holder a like certificate setting forth such adjustments and readjustments, the applicable Conversion Price in effect at the time, and the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other securities or property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of this Note. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Maker shall not be obligated to deliver a certificate unless such certificate would reflect an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) of such adjusted amount.
(d) Issue Taxes. The Maker shall pay any and all issue and other taxes, excluding federal, state or local income taxes, that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversion of this Note pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the Maker shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes resulting from any transfer requested by the Holder in connection with any such conversion.
(e) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of this Note. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the Holder would otherwise be entitled, the Maker shall pay cash equal such fractional shares multiplied by the Conversion Price then in effect.
(f) Reservation of Common Stock. The Maker shall at all while this Note shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of this Note (disregarding for this purpose any and all limitations of any kind on such conversion). The Maker shall, from time to time, increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock or take other effective action if at any time the unissued number of authorized shares shall not be sufficient to satisfy the Maker’s obligations under this Section 3.4(g).
(g) Regulatory Compliance. If any shares of Common Stock to be reserved for the purpose of conversion of this Note require registration or listing with or approval of any governmental authority, stock exchange or other regulatory body under any federal or state law or regulation or otherwise before such shares may be validly issued or delivered upon conversion, the Maker shall, at its sole cost and expense, in good faith and as expeditiously as possible, secure such registration, listing or approval, as the case may be.
(h) Effect of Events Prior to the Issuance Date. If the Issuance Date of this Note is after the Closing Date, then, if the Conversion Price or any other right of the Holder of this Note would have been adjusted or modified by operation of any provision of this Note had this Note been issued on the Closing Date, such adjustment or modification shall be deemed to apply to this Note as of the Issuance Date as if this Note had been issued on the Closing Date.
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3.5 Prepayment Following a Change of Control.
(a) Mechanics of Prepayment at Option of Holder in Connection with a Change of Control. No sooner than fifteen (15) days prior to entry into an agreement for a Change of Control nor later than ten (10) days prior to the consummation of a Change of Control, but not prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control, the Maker shall deliver written notice (“Notice of Change of Control”) to the Holder. At any time after receipt of a Notice of Change of Control (or, in the event a Notice of Change of Control is not delivered at least ten (10) days prior to a Change of Control, at any time within ten (10) days prior to a Change of Control), the Requisite Holders may require the Maker to prepay, effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, an amount equal to 105% of the Outstanding Principal Amount(the “COC Repayment Price”), by delivering written notice thereof (“Notice of Prepayment at Option of Holder Upon Change of Control”) to the Maker.
(b) Payment of COC Repayment Price. Upon the Maker’s receipt of a Notice(s) of Prepayment at Option of Holder Upon Change of Control from the Requisite Holders, the Maker shall deliver the COC Repayment Price to the Holder immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control; provided that the Holder’s original Note shall have been so delivered to the Maker and, provided, further that all payments shall be subject to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement with respect to the holders of the Other Notes..
3.6 Inability to Fully Convert.
(a) Holder’s Option if Maker Cannot Fully Convert. If, upon the Maker’s receipt of a Conversion Notice or as otherwise required under this Note, including with respect to repayment of principal in shares of Common Stock as permitted under this Note, the Maker cannot issue shares of Common Stock for any reason, including, without limitation, because the Maker (x) does not have a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock authorized and available or (y) is otherwise prohibited by applicable law or by the rules or regulations of any stock exchange, interdealer quotation system or other self-regulatory organization with jurisdiction over the Maker or any of its securities from issuing all of the Common Stock which is to be issued to the Holder pursuant to this Note, then the Maker shall issue as many shares of Common Stock as it is able to issue and, with respect to the unconverted portion of this Note or with respect to any shares of Common Stock not timely issued in accordance with this Note, the Holder, solely at Holder’s option, can elect to:
(i) require the Maker to prepay that portion of this Note for which the Maker is unable to issue Common Stock or for which shares of Common Stock were not timely issued (the “Mandatory Prepayment”) at a price equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that the Maker is unable to issue multiplied by the VWAP on the date of the Conversion Notice (the “Mandatory Prepayment Price”) (provided all payments shall be subject to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement with respect to the holders of the Other Notes);
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(ii) void its Conversion Notice and retain or have returned, as the case may be, this Note that was to be converted pursuant to the Conversion Notice (provided that the Holder’s voiding its Conversion Notice shall not affect the Maker’s obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice); or
(iii) defer issuance of the applicable Conversion Shares until such time as the Maker can legally issue such shares; provided, that the Principal Amount underlying such Conversion Shares shall remain outstanding until the delivery of such Conversion Shares; provided, further, that if the Holder elects to defer the issuance of the Conversion Shares, it may exercise its rights under either clause (i) or (ii) above at any time prior to the issuance of the Conversion Shares upon two (2) Business Days’ notice to the Maker.
(b) Mechanics of Fulfilling Holder’s Election. The Maker shall immediately send to the Holder, upon receipt of a Conversion Notice from the Holder, which cannot be fully satisfied as described in Section 3.6(a) above, a notice of the Maker’s inability to fully satisfy the Conversion Notice (the “Inability to Fully Convert Notice”). Such Inability to Fully Convert Notice shall indicate (i) the reason why the Maker is unable to fully satisfy the Holder’s Conversion Notice; and (ii) the amount of this Note which cannot be converted. The Holder shall notify the Maker of its election pursuant to Section 3.6(a) above by delivering written notice to the Maker (“Notice in Response to Inability to Convert”).
(c) Payment of Mandatory Prepayment Price. If the Holder shall elect to have its Note prepaid pursuant to Section 3.6(a)(i) above, the Maker shall pay the Mandatory Prepayment Price to the Holder within five (5) Business Days of the Maker’s receipt of the Holder’s Notice in Response to Inability to Convert; provided that prior to the Maker’s receipt of the Holder’s Notice in Response to Inability to Convert the Maker has not delivered a notice to the Holder stating, to the satisfaction of the Holder, that the event or condition resulting in the Mandatory Prepayment has been cured and all Conversion Shares issuable to the Holder can and will be delivered to the Holder in accordance with the terms of this Note. If the Maker shall fail to pay the applicable Mandatory Prepayment Price to the Holder on the date that is one (1) Business Day following the Maker’s receipt of the Holder’s Notice in Response to Inability to Convert, in addition to any remedy the Holder may have under this Note and the Purchase Agreement, such unpaid amount shall bear interest at the rate of two percent (2%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Until the full Mandatory Prepayment Price is paid in full to the Holder, the Holder may (i) void the Mandatory Prepayment with respect to that portion of the Note for which the full Mandatory Prepayment Price has not been paid and (ii) receive back such Note.
(d) No Rights as Stockholder. Nothing contained in this Note shall be construed as conferring upon the Holder, prior to the conversion of this Note, the right to vote or to receive dividends or to consent or to receive notice as a stockholder in respect of any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the Maker or of any other matter, or any other rights as a stockholder of the Maker.
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ARTICLE 4
4.1 Covenants. For so long as any Note is outstanding, without the prior written consent of the Holder:
(a) Compliance with Transaction Documents. The Maker shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, comply with its obligations under this Note and the other Transaction Documents.
(b) Payment of Taxes, Etc. The Maker shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly pay and discharge, or cause to be paid and discharged, when due and payable, all lawful taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the income, profits, property or business of the Maker and the Subsidiaries, except for such failures to pay that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however , that any such tax, assessment, charge or levy need not be paid if the validity thereof shall currently be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and if the Maker or such Subsidiaries shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto, and provided, further, that the Maker and such Subsidiaries will pay all such taxes, assessments, charges or levies forthwith upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any lien which may have attached as security therefor.
(c) Corporate Existence. The Maker shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights and franchises and all licenses and other rights to use property owned or possessed by it and reasonably deemed to be necessary to the conduct of its business.
(d) Investment Company Act. The Maker shall conduct its businesses in a manner so that it will not become subject to, or required to be registered under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(e) Sale of Collateral; Liens. From the date hereof until the full release of the security interest in the Collateral, (i) the Maker shall not sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral, or attempt or contract to do so, other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices; and (ii) the Maker shall not, directly or indirectly, create, permit or suffer to exist, and shall defend the Collateral against and take such other action as is necessary to remove, any lien, security interest or other encumbrance on the Collateral (except for the pledge, assignment and security interest created under the Security Agreement and Permitted Liens (as defined in the Security Agreement)). In addition, the Maker agrees that, promptly upon the request of the Requisite Holders, the Maker shall cause its Subsidiaries (or those Subsidiaries so requested by the Requisite Holders) to execute and deliver to the Agent, the Holder and the other Investors a guaranty of payment and performance of all of the Maker’s obligations under the Transaction Documents pursuant to a guaranty agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent and security such guarantee obligations by granting to the Agent, for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors, a first priority security interest in all of such Subsidiary’s assets pursuant to a security agreement in substantially the form of the Security Agreement.
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(f) Prohibited Transactions. The Company hereby covenants and agrees not to enter into any Prohibited Transactions until thirty (30) days after such time as this Note has been converted into Conversion Shares or repaid in full.
(g) Repayment of This Note. If the Company issues any debt, including any subordinated debt or convertible debt (other than the Note or the Other Notes), or any Preferred Stock, then unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Requisite Holders, the Company will immediately utilize the proceeds of such issuance to repay this Note and the Other Notes, pro rata based on the initial Aggregate Principal Amount on the Closing Date, unless doing so would reduce the Nasdaq equity calculation below $3,000,000; provided that this repayment obligation will not apply for any debt raises for aggregate proceeds of up to $1,000,000 if under the same terms contemplated by the Transaction Documents. If the Company issues any Equity Interests for aggregate proceeds to the Company of greater than $7,000,000, excluding offering costs or other expenses, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Requisite Holders, the Company will direct 20% of such proceeds from such issuance to repay this Note and the Other Notes, pro rata based on the initial Aggregate Principal Amount on the Closing Date, unless doing so would reduce the Nasdaq equity calculation below $3,000,000.
4.2 Set-Off. This Note shall be subject to the set-off provisions set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
ARTICLE 5
5.1 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email at the email address specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on a Business Day, (b) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email at the email address specified in this Section on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on such date, (c) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses for notice shall be as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
5.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, without reference to principles of conflict of laws or choice of laws. This Note shall not be interpreted or construed with any presumption against the party causing this Note to be drafted.
5.3 Headings. Article and section headings in this Note are included herein for purposes of convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Note for any other purpose.
5.4 Remedies, Characterizations, Other Obligations, Breaches and Injunctive Relief. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note, at law or in equity (including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), no remedy contained herein shall be deemed a waiver of compliance with the provisions giving rise to such remedy and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Maker to comply with the terms of this Note. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the holder thereof and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Maker (or the performance thereof). The Maker acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable and material harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach would be inadequate. Therefore, the Maker agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available rights and remedies, at law or in equity, to equitable relief, including but not limited to an injunction restraining any such breach or threatened breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.
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5.5 Enforcement Expenses. The Maker agrees to pay all costs and expenses of enforcement of this Note, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.
5.6 Binding Effect. The obligations of the Maker and the Holder set forth herein shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each such party, whether or not such successors or assigns are permitted by the terms herein.
5.7 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Note may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed by the Company and the Holder. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Note shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.
5.8 Compliance with Securities Laws. The Holder of this Note acknowledges that this Note is being acquired solely for the Holder’s own account and not as a nominee for any other party, and for investment, and that the Holder shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of this Note in violation of securities laws. This Note and any Note issued in substitution or replacement therefor shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY.”
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5.9 Jurisdiction; Venue. Any action, proceeding or claim arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Company and the Holder irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive, and hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. The prevailing party in any such action shall be entitled to recover its reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses relating to such action or proceeding.
5.10 Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.
5.11 Maker Waivers. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Maker and all others that may become liable for all or any part of the obligations evidenced by this Note, hereby waive presentment, demand, notice of nonpayment, protest and all other demands’ and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance and enforcement of this Note, and do hereby consent to any number of renewals of extensions of the time or payment hereof and agree that any such renewals or extensions may be made without notice to any such persons and without affecting their liability herein and do further consent to the release of any person liable hereon, all without affecting the liability of the other persons, firms or Maker liable for the payment of this Note, AND DO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY.
(a) No delay or omission on the part of the Holder in exercising its rights under this Note, or course of conduct relating hereto, shall operate as a waiver of such rights or any other right of the Holder, nor shall any waiver by the Holder of any such right or rights on any one occasion be deemed a waiver of the same right or rights on any future occasion.
(b) THE MAKER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE TRANSACTION OF WHICH THIS NOTE IS A PART IS A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION, AND TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO NOTICE AND HEARING WITH RESPECT TO ANY PREJUDGMENT REMEDY WHICH THE HOLDER OR ITS SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS MAY DESIRE TO USE.
5.12 Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Indebtedness” means: (a) all obligations for borrowed money; (b) all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments and all reimbursement or other obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers acceptances, current swap agreements, interest rate hedging agreements, interest rate swaps, or other financial products; (c) all capital lease obligations that exceed $150,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year; (d) all obligations or liabilities secured by a lien or encumbrance on any asset of the Maker, irrespective of whether such obligation or liability is assumed; (e) all obligations for the deferred purchase price of assets, together with trade debt and other accounts payable that exceed $150,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year; (f) all synthetic leases; (g) any obligation guaranteeing or intended to guarantee (whether directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted or sold with recourse) any of the foregoing obligations of any other person; (h) trade debt; and (i) endorsements for collection or deposit.
(b) “Mandatory Default Amount” means an amount equal to one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note on the date on which the first Event of Default has occurred hereunder.
(c) “Market Capitalization” means, as of any date of determination, the product of (a) the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of such date (exclusive of any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants or conversion of any convertible securities), multiplied by (b) the closing price of the Common Stock on the Trading Market on the date of determination.
(d) “Outstanding Principal Amount” means, at the time of determination, the Principal Amount outstanding after giving effect to any conversions or prepayments pursuant to the terms hereof.
(e) “Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker has caused this Note to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first above indicated.
CREATD, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT A
WIRE INSTRUCTIONS
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE
(To be Executed by the Registered Holder in order to Convert the Note)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert $ ________________ of the principal amount of the above Note No. ___ into shares of Common Stock of Creatd, Inc. (the “Maker”) according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below.
Date of Conversion:
Conversion Price:
Number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned or deemed beneficially owned by the Holder on the Conversion Date:
[HOLDER] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Address: |
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
THIS WARRANT HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY.
The number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of this warrant may be less than the amounts set forth on the face hereof.
This Warrant is issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 14, 2021 by and between the Company and the Holder (as defined below) (the “Purchase Agreement”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Purchase Agreement. Receipt of this Warrant by the Holder shall constitute acceptance and agreement to all of the terms contained herein.
No. ________
creatd, INC.
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
Creatd, Inc., a Nevada corporation (together with any corporation which shall succeed to or assume the obligations of Creatd, Inc. hereunder, the “Company”), hereby certifies that, for value received, _____________________ (the “Holder”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company at any time during the Exercise Period (as defined in Section 9) up to ________________________ fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (as defined in Section 9), at a purchase price per share equal to the Exercise Price (as defined in Section 9). The number of shares of Common Stock for which this Common Stock Purchase Warrant (this “Warrant”) is exercisable and the Exercise Price are subject to adjustment as provided herein.
1. DEFINITIONS. Certain terms are used in this Warrant as specifically defined in Section 9.
2. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.
2.1. Exercise. This Warrant may be exercised prior to its expiration pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof by the Holder at any time or from time to time during the Exercise Period, by submitting the form of subscription attached hereto (the “Exercise Notice”) duly executed by the Holder, to the Company at its principal office, indicating whether the Holder is electing to purchase a specified number of shares by paying the Aggregate Exercise Price as provided in Section 2.2 or is electing to exercise this Warrant as to a specified number of shares pursuant to the net exercise provisions of Section 2.3. On or before the first Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received the Exercise Notice, the Company shall transmit by electronic mail an acknowledgement of confirmation of receipt of the Exercise Notice. Subject to Section 2.4, this Warrant shall be deemed exercised for all purposes as of the close of business on the day on which the Holder has delivered the Exercise Notice to the Company. The Aggregate Exercise Price, if any, shall be paid by wire transfer to the Company within five (5) Business Days of the date of exercise and prior to the time the Company issues the certificates evidencing the shares issuable upon such exercise. In the event this Warrant is not exercised in full, the Company may, at its expense, require the Holder, after such partial exercise, to promptly return this Warrant to the Company and the Company will forthwith issue and deliver to or upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, in the name of the Holder or as the Holder (upon payment by the Holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may request, calling in the aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the number of shares of Common Stock equal (without giving effect to any adjustment therein) to the number of such shares called for on the face of this Warrant minus the number of such shares (without giving effect to any adjustment therein) for which this Warrant shall have been exercised.
2.2. Payment of Exercise Price by Wire Transfer. If the Holder elects to purchase a specified number of shares by paying the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Holder shall pay such amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account designated by the Company in its acknowledgement of receipt of such Exercise Notice pursuant to Section 2.1.
2.3. Net Exercise. If a registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock that are the subject of the Notice of Exercise (the “Unavailable Warrant Shares”) is not available for the resale of such Unavailable Warrant Shares to the public or upon exercise of this Warrant in connection with a Fundamental Transaction, the Holder may elect to exercise this Warrant by receiving shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares determined pursuant to the following formula:
X = Y (A - B)
A
where,
X = | the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to Holder; |
Y = | the number of shares of Common Stock as to which this Warrant is to be exercised (as indicated on the Exercise Notice); |
A = | VWAP for the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of exercise; and |
B = | the Exercise Price. |
2.4. Antitrust Notification. If the Requisite Holders determine, in their sole judgment upon the advice of counsel, that the issuance of any Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms hereof would be subject to the provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), the Company shall file as soon as practicable after the date on which the Company receives notice from the Holder of the applicability of the HSR Act and a request to so file with the United States Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice the notification and report form required to be filed by it pursuant to the HSR Act in connection with such issuance.
2.5. Termination. This Warrant shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) exercise in full or (ii) the expiration of the Exercise Period.
3. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Holder of this Warrant has certain rights to require the Company to register its resale of the Warrant Shares under the Securities Act and any blue sky or securities laws of any jurisdictions within the United States at the time and in the manner specified in the Purchase Agreement.
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4. DELIVERY OF STOCK CERTIFICATES ON EXERCISE.
4.1. Delivery of Exercise Shares. As soon as practicable after any exercise of this Warrant and in any event within three (3) Trading Days thereafter (such date, the “Exercise Share Delivery Date”), the Company shall, at its expense (including the payment by it of any applicable issue or stamp taxes), cause to be issued in the name of and delivered to the Holder, or as the Holder may direct, a certificate or certificates evidencing the number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (which number shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share in the event any fractional share may otherwise be issuable upon such exercise and the Company shall pay a cash adjustment to the Holder in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price) to which the Holder shall be entitled on such exercise, in such denominations as may be requested by the Holder, which certificate or certificates shall be free of restrictive and trading legends (except for any such legends as may be required under the Securities Act). In lieu of delivering physical certificates for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon any exercise of this Warrant, provided the Warrant Shares are not restricted securities and the Company’s transfer agent is participating in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer program or a similar program, upon request of the Holder, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to electronically transmit such shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant to the Holder (or its designee), by crediting the account of the Holder’s (or such designee’s) broker with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system (provided that the same time periods herein as for stock certificates shall apply) as instructed by the Holder (or its designee).
4.2. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Exercise Shares. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause its transfer agent to transmit to the Holder Exercise Shares pursuant to an exercise on or before the Exercise Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Exercise Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (a) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Exercise Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (b) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Exercise Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
4.3. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Exercise Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Exercise Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Exercise Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event Exercise Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto (the “Assignment Form”) duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.
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5. CERTAIN ADJUSTMENT.
5.1. Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (a) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (b) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (c) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (d) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
5.2 Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the beneficial ownership limitation provided for in Section 10, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the beneficial ownership limitation).
5.3 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 Person, (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 Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, or (d) 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 (each, a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon the closing of a Fundamental Transaction and payment of the exercise price therefore (including at the election of the Holder by cashless exercise), the Holder shall receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such 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. For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Requisite Holders shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration the Holder receives upon exercise of this Warrant upon the closing of such Fundamental Transaction. The foregoing notwithstanding, if the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange, in each case, into another security of the Company, this Warrant shall remain outstanding and the Holder shall be entitled to receive the Alternative Consideration upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant and the payment of the exercise price therefor. The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Fundamental Transaction is effected shall include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this Section 5.3
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5.4 [Reserved]
5.5 Calculations. All calculations under this Section 5 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 5, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding at the close of the Trading Day on or, if not applicable, most recently preceding, such given date.
5.6 Notice to Holder.
(a) Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 5, the Company shall promptly mail to the Requisite Holders a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
(b) Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (i) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock; (ii) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock; (iii) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights; (iv) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, of any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property; or (v) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company; then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. Subject to applicable law, the Holder is entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the delivery of the notice described in this Section 5.6 is not intended to and shall not bestow upon the Holder any voting rights whatsoever with respect to outstanding unexercised Warrants.
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6. NO IMPAIRMENT. The Company will not, by amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in taking all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Holder against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (a) will not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable on the exercise of this Warrant above the amount payable therefor on such exercise and (b) will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of stock on the exercise of this Warrant from time to time outstanding.
7. NOTICES OF RECORD DATE. In the event of:
(a) any taking by the Company of a record of the holders of any class of securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution, or any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of stock of any class or any other securities or property, or to receive any other right;
(b) any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the Company or any transfer of all or substantially all the assets of the Company to or any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person or any other Change of Control; or
(c) any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;
then, and in each such event, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the Holder a notice specifying (i) the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the date on which any such reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is anticipated to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable on such reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date specified in such notice on which any such action is to be taken.
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8. RESERVATION OF STOCK ISSUABLE ON EXERCISE OF WARRANT; REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.
8.1. Reservation of Stock Issuable on Exercise of Warrant. The Company shall at all times while this Warrant shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the exercise of all or any portion of the Warrant Shares (disregarding for this purpose any and all limitations of any kind on such exercise). The Company shall, from time to time in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock or take other effective action if at any time the unissued number of authorized shares shall not be sufficient to satisfy the Company’s obligations under this Section 8.
8.2. Regulatory Compliance. If any shares of Common Stock to be reserved for the purpose of exercise of the Warrant Shares require registration or listing with or approval of any Governmental Authority, stock exchange or other regulatory body under any federal or state law or regulation or otherwise before such shares may be validly issued or delivered upon exercise, the Company shall, at its sole cost and expense, in good faith and as expeditiously as possible, secure such registration, listing or approval, as the case may be.
9. DEFINITIONS. As used herein the following terms, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following respective meanings:
“Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.
“Aggregate Exercise Price” means, in connection with the exercise of this Warrant at any time, an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Exercise Price times (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is being exercised at such time.
“Articles of Incorporation” means the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended to date.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City.
“Change of Control” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
“Common Stock” means (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 clause (i) above have been converted or exchanged pursuant to a plan of recapitalization, reorganization, merger, sale of assets or otherwise.
“Convertible Securities” means any debt, equity or other securities that are, directly or indirectly, convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
“Exercise Period” means the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending 11:59 P.M. (New York City time) on the date that is sixty (60) months from the Issue Date or earlier closing of a Fundamental Transaction (other than a Fundamental Transaction of the type described in clause (d) of the definition thereof resulting in the conversion into or exchange for another security of the Company).
“Exercise Price” means $4.50 per share, as may be adjusted pursuant to the terms hereof.
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“Exercise Shares” means the shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is then being exercised.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any security or other property, the fair market value of such security or other property as determined by the Board of Directors, acting in good faith.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Issue Date” means May 14, 2021.
“Note” means the senior secured convertible promissory note issued by the Company to the Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
“Subsidiary” means, as of any time of determination and with respect to any Person, any United States corporation, partnership, limited liability company or limited liability partnership, all of the stock (or other equity interest) of every class of which, except directors’ qualifying shares (or any equivalent), shall, at such time, be owned by such Person either directly or through Subsidiaries and of which such Person or a Subsidiary shall have 100% control thereof, except directors’ qualifying shares. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE: Amex Exchange, or the Nasdaq Stock Market (including the Nasdaq Capital Market), on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.
“VWAP” means, as of any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of one share of Common Stock trading in the ordinary course of business on the applicable Trading Price for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on such Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg Financial L.P.; (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed on a Trading Market and if the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, the volume weighted average price of one share of Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board, as reported by Bloomberg Financial L.P.; (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock is then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by the Pink OTC Markets Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price of one share of Common Stock so reported, as reported by Bloomberg Financial L.P.; or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of one share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holder and reasonably acceptable to the Company (in each case rounded to four decimal places).
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“Warrant Shares” means collectively the shares of Common Stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Warrant in accordance with its terms, as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions thereof.
10. LIMITATION ON BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Holder shall not be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock or other securities (together with Common Stock, “Equity Interests”) upon exercise of this Warrant to the extent (but only to the extent) that such exercise or receipt would cause the Holder Group to become, directly or indirectly, a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of a number of Equity Interests of a class that is registered under the Exchange Act which exceeds the Maximum Percentage (as defined below) of the Equity Interests of such class that are outstanding at such time. Any purported delivery of Equity Interests in connection with the exercise of the Warrant prior to the termination of this restriction in accordance herewith shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in the Holder Group becoming the beneficial owner of more than the Maximum Percentage of the Equity Interests of a class that is registered under the Exchange Act that is outstanding at such time. If any delivery of Equity Interests owed to the Holder following exercise of this Warrant is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this limitation, the Company’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and the Company shall deliver such Equity Interests as promptly as practicable after the Holder gives notice to the Company that such delivery would not result in such limitation being triggered or upon termination of the restriction in accordance with the terms hereof. To the extent limitations contained in this Section 10 apply, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be the sole responsibility and in the sole determination of the Holder, and the submission of an Exercise Notice shall be deemed to constitute the Holder’s determination that the issuance of the full number of Warrant Shares requested in the Exercise Notice is permitted hereunder, and neither the Company nor any Warrant agent shall have any obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. For purposes of this Section 10, (i) the term “Maximum Percentage” shall mean 4.99%; provided, that if at any time after the date hereof the Holder Group beneficially owns in excess of 4.99% of any class of Equity Interests in the Company that is registered under the Exchange Act (excluding any Equity Interests deemed beneficially owned by virtue of this Warrant or the Note), then the Maximum Percentage shall automatically increase to 9.99% so long as the Holder Group owns in excess of 4.99% of such class of Equity Interests (and shall, for the avoidance of doubt, automatically decrease to 4.99% upon the Holder Group ceasing to own in excess of 4.99% of such class of Equity Interests); and (ii) the term “Holder Group” shall mean the Holder plus any other Person with which the Holder is considered to be part of a group under Section 13 of the Exchange Act or with which the Holder otherwise files reports under Sections 13 and/or 16 of the Exchange Act. In determining the number of Equity Interests of a particular class outstanding at any point in time, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Equity Interests of such class as reflected in (x) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (z) a more recent notice by the Company or its transfer agent to the Holder setting forth the number of Equity Interests of such class then outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall, within one (1) Trading Day of such request, confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of Equity Interests of any class then outstanding. The provisions of this Section 10 shall be construed, corrected and implemented in a manner so as to effectuate the intended beneficial ownership limitation herein contained.
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11. REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER OF WARRANT.
11.1. Registration of Warrant. The Company shall register and record transfers, exchanges, reissuances and cancellations of this Warrant, upon the records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose, in the name of the record holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary. The Company shall be entitled to rely, and held harmless in acting or refraining from acting in reliance upon, any notices, instructions or documents it believes in good faith to be from an authorized representative of the Holder.
11.2 Transferability. This Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form of assignment (the “Assignment Notice”) attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. The Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of the transferred Warrant under the 1933 Act. Upon such surrender, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such Assignment Notice, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. This Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Exercise Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
11.3. New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 11.2, as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for this Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the original Issue Date and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Exercise Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
12. LOSS, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF WARRANT. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Exercise Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of this Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
13. REMEDIES. The Company stipulates that the remedies at law of the Holder in the event of any default or threatened default by the Company in the performance of or compliance with any of the terms of this Warrant are not and will not be adequate, and that such terms may be specifically enforced by a decree for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or by an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or otherwise.
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14. NO RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Exercise Shares.
15. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications that are required or may be given pursuant to the terms of this Warrant shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered (i) on the date of delivery when delivered by hand on a Business Day during normal business hours or, if delivered on a day that is not a Business Day or after normal business hours, then on the next Business Day, (ii) on the date of transmission when sent by facsimile transmission or email during normal business hours on a Business Day with telephone confirmation of receipt or, if transmitted on a day that is not a Business Day or after normal business hours, then on the next Business Day, or (iii) on the second Business Day after the date of dispatch when sent by a reputable courier service that maintains records of receipt. The addresses for notice shall be as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
16. CONSENT TO AMENDMENTS. Any term of this Warrant may be amended, and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or compliance therewith may be waived, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent (and not without such written consent) to such amendment, action or waiver from the Holder. No course of dealing between the Company and the Holder nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any rights of the Holder.
17. MISCELLANEOUS. In case any provision of this Warrant shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, or partially invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the provision shall be enforced to the extent, if any, that it may legally be enforced and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. If any provision of this Warrant is found to conflict with the Purchase Agreement, the provisions of this Warrant shall prevail. If any provision of this Warrant is found to conflict with the Note, the provisions of the Note shall prevail. THIS WARRANT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCLUDING CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH STATE THAT WOULD PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH STATE. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of reference only, and shall not limit or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its duly authorized officer.
Dated as of May 14, 2021
creatd, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: Jeremy Frommer | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION
(To be signed only on exercise
of Common Stock Purchase Warrant)
TO: Creatd, Inc.
1. The undersigned Holder of the attached Warrant hereby elects to exercise its purchase right under such Warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock of Creatd, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), as follows (check one or more, as applicable):
☐ | to exercise the Warrant to purchase __________ shares of Common Stock and to pay the Aggregate Exercise Price therefor by wire transfer of United States funds to the account of the Company, which transfer has been made prior to or as of the date of delivery of this Form of Subscription pursuant to the instructions of the Company; |
and/or
☐ | to exercise the Warrant with respect to ____________ shares of Common Stock pursuant to the net exercise provisions specified in Section 2.3 of the Warrant. |
2. In exercising this Warrant, the undersigned Holder hereby confirms and acknowledges that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired solely for the account of the undersigned and not as a nominee for any other party, and for investment, and that the undersigned shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any such shares of Common Stock except under circumstances that will not result in a violation of the Securities Act or any state securities laws. The undersigned hereby further confirms and acknowledges that it is an “accredited investor”, as that term is defined under the Securities Act.
3. Please issue a stock certificate or certificates representing the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name(s) as is specified below:
Name: | |||
Address: | |||
TIN: |
Dated: | |||
(Signature must conform exactly to name of Holder as specified on the face of the Warrant) |
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FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be signed only on transfer of Warrant)
For value received, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and transfers unto ________________ the right represented by the within Warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock of Creatd, Inc., a Nevada corporation, to which the within Warrant relates, and appoints _________________ attorney to transfer such right on the books of Creatd, Inc., with full power of substitution in the premises.
[insert name of Holder] | ||||
Dated: | By: | |||
Title: | ||||
[insert address of Holder] | ||||
Signed in the presence of: | ||||
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SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Securities Purchase Agreement (as amended, supplemented, restated and/or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of May 14, 2021, by and between Creatd, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and each investor identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).
BACKGROUND
A. The board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) of the Company has authorized the issuance to each of the Investors of a Note (as defined below) and a Warrant (as defined below).
B Each Investor desires to purchase a Note and a Warrant on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
C. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company, Lind Global Macro Fund, LP in its capacity as agent for the Investors (in such capacity, the “Agent”) and the Investors will enter into a Security Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Security Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will grant a security interest to the Agent, for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors, in certain of its assets to secure the Company’s obligations hereunder and the Company, the Agent, Arthur Rosen and Eric Goldberg will enter into the Intercreditor Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Intercreditor Agreement”).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings specified or indicated below, and such meanings shall be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of such defined terms:
“1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company of a majority of the Equity Interests or substantially all of the assets and business of any Person, whether by direct purchase of Equity Interests, asset purchase, merger, consolidation or like combination.
“Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.
“Agent” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Aggregate Outstanding Amount” means the sum of (a) the Aggregate Principal Amount plus (b) the aggregate accrued and unpaid interest owing to all Investors on the Aggregate Principal Amount.
“Aggregate Principal Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Blue Sky Application” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a).
“Board of Directors” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City.
“Capital Stock” means the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock and any other classes of capital stock of the Company.
“Change of Control” means, with respect to the Company:
(a) | a change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company at a single shareholder meeting where a majority of the individuals that were directors of the Company immediately prior to the start of such shareholder meeting are no longer directors at the conclusion of such meeting; |
(b) | a change in composition of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the termination of this Agreement where a majority of the individuals that were directors as of the date of this Agreement cease to be directors of the Company prior to the termination of this Agreement; |
(c) | unless their replacements shall be approved by the Requisite Holders, in the sole discretion of such Requisite Holders, any two of the individuals who are the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chairman of the Board of Directors as of the date of this Agreement cease to hold such position at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement; |
(d) | other than a shareholder that holds such a position at the date of this Agreement, if a Person comes to have beneficial ownership, control or direction over more than forty percent (40%) of the voting rights attached to any class of voting securities of the Company; or |
(e) | the sale or other disposition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a single transaction, or in a series of transactions, of all or substantially all of their respective assets. |
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
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“Code” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Commitment Fee” means an amount equal to Three and One Half Percent (3.5%) of the Funding Amount for each Investor.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Conversion Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full or any partial conversion of a Note.
“Effectiveness Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Equity Interests” means and includes capital stock, membership interests and other similar equity securities, and shall also include warrants or options to purchase capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests.
“Event” means any event, change, development, effect, condition, circumstance, matter, occurrence or state of facts.
“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
“Exempted Securities” means (a) shares of Common Stock or rights, warrants or options to purchase Common Stock issued in connection with any Acquisition, (b) equity securities issued by reason of a dividend, stock split, split-up or other distribution on shares of Common Stock, (c) shares of Common Stock or rights, warrants or options to purchase Common Stock issued to employees or directors of, or consultants or advisors to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to a plan, agreement or arrangement approved by the Board of Directors (“Equity Plans”), (d) shares of Common Stock actually issued upon the exercise of options or shares of Common Stock actually issued upon the conversion or exchange of any securities convertible into Common Stock, in each case provided that such issuance is pursuant to the terms of the applicable option or convertible security, or (e) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any Securities issued hereunder and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement as disclosed on Schedule 1 hereto, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with stock splits or combinations) or to extend the term of such securities.
“Funding Amount” shall mean, in respect of any Investor, the amount identified as such on the signature page hereto executed by such Investor, and in the aggregate an amount equal to Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000).
“HSR Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.16.
“Intercreditor Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
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“Investor” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Investor Group” shall mean, in respect of each Investor, such Investor plus any other Person with which such Investor is considered to be part of a group under Section 13 of the 1934 Act or with which the Investor otherwise files reports under Sections 13 and/or 16 of the 1934 Act.
“Investor Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).
“Investor Shares” means the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and any other shares issued or issuable to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement, the Notes or the Warrants.
“IP Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.
“Law” means any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree, including, without limitation, any federal and state securities Laws.
“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).
“Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on (i) the businesses, properties, assets, operations, results of operations or financial condition of the Company, or the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to perform its obligations hereunder or under the Notes or the Warrants; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed either alone or in combination to constitute, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been or would be, a Material Adverse Effect: (a) any adverse effect resulting from or arising out of general economic conditions; (b) any adverse effect resulting from or arising out of general conditions in the industries in which the Company and the Subsidiaries operate; (c) any adverse effect resulting from any changes to applicable Law; or (d) any adverse effect resulting from or arising out of any natural disaster or any acts of terrorism, sabotage, military action or war or any escalation or worsening thereof; provided, further, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change referred to in clauses (a) through (d) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition or change has a disproportionate effect on the Company and/or the Subsidiaries compared to other participants in the industries in which the Company and the Subsidiaries operate.
“Maximum Percentage” means 4.99%; provided, that if at any time after the date hereof an Investor Group beneficially owns in excess of 4.99% of any class of Equity Interests in the Company that is registered under the 1934 Act (excluding any Equity Interests deemed beneficially owned by virtue of a Note or a Warrant), then the Maximum Percentage shall automatically increase to 9.99% so long as the Investor Group owns in excess of 4.99% of such class of Equity Interests (and shall, for the avoidance of doubt, automatically decrease to 4.99% upon the Investor Group ceasing to own in excess of 4.99% of such class of Equity Interests).
“Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.25.
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“New Securities” means, collectively, equity securities of the Company, whether or not currently authorized, as well as rights, options, or warrants to purchase such equity securities, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities.
“Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“OFAC” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23.
“Offer Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).
“Prepayment Right” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
“Principal Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Proceedings” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“Prohibited Transaction” means a transaction with a third party or third parties in which the Company issues or sells (or arranges or agrees to issue or sell):
(a) any debt, equity or equity-linked securities (including options or warrants) that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive shares of the Company’s Capital Stock:
(i) at a conversion, repayment, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based on, and/or varies with, a discount to the future trading prices of, or quotations for, shares of Common Stock; or
(ii) at a conversion, repayment, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such debt, equity or equity-linked security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events (other than warrants that may be repriced by the Company); or
(b) any securities in a capital or debt raising transaction or series of related transactions which grant to an investor the right to receive additional securities based upon future transactions of the Company on terms more favorable than those granted to such investor in such first transaction or series of related transactions;
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, rights issuances, shareholder purchase plans, Equity Plans, convertible securities, or issuances of Equity Interests, based on the trading price of the Common Stock on the Trading Market but each at a fixed price per share, shall not be deemed to be a Prohibited Transaction.
“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Investor Shares covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
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“register,” “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act (as defined below), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.
“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Investor Shares pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus and amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, and including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.
“Required Minimum” means, as of any date, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock then issued or potentially issuable in the future pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including any Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise in full of all Warrants or Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion in full of the Notes, ignoring any conversion or exercise limits set forth therein.
“Requisite Holders” means the holder of Notes representing forty percent (40%) or more of the initial Aggregate Principal Amount on the Closing Date.
“Reverse Split” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
“Securities” means the Notes, the Warrants and the Investor Shares.
“Securities Termination Event” means either of the following has occurred:
(a) trading in securities generally in the United States has been suspended or limited for a consecutive period of greater than three (3) Business Days; or
(b) a banking moratorium has been declared by the United States or the New York State authorities and is continuing for a consecutive period of greater than three (3) Business Days.
“Security Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Stockholder Approval” shall mean the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company’s voting Common Stock: (a) if and to the extent legally required, to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock by at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Shares issuable hereunder, (b) to ratify and approve all of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including the issuance of all of Investor Shares (as such term is defined in each of such documents) issued and potentially issuable to the Investor thereunder, all as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Trading Market (or any successor entity).
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“Subsidiaries” and “Subsidiary” have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American, or the Nasdaq Stock Market (including the Nasdaq Capital Market), on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the Security Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and any other documents or agreements executed or delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
“Warrant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE NOTES AND THE WARRANTS.
2.1 Purchase and Sale of the Notes and the Warrants. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, at the Closing, the Company shall issue and sell to each Investor, and each Investor shall purchase from the Company, (a) a convertible promissory note, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (each, a “Note” and together, the “Notes”), in the principal amount set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Investor (each such amount, the “Principal Amount” of such Note, and all of the Principal Amounts together, the “Aggregate Principal Amount”), and (b) a Common Stock purchase warrant, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (each, a “Warrant” and together, the “Warrants”), registered in the name of such Investor, pursuant to which the Investor shall have the right to acquire shares of Common Stock in the amount set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Investor, in exchange for each Investor’s respective Funding Amount, as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Investor. Each Investor and the Company agree that for U.S. federal income tax purposes and applicable state, local and non-U.S. tax purposes, such Investor’s Funding Amount shall be allocable between their Note and their Warrant based on the relative fair market values thereof. No Investor nor the Company shall take any contrary position on any tax return, or in any audit, claim, investigation, inquiry or proceeding in respect of taxes, unless otherwise required pursuant to a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any analogous provision of applicable state, local or non-U.S. law.
2.2 Closing. The closing hereunder, including payment for and delivery of the Notes and the Warrants, shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures, no later than ten (10) Business Days following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 6, or at such other time and place as the Company and the Investor agree upon, orally or in writing (the “Closing,” and the date of the Closing being the “Closing Date”).
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2.3 Commitment Fee. At the Closing, the Company shall pay to each Investor the Commitment Fee, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds. The Commitment Fee shall be paid by being offset against the Funding Amount payable by each Investor at Closing.
2.4 Prepayment Right. As set forth in the Notes, in its sole discretion and upon giving the prior written notice set forth in the Notes, the Company will have the right to pre-pay the entire then-outstanding principal amount of the Notes at any time with no penalty or premium of any kind (the “Prepayment Right”); provided, that in the event that the Company elects to exercise its Prepayment Right, each Investor will have the option to convert up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the then outstanding principal amount of their Note, at a price per share equal to the Conversion Price (as such term is defined in the Notes). The parties agree that to the extent the Company elects to exercise any Prepayment Right, the Company shall be required to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by all Investors on a pro rata basis based on the Aggregate Principal Amount outstanding on all the Notes at the time of such prepayment.
2.5 Senior Obligation. As an inducement for the Investor to enter into this Agreement and to purchase the Note, all obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Note shall be secured by a first priority security interest in and lien upon all assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Security Agreement. Each Investor acknowledges that, pursuant to the terms of the Security Agreement, the Company has granted the security interest in favor of the Agent, and the Investors have no rights to take enforcement action with respect to the Collateral and all rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral are as set forth in the Security Agreement.
2.6 Pro Rata Payments. The Company and each Investor hereby agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Notes, to the extent the Company is obligated to make any payments hereunder or under the Notes to the Investors (or offers to make any prepayments hereunder or thereunder), all such payments shall be applied to outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by all Investors on a pro rata basis based on the Aggregate Outstanding Amount at the time of such prepayment. If any Investor shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of outstanding amounts under the Notes resulting in such Investor receiving payment of a proportion of the Aggregate Outstanding Amount greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Investor receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the other Investors of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the principal amount owing to the other Investors under the applicable Notes, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Investors ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Notes and other amounts owing them. The Company consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Investor acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangement may exercise against the Company rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Investor were a direct creditor of the Company in the amount of such participation.
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3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company represents and warrants to each Investor and covenants with each Investor that, except as is set forth in the Disclosure Letter being delivered to each Investor as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the following representations and warranties are true and correct:
3.1 Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the Laws of the State of Nevada and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the ownership of its property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.2 Authorization; Enforcement; Compliance with Other Instruments. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute the Transaction Documents, to issue and sell the Notes and the Warrants pursuant hereto, and to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents, including issuing the Investor Shares on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant hereto, including without limitation the reservation of the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares for future insuance, have been duly and validly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors and no further consent or authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors, its stockholders or any other Person in connection therewith. The Transaction Documents have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar Laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies.
3.3 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the issuance and sale of the Notes and the Warrants hereunder will not (a) conflict with or result in a violation of the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, (b) conflict with, or constitute a material default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a material default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any material agreement to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party, or (c) subject to the making of the filings referred to in Section 5, and, violate in any material respect any Law or any rule or regulation of the Trading Market applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or by which any of their properties or assets are bound or affected. Assuming the accuracy of the Investor’s representations in Section 4 and subject to the making of the filings referred to in Section 5, (i) no approval or authorization will be required from any governmental authority or agency, regulatory or self-regulatory agency or other third party (including the Trading Market) in connection with the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the issuance of the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Notes and the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants) and (ii) the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants, and the issuance of the Conversion Shares upon the conversion of the Notes and the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants will be exempt from the registration and qualification requirements under the 1933 Act and all applicable state securities Laws.
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3.4 Capitalization and Subsidiaries.
(a) The authorized Capital Stock of the Company consists of: (i) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock to be designated by the Board of Directors, and of which certain shares have already been designated as Series E Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”)). As of the close of business on March 31, 2021, 10,870,780 shares of Common Stock and 1,029 shares of Preferred Stock (all of which were shares of Series E Preferred Stock) were issued and outstanding; and since March 31, 2021, and through the date of this Agreement, the Company has issued 131,674 additional shares of Common Stock and an additional 0 shares of Preferred Stock. As of March 31, 2021, (x) an aggregate of 300,000 shares of Common stock are issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Jerrick Ventures, Inc. 2015 Incentive Stock and Award Plan, of which 300,000 shares were exercisable as of March 31, 2021 and 0 additional shares are reserved for future issuance thereunder; (y) an aggregate of 700,000 shares of Common stock are issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, of which 145,834 shares were exercisable as of March 31, 2021 and 785,979 additional shares are reserved for future issuance thereunder; and (z) 6,269,771 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants with exercise prices ranging from $2.54 to $24.00 per share. The Company has duly reserved up to 840, 000 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon conversion of the Notes (which assumes Conversion Shares (as defined in the Notes) are used to pay all principal installments under such Note) and has duly reserved 818,182 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants. The Conversion Shares, when issued upon conversion of a Note in accordance with its terms, and the Warrant Shares, if and when issued upon exercise of a Warrant in accordance with its terms, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof. Other than as provided in Schedule 3.4(a), shares of the Company’s Capital Stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company. The Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws on file on the SEC’s EDGAR website are true and correct copies of the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as in effect as of the date hereof. The Company is not in violation of any provision of its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.
(b) Schedule 3.4(b) lists each direct and indirect subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) and indicates for each Subsidiary (i) the authorized capital stock or other Equity Interest of such Subsidiary as of the date hereof, (ii) the number and kind of shares or other ownership interests of such Subsidiary that are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, and (iii) the owner of such shares or other ownership interests. No Subsidiary has any outstanding stock options, warrants or other instruments pursuant to which such Subsidiary may at any time or under any circumstances be obligated to issue any shares of its capital stock or other Equity Interests. Each Subsidiary is duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation and has all requisite power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
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(c) Other than as provided on Schedule 3.4(c), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is bound by any agreement or arrangement pursuant to which it is obligated to register the sale of any securities under the 1933 Act. There are no outstanding securities of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to redeem or purchase any security of the Company or any Subsidiary. There are no outstanding securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Notes, the Warrants or the Investor Shares. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement.
(d) The issuance and sale of any of the Securities will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any other Person and will not result in the adjustment of the exercise, conversion, exchange, or reset price of any outstanding securities.
(e) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has capacity under the rules and regulations of the Trading Market to issue up to 2,174,156 shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock) without obtaining Stockholder Approval.
3.5 SEC Documents; Financial Statements.
(a) As of the date hereof, the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and audited by a firm that is a member a member of the Public Companies Accounting Oversight Board consistently applied, during the periods involved (except as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or, in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of its operations and consolidated cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). No other written information provided by or on behalf of the Company to an Investor in connection with such Investor’s purchase of a Note and a Warrant which is not included in the SEC Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstance under which they are or were made, not misleading.
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(c) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) reasonable controls to safeguard assets are in place and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.6 Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings. Except as disclosed in SEC Documents, there are no material actions, causes of action, suits, claims, proceedings, inquiries or investigations (collectively, “Proceedings”) before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of Company or any of the Subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Common Stock or any other class of issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, or any of the Company’s or the Subsidiaries’ officers or directors in their capacities as such and, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, there is no reason to believe that there is any basis for any such Proceeding.
3.7 No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. No event, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company is reasonably anticipated to occur or exist that (a) would reasonably be anticipated to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities Laws on a registration statement filed with the SEC relating to an issuance and sale by the Company of its Common Stock and which has not been publicly announced.
3.8 Compliance with Law. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries have conducted and are conducting their respective businesses in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and are in compliance in all material respects with the rules and regulations of the Trading Market. The Company is not aware of any facts which could reasonably be anticipated to lead to a delisting of the Common Stock by the Trading Market in the future.
3.9 Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is involved in any union labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining agreement. No executive officer (as defined in Rule 501(f) of the 1933 Act) has notified the Company that such officer intends to leave the Company’s employ or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with the Company.
3.10 Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and each Subsidiary owns or possesses adequate rights or licenses to use all trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted. None of the material IP Rights of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries are expected to expire or terminate within three (3) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any IP Rights of any other Person. No claim has been asserted, and no Proceeding is pending, against the Company or any Subsidiary alleging that the Company or any Subsidiary is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the IP Rights of any other Person, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such claim or Proceeding is threatened, and the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to any such claim or Proceeding. The Company and the Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their material IP Rights.
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3.11 Environmental Laws. Except, in each case, as would not be reasonably anticipated to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Subsidiaries (a) are in compliance with any and all applicable Laws relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, (b) have received and hold all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under all such Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (c) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval.
3.12 Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to their respective businesses, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except those set forth on Schedule 3.12. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company or any Subsidiary are held under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and the Subsidiaries.
3.13 Insurance. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company reasonably believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and the Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew all existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers.
3.14 Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries have in full force and effect all certificates, approvals, authorizations and permits from all regulatory authorities and agencies necessary to own, lease or operate their respective properties and assets and conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of Proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, approval, authorization or permit, except for such certificates, approvals, authorizations or permits with respect to which the failure to hold would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
3.15 No Materially Adverse Contracts, Etc. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is (a) subject to any charter, corporate or other legal restriction, or any judgment, decree or order which in the judgment of the Company’s officers has or is expected in the future to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) a party to any contract or agreement which in the judgment of the Company’s management has or would reasonably be anticipated to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.16 Taxes. Other than as provided on Schedule 3.16, the Company and the Subsidiaries each has made or filed, or caused to be made or filed, all United States federal, and applicable state, local and non-U.S. tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject and has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, required to be paid by it, regardless of whether such amounts are shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which it has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no basis for any such claim.
3.17 Solvency. After giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (a) the Company’s fair saleable value of its assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature; and (b) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its debt when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction.
3.18 Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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3.19 Certain Transactions. Other than as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there are no contracts, transactions, arrangements or understandings between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any director, officer or employee thereof on the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC in the Company’s Form 10-K or proxy statement pertaining to an annual meeting of stockholders.
3.20 No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person acting on its behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement.
3.21 Acknowledgment Regarding the Investors’ Purchase of the Notes and the Warrants. The Company’s Board of Directors has approved the execution of the Transaction Documents and the issuance and sale of the Notes and the Warrants, based on its own independent evaluation and determination that the terms of the Transaction Documents are reasonable and fair to the Company and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Company is entering into this Agreement and the Security Agreement and is issuing and selling the Notes and the Warrants voluntarily and without economic duress. The Company has had independent legal counsel of its own choosing review the Transaction Documents and advise the Company with respect thereto. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Investor is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to its Note and Warrant and the transactions contemplated hereby and that neither such Investor nor any person affiliated with such Investor is acting as a financial advisor to, or a fiduciary of, the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to execution of the Transaction Documents or the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants or any other transaction contemplated hereby.
3.22 No Brokers’, Finders’ or Other Advisory Fees or Commissions. Other than as provided on Schedule 3.22, no brokers, finders or other similar advisory fees or commissions will be payable by the Company or any Subsidiary or by any of their respective agents with respect to the issuance of the Notes or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.23 OFAC. None of the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company and/or any Subsidiary has been or is currently subject to any United States sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use any proceeds received from the Investor, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to its Subsidiaries or to any affiliated entity, joint venture partner or other person or entity, to finance any investments in, or make any payments to, any country or person currently subject to any of the sanctions of the United States administered by OFAC.
3.24 No Foreign Corrupt Practices. None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly: (a) made or authorized any contribution, payment or gift of funds or property to any official, employee or agent of any governmental authority of any jurisdiction except as otherwise permitted under applicable Law; or (b) made any contribution to any candidate for public office, in either case, where either the payment or the purpose of such contribution, payment or gift was, is, or would be prohibited under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or under any other legislation of any relevant jurisdiction covering a similar subject matter applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries and their respective operations and the Company has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance with such legislation.
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3.25 Anti-Money Laundering. The operations of each of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable anti-money laundering laws, regulations, rules and guidelines in its jurisdiction of incorporation and in each other jurisdiction in which such entity, as the case may be, conducts business (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental authority involving the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to any of the Money Laundering Laws is, to the best knowledge of the Company, pending, threatened or contemplated.
3.26 Disclosure. The Company confirms that neither it, nor to its knowledge, any other Person acting on its behalf has provided the Investor or its agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes constitutes material, non-public information. The Company understands and confirms that the Investor will rely on the foregoing representations and covenants in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All disclosures provided to the Investor regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated hereby, furnished by or on behalf of the Company (including the Company’s representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement) are true and correct in all material respects and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH INVESTOR. Each Investor represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
4.1 Organization and Qualification. Such Investor is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation .
4.2 Authorization; Enforcement; Compliance with Other Instruments. Such Investor has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Security Agreement and to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents. The execution and delivery by such Investor of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party have been duly and validly authorized by such Investor’s governing body, as necessary, and no further consent or authorization is required. The Transaction Documents to which it is a party have been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Investor and constitute valid and binding obligations of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies.
4.3 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party by such Investor and the purchase of a Note and a Warrant by such Investor will not (a) conflict with or result in a violation of such Investor’s organizational documents, if applicable, (b) conflict with, or constitute a material default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a material default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any material agreement, contract, indenture mortgage, indebtedness or instrument to which such Investor is a party, or (c) violate any Law applicable to such Investor or by which any of such Investor’s properties or assets are bound or affected. No approval or authorization will be required from any governmental authority or agency, regulatory or self-regulatory agency or other third party in connection with the purchase of a Note and a Warrant and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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4.4 Investment Intent; Accredited Investor. Each Investor is purchasing its Note and its Warrant for its own account, for investment purposes, and not with a view towards distribution. Such Investor is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the 1933 Act. Such Investor has, by reason of its business and financial experience, such knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial and business matters and in making investment decisions of this type that it is capable of (a) evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in its Note, its Warrant and the Investor Shares and making an informed investment decision, (b) protecting its own interests and (c) bearing the economic risk of such investment for an indefinite period of time.
4.5 Opportunity to Discuss. Each Investor has received all materials relating to the business, finance and operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries as it has requested and has had an opportunity to discuss the business, management and financial affairs of the Company and the Subsidiaries with the Company’s management. In making its investment decision, such Investor has relied solely on its own due diligence performed on the Company by its own representatives.
4.6 Exculpation Among Investors. Each Investor acknowledges that it is not relying upon any Person, other than the Company and its officers and directors, in making its investment or decision to invest in the Company. Each Investor agrees that neither the Agent, any Investor nor the respective controlling Persons, officers, directors, partners, agents, or employees of any Investor shall be liable to any other Investor for any action heretofore taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of the Notes and the Warrants.
4.7 No Other Representations. Except for the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and in other Transaction Documents, such Investor makes no other representations or warranties to the Company.
5. OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.
5.1 No Restrictions on Transfer. The Investor Shares, when issued and either registered on an effective registration statement or issued in accordance with Rule 144, shall be freely transferrable and any certificates representing such Investor Shares shall not bear any legend.
5.2 Furnishing of Information. As long as an Investor owns Securities, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the 1934 Act. As long as an Investor owns Securities, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to such laws, it will prepare and furnish to such Investor and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for such Investor to sell the Investor Shares under Rule 144. The Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Investor Shares without registration under the 1933 Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 or other applicable exemptions.
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5.3 Integration. The Company shall not, and shall use its best efforts to ensure that no Affiliate of the Company shall, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the 1933 Act) that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the 1933 Act of the sale of the Securities to the Investor, or that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market that would require, under the rules of the Trading Market, the Stockholder Approval.
5.4 Notification of Certain Events. The Company shall give prompt written notice to each Investor of (a) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any Event, the occurrence or non-occurrence of which would render any representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, if made on or immediately following the date of such Event, untrue or inaccurate in any material respect, (b) the occurrence of any Event that, individually or in combination with any other Events, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) any failure of the Company to comply with or satisfy any covenant or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder or any Event that would otherwise result in the nonfulfillment of any of the conditions to the Investor’s obligations hereunder, (d) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or (e) any Proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against a party relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
5.5 Available Stock. The Company shall at all times keep authorized and reserved and available for issuance, free of preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as are issuable upon conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants at any time. If the Company determines at any time that it does not have a sufficient number of authorized shares of Common Stock to reserve and keep available for issuance as described in this Section 5.5, the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock by seeking Stockholder Approval for the authorization of such additional shares.
5.6 Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes and the Warrants for general working capital purposes.
5.7 Repayment of Notes. If the Company issues any debt, including any subordinated debt or convertible debt (other than the Notes), or any Preferred Stock, then unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Requisite Holders, the Company will immediately utilize the proceeds of such issuance to repay the Notes on a pro rata basis based on the Aggregate Principal Amount outstanding on such date unless doing so would reduce the Nasdaq equity calculation below $3,000,000. If the Company issues any Equity Interests for aggregate proceeds to the Company of greater than $7,000,000, excluding offering costs or other expenses, then unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Requisite Holders, the Company will direct 20% of such proceeds from such issuance to repay the Notes on a pro rata basis based on the Aggregate Principal Amount outstanding on such date unless doing so would reduce the Nasdaq equity calculation below $3,000,000.
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5.8 [Reserved].
5.9 [Reserved].
5.10 Prohibited Transactions. The Company hereby covenants and agrees not to enter into any Prohibited Transactions without the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, until thirty (30) days after such time as the Notes have been repaid in full and/or has been converted into Conversion Shares.
5.11 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company shall, by 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately following the date hereof, issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall, within four (4) Trading Days following the date hereof, file a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby and including this Agreement as an exhibit thereto; provided, that the Company may not issue such press release or file such Form 8-K without the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders. The Company shall not issue any press release nor otherwise make any such public statement regarding the Investor or the Transaction Documents without the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the Company shall (a) ensure that such disclosure is restricted and limited in content and scope to the maximum extent permitted by Law to meet the relevant disclosure requirement and (b) provide a copy of the proposed disclosure to the Requisite Holders for review prior to release and the Company shall incorporate the reasonable comments of the Requisite Holders. Following the execution of this Agreement, each Investor and its Affiliates and/or advisors may, upon receiving the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, place announcements on their respective corporate websites and in financial and other newspapers and publications (including, without limitation, customary “tombstone” advertisements) describing such Investor’s relationship with the Company under this Agreement and including the name and corporate logo of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to comply with United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(3)(i), each of the Company and each Investor, and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company or such Investor, may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment, and the U.S. federal and state income tax structure, of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to such party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure insofar as such treatment and/or structure relates to a U.S. federal or state income tax strategy provided to such recipient.
5.12 Indemnification of the Investors.
(a) The Company will indemnify and hold each Investor, its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, managers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents and permitted successors and assigns (each, an “Investor Party”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation and defense (collectively, “Losses”) that any such Investor Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to:
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(i) any breach or inaccuracy of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Company in any Transaction Document;
(ii) any misrepresentation made by the Company in any Transaction Document or in any SEC Document;
(iii) any omission to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made in any SEC Document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(iv) any Proceeding before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body based upon, or resulting from the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, and whether or not such Investor is party thereto by claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, as a defendant or otherwise, or if such Proceeding is based upon, or results from, any of the items set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above.
(b) In addition to the indemnity contained herein, the Company will reimburse each Investor Party for its reasonable legal and other expenses (including the cost of any investigation, preparation and travel in connection therewith) incurred in connection therewith, as such expenses are incurred.
(c) The provisions of this Section 5.12 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
5.13 Non-Public Information. The Company covenants and agrees that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide the Investors or their agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes constitutes material, non-public information. To the extent the Company provides an Investor with material, non-public information, the Company shall publicly disclose such information within forty-eight (48) hours of providing the information to such Investor; provided, however, in the event that such material non-public information is provided such Investor pursuant to Section 10, the Company shall publicly disclose such information within twenty (20) Business Days of providing the information to such Investor. The Company understands and confirms that the Investors shall be relying on the foregoing representation in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
5.14 Stockholder Approval. To the extent legally required or required by the Trading Market, the Company shall hold a special meeting of stockholders (which may also be at the annual meeting of stockholders) on or before the 30th calendar day following the date such requirement arises for the purpose of obtaining the Stockholder Approval; provided, however, such thirty (30) calendar days shall be increased to sixty (60) calendar days in the event the Company receives comments to its proxy statement from the SEC, with the recommendation of the Board of Directors that such proposal be approved, and the Company shall solicit proxies from its stockholders in connection therewith in the same manner as all other management proposals in such proxy statement and all management-appointed proxyholders shall vote their proxies in favor of such proposal. If the Company does not obtain Stockholder Approval at the first meeting, the Company shall call a meeting every four months thereafter to seek Stockholder Approval until the date the Stockholder Approval is obtained. Prior to any such stockholder meeting, the Company shall timely file a proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Company’s Bylaws and all applicable Law.
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5.15 Listing of Securities. The Company shall: (a) in the time and manner required by each Trading Market on which the Common Stock is listed, prepare and file with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering the Investor Shares, (b) take all steps necessary to cause such shares to be approved for listing on each Trading Market on which the Common Stock is listed as soon as possible thereafter, (c) provide to each Investor evidence of such listing, and (d) maintain the listing of such shares on each such Trading Market.
5.16 Antitrust Notification. If the Requisite Holders determine, in their sole judgment and upon the advice of counsel, that the issuance of the Notes, the Warrants or the Investor Shares pursuant to the terms hereof would be subject to the provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), the Company shall file as soon as practicable after the date on which the Company receives notice from the Investor of the applicability of the HSR Act and a request to so file with the United States Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice the notification and report form required to be filed by it pursuant to the HSR Act in connection with such issuance.
5.17 Change of Prime Broker, Custodian. Each Investor has informed the Company of the names of its prime broker and its share custodian. Each Investor shall notify the Company of any change in its prime broker or share custodian within three (3) Business Days of such change having taken effect.
5.18 Share Transfer Agent. The Company has informed each Investor of the name of its share transfer agent and represents and warrants that the transfer agent participates in the Depository Trust Company Fast Automated Securities Transfer program. The Company shall not change its share transfer agent without the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders.
5.19 Tax Treatment. Each Investor and the Company agree that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and applicable state, local and non-U.S. income tax purposes, the Notes are not intended to be, and shall not be, treated as indebtedness. No Investor nor the Company shall take any contrary position on any tax return, or in any audit, claim, investigation, inquiry or proceeding in respect of taxes, unless otherwise required pursuant to a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code, or any analogous provision of applicable state, local or non-U.S. law.
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5.20 Set-Off.
(a) Each Investor may, subject to the provisions of Section 2.6 hereof, set off any of its obligations to the Company (whether or not due for payment), against any of the Company’s obligations to such Investor (whether or not due for payment) under this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Document.
(b) Each Investor may do anything necessary to effect any set-off undertaken in accordance with this Section 5.20 (including varying the date for payment of any amount payable by the Investor to the Company).
5.21 Reverse Stock Split. If at any time the last closing trade price for the Common Stock on the Trading Market as reported by the Trading Market is less than $1.00, the Company shall promptly call a meeting of the stockholders of the Company for purposes of approving a reverse stock split of the shares of Common Stock such that the trade price of the Common Stock will be at least $2.00 (a “Reverse Split”) and, subject to receipt of stockholder approval, shall use its best efforts to promptly effect a Reverse Split.
5.22 No Repricing. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, (i) authorize the amendment of any outstanding note, option, warrant, or other derivative security convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock to reduce the conversion, exercise or exchange price of any such security or (ii) grant a replacement note, option, warrant or other derivative security convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock for the purpose of reducing the conversion, exercise or exchange price of any such security being replaced.
6. CLOSING CONDITIONS
6.1 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of each Investor. The obligation of each Investor to fund its Note and acquire its Warrant at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Investor, at or before such Closing, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Required Documentation. The Company must have delivered to such Investor copies of all resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, or any such other documentation of the Company approving the Agreement, the Transaction Documents and any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
(b) Consents and Permits. The Company must have obtained and delivered to such Investor copies of all necessary permits, approvals, and registrations necessary to effect this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including pursuant to Section 3.14 of this Agreement.
(c) Trading Market Approval. The Company must have obtained and delivered to such Investor copies of all necessary Trading Market approvals for the issuance of the Notes, the Warrants, and, upon the conversion of the Notes, the Conversion Shares and upon exercise of the Warrants, the Warrant Shares.
(d) No Event(s) of Default. Such Investor must be of the reasonable opinion that no Event of Default has occurred and no Event of Default would result from the execution of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
(e) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of such Closing as though made on and as of such date;
(f) Performance. The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to such Closing;
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(g) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents;
(h) No Suspensions of Trading in Common Stock; Listing. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the SEC or any Trading Market (except for any suspensions of trading of not more than one day on which the Trading Market is open solely to permit dissemination of material information regarding the Company) at any time since the date of execution of this Agreement, and the Common Stock shall have been at all times since such date listed for trading on a Trading Market; and
(i) Limitation on Beneficial Ownership. The issuance of a Note and a Warrant to such Investor shall not cause such Investor Group to become, directly or indirectly, a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of a number of Equity Interests of a class that is registered under the 1934 Act which exceeds the Maximum Percentage of the Equity Interests of such class that are outstanding at such time.
(j) Funds Flow Request. The Company shall have delivered to each Investor a flow of funds request, substantially in the form set out in Exhibit E.
6.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to issue a Note and a Warrant to an Investor at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company, at or before such Closing, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of such Investor contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of such Closing Date as though made on and as of such date;
(b) Performance. Such Investor shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Investor at or prior to the Closing; and
(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
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7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
7.1 Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the following events shall be an “Event of Default” under this Agreement:
(a) an Event of Default under a Note;
(b) any of the representations or warranties made by the Company or any of its agents, officers, directors, employees or representatives in any Transaction Document or public filing being inaccurate, false or misleading in any material respect, as of the date as of which it is made or deemed to be made, or any certificate or financial or other written statements furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Investor or any of its representatives, is inaccurate, false or misleading, in any material respect, as of the date as of which it is made or deemed to be made, or on any Closing Date; or
(c) a failure by the Company to comply with any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, including those set forth in Section 10.
7.2 Investor Right to Investigate an Event of Default. If in the reasonable opinion of the Requisite Holders, an Event of Default has occurred, or is or may be continuing:
(a) the Requisite Holders may notify the Company that they wish to investigate such purported Event of Default;
(b) the Company shall cooperate with the Requisite Holders in such investigation;
(c) the Company shall comply with all reasonable requests made by the Requisite Holders to the Company in connection with any investigation by the Requisite Holders and shall (i) provide all information requested by the Requisite Holders in relation to the Event of Default to the Requisite Holders; provided that the Requisite Holders agree that any materially price sensitive information and/or non-public information will be subject to confidentiality, and (ii) provide all such requested information within three (3) Business Days of such request; and
(d) the Company shall pay all reasonable costs incurred by the Requisite Holders in connection with any such investigation.
7.3 Remedies Upon an Event of Default
(a) If an Event of Default occurs pursuant to Section 7.1(a), each Investor shall have such remedies as are set forth in their Note.
(b) If an Event of Default occurs pursuant to Section 7.1(b) or Section 7.1(c) and is not remedied following written notice provided by the Requisite Holders to the Company within (i) two (2) Business Days for an Event of Default occurring by the Company’s failure to comply with Section 7.1(c), or (ii) ten (10) Business Days for an Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 7.1(b), the Requisite Holders may declare, by written notice to the Company, effective immediately, all outstanding obligations by the Company under the Transaction Documents to be immediately due and payable in immediately available funds and the Investors shall have no obligation to consummate any Closing under this Agreement or to accept the conversion of any Note into Conversion Shares.
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(c) If any Event of Default occurs and is not remedied following written notice provided by the Requisite Holders to the Company within (i) two (2) Business Days for an Event of Default occurring by the Company’s failure to comply with Section 7.1(c), or (ii) ten (10) Business Days for an Event of Default occurring pursuant to Section 7.1(b), the Requisite Holders may, by written notice to the Company, terminate this Agreement effective as of the date set forth in the Requisite Holders’ notice.
8. TERMINATION
8.1 Events of Termination. This Agreement:
(a) may be terminated:
(i) by the Requisite Holders on the occurrence or existence of a Securities Termination Event or a Change of Control;
(ii) by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Requisite Holders, at any time;
(iii) by either the Company or the Requisite Holders, by written notice to the other Party, effective immediately, if the Closing has not occurred within fifteen (15) Business Days of the date of this Agreement or such later date as the Company and the Requisite Holders agree in writing, provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(a)(iii) is not available to any party that is in material breach of or material default under this Agreement or whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the principal cause of, or has resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur; or
(iv) by the Requisite Holders, in accordance with Section 7.3(c).
8.2 Automatic Termination. This Agreement will automatically terminate, without further action by the parties, at the time after the Closing that the Principal Amount outstanding under the Notes and any accrued but unpaid interest is reduced to zero (0), whether as a result of Conversion or repayment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes.
8.3 Effect of Termination.
(a) Subject to Section 8.3(b), each party’s right of termination under Section 8.1 is in addition to any other rights it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of a right of termination will not be an election of remedies.
(b) If the Requisite Holders terminate this Agreement under Section 8.1(a)(i):
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(i) each Investor may declare, by notice to the Company, all outstanding obligations by the Company to such Investor under the Transaction Documents to be due and payable (including, without limitation, the immediate repayment of any Principal Amount outstanding under a Note plus accrued but unpaid interest) without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Company, anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document notwithstanding; and
(ii) the Company must within ten (10) Business Days of such notice being received, pay to each Investor in immediately available funds the outstanding Principal Amount of their Note plus all accrued interest thereon (if any), unless this Agreement has been terminated as a result of an Event of Default and provided that (A) subsequent to the termination under Section 8.1(a)(i), such Investor is not prohibited by Law or otherwise from exercising its conversion rights pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes, (B) such Investor actually exercises its conversion rights under this Agreement or its Note, and (C) the Company otherwise complies in all respects with its obligation to issue Conversion Shares in accordance with the Notes (which obligation will survive termination). Such payments shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.6 hereof.
(c) Upon termination of this Agreement, no Investor will be required to fund any further amount after the date of termination of the Agreement, provided that termination will not affect any undischarged obligation under this Agreement, and any obligation of the Company to pay or repay any amounts owing to the Investor hereunder and which have not been repaid at the time of termination.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other Party of its obligations under this Agreement.
(e) [Reserved.]
9. REGISTRATION RIGHTS
9.1 Registration.
(a) Registration Statement. Promptly, but in any event no later than 15 Business Days, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Investor Shares. The foregoing Registration Statement shall be filed on Form S-1 or a Form S-3 or any successor forms thereto. The Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to each Investor and its counsel at least five (5) Business Days prior to its filing or other submission and the Company shall incorporate all reasonable comments provided by such Investor or its counsel.
(b) Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay all fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Section 9, including all fees and expenses associated with effecting the registration of the Investor Shares, including all filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the Investor Shares for sale under applicable state securities laws, listing fees, fees and expenses of one counsel to each Investor and the Investor’s reasonable expenses in connection with the registration, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Investor Shares being sold.
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(c) Effectiveness. The Company shall use its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after filing thereof but in no event later than the date that is 120 days following the Closing Date. The Company shall notify each Investor by e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within twenty-four (24) hours, after the Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide each Investor with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby.
(d) Piggyback Registration Rights. If the Company at any time determines to file a registration statement under the 1933 Act to register the offer and sale, by the Company, of Common Stock (other than (x) on Form S-4 or Form S-8 under the 1933 Act or any successor forms thereto, (y) an at-the-market offering, or (z) a registration of securities solely relating to an offering and sale to employees or directors of the Company pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit plan arrangement), the Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, give written notice to each Investor of its intention to so register the offer and sale of Common Stock and, upon the written request, given within five (5) Business Days after delivery of any such notice by the Company, of an Investor to include in such registration its Investor Shares (which request must (a) be approved by the Requisite Holders and (b) specify the number of Investor Shares proposed to be included in such registration), the Company shall cause all such Investor Shares to be included in such registration statement on the same terms and conditions as the Common Stock otherwise being sold pursuant to such registered offering.
9.2 Company Obligations. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Investor Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will terminate upon the first date on which all Investor Shares are either covered by the Registration Statement or may be sold without restriction, including volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, pursuant to Rule 144 or have been sold by the Investor (the “Effectiveness Period”) and advise each Investor in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Investor Shares covered thereby;
(c) provide copies to and permit counsel designated by the Requisite Holders to review all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement no fewer than three (3) Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and not file any document to which such counsel reasonably objects;
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(d) furnish to each Investor and its legal counsel, without charge, (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company (but not later than two (2) Business Days after the filing date, receipt date or sending date, as the case may be) one copy of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to the Registration Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as the Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Investor Shares that are covered by the related Registration Statement;
(e) immediately notify each Investor of any request by the SEC for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information;
(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment and notify the Company of the issuance of any such order and the resolution thereof, or its receipt of notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose;
(g) prior to any public offering of Investor Shares, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with each Investor and its counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such Investor Shares for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions requested by such Investor and do any and all other commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in such jurisdictions of such Investor covered by the Registration Statement and the Company shall promptly notify the Investor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of such Investor Shares for sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions or its receipt of notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose;
(h) immediately notify each Investor, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Registration Statement or Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made), and promptly prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Registration Statement or Prospectus as may be necessary so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of such Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made);
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(i) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act;
(j) hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to complete the Registration Statement or to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement, and upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning such Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at such Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information; and
(k) take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investor of all Investor Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement.
9.3 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Investor Parties, from and against any Losses to which they may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, arising out of, relating to or based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or other document, including any blue sky application (as defined below), or any amendment or supplement thereof or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or, in the case of the Registration Statement, necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, in the case of any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or other document, necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; (ii) any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company specifically for that purpose or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the Investor Shares under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information herein called a “Blue Sky Application”); (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company or its agents of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or any similar federal or state law or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company or its agents and relating to any action or inaction required of the Company in connection with the registration or the offer or sale of the Investor Shares pursuant to any Registration Statement; or (iv) any failure to register or qualify the Investor Shares included in any such Registration Statement in any state where the Company or its agents has affirmatively undertaken or agreed in writing that the Company will undertake such registration or qualification on an Investor’s behalf and will reimburse the Investor Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such Losses; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by an Investor or any such controlling Person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus.
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(b) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim, action, suit or proceeding with respect to which it seeks indemnification following such Person’s receipt of, or such Person otherwise become aware of, the commencement of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim, action, suit or proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (A) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (B) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person or (C) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person); and provided, further, that the failure or delay of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure or delay to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.
(c) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraph (a) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any Person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any other rights or remedies that any indemnified party may have under applicable law, by separate agreement or otherwise.
10. RIGHTS TO FUTURE STOCK ISSUANCES. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 10 and applicable securities laws, if at any time prior to the first anniversary of the Closing, the Company proposes to offer or sell any New Securities, the Company shall first offer Lind Global Macro Fund, LP the opportunity to purchase up to ten percent (10%) of such New Securities, and shall offer the other Investors the opportunity to purchase their Pro Rata Portions (as defined below) of up to ten percent (10%) of such New Securities. The Investors, upon receiving the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders, shall be entitled to apportion the right of first offer hereby granted to it in such proportions as they deem appropriate among themselves and their Affiliates.
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10.1 The Company shall give notice (the “Offer Notice”) to each Investor, stating (a) its bona fide intention to offer such New Securities, (b) the number of such New Securities to be offered, and (c) the price and terms, if any, upon which it proposes to offer such New Securities.
10.2 By notification to the Company within five (5) days after the Offer Notice is given, Lind Global Macro Fund, LP may elect to purchase or otherwise acquire, at the price and on the terms specified in the Offer Notice, up to ten percent (10%) of such New Securities, and any other Investor may elect to purchase or otherwise acquire, at the price and on the terms specified in the Offer Notice, its Pro Rata Portion of up to ten percent (10%) of such New Securities. “Pro Rata Portion” means the ratio of (x) Securities purchased on the Closing Date by an Investor participating under this Section 10.2 and (y) the sum of the aggregate Securities purchased on the Closing Date by all Investors participating under this 10.2. The closing of any sale pursuant to this Section 10 shall occur within the later of ninety (90) days of the date that the Offer Notice is given and the date of initial sale of New Securities pursuant to Section 10.3.
10.3 The Company may, during the ninety (90) day period following the expiration of the period provided in Section 10.2, offer and sell the remaining portion of such New Securities to any Person or Persons at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than, those specified in the Offer Notice. If the Company does not enter into an agreement for the sale of the New Securities within such period, or if such agreement is not consummated within thirty (30) days of the execution thereof, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such New Securities shall not be offered unless first reoffered to the Investors in accordance with this Section 10.
10.4 The right of first offer in this Section 10 shall not be applicable to Exempted Securities, or any New Securities registered for sale under the 1933 Act.
11. GENERAL PROVISIONS
11.1 Fees and Expenses. Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company has paid Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP $20,000. At the Closing, the Company shall reimburse Lind Global Macro Fund, LP up to an additional $50,000 of due diligence costs and reasonable fees and disbursements of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in connection with the preparation of the Transaction Documents it being understood that Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has not rendered any legal advice to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and that the Company has relied for such matters on the advice of its own counsel. Further, at the Closing, the Company shall pay to Lucosky Brookman LLP, counsel to the Company, the amount of $124,694 in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and related matters. All fees to be paid referenced above shall be offset against the Funding Amount of Lind Global Macro Fund, LP and paid directly by Lind Global Macro Fund, LP to each of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Lucosky Brookman LLP, as applicable. Except as specified above, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents. The Company shall pay all stamp and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the sale of the Notes and the Warrants.
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11.2 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email at the email address specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on a Business Day, (b) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email at the email address specified in this Section on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on such date, (c) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company:
Creatd, Inc.
2050 Center Avenue, Suite 640
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Telephone: (201) 258-3770
Email: jeremy@creatd.com
Attention: Jeremy Frommer, Founder & Chief Executive Officer
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Lucosky Brookman LLP
101 Wood Avenue South
Woodbridge, NJ 08830
Telephone: (732) 395-4400
Email: jlucosky@lucbro.com
Attention: Joseph Lucosky
If to an Investor, such address set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Investor;
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.
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11.3 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be excessive in scope or otherwise invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, so that it is enforceable to the maximum extent possible, and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
11.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, without reference to principles of conflict of laws or choice of laws.
11.5 Jurisdiction and Venue. Any action, proceeding or claim arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Company and the Investors irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive, and hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. The prevailing party in any such action shall be entitled to recover its reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses relating to such action or proceeding.
11.6 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL. THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS.
11.7 Survival. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.
11.8 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the Exhibits and Schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.
11.9 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed by the Company and the Requisite Holders. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.
11.10 Construction. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents.
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11.11 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the Company and the Investors and their respective successors and assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Requisite Holders. Each Investor may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom such Investor assigns or transfers any Securities, provided such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the provisions hereof that apply to the “Investor” and such transferee is an accredited investor.
11.12 Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
11.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other parties. Signature pages delivered by facsimile or e-mail shall have the same force and effect as an original signature.
11.14 Specific Performance. The Company acknowledges that monetary damages alone would not be adequate compensation to the Investors for a breach by the Company of this Agreement and the Requisite Holders may seek an injunction or an order for specific performance from a court of competent jurisdiction if (a) the Company fails to comply or threatens not to comply with this Agreement or (b) the Requisite Holders have reason to believe that the Company will not comply with this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Securities Purchase Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
COMPANY: | ||
CREATD, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
Name of Investor: | |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investor: | |
Name of Authorized Signatory: | |
Title of Authorized Signatory: | |
Email Address of Authorized Signatory: | |
Facsimile Number of Authorized Signatory: | |
Address for Notice to Investor: | |
Address for Delivery of Securities to Investor (if not same as address for notice): | |
Funding Amount: | |
Principal amount of Note: | |
Warrant shares of Common Stock: | |
EIN Number: |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT
[See attached]
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
[See attached]
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF NOTE
[See attached]
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF WARRANT
[See attached]
EXHIBIT E
FLOW OF FUNDS REQUEST
Creatd, Inc. – Securities Purchase Agreement – Flow of Funds Request
In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 14, 2021 (the “Agreement”) between Creatd, Inc. (the “Company”) ____________________ (the “Investor”) and the other investors signatory thereto, the Company irrevocably authorizes the Investor to distribute such funds as set out below, in the manner set out below, at the Closing.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this letter will have the meaning given to such terms in the Agreement.
Item | Amount | |||
Closing | $ | |||
Commitment Fee | $ | |||
Legal Fees – Lucosky Brookman LLP | $ | |||
Total | $ |
Please transfer the net amount of US $ due at the Closing, to the following bank account:
Beneficiary Bank: | ||
Swift code: | ||
ABA/Routing #: | ||
Account #: | ||
Beneficiary name and address: | ||
Yours sincerely, | ||
CREATD, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name | ||
Title |
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
SECURITY AGREEMENT
SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 14, 2021, among (a) CREATD, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), (b) each investor identified on the signature page hereto and which are parties to the SPA referred to below (each, including its successors and assigns, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”); and (c) LIND GLOBAL MACRO FUND, LP, as administrative agent (hereinafter, in such capacity, the “Agent”) for itself and the other Investors.
WHEREAS, the Company (a) and the Investors have entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “SPA”) and (b) issued to each Investor a Convertible Promissory Note dated as of the date hereof (each, as amended and in effect from time to time, a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes”); and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the Investors agreeing to make loans or otherwise extend credit to the Company under the SPA and the Notes that the Company execute and deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors, a security agreement in substantially the form hereof; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to grant a security interest in favor of the Agent of the benefit of the Agent and the Investors;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. All capitalized terms used herein without definitions shall have the respective meanings provided therefor in the SPA. The term “State”, as used herein, means the State of New York. All terms defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State and used herein shall have the same definitions herein as specified therein. However, if a term is defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State differently than in another Article of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State, the term has the meaning specified in Article 9, and the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Event of Default” means the occurrence of any “Event of Default” under and as defined in each of the SPA and any Note, or the failure of the Company to comply with any term or covenant of any Transaction Document (including this Agreement) to which it is a party.
“Existing Lien” means the Lien granted in favor of Arthur Rosen and Eric Goldberg (collectively, the “Existing Secured Parties”) pursuant to that certain Security Agreement dated as of September 15, 2020 by the Company in favor of the Existing Secured Parties in the “Collateral” (as such term is defined therein) (the “Specified Collateral”).
“Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in each Note.
“Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among the Existing Secured Parties, the Company and the Agent, as the same may be amended, restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Lien” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, hypothecation, security interest, assignment by way of security, lien (statutory or otherwise), encumbrance, conditional sale agreement, capital lease, financing lease, deposit arrangement, title retention agreement, and any other agreement, trust or arrangement that in substance secures payment or performance of an obligation.
“Obligations” means, collectively, (a) all debts, liabilities and obligations, present or future, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time or from time to time due or accruing due and owing by or otherwise payable by the Company to the Agent or any Investor in any currency, under, in connection with or pursuant to the any Transaction Document (including, without limitation, this Agreement), and whether incurred by the Company alone or jointly with another or others and whether as principal, guarantor or surety and in whatever name or style and (b) all expenses, costs and charges actually incurred by or on behalf of the Agent or any Investor in connection with any Transaction Document (including this Agreement) or the Collateral, including all legal fees, court costs, receiver’s or agent’s remuneration and other expenses of taking possession of, repairing, protecting, insuring, preparing for disposition, realizing, collecting, selling, transferring, delivering or obtaining payment for the Collateral, and of taking, defending or participating in any action or proceeding in connection with any of the foregoing matters or otherwise in connection with the Agent’s or any Investor’s interest in any Collateral.
“Permitted Lien” means any of the following: (a) mechanics and materialman Liens and other statutory Liens (including Liens for taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges or levies) in respect of any amount (i) which is not at the time overdue or (ii) which may be overdue but the validity of which is being contested at the time in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Company has maintained adequate reserves, in each case so long as the holder of such Lien has not taken any action to foreclose or otherwise exercise any remedies with respect to such Lien; (b) Liens in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors; (c) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 1 hereto; (d) Liens securing Indebtedness or other liabilities in respect of capital leases, synthetic lease obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets, provided that (i) the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness or other liabilities at any time outstanding does not exceed $150,000, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition; (f) the Existing Liens and (g) Liens which are permitted in writing by the Agent and the Required Holders in their sole and absolute discretion.
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2. Grant of Security Interest.
2.1. Grant; Collateral Description. The Company hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors, to secure the payment and performance in full of all of the Obligations, a security interest in and pledges and assigns to the Agent, for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors, the following properties, assets and rights of the Company, wherever located, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising, and all proceeds and products thereof (all of the same being hereinafter called the “Collateral”): all personal and fixture property of every kind and nature including all goods (including inventory, equipment and accessions thereto), instruments (including promissory notes), documents (including tangible or electronic), accounts (including health-care-insurance receivables), chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), deposit accounts, letter-of-credit rights (whether or not the letter of credit is evidenced by a writing), commercial tort claims, securities and all other investment property, supporting obligations, any other contract rights or rights to the payment of money, insurance claims and proceeds, tort claims and all general intangibles (including all payment intangibles).
2.2. Commercial Tort Claims. The Agent acknowledges that the attachment of its security interest in any commercial tort claim as original collateral is subject to the Company’s compliance with §4.7.
3. Authorization to File Financing Statements. The Company hereby irrevocably authorizes the Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any filing office in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto that (a) indicate the Collateral (i) as all assets of the Company or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or such jurisdiction, or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (b) provide any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or such other jurisdiction for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including whether the Company is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to the Company. The Company agrees to furnish any such information to the Agent promptly upon request. The Company also ratifies its authorization for the Agent to have filed in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any like initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.
4. Other Actions. Further to insure the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability of the Agent to enforce, the Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, the Company agrees, in each case at the Company’s expense, to take the following actions with respect to the following Collateral and without limitation on the Company’s other obligations contained in this Agreement:
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4.1. Promissory Notes and Tangible Chattel Paper. If the Company shall, now or at any time hereafter, hold or acquire any promissory notes or tangible chattel paper, the Company shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Agent may from time to time specify.
4.2. Deposit Accounts. For each deposit account that the Company, now or at any time hereafter, opens or maintains, the Company shall, at the Agent’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, either (a) cause the depositary bank to agree to comply without further consent of the Company, at any time with instructions from the Agent to such depositary bank directing the disposition of funds from time to time credited to such deposit account, or (b) arrange for the Agent to become the customer of the depositary bank with respect to the deposit account, with the Company being permitted, only with the consent of the Agent, to exercise rights to withdraw funds from such deposit account. The Agent agrees with the Company that the Agent shall not give any such instructions or withhold any withdrawal rights from the Company, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or, if effect were given to any withdrawal not otherwise permitted by the Transaction Documents, would occur. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any deposit accounts specially and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of the Company’s salaried employees.
4.3. Investment Property. If the Company shall, now or at any time hereafter, hold or acquire any certificated securities, the Company shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Agent may from time to time specify. If any securities now or hereafter acquired by the Company are uncertificated and are issued to the Company or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, the Company shall immediately notify the Agent thereof and, at the Agent’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, either (a) cause the issuer to agree to comply without further consent of the Company or such nominee, at any time with instructions from the Agent as to such securities, or (b) arrange for the Agent to become the registered owner of the securities. If any securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, or other investment property now or hereafter acquired by the Company are held by the Company or its nominee through a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, the Company shall immediately notify the Agent thereof and, at the Agent’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, either (i) cause such securities intermediary or (as the case may be) commodity intermediary to agree to comply, in each case without further consent of the Company or such nominee, at any time with entitlement orders or other instructions from the Agent to such securities intermediary as to such securities or other investment property, or (as the case may be) to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by the Agent to such commodity intermediary, or (ii) in the case of financial assets or other investment property held through a securities intermediary, arrange for the Agent to become the entitlement holder with respect to such investment property, with the Company being permitted, only with the consent of the Agent, to exercise rights to withdraw or otherwise deal with such investment property. The Agent agrees with the Company that the Agent shall not give any such entitlement orders or instructions or directions to any such issuer, securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, and shall not withhold its consent to the exercise of any withdrawal or dealing rights by the Company, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or, after giving effect to any such investment and withdrawal rights not otherwise permitted by the Transaction Documents, would occur.
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4.4. Collateral in the Possession of a Bailee. If any Collateral is, now or at any time hereafter, in the possession of a bailee, the Company shall promptly notify the Agent thereof and, at the Agent’s request and option, shall promptly obtain an acknowledgement from the bailee, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, that the bailee holds such Collateral for the benefit of the Agent and such bailee’s agreement to comply, without further consent of the Company, at any time with instructions of the Agent as to such Collateral. The Agent agrees with the Company that the Agent shall not give any such instructions unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after taking into account any action by the Company with respect to the bailee.
4.5. Electronic Chattel Paper, Electronic Documents and Transferable Records. If the Company, now or at any time hereafter, holds or acquires an interest in any electronic chattel paper, any electronic document or any “transferable record,” as that term is defined in Section 201 of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in §16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, the Company shall promptly notify the Agent thereof and, at the request and option of the Agent, shall take such action as the Agent may reasonably request to vest in the Agent control, under §9-105 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other relevant jurisdiction, of such electronic chattel paper, control, under §7-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other relevant jurisdiction, of such electronic document or control, under Section 201 of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, §16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as so in effect in such jurisdiction, of such transferable record.
4.6. Letter-of-Credit Rights. If the Company is, now or at any time hereafter, a beneficiary under a letter of credit now or hereafter, the Company shall promptly notify the Agent thereof and, at the request and option of the Agent, the Company shall, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, either (a) arrange for the issuer and any confirmer of such letter of credit to consent to an assignment to the Agent of the proceeds of the letter of credit or (b) arrange for the Agent to become the transferee beneficiary of the letter of credit.
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4.7. Commercial Tort Claims. If the Company shall, now or at any time hereafter, hold or acquire a commercial tort claim, the Company shall immediately notify the Agent in a writing signed by the Company of the particulars thereof and grant to the Agent, for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors, in such writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
4.8. Other Actions as to any and all Collateral. The Company further agrees, upon the request of the Agent and at the Agent’s option, to take any and all other actions as the Agent may determine to be necessary or useful for the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability of the Agent to enforce, the Agent’s security interest in any and all of the Collateral, including (a) executing, delivering and, where appropriate, filing financing statements and amendments relating thereto under the Uniform Commercial Code of any relevant jurisdiction, to the extent, if any, that the Company’s signature thereon is required therefor, (b) causing the Agent’s name to be noted as secured party on any certificate of title for a titled good if such notation is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of the Agent to enforce, the Agent’s security interest in such Collateral, (c) complying with any provision of any statute, regulation or treaty of the United States as to any Collateral if compliance with such provision is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of the Agent to enforce, the Agent’s security interest in such Collateral, (d) obtaining governmental and other third party waivers, consents and approvals, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, including any consent of any licensor, lessor or other person obligated on Collateral, (e) obtaining waivers from mortgagees and landlords in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and (f) taking all actions under any earlier versions of the Uniform Commercial Code or under any other law, as reasonably determined by the Agent to be applicable in any relevant Uniform Commercial Code or other jurisdiction, including any foreign jurisdiction.
4.9. Trademark Assignments. Concurrently herewith the Company is executing and delivering to the Agent the Trademark Assignment pursuant to which the Company is assigning to the Secured Party certain Collateral consisting of trademarks and trademark rights, together with the goodwill appurtenant thereto. The provisions of the Trademark Assignment are supplemental to the provisions of this Agreement, and nothing contained in the Trademark Assignment shall derogate from any of the rights or remedies of the Agent hereunder. Nor shall anything contained in the Trademark Assignment be deemed to prevent or extend the time of attachment or perfection of any security interest in such Collateral created hereby.
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5. Representations and Warranties Concerning Company’s Legal Status. The Company has, on the date hereof, delivered to the Agent a certificate signed by the Company and entitled “Perfection Certificate” (the “Perfection Certificate”). The Company represents and warrants to the Agent as follows: as of the date hereof (a) the Company’s exact legal name is that indicated on the Perfection Certificate and on the signature page hereof, (b) the Company is an organization of the type, and is organized in the jurisdiction, set forth in the Perfection Certificate, (c) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth the Company’s organizational identification number or accurately states that the Company has none, (d) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth the Company’s place of business or, if more than one, its chief executive office, as well as the Company’s mailing address, if different, (e) all other information set forth on the Perfection Certificate pertaining to the Company is accurate and complete, and (f) there has been no change in any of such information since the date on which the Perfection Certificate was signed and delivered to the Agent by the Company.
6. Covenants Concerning the Company’s Legal Status. The Company covenants with the Agent and the other Investors as follows: (a) without providing at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Agent, the Company will not change its name, its place of business or, if more than one, chief executive office, or its mailing address, and (b) the Company will not change its type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other legal structure.
Representations and Warranties Concerning Collateral, Etc. The Company further represents and warrants to the Agent and the Investors as follows: (a) the Company is the owner of the Collateral, free from any right or claim of any person or any adverse lien, except for the security interest created by this Agreement and other Permitted Liens, (b) none of the Collateral constitutes, or is the proceeds of, “farm products” as defined in §9-102(a)(34) of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State, (c) none of the account debtors or other persons obligated on any of the Collateral is a governmental authority covered by the Federal Assignment of Claims Act or like federal, state or local statute or rule in respect of such Collateral, (d) the Company holds no commercial tort claim except as indicated on the Company’s Perfection Certificate, (e) the Company has at all times operated its business in compliance with all applicable provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and with all applicable provisions of federal, state and local statutes and ordinances dealing with the control, shipment, storage or disposal of hazardous materials or substances, (f) there has been no change in any of such information since the date on which the Company’s Perfection Certificate was signed and delivered to the Agent by the Company.
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8. Covenants Concerning Collateral, Etc. The Company further covenants with the Agent and the Investors as follows: (a) the Collateral, to the extent not delivered to the Agent pursuant to §4, will be kept at those locations listed on the Perfection Certificate and the Company will not remove the Collateral from such locations, without providing at least 30 days prior written notice to the Agent, (b) except for the security interest herein granted, the Company shall be the owner of the Collateral free from any right or claim of any other person or any lien (other than Permitted Liens), and the Company shall defend the same against all claims and demands of all persons at any time claiming the same or any interests therein adverse to the Agent or any Investor, (c) the Company shall not pledge, mortgage or create, or suffer to exist any right of any person in or claim by any person to the Collateral, or any lien in the Collateral in favor of any person, or become bound (as provided in Section 9-203(d) of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other relevant jurisdiction or otherwise) by a security agreement in favor of any person as secured party, other than the Agent, except for Permitted Liens, (d) the Company will keep the Collateral in good order and repair and will not use the same in violation of law or any policy of insurance thereon, (e) the Company will permit the Agent, or its designee, to inspect the Collateral at any reasonable time, wherever located, (f) the Company will pay promptly when due all taxes, assessments, governmental charges and levies upon the Collateral or incurred in connection with the use or operation of the Collateral or incurred in connection with this Agreement, (g) the Company will continue to operate, its business in compliance with all applicable provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and with all applicable provisions of federal, state and local statutes and ordinances dealing with the control, shipment, storage or disposal of hazardous materials or substances, and (h) the Company will not sell or otherwise dispose, or offer to sell or otherwise dispose, of the Collateral or any interest therein except for sales and leases of inventory in the ordinary course of business.
9. Insurance.
9.1. Maintenance of Insurance. The Company will maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance with respect to its properties and business against such casualties and contingencies as shall be in accordance with general practices of businesses engaged in similar activities in similar geographic areas. Such insurance shall be in such minimum amounts that each the Company will not be deemed a co-insurer under applicable insurance laws, regulations and policies and otherwise shall be in such amounts, contain such terms, be in such forms and be for such periods as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company will (a) keep all of its physical property insured with casualty or physical hazard insurance on an “all risks” basis, with broad form flood and earthquake coverages and electronic data processing coverage, with a full replacement cost endorsement and an “agreed amount” clause in an amount equal to 100% of the full replacement cost of such property, (b) maintain all such workers’ compensation or similar insurance as may be required by law and (c) maintain, in amounts and with deductibles equal to those generally maintained by businesses engaged in similar activities in similar geographic areas, general public liability insurance against claims of bodily injury, death or property damage occurring, on, in or about the properties of the Company; business interruption insurance; and product liability insurance.
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9.2. Insurance Proceeds. The proceeds of any casualty insurance in respect of any casualty loss of any of the Collateral shall, subject to the rights, if any, of other parties with an interest having priority in the property covered thereby, (a) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and to the extent that the amount of such proceeds is less than $100,000, be disbursed to the Company for direct application by the Company solely to the repair or replacement of the Company’s property so damaged or destroyed and (b) in all other circumstances, be held by the Agent as cash collateral for the Obligations. The Agent may, at its sole option, disburse from time to time all or any part of such proceeds so held as cash collateral, upon such terms and conditions as the Agent may reasonably prescribe, for direct application by the Company solely to the repair or replacement of the Company’s property so damaged or destroyed, or the Agent may apply all or any part of such proceeds to the Obligations.
9.3. Continuation of Insurance. In the event of failure by the Company to provide and maintain insurance as herein provided, the Agent may, at its option, provide such insurance and charge the amount thereof to the Company. The Company shall furnish the Agent, at the request of the Agent, with certificates of insurance and policies evidencing compliance with the foregoing insurance provision.
10. Collateral Protection Expenses; Preservation of Collateral.
10.1. Expenses Incurred by Agent. In the Agent’s discretion, the Agent may discharge taxes and other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on any of the Collateral, maintain any of the Collateral, make repairs thereto and pay any necessary filing fees or insurance premiums, in each case if the Company fails to do so. The Company agrees to reimburse the Agent on demand for all expenditures so made. The Agent shall have no obligation to the Company to make any such expenditures, nor shall the making thereof be construed as a waiver or cure of any default or Event of Default.
10.2. Agent’s Obligations and Duties. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall remain obligated and liable under each contract or agreement comprised in the Collateral to be observed or performed by the Company thereunder. Neither the Agent nor any Investor shall have any obligation or liability under any such contract or agreement by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Agent or any Investor of any payment relating to any of the Collateral, nor shall the Agent nor any Investor be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of the Company under or pursuant to any such contract or agreement, to make inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Agent or any Investor in respect of the Collateral or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any such contract or agreement, to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to the Agent or to which the Agent or any Investor may be entitled at any time or times. The Agent’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under §9-207 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or otherwise, shall be to deal with such Collateral in the same manner as the Agent deals with similar property for its own account.
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11. Securities and Deposits. The Agent may at any time following and during the continuance of a default or an Event of Default, at its option, transfer to itself or any nominee any securities constituting Collateral, receive any income thereon and hold such income as additional Collateral or apply it to the Obligations. Whether or not any Obligations are due, the Agent may following and during the continuance of a default or Event of Default demand, sue for, collect, or make any settlement or compromise which it deems desirable with respect to the Collateral. Regardless of the adequacy of Collateral or any other security for the Obligations, any deposits or other sums at any time credited by or due from the Agent or any Investor to the Company may at any time be applied to or set off against any of the Obligations.
12. Notification to Account Debtors and Other Persons Obligated on Collateral. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company shall, at the request and option of the Agent, notify account debtors and other persons obligated on any of the Collateral of the security interest of the Agent in any account, chattel paper, general intangible, instrument or other Collateral and that payment thereof is to be made directly to the Agent or to any financial institution designated by the Agent as the Agent’s agent therefor, and the Agent may itself, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, without notice to or demand upon the Company, so notify account debtors and other persons obligated on Collateral. After the making of such a request or the giving of any such notification, the Company shall hold any proceeds of collection of accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles, instruments and other Collateral received by the Company as trustee for the Agent, for the benefit of the Investors, without commingling the same with other funds of the Company and shall turn the same over to the Agent in the identical form received, together with any necessary endorsements or assignments. The Agent shall apply the proceeds of collection of accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles, instruments and other Collateral received by the Agent to the Obligations, such proceeds to be immediately credited after final payment in cash or other immediately available funds of the items giving rise to them.
13. Power of Attorney.
13.1. Appointment and Powers of Agent. The Company hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of the Company or in the Agent’s own name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments that may be necessary or useful to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby gives said attorneys the power and right, on behalf of the Company, without notice to or assent by the Company, to do the following:
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(a) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, generally to sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise dispose of or deal with any of the Collateral in such manner as is consistent with the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other relevant jurisdiction and as fully and completely as though the Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at the Company’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Agent deems necessary or useful to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Agent’s security interest therein, in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all no less fully and effectively as the Company might do, including (i) the filing and prosecuting of registration and transfer applications with the appropriate federal, state or local agencies or authorities with respect to trademarks, copyrights and patentable inventions and processes, (ii) upon written notice to the Company, the exercise of voting rights with respect to voting securities, which rights may be exercised, if the Agent so elects, with a view to causing the liquidation of assets of the issuer of any such securities and (iii) the execution, delivery and recording, in connection with any sale or other disposition of any Collateral, of the endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to such Collateral; and
(b) to the extent that the Company’s authorization given in §3 is not sufficient, to file such financing statements with respect hereto, with or without the Company’s signature, or a photocopy of this Agreement in substitution for a financing statement, as the Agent may deem appropriate and to execute in the Company’s name such financing statements and amendments thereto and continuation statements which may require the Company’s signature.
13.2. Ratification by Company. To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.
13.3. No Duty on Agent. The powers conferred on the Agent hereunder are solely to protect the interests of the Agent and the Investors in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Agent to exercise any such powers. The Agent shall be accountable only for the amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither it nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to the Company for any act or failure to act, except for the Agent’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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14. Rights and Remedies. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent, without any other notice to or demand upon the Company, shall have in any jurisdiction in which enforcement hereof is sought, in addition to all other rights and remedies, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other relevant jurisdiction and any additional rights and remedies as may be provided to a secured party in any jurisdiction in which Collateral is located, including the right to take possession of the Collateral, and for that purpose the Agent may, so far as the Company can give authority therefor, enter upon any premises on which the Collateral may be situated and remove the same therefrom. The Agent may in its discretion require the Company to assemble all or any part of the Collateral at such location or locations within the jurisdiction(s) of the Company’s principal office(s) or at such other locations as the Agent may reasonably designate. Unless the Collateral is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market, the Agent shall give to the Company at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice of the time and place of any public sale of Collateral or of the time after which any private sale or any other intended disposition is to be made. The Company hereby acknowledges that five (5) Business Days prior written notice of such sale or sales shall be reasonable notice. In addition, the Company waives any and all rights that it may have to a judicial hearing in advance of the enforcement of any of the Agent’s rights and remedies hereunder, including its right following an Event of Default to take immediate possession of the Collateral and to exercise its rights and remedies with respect thereto.
15. Standards for Exercising Rights and Remedies. To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Agent to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, the Company acknowledges and agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for the Agent (a) to fail to incur expenses reasonably deemed significant by the Agent to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to fail to complete raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (b) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (c) to fail to exercise collection remedies against account debtors or other persons obligated on Collateral or to fail to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (d) to exercise collection remedies against account debtors and other persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (e) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (f) to contact other persons, whether or not in the same business as the Company, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of the Collateral, (g) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the collateral is of a specialized nature, (h) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing Internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (i) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (j) to disclaim disposition warranties, (k) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Agent a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (l) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Agent, to obtain the services of brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. The Company acknowledges that the purpose of this §15 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Agent would fulfill the Agent’s duties under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other relevant jurisdiction in the Agent’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Agent shall not be deemed to fail to fulfill such duties solely on account of not being indicated in this §15. Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this §16 shall be construed to grant any rights to the Company or to impose any duties on the Agent that would not have been granted or imposed by this Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this §15.
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16. No Waiver by Agent, etc. The Agent shall not be deemed to have waived any of its rights and remedies in respect of the Obligations or the Collateral unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed by the Agent with the consent of the Requisite Holders or greater percentage of Lenders as may be required under the SPA. No delay or omission on the part of the Agent in exercising any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver of such right or remedy or any other right or remedy. A waiver on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right or remedy on any future occasion. All rights and remedies of the Agent with respect to the Obligations or the Collateral, whether evidenced hereby or by any other instrument or papers, shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly, alternatively, successively or concurrently at such time or at such times as the Agent deems expedient.
17. Suretyship Waivers by Companies. The Company waives demand, notice, protest, notice of acceptance of this Agreement, notice of loans made, credit extended, Collateral received or delivered or other action taken in reliance hereon and all other demands and notices of any description. With respect to both the Obligations and the Collateral, the Company assents to any extension or postponement of the time of payment or any other indulgence, to any substitution, exchange or release of or failure to perfect any security interest in any Collateral, to the addition or release of any party or person primarily or secondarily liable, to the acceptance of partial payment thereon and the settlement, compromising or adjusting of any thereof, all in such manner and at such time or times as the Agent may deem advisable. The Agent shall have no duty as to the collection or protection of the Collateral or any income therefrom, the preservation of rights against prior parties, or the preservation of any rights pertaining thereto beyond the safe custody thereof as set forth in §10.2. The Company further waives any and all other suretyship defenses.
18. Marshaling. Neither the Agent nor any Investor shall be required to marshal any present or future collateral security (including but not limited to the Collateral) for, or other assurances of payment of, the Obligations or any of them or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of the rights and remedies of the Agent or any Investor hereunder and of the Agent or any Investor in respect of such collateral security and other assurances of payment shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights and remedies, however existing or arising. To the extent that it lawfully may, the Company hereby agrees that it will not invoke any law relating to the marshaling of collateral which might cause delay in or impede the enforcement of the Agent’s rights and remedies under this Agreement or under any other instrument creating or evidencing any of the Obligations or under which any of the Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the Obligations is secured or payment thereof is otherwise assured, and, to the extent that it lawfully may, the Company hereby irrevocably waives the benefits of all such laws.
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19. Proceeds of Dispositions; Expenses. The Company shall pay to the Agent on demand any and all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred or paid by the Agent in protecting, preserving or enforcing the Agent’s rights and remedies under or in respect of any of the Obligations or any of the Collateral. After deducting all of said expenses, the residue of any proceeds of collection or sale or other disposition of Collateral shall, to the extent actually received in cash, be applied to the payment of the Obligations in such order or preference as is provided in the SPA, proper allowance and provision being made for any Obligations not then due. Upon the final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations and after making any payments required by Sections 9-608(a)(1)(C) or 9-615(a)(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State, any excess shall be returned to the Company. In the absence of final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations, the Company shall remain liable for any deficiency.
20. Overdue Amounts. Until paid, all amounts due and payable by the Company hereunder shall be a debt secured by the Collateral and shall bear, whether before or after judgment, interest at the rate of interest for overdue principal set forth in the Transaction Documents.
21. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN MANHATTAN COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE AGENT OR ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
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(c) THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN THE NOTE. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
22. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). Except as prohibited by law, THE COMPANY hereby waives any right which it may have to claim or recover in any litigation referred to in the preceding sentence any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages or any damages other than, or in addition to, actual damages. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
23. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications hereunder shall be made in the manner set forth in the SPA.
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24. Agent Provisions.
24.1. Appointment. Each of the Investors hereby irrevocably appoints Lind Global Macro Fund LP to act on its behalf as the Agent hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents and authorizes the Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each Investor acknowledges that it shall have no right to instruct the Agent to take any action hereunder, and all such instructions shall only be given by the Requisite Holders. The provisions hereof are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Investors, and the Company shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Transaction Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties. To the extent the Agent resigns and the successor Agent is an Investor hereunder, then the Person serving as the Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as an Investor as any other Investor and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent and the term “Investor” or “Investors” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate thereof as if such person were not the Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Investors. The parties agree that after the exercise of remedies provide for herein (or after any amounts have become automatically due and payable pursuant to the terms of any Transaction Document), any amounts received by the Agent hereunder shall, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, be applied to the Agent as follows: (1) first, the payment of any fees, indemnities, expenses or other charges (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Agent) payable to the Agent in its capacity as such; and (2) second, to the payment of the Obligations, ratably among the Investors based on each Investor’s percentage of the aggregate of all the Investors’ Obligations and, to the extent provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, to the payment of the obligations owing to the Existing Secured Parties; and (3) third, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
24.2. Limited Duties; Not a Fiduciary. The Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Transaction Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature (and, subject to the provisions hereof, the Agent shall take remedial actions hereunder at the direction of the Requisite Holders). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:
(i) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
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(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Transaction Documents that the Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Requisite Holders (or such other number or percentage of the Investors as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Transaction Documents), provided, that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Transaction Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect (a “Debtor Relief Law”); and
(iii) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Transaction Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Company or any of its affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Agent or any of its affiliates in any capacity.
24.3. Limitation on Liability. The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (a) with the consent or at the request of the Requisite Holders (or such other number or percentage of the Investors as the Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary under the applicable circumstances), or (b) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Event of Default is given in writing to the Agent by the Company or an Investor.
24.4. No Duty to Inquire. The Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agent.
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24.5. Agent’s Reliance. The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of any advance that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of an Investor, the Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Investor unless the Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Investor prior to such Investor funding such advance. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
24.6. Delegation of Duties. The Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through its affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and such Person’s affiliates (a “Related Party”). The exculpatory provisions of this paragraph 24 shall apply to any such Related Parties of the Agent.
24.7. Agent’s Resignation. The Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Investors and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Requisite Holders shall have the right, in consultation with the Company, to appoint a successor Agent, who shall be one of the Investors. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Requisite Holders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Investors, appoint a successor Agent who shall be one of the Investors. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date. With effect from the Resignation Effective Date, (1) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Agent on behalf of the Investors under any of the Transaction Documents, the retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed), and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Agent shall instead be made by or to each Investor directly, until such time, if any, as the Requisite Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date), and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents, the provisions of this Article and the other Transaction Documents shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent and its respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring Agent was acting as Agent, and (ii) after such resignation for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents, including (a) acting as collateral agent or otherwise holding any collateral security on behalf of any of the Investors, and (b) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Agent.
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24.8. No Investor Reliance. Each Investor acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Investor or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into each Transaction Document to which it is a party. Each Investor also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Investor or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
24.9. Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Company, the Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any advance shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Agent shall have made any demand on the Company) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the advances and all other obligations that are owing and unpaid under the Notes and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Investors and the Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Investors and the Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Investors and the Agent hereunder allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same to the Investors on a ratable basis, based upon the Investor’s outstanding advances under the Notes;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Investor to make such payments to the Agent and, in the event that the Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Investors, to pay to the Agent any amount due for the Agent’s actual, out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and disbursements fees), and any other amounts due the Agent hereunder.
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Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Investor to authorize the Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Investor in any such proceeding.
24.10. Advance Authorizations. Without limiting the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Investors irrevocably authorize the Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion:
(i) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agent under any Transaction Document (1) upon the payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations), (2) that is sold or otherwise disposed of or to be sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition expressly permitted hereunder or under any other Transaction Document, or (3) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Requisite Holders; and
(ii) to (1) take all such actions as may be required under the Intercreditor Agreement; or (2) subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Agent under any Transaction Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is expressly permitted hereunder or under any Transaction Document.
Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Requisite Holders will confirm in writing the Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property.
24.11. Limited Duty Regarding Collateral. Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by the Company in connection therewith, nor shall the Agent be responsible or liable to the Investors for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral. The Agent, on behalf of and for the benefit of the Investors, shall hold in accordance with the Transaction Documents all items of Collateral or interests therein received or held by Agent. Any and all proceeds received by the Agent with respect to the Collateral shall be applied in the manner set forth in the SPA and the Notes.
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24.12. Reimbursement by Investors. To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Section 19 hereof, or under the Intercreditor Agreement to be paid by it to the Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), each Investor severally agrees to pay to the Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Investor’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or other payment is sought based on each Investor’s share of the aggregate Obligations of all Investors at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Investor), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Investor’s applicable percentage of the aggregate Obligations (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided that the unreimbursed expense or other loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any officer, director, employee, affiliate or agent of any of the foregoing acting for the Agent (or any such sub-agent), in connection with such capacity.
25. Miscellaneous. The headings of each section of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not define or limit the provisions thereof. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Agent, the Investors and their respective successors and assigns. If any term of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity of all other terms hereof shall in no way be affected thereby, and this Agreement shall be construed and be enforceable as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term had not been included herein. The Company acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, intending to be legally bound, the Company, the Agent and each Investor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CREATD, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ | |
Title: | ||
LIND GLOBAL MACRO FUND, LP, in its capacity as an Investor | ||
By: | /s/ | |
Title: | ||
BRIO MASTER CAPITAL FUND, LTD., in its capacity as an Investor | ||
By: | /s/ | |
Title: | ||
L1 Capital Global Opportunities Master Fund, in its capacity as an Investor | ||
By: | /s/ | |
Title: |
Accepted: | ||
LIND GLOBAL MACRO FUND, LP as Agent | ||
By: | /s/ | |
Title: |
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CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF | ) |
) ss. | |
COUNTY OF | ) |
Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the county aforesaid, on this __ day of May, 2021, personally appeared __________________ to me known personally, and who, being by me duly sworn, deposes and says that he/she is the _____________ of Creatd, Inc. and that said instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors, and said ______________ acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.
(official signature and seal of notary) | |
My commission expires:t |
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Exhibit 10.3
TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
This TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Trademark Security Agreement”) is entered into as of May 14, 2021 by and between CREATD, inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Grantor”) and LIND GLOBAL MACRO FUND LP, in its capacity as the administrative agent for itself and the other Investors (as defined below) (in such capacity, the “Secured Party”).
WHEREAS, the Grantor (a) and the investors identified as the “Investors” in the SPA referred to below (each, an “Investor” and, collectively, the “Investors”) have entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “SPA”) and (b) issued to the Investors those certain Convertible Promissory Notes dated as of the date hereof (each, as amended and in effect from time to time, a “Note” and, collectively, the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the SPA and the Note, the Grantor has entered into that certain Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) with the Secured Party and the Investors pursuant to which the Grantor has granted a lien in favor of the Secured Party, for the benefit of the Secured Party and the Investors, in all of the Grantor’s assets (including the Trademark Collateral (as hereinafter defined)) to secure its obligations under the SPA, the Notes and the other Transaction Documents (as such term is defined in the SPA); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Security Agreement, the Grantor has agreed to execute and deliver this Trademark Security Agreement in order to record the security interest granted to the Secured Party with the United States Patent and Trademark Office;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Grantor hereby agrees as follows:
SECTION 1. Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms defined in the Security Agreement and used herein have the meaning given to them in the Security Agreement. The term “Trademarks” means, collectively, (a) all of the trademarks, service marks, designs, logos, indicia, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, elements of package or trade dress, and other source and product or service identifiers, used or associated with or appurtenant to the products, services and businesses of the Grantor, that (i) are set forth on Schedule I hereto, or (ii) have been adopted, acquired, owned, held or used by the Grantor or are now owned, held or used by the Grantor, in the Grantor’s business, or with the Grantor’s products and services, or in which the Grantor has any right, title or interest, or (iii) are in the future adopted, acquired, owned, held and used by the Grantor in the Grantor’s business or with the Grantor’s products and services, or in which the Grantor in the future acquires any right, title or interest, (b) all past, present or future rights in, to and associated with the foregoing throughout the world, whether arising under federal law, state law, common law, foreign law or otherwise, including the following: all such rights arising out of or associated with the registrations of the foregoing items set forth in clause (a), the right (but not the obligation) to register claims under any state, federal or foreign trademark law or regulation; the right (but not the obligation) to sue or bring opposition or cancellation proceedings in the name of the Grantor or the Secured Party for any and all past, present and future infringements or dilution of or any other damages or injury to the foregoing or any associated goodwill, and the rights to damages or profits due or accrued arising out of or in connection with any such past, present or future infringement, dilution, damage or injury; and (c) any license rights related to the foregoing.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest in Trademark Collateral. The Grantor hereby pledges, collaterally assigns and grants to the Secured Party, for the benefit of the Secured Party and the Investors, to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Obligations, a security interest (referred to in this Trademark Security Agreement as the “Security Interest”) in all of the Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising (collectively, the “Trademark Collateral”):
(a) all of its Trademarks and licenses with respect to Trademarks to which it is a party including those referred to on Schedule I;
(b) all goodwill of the business connected with the use of, and symbolized by, each Trademark and each license with respect to Trademarks; and
(c) all products and proceeds (as that term is defined in the UCC) of the foregoing, including any claim by the Grantor against third parties for past, present or future (i) infringement or dilution of any Trademark or any Trademarks exclusively licensed under any license, including right to receive any damages, (ii) injury to the goodwill associated with any Trademark, or (iii) right to receive license fees, royalties, and other compensation under any license with respect to Trademarks.
SECTION 3. Security for Obligations. This Trademark Security Agreement and the Security Interest created hereby secures the payment and performance of the Obligations, whether now existing or arising hereafter. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Trademark Security Agreement secures the payment of all amounts which constitute part of the Obligations and would be owed by the Grantor to the Secured Party and the Investors, whether or not they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of an insolvency proceeding involving the Grantor.
SECTION 4. Security Agreement. The Security Interest granted pursuant to this Trademark Security Agreement is granted in conjunction with the security interests granted to the Secured Party, for the benefit of the Secured Party and the Investors, pursuant to the Security Agreement. The Grantor hereby acknowledges and affirms that the rights and remedies of the Secured Party with respect to the Security Interest in the Trademark Collateral made and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. To the extent there is any inconsistency between this Trademark Security Agreement and the Security Agreement, the Security Agreement shall control.
SECTION 5. Authorization to Supplement. If the Grantor shall obtain rights to any new Trademarks, the provisions of this Trademark Security Agreement shall automatically apply thereto. The Grantor hereby authorizes the Secured Party unilaterally to modify this Trademark Security Agreement by amending Schedule I to include any such new trademark rights of the Grantor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure to so modify this Trademark Security Agreement or amend Schedule I shall in any way affect, invalidate or detract from the Secured Party’s continuing security interest in all Collateral (including the Trademark Collateral), whether or not listed on Schedule I.
SECTION 6. Counterparts. This Trademark Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Trademark Security Agreement by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.
SECTION 7. Governing Law. This Trademark Security Agreement and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Trademark Security Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
[signature pages follow]
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this Trademark Security Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized offer as of the date first set forth above.
GRANTOR: CREATD, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jeremy Frommer | |
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Accepted and Agreed:
LIND GLOBAL MACRO FUND, LP, as
Secured Party
By: Lind Global Partners LLC, its general
partner
By: | /s/ Jeff Easton | |
Name: Jeff Easton | ||
Title: Managing Member |
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EXHIBIT 31.1
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002
I, Jeremy Frommer, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Creatd, Inc.; |
2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
(a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
(b) |
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
(b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
May 17, 2021
By: |
/s/ Jeremy Frommer |
|
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
EXHIBIT 31.2
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002
I, Chelsea Pullano, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Creatd, Inc.; |
2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
(a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
(b) |
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
(a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
(b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
May 17, 2021
By: |
/s/ Chelsea Pullano |
|
Name: | Chelsea Pullano | |
Title: |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATIONS
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Subsections (A) and (B) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), I, Jeremy Frommer, Chief Executive Officer of Creatd, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), hereby certify, to my knowledge, that:
The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 (the “Form 10-Q”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
May 17, 2021
By: | /s/ Jeremy Frommer | |
Name: | Jeremy Frommer | |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATIONS
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(Subsections (A) and (B) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)
Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), I, Chelsea Pullano, Chief Financial Officer of Creatd, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), hereby certify, to my knowledge, that:
The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 (the “Form 10-Q”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
May 17, 2021
By: | /s/ Chelsea Pullano | |
Name: | Chelsea Pullano | |
Title: |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |