As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2022.
Registration Statement No. 333-262442
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1 to
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Locafy Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Australia | 7370 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
246A Churchill Avenue
Subiaco WA 6008, Australia
+61 409 999 339
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Puglisi & Associates
850 Library Ave., Suite 204
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 738-6680
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Rick A. Werner, Esq. | Joseph M. Lucosky, Esq. | |||
Haynes and Boone, LLP | Lucosky Brookman LLP | |||
30 Rockefeller Plaza | 101 Wood Avenue South | |||
26th Floor | 5th Floor | |||
New York, New York 10112 | Woodbridge, New Jersey 08830 | |||
Tel: +1 212 659-7300 | Tel: +1 732 395-4400 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards † provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION | DATED MARCH 7, 2022 |
Up to $10,000,000 consisting of
1,818,181 Units,
each consisting of one ordinary share and
one Warrant to purchase one ordinary share
1,818,181 Units
This is the initial public offering of our securities in the United States. We are offering 1,818,181 units, or “Units,” with each Unit consisting of (i) one of our ordinary shares, no par value per share, and (ii) one warrant, or the “Warrants”. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $ . Only whole warrants are exercisable. Each Warrant will be immediately exercisable for a five-year period after the date of issuance. We currently expect the initial public offering price to be between $4.50 and 6.50 per Unit. The final offering price per Unit will be determined through negotiations between us and the representative of the underwriters, after taking into account market conditions and other factors.
Prior to this offering, no public market has existed for our ordinary shares or warrants. We have applied to list our ordinary shares and the Warrants on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), under the symbols “LCFY” and “LCFY-W”, respectively, which is a condition to the closing of this offering. Listing on Nasdaq is subject to the approval of Nasdaq in accordance with its listing requirements. Nasdaq has not conditionally approved our listing application and there is no assurance that the Nasdaq will approve our listing application. No assurance can be given that our application will be approved or that an active trading market for our ordinary shares or Warrants will develop.
We are a “foreign private issuer” and an “emerging growth company”, each as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws and, as such, we will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer” for additional information.
Assuming we sell all $10,000,000 of Units being offered in this offering at an assumed combined public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, we would issue in this offering an aggregate of 1,818,181 Units, comprising 1,818,181 of our ordinary shares, and warrants to purchase 1,818,181 of our ordinary shares. There is no minimum number of Units or aggregate amount of proceeds for this offering to close.
You should read this prospectus, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” carefully before you invest in any of our securities.
Investing in our securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 for a discussion of information that you should consider before investing in our securities.
Per Unit | Total | |||||||
Initial public offering price | $ | $ | ||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1) | $ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds to us, before expenses (2) | $ | $ |
(1) | Represents an underwriting discount equal to 8% of the aggregate gross proceeds purchase price paid by the underwriters to us per Unit. In addition, we have agreed to issue to the representative of the underwriters or its designees as compensation warrants (the “representative’s warrants”) to purchase a number of ordinary shares equal to 6% of the ordinary shares sold in this offering (including any additional ordinary shares issuable upon exercise by the underwriters of the option to purchase additional securities), at an exercise price of $ per ordinary share, which represents 125% of the initial public offering price per Unit. We have also agreed to reimburse the representative of the underwriters for certain of their expenses. See “Underwriting” for additional information regarding total underwriter compensation. |
(2) | Does not include proceeds from the exercise of Warrants or representative’s warrants. |
We have granted the underwriters the right to purchase from us, at the initial public offering price, up to an additional 272,727 ordinary shares and/or warrants to purchase up to 272,727 ordinary shares within 30 days from the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters exercise the option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us will be $920,000, and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $10,580,000.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the Units against payment to purchasers in this offering on or about , 2022.
Sole Book-Running Manager
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
The date of this prospectus is , 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information other than that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give to you. The information contained in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or such free writing prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus.
We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, Units only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. Neither we nor the underwriters have taken any action to permit a public offering of Units or the possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, this offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any free writing prospectus outside the United States.
TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES
We own or have rights to trademarks, service marks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business. In addition, our names, logos and website names and addresses are our service marks or trademarks. The other trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks, tradenames and copyrights referred to in this prospectus are listed without the ©, ® and TM symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, service marks and tradenames. We do not intend to use our display of other companies’ registered marks, trademarks or trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
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MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry and the market in which we operate, including our market position, market opportunity and market size, is based on information from various sources such as industry publications, on assumptions that we have made based on such data and other similar sources and on our knowledge of the markets for our products. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations. While we have assessed the reasonableness and soundness of the third-party information contained in this prospectus, we have not otherwise independently verified any third-party information.
In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industry in which we operate is necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and elsewhere in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Except as otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to “Locafy,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Locafy Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia, and its directly owned subsidiary on a consolidated basis.
We express all amounts in this prospectus in U.S. dollars, except where otherwise indicated. References to “$” and “US$” are to U.S. dollars and references to “A$” are to Australian dollars. Except as otherwise noted, conversions from Australian Dollars into U.S. Dollars were made at the rate of A$1.0000 to US $0.7260, which was the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in Australian dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on December 30, 2021.
We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this prospectus. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
We report under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). None of the financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. We present our financial statements in Australian dollars.
The unaudited selected financial and other information for the six months ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 reflects our preliminary estimates with respect to such results based on currently available information and is subject to completion of our financial closing procedures. Our financial closing procedures for the six months ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are not yet complete and, as a result, our actual results may vary from the estimated preliminary results presented here and will not be finalized until after the completion of this offering.
The preliminary estimates presented below have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, management. Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd, our independent registered public accounting firm, has not audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to the interim financial information. Accordingly, Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd does not express an opinion or provide any other form of assurance with respect thereto.
These estimates should not be viewed as a substitute for our full interim or annual financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Further, our preliminary estimated results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” This information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for prior periods included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. These forward-looking statements are contained principally in the sections entitled “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business.” Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of terminology such as “subject to”, “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “can,” the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy. In addition, any statements or information that refer to expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking. In particular, forward-looking statements in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:
● | our ability to successfully commercialize, develop, market or sell new products or adopt new technology platforms; | |
● | our installed customer base continuing to license additional products, renew maintenance agreements and purchase additional professional services; | |
● | the performance and availability of third-party providers of cloud infrastructure services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), with the necessary speed, data capacity and security for providing reliable internet access and services in order to deliver our products; | |
● | our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; | |
● | our ability to adequately manage our growth; | |
● | risks related to competition; | |
● | our ability to maintain good relations with our partners; | |
● | risks associated with our international operations and fluctuations in currency values; | |
● | risks related to unanticipated performance problems or bugs in our software product offerings; | |
● | our ability to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights; | |
● | our use of proceeds from any offering made pursuant to this prospectus | |
● | our ability to comply with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; | |
● | status as an emerging growth company under the U.S. federal securities laws; | |
● | whether we are classified as a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) for future periods; | |
● | failure to maintain effective internal controls; and | |
● | we risk losing our “foreign private issuer” status. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been assumed or anticipated. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. 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. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
An investment in us is speculative and involves a high degree of risk due to the nature of our business. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. Investors should read this entire prospectus and consult their own professional advisors to ascertain and assess the income tax, legal, risk factors and other aspects of their investment in the Units.
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Except as otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to “Locafy,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Locafy Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia, and its directly owned subsidiary on a consolidated basis.
This summary highlights certain information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read and carefully consider the following summary together with the entire prospectus, especially the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and our financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus before deciding to invest in our Units. For more information on our business, refer to the “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” sections of this prospectus. Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those discussed in the “Risk Factors” and other sections of this prospectus. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
We are an Australian company currently focused on commercializing our Software as a Service (SaaS) online publishing technology platform. Key aspects of our platform are patented in the United States. Central to our platform is the ability to publish almost any type of content to almost any device that uses a web browser to display web content. Further to that, our platform programmatically optimizes the published content for local search. Once data is integrated with our platform, the production of pages is largely automated. This enables the publication of large volumes of landing pages optimized for customer relevant search queries for local products and services in target locations.
“Local search” is one of the strongest emerging trends in search engine optimization, with consumers increasingly searching for products and services in close proximity to their immediate location. Approximately 46% of all online search is “local”. We provide businesses an automated and cost-effective solution to increase their online visibility. The objective is to increase the likelihood that local consumers will find our customer’s business online when searching for local products and services, regardless of search method. Regardless of whether the consumer is searching using more traditional means, such as by typing, or by using more modern methods such as voice search (e.g., Google Home, Alexa, Siri), a recent emergent trend, the landing pages are designed to be found for relevant search terms, locally. This is achieved through the automated attribution of schema and speakable codes to published content, which ensures that content and the context in which it is used is understood by all device types, including voice assistants.
The landing pages produced by our platform contain features that would otherwise require significant manual effort to achieve, or the application of additional and more expensive solutions. Our technology results in fast page load speed and the seamless delivery of content to all device types due to the platform’s adaptive nature of publishing content, and the automated attribution of security. We believe the results recently achieved in multiple markets, including North America, Australia and the UK, demonstrate the capability of our technology. Across 21,960 landing pages published up to November 28, 2021, more than 50% of these pages appeared in page one search results for the target keyword and location, while more than 33% of pages appeared in either the first, second and third positions on Page 1.
The importance of Page 1 results is exemplified by consumer behavior studies that found more than 95% of consumers were more likely to enter a new search query than to proceed to page 2 of a search result.
Specifically, our technology is able to process structured data provided in standard technical formats (for example, XML, JSON, CSV and XLS) of any quantity, to be published to any web browser and made accessible on any viewing device that uses a browser to display content, including smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktops and wearables (in so far as the content from data feeds can be published on a myriad of devices). Data may be transmitted via Web Application Programming Interface (“API”), File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or local upload. In March 2016, we were granted a patent in the United States (Patent Number US 9286274) relating to this process.
We believe that our technology is able to provide a number of products and services that are of value to our customers and are capable of generating revenue for us. We believe our technology has several key competitive advantages, including:
● | Page speed: the very fast loading speed of web pages produced using our technology; | |
● | Automated security features: the automated attribution of security certificates (Secure Sockets Layer, or “SSL”) to published web pages; | |
● | Seamless display of content across all devices: using the adaptive delivery of content we initially detect the device accessing a page published by Locafy. We produce the web page in accordance with the device profile in near-real time, which displays in the correct format on any device with an Internet browser; |
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● | Automated schema deployment: the automated attribution of a schema and speakable to content published on a web page to enhance search engine optimization for both traditional and voice search. “Speakable” is a type of schema developed by Google that translates longer-form website content from text-to-speech allowing for audible playback); | |
● | Scale: the substantial scale at which our platform is able to ingest and automatically publish structured data to produce individual, content-specific web pages; | |
● | State of the art page structures: the ability to increase the organic search engine ranking results by publishing content onto proprietary designed page structures (automated “search engine optimization” or “SEO”); | |
● | Synchronized publication of content: acting as a publishing “end point” for third -data providers (for example, citation management companies and Google My Business), who maintain control of their client’s data in their own database; and | |
● | Centralized maintenance: the ability for us to maintain and implement technology improvements centrally for all published pages is a unique feature of our platform that reduces maintenance costs. |
To continue our research into the deployment of large-scale web page production from structured data, in November 2016 we acquired the business assets relating to Hotfrog, a global online business directory. This acquisition allowed us to apply our technology to Hotfrog’s large customer database by repurposing Hotfrog’s business listing data to produce individual web pages. Additionally, the acquisition demonstrated a live use-case for our technology. We have undertaken several years of research since the acquisition to streamline the delivery of product, improve usability and flexibility for customers, and improve the performance of the products in the market.
As an example, voice search has recently been trending in the market. Today, all web products deployed using our technology have voice search optimization automatically attributed to content as it is published online. The majority of business listing information is not voice search enabled, which would impact the likelihood of appearing in voice search results. We intend to keep abreast of market trends and changes and to seek further channels and applications for our technology.
Our Strategy
We are focused on local search solutions and believe that our technology is well-positioned to provide a solution to the issues faced by Internet users and content publishers in their use of the Internet, which we believe can increase their search engine results pages (“SERP”) position for searches conducted within a certain proximity of their business’s core operating location. One of the challenges faced by SMBs is that around 81% of local searches are unbranded (as identified by Small Business Trends, June 9, 2020, https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/06/uberall-local-search-survey.html), which means that consumers are looking for a product or service but do not have a specific brand in mind, thus making highly ranked local products and services important. It is anticipated that mobile searches will influence around US $1.4 trillion in sales by 2021 (as identified by Quora Creative, January 7, 2021, https://quoracreative.com/article/mobile-marketing-statistics).
The goal for many content publishers (i.e., business owners) is for their own website or other online presence solutions to appear in the first SERP for related keyword searches. For example, a plumber may want to feature in searches where the keywords are “hot water systems” or “leaking tap.” Accordingly, a website’s keyword ranking is very important because the higher a website ranks in the SERP, the more likely Internet users will view the website. Given that more than 90% of all websites receive zero organic traffic and a further 5% receive less than 10 visits a month (as identified by 99 Firms, https://99firms.com/blog/local-seo-statistics/#gref), the value of having an online presence optimized for search engines is self-evident. Where a business can achieve more than one result in a SERP this is likely to lead to more calls, map views, requests for directions or form fills. This means the business can be expected to acquire more leads, which could generate more revenue. The importance of ranking well in an organic search is emphasized by the fact that around 97% of consumers that search online will search for local business (as identified by Local SEO Statistics, 99 Firms (https://99firms.com/blog/local-seo-statistics/#gref).
Search engines, like Google, have developed a series of algorithms to determine what content is best served for a particular keyword search. While search engines do not publish specific details about how their search algorithms operate, SEO is the method used to increase the likelihood of obtaining a high ranking (ideally first page) for relevant keyword searches. One market example that demonstrates performance was when a Yellow Pages online directory company provided Locafy with listing data for a services business in a major US region. Locafy utilized the same data as the Yellow Pages business listing and within less than 30 days, the Locafy powered landing pages were ranking higher than the Yellow Pages listing using specific service and location keywords.
A common SEO strategy involves paying an advertising fee to a search engine to appear in keyword search results. Google Ads (formerly Adwords) is an example of such a program. The major disadvantages to a business of implementing such a strategy are cost, complexity and a behavioral phenomenon coined “banner blindness,” which describes the phenomenon of users having learned to ignore content that resembles ads, is located in close proximity to ads, or that appears in locations traditionally dedicated to ads.
Given the challenges with paid advertising, there are a number of widely accepted SEO principles that can be applied to websites to positively influence search results. We have determined that there are eight key factors, what we call the “8S Factors,” which, when implemented collectively, we believe create a compelling local search solution. The “8S Factors” can be broken down into three core categories, in each of which we believe we have a competitive advantage in the market:
● | Core technology advantages | |
● | Automated SEO features | |
● | Commercial scale and agility |
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Core Technology Advantages
At the core of our technology is a platform that is able to publish any type of content on any device, for which we hold a patent. The pages produced are fast loading across all device types and securely hosted. Based on typical load times, Locafy-powered landing pages load around two times faster than 99% of all websites.
Factor 1: Speed - page load speed is widely recognized as one of the top -ranking factors.
There are a number of studies that suggest page loading speed times is a major factor that determines search ranking results. Our technology fundamentally changes the way web pages load on the Internet.
Generally, other website development platforms utilize the web browser on a user’s device to interpret the website’s code (instructions on what to display and how). The web browser then loads that content in a sequential manner (for example, header followed by image, followed by text block, followed by another text block). Accordingly, the page loading speed is the sum of the time to load each individual page element.
We have invented and developed an alternative page loading process whereby each page element loads simultaneously in its own micro server, resulting in page load speed being equal to the slowest loading element.
The overall result is that websites built on our technology theoretically load significantly faster compared to an equivalent website built on other technologies. In summary, our page load speed is the slowest page element versus platforms using traditional methodology where page load speed is the sum of loading individual page elements.
Factor 2: Seamless - content needs to be ubiquitously displayed across all devices.
Since 2015, Google has preferentially ranked mobile-friendly web pages (that is, ones that employ responsive display techniques). Traditional methods of delivering content to mobile devices have led to two streams of website development: responsive and adaptive web design. As both methods address the issue of rendering websites on various screen sizes, the term “responsive web design” is commonly used to refer to either method, however, there are key technology differences between the two. Responsive web design relies on a flexible grid that responds to any screen or device size by changing a website’s layout to suit the viewing device. In contrast, under adaptive web design the viewing device is detected and the website’s layout adapts to predefined content and style based on the specific device’s screen size.
Our technology delivers content in an “adaptive” fashion; meaning our technology detects the type of device accessing the website and only transmits content specifically for that type of device based on a predetermined set of layouts. The page elements are rendered on our servers, which removes the need for the device browsers to interpret the HTML. This also allows specific content to be served to specific devices. For example, a particular image can be selected to be shown on desktop browsers, versus a different image on a Samsung Galaxy phone or on an Apple iPad; this allows for very targeted marketing.
Factor 3: Security - a website must have security features to protect consumers.
Our technology is hosted on Amazon Web Services, Inc. (“AWS”) and we automate the application of SSL security certificates for the pages published by our technology.
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Automated SEO Features
Factor 4: Schema - universal coding language that provides context to content.
In 2011, Schema.org was founded in collaboration between Google, Bing, Yahoo! and, later, Yandex with the aim of creating a universal “search engine language” – essentially a form of software code that is included in webpages to “label” or “mark” specific content in order to make it easier for search engines to “read.” Adding schema markup to a website adds structure to content, which assists search engines to identify different content that might be relevant to a search query, such as events, prices and opening hours.
In April 2019, we determined a method to programmatically apply schema markup to content published in websites produced from our technology. This is an alternative solution to the current practice of website developers manually coding schema into individual websites (both new and existing).
Regardless of the volume of structured data synchronized with our technology, provided there is a unique identifier for each client in a data set, the technology can automate the production of web pages for each client in the data set and apply schema markup to every piece of content. This includes all types of schema including, but not limited to, website, organization, local business and breadcrumbs.
Factor 5: Speakable - applying code to assist rapidly growing voice search.
Currently in beta testing, “Speakable,” developed by Google, is a type of schema which translates longer-form website content from text-to-speech, allowing for audible playback. In April 2019, we developed a method to programmatically apply both schema markup and speakable code to websites produced from our platform. This is an alternative solution to the current practice of website developers manually coding schema and speakable into individual websites (both new and existing).
Factor 6: Page structure - optimized page structure helps search algorithms better understand content.
We understand the importance of page layout and URL structure when deploying a page that is aiming to rank for products and services in a defined geographical area. Content synchronized with our technology is published to a pre-built design template which automates the production of the page, attribution of the schema and speakable code and generation of optimal headers and URL structure.
Commercial Scale and Agility
Factor 7: Synchronize - consistency of commercial content strengthens confidence in data.
Our technology can integrate with any structured data set via any standard data transfer methods including, but not limited to: API, CSV, and XML. Examples of datasets that are already integrated with us include Google My Business (GMB) profiles, citation management solutions and digital solutions marketplaces. The benefit of synchronization is that the client can maintain a trusted source of truth as the primary data source while being able to publish that content to our generated web products.
Factor 8: Scale - automated web page production at scale from synchronized data sets.
We believe our technology allows any volume and type of structured data to be published to any device with a browser that is connected to the Internet. As an extension of that, our technology can ingest very large quantities of data, from which it can produce a separate website for each entity contained in the data feed. Each website can have schema markup applied to all its content published online via the platform.
Our Products and Services
We provide an integrated suite of solutions with the objective of helping maximize the local online presence for business owners. The products can be broadly categorized as:
1. | Listings |
2. | Landing pages |
3. | Locators |
4. | Marketplace |
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Our Competitive Strengths
We automate many SEO tasks that would otherwise take considerable time, cost and manual effort to undertake. Our key technology advantages are the adaptive delivery of content to the web (which is patented in the United States), resulting in fast page load time combined with device specific content publishing. The nature of the adaptive platform has enabled further competitive advantages with the capability to undertake client-wide maintenance and upgrades centrally. By way of example, we created and centrally deployed a widget that applied schema to published content across all client implementations.
The typical providers of local search solutions could be broadly classified into three categories: enterprise level organizations, digital media agencies and SEO freelancers. We believe Locafy has a competitive advantage over alternative local search solutions in regards to:
1. | scale | |
2. | set up time | |
3. | set up costs | |
4. | monthly costs and | |
5. | time to effect. |
Locafy’s ability to scale is substantial through its patented platform that enables very high volumes of page publishing through automation. Our self-serve capability provides an unlimited number channel partners and customers capability to create and publish landing pages. Enterprise customers would typically service tens of thousands of customers using their own technology solutions, while digital agencies would typically service dozens to hundreds of clients while SEO freelancers would typically service a handful of customers. The amount of manual work required to deploy alternative local search solutions is a limiting factor in their ability to scale.
The typical set up time for Locafy solutions is minutes compared to potentially weeks or months for alternative solutions, which leads to the next advantage of set up costs. Given that Locafy is automated, we typically charge no set up fee, whereas digital agencies and SEO freelancers would generally charge a few thousand dollars through to tens of thousands of dollars in set up fees. Enterprise solution providers would generally not charge a set up fee.
Using Australia as an example market, Locafy’s entry-level local search product has a recommended retail price of $375 per month, which compares favorably to enterprise solutions that typically range from $500 to $2,000 per month. Where digital agencies are engaged typical monthly packages range from $1,000 per month through to tens of thousands per month and SEO freelancers would generally charge from $500 per month for their services.
Locafy deployed solutions have consistently demonstrated impact in local search results within 30 days of deployment, compared to enterprise, digital agencies and SEO freelancers all of whom typically set expectations with customers of achieving results in 6-12 months from deployment.
Revenue Model and Commercial Overview
Our technology can be thought of as a scalable publishing engine that automates the conversion of structured business data into highly optimized, search-friendly landing pages at scale. The pages are primarily monetized through subscriptions. In some cases, professional service fees may be charged for customized projects.
Locafy solutions are sold direct to customers and also via a reseller channel that comprises digital agencies and SEO freelancers. The company’s major focus is on assisting existing channel partners to sell to more of their clients and to add more resellers to the channel.
Channel partners receive Locafy solutions at a discount to the recommended retail price. Resellers on sell the solution to their customers at a price solely determined by the reseller. In some markets, Locafy engages master resellers that have the rights to appoint resellers within their own network. In these cases the Master Reseller appoints customers both directly and via their reseller network.
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An example of the sales from one master reseller, the diagram below demonstrates the impact of having a master reseller in a market:
Growth Strategy
Upon completion of this offering, our main objectives are to rapidly expand our channel network in multiple markets, and through automation, expand their uptake. We also intend to accelerate our data acquisition activities and data synchronization projects to maximize the addressable market within our ecosystem to which we can apply our technology. We plan to accomplish these objectives by way of the following:
● | Invest in our sales and marketing team to escalate the velocity at which we appoint resellers in key target markets, primarily the United States, Australia, Canada and Europe and to enter into direct commercial deals with multi-location businesses; | |
● | Invest in our operations team to help maintain and grow the customer base of our channel partners in each market; | |
● | Increase the velocity of data synchronization projects with database owners, online directories, SEO agencies and citation management companies to enable more resellers to market and sell our products directly from the resellers’ own administration dashboards; | |
● | Undertake acquisitions of relevant digital agencies, online directories and databases to grow the number of business profiles within our network and marketing control, which has the potential to increase the number of direct clients that subscribe to our products; | |
● | Undertake a major data migration project to unify all current business profiles across our disparate online publishing network, thereby enabling streamlined customer management, sales and marketing; | |
● | Increase the production of niche business directories utilizing our own technology to target high value business categories to generate advertising and subscription revenues; | |
● | Enhance the scale of our existing commercial partners; | |
● | Further develop our technology and its capabilities, including the expansion of our existing Locafy Marketplace; | |
● | Boost the operations team to ensure customer success and retention, with customer retention rates measured by various factors, including but not limited to, customer satisfaction and customer effort scores; customer churn rates and product churn rates; and | |
● | Upgrade and implement new internal systems and reporting to support our anticipated growth and any increased commercial activities. |
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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the U.S. federal securities laws. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified exemptions from various requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies in the United States. These exceptions include:
● | an exemption to include only two years of audited financial statements and related financial disclosure; |
● | an exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
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● | reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements. |
As an emerging growth company, we are permitted to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We intend to take advantage of this extended transition period for adopting new or revised financial accounting standards.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of:
● | the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.07 billion; |
● | the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering; |
● | the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or |
● | the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. |
We have availed ourselves in this prospectus of the reduced reporting requirements described above with respect to selected financial data. As a result, the information that we are providing to you may be less comprehensive than what you might receive from other public companies. When we are no longer deemed to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions discussed above.
Upon consummation of this offering, we will report under the Exchange Act as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, as long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:
● | the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; | |
● | the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; | |
● | the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events; and |
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● | Regulation Fair Disclosure (“Regulation FD”), which regulates selective disclosures of material information by issuers. |
We will remain a foreign private issuer until such time that 50% or more of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (i) the majority of the members of board of directors or our senior management are U.S. citizens or residents; (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States.
Reverse Share Split
On August 20, 2021, our shareholders authorized, at an extraordinary general shareholders meeting, a one-for-twenty reverse share split of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (the “Reverse Share Split”). No fractional ordinary shares were issued in connection with the Reverse Share Split, and all such fractional interests were rounded to the nearest whole number. Issued and outstanding performance rights were split on the same basis. Unless noted otherwise, all information presented in this prospectus, including the share and per share amounts, reflects the Reverse Share Split.
Organizational Structure
We commenced activities in April 2009. The chart below illustrates the organizational structure of the Company, including the dates and jurisdictions of incorporation. As of the date hereof, Moboom USA Inc. has ceased operations, and we intend to formally close the company.
Company Information
We were incorporated on April 23, 2009 in Australia under the name Gumiyo Australia Pty Ltd. On January 14, 2021 we changed our name to Locafy Limited. Our principal executive offices are located at 246A Churchill Avenue, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia and our telephone number is +61 409 999 339. Our website address is www.locafy.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
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The Offering
Securities offered by us | 1,818,181 Units, with each Unit consisting of one (1) ordinary share and one (1) Warrant. The Units will not be certificated, and the ordinary share and Warrant comprising each Unit are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering.
This prospectus also relates to the offering of ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants included in the Units. |
Warrants | Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $ per ordinary share. Only whole warrants are exercisable. The Warrants are exercisable at any time for period of five years from the date on which such Warrants were issued. The Warrants and the ordinary shares will be purchased together in this offering. The exercise price and the number of shares into which the Warrant may be exercised are subject to adjustments in certain circumstances. See “Description of Securities—Warrants” for a discussion of the terms of the Warrants. |
Underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities | We have granted the underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days of the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 272,727 ordinary shares and/or Warrants to purchase up to an additional 272,727 ordinary shares. |
Ordinary shares to be outstanding after this offering | 20,730,236 ordinary shares (assuming no exercise of the Warrants and representative’s warrants included in this offering), and 21,002,963 ordinary shares if the underwriters’ option is exercised in full. |
Use of proceeds | We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $8.4 million, or approximately $9.7 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ordinary shares and/or Warrants from us in full, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to accelerate the commercialization of our existing technology, continue to innovate by enhancing and developing alternative applications of the technology, reduce debt to strengthen our balance sheet, and execute potential strategic acquisitions, as well as for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.” |
Proposed Nasdaq symbol for our ordinary shares and the Warrants |
We have applied to list our ordinary shares and the Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “LCFY” and LCFY-W”, respectively. |
Dividend Policy | We have never paid or declared any dividends on our ordinary shares or any of our other securities. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the growth and development of our business, and we do not anticipate that we will declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. See “Dividend Policy.”
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Risk factors | See “Risk Factors” on page 14 and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before investing in our ordinary shares and our Warrants.
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Representative’s Warrants | We will issue to H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, the representative of the underwriters, as compensation warrants to purchase up to 6% of the number of ordinary shares sold in this offering (including any additional ordinary shares issuable upon exercise by the underwriters of the option to purchase additional securities). The representative’s warrants will have an exercise price of 125% of the initial public offering price per Unit, will be exercisable on the date of issuance and will expire five years from the commencement of sales pursuant to this offering. |
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Lock-up agreements | We and our directors, officers and principal shareholders of our ordinary shares have agreed with the underwriters not to offer for sale, issue, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of our ordinary shares for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. See “Underwriting” on page 77. |
The number of ordinary shares to be outstanding after this offering is based on 18,912,055 ordinary shares (including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes (as defined herein) (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)) outstanding as of December 31, 2021, after giving effect to the Reverse Share Split, and excludes:
● | 1,312,750 ordinary shares issuable upon the settlement of certain unvested and contingent performance rights outstanding as of December 31, 2021; | |
● | 1,818,181 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants at an exercise price of $ per share; |
● | 109,090 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the representative’s warrants (or 125,454 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the representative’s warrants if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities exercised in full) at an exercise price of $ ______ per ordinary share; and | |
● | 42,360 ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes issued subsequent to December 31, 2021. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus reflects and assumes:
● | no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional securities in connection with this offering; | |
● | no exercise of the Warrants or the representative’s warrants described above; and |
● | no issuance or settlement of performance rights after December 31, 2021. |
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Summary Consolidated Financial Data
The following tables set forth a summary of our consolidated financial data as at and for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 and as at and for the six months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
We have derived the consolidated statements of profit or loss comprehensive income data for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the consolidated statement of financial position data as at June 30, 2020 and 2021, and the consolidated statement of cash flow data for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 from our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (the “2021 Audited Financial Statements”) included elsewhere in this prospectus.
We have derived the consolidated statements of profit or loss comprehensive income data for the six months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the consolidated statement of financial position data as at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the consolidated statement of cash flow data for the six months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 from our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the six months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (the “Q2 YTD Unaudited Financial Statements”) included elsewhere in this prospectus, which are unaudited. The Q2 YTD Unaudited Interim Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year or any other interim period. Both our 2021 Audited Financial Statements and Q2 YTD Unaudited Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB.
We maintain our books and records in Australian dollars. Our historical results for any prior period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in any future period. You should read this data together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the sections in this prospectus entitled “Capitalization,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss Comprehensive Income Data:
Year Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2021 A$
|
2020 A$
|
2021 A$ (unaudited) |
2020 A$ (unaudited) |
|||||||||||||
Revenue | 2,191,425 | 1,985,362 | 1,795,821 | 916,380 | ||||||||||||
Other income | 788,258 | 615,356 | 386,245 | 775,058 | ||||||||||||
Technology expense | (651,644 | ) | (979,161 | ) | (776,023 | ) | (263,831 | ) | ||||||||
Employee benefits expense | (2,359,459 | ) | (2,389,185 | ) | (2,098,756 | ) | (1,083,559 | ) | ||||||||
Occupancy expense | (52,219 | ) | (104,419 | ) | (23,167 | ) | (31,673 | ) | ||||||||
Advertising expense | (67,575 | ) | (265,996 | ) | (39,379 | ) | (40,529 | ) | ||||||||
Consultancy expense | (240,928 | ) | (273,978 | ) | (352,609 | ) | (159,283 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | (397,506 | ) | (362,917 | ) | (200,544 | ) | (194,297 | ) | ||||||||
Other expenses | (132,515 | ) | (438,418 | ) | (40,670 | ) | (5,732 | ) | ||||||||
Impairment of financial assets | (14,690 | ) | - | - | (10,726 | ) | ||||||||||
Operating loss | (936,853 | ) | (2,213,356 | ) | (1,349,082 | ) | (98,192 | ) | ||||||||
Financial cost | (58,913 | ) | (108,471 | ) | (24,530 | ) | (35,993 | ) | ||||||||
Loss before income tax | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | (1,373,612 | ) | (134,185 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax expense | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Loss for the period | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | (1,373,612 | ) | (134,185 | ) | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income | (1,653 | ) | (4,205 | ) | (18,050 | ) | 21,411 | |||||||||
Total comprehensive loss for the period | (997,419 | ) | (2,326,032 | ) | (1,391,662 | ) | (112,774 | ) |
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Data:
As at June 30, | As at December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2021 A$ |
2020 A$ |
2021 A$ (unaudited) |
2020 A$ (unaudited) |
|||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 650,731 | 161,191 | 762,739 | 399,571 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | 2,781,580 | 1,632,286 | 3,624,108 | 2,352,163 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,617,058 | 3,796,027 | 5,851,248 | 3,844,163 | ||||||||||||
Total deficiency | (835,478 | ) | (2,163,741 | ) | (2,227,140 | ) | (1,492,000 | ) |
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow Data
Year ended June 30, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2021 A$ |
2020 A$ |
2021 A$ (unaudited) |
2020 A$ (unaudited) |
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Net cash used by operating activities | (496,031 | ) | (1,484,589 | ) | (1,320,522 | ) | 276,545 | |||||||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (442,423 | ) | (54,137 | ) | (295,564 | ) | (418,965 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash from financing activities | 1,427,994 | 1,397,961 | 1,728,094 | 380,800 | ||||||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 489,540 | (140,765 | ) | 112,008 | 238,380 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 161,191 | 301,956 | 650,731 | 161,191 | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | 650,731 | 161,191 | 762,739 | 399,571 |
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Investing in our securities is speculative and involves substantial risk. You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus prior to investing in our securities. There are numerous risk factors related to our business that are described under “Risk Factors” on page 14 and elsewhere in this prospectus. These risks could materially and adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and future prospects, which could cause the trading price of our ordinary shares to decline and could result in a loss of your investment. Among these important risks are the following:
● | Our recent growth may not be indicative of our future growth, and we may not be able to sustain our revenue growth rate in the future. Our growth also makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and may increase the risk that we will not be successful. |
● | The market and technology space in which we participate are competitive, new, and rapidly changing, and if we do not compete effectively or if our products and services do not perform as well as our competitors’, then our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be harmed. | |
● | We use third-party services and technologies in connection with our business, and any disruption to the provision of these services and technologies to us could result in negative publicity and a slowdown in the growth of our user base, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. | |
● | If we fail to manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan or maintain high levels of service and customer satisfaction. | |
● | We will face additional risks as we offer new products and services, transact with a broader array of clients and counterparties, and expose ourselves to new geographical markets. | |
● | Real or perceived errors, failures, vulnerabilities, or bugs in our technology could harm our business, results of operations, financial condition, and our reputation could be harmed. | |
● | If there are interruptions or performance problems associated with the technology or infrastructure used to operate our technology, customers may experience service outages, other organizations may be reluctant to use our technology, and our reputation could be harmed. | |
● | We face cybersecurity risks that could result in damage to our reputation and/or subject us to fines, payment of damages, lawsuits and restrictions on our use of data. | |
● | If we are unable to attract new users and organizations, our revenue growth and profitability will be harmed. | |
● | Any inability to deal with and manage our development and growth could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial performance and prospects. | |
● | If we are not able to introduce new features or products successfully and to make enhancements to our existing products and services, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected. | |
● | If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand and increase market awareness of our company and products, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected. | |
● | We cannot guarantee that our future monetization strategies will be successfully implemented or generate sustainable revenues and profit. | |
● | We have been reliant on government subsidies and research and development grants in the past and we cannot ensure that our existing capital will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements. | |
● | Compliance with the rapidly evolving landscape of global data privacy and security laws may be challenging, and any failure or perceived failure to comply with such laws, or other concerns about our practices or policies with respect to the processing of personal data, could damage our reputation and deter current and potential customers and end users from using our platform and products and services or subject us to significant compliance costs or penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. | |
● | We rely on key personnel and employees with the technical know-how to lead and operate our businesses. |
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● | If we fail to adequately protect our proprietary rights, our competitive position could be impaired and we may lose valuable assets, generate reduced revenue, and incur costly litigation to protect our rights. | |
● | We face the risk that third parties will claim that we infringe on their intellectual property rights, which could result in costly license fees or expensive litigation. | |
● | We may need additional capital, and financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. | |
● | The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. | |
● | As a company primarily based outside of the United States, our business is subject to economic, political, regulatory and other risks associated with international operations. | |
● | The requirements of being a U.S. public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members. | |
● | We are a “foreign private issuer” and may have disclosure obligations that are different from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different U.S. securities laws and rules than a domestic U.S. issuer, which could limit the information publicly available to our shareholders. | |
● | We may lose our “foreign private issuer” status in the future, which could result in additional costs and expenses to us. | |
● | We are an “emerging growth company,” and any decision on our part to comply only with certain reduced reporting and disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies could make our ordinary shares less attractive to investors. | |
● | If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our ordinary shares. | |
● | Substantial future sales of our ordinary shares, or the perception that these sales could occur, may cause the price of our ordinary shares to drop significantly, even if our business is performing well. | |
● | We do not anticipate paying cash dividends and, accordingly, shareholders must rely on share appreciation for any return on their investment. | |
● | Investors in this offering will pay a much higher price than the book value of our ordinary shares and, as a result, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution of your investment. | |
● | Nasdaq may delist our securities from its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions. | |
● | We are governed by the corporate laws of Australia, which in some cases have a different effect on shareholders than the corporate laws of the United States and may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control. | |
● | U.S. civil liabilities may not be enforceable against us, our directors, our officers or certain experts named in this prospectus. |
● | U.S. holders of our ordinary shares and Warrants may suffer adverse tax consequences if we are characterized as a passive foreign investment company. | |
● | Insiders have substantial control over us which could delay or prevent a change in corporate control or result in the entrenchment of management or the board of directors. | |
● | Our warrants have no prior trading history and an active market may not develop, which may limit the ability of our investors to sell warrants. | |
● | Holders of Warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as ordinary share shareholders until such holders exercise their Warrants and acquire our ordinary shares, except as set forth in the Warrants. | |
● | The Warrants are speculative in nature. | |
● | We may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the Warrants. |
As a result of these risks and other risks described under “Risk Factors,” there is no guarantee that we will experience growth or profitability in the future.
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Investing in our securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the following risk factors, as well as the other information in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, before you decide to purchase our securities. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected, the value of our ordinary shares could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks described below. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Relating to our Business and Industry
Our recent growth may not be indicative of our future growth, and we may not be able to sustain our revenue growth rate in the future. Our growth also makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and may increase the risk that we will not be successful.
We have experienced growth since the inception of our operations. Our revenue increased by 10.0% from year- end 2020 to year-end 2021. However, you should not rely on the revenue growth of any prior quarterly or annual period as an indication of our future performance. We cannot assure you that we will be able manage our growth at the same rate as we did in the past, or avoid any decline in the future. To maintain our growth, we need to attract more customers, scale up our business and continue to improve our technology, among other things. Moreover, our current and planned staffing, systems, policies, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support our future operations. To effectively manage the expected growth of our operations and personnel, we will also be required to refine our operational, financial and management controls and reporting systems and procedures. If we fail to efficiently manage the expansion of our business, our costs and expenses may increase faster than we planned and we may not successfully attract a sufficient number of customers and end users in a cost-effective manner, respond timely to competitive challenges, or otherwise execute our business strategies. Our growth requires significant financial resources and will continue to place significant demands on our management. There is no guarantee that we will be able to effectively manage any future growth in an efficient, cost-effective and timely manner, or at all. Our past growth is not necessarily indicative of results that we may achieve in the future. If we fail to effectively manage the growth of our business and operations, our reputation, results of operations and overall business and prospects could be negatively impacted.
The market and technology space in which we participate are competitive, new, and rapidly changing, and if we do not compete effectively or if our products and services do not perform as well as our competitors’, then our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be harmed.
Our market is subject to rapidly evolving products and technological change, and our future success depends on our technology. Products, services and technologies developed by others may render our products, services or technology obsolete or non-competitive. Moreover, the functionality, reliability or security of our technology or our ability to adequately maintain, develop, update or enhance our technology each depends on numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, and any failure in respect of any of the foregoing may cause the level of usage and customer satisfaction to decline. This may result in reduced sales, loss of customers, damage to reputation, an inability to attract new clients and potential claims for breach of contract or other litigation.
The future revenue and growth of the Company also depends on our ability to develop enhancements and new features and products that utilize our technology. The failure to successfully develop enhancements, services, features, products or other new solutions may materially adversely impact our future operations and financial performance, competitive position and business prospects.
We use third-party services and technologies in connection with our business, and any disruption to the provision of these services and technologies to us could result in negative publicity and a slowdown in the growth of our user base, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business partially depends on services provided by, and relationships with, various third parties. For example, we rely on contracts with third-party suppliers such as AWS, which provides cloud hosting services. If these contracts and services are terminated or suffer a disruption in the future and we are not able to replace or accommodate for those events in a timely and cost-effective manner, our operations and financial performance, competitive position and business prospects may be adversely impacted.
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We are faced with uncertainties related to our research and development.
Our products and services are the subject of continuous research and development and must be continually and substantially developed in order to gain and maintain competitive and technological advantage, and in order to meaningfully improve the usability, scalability and accuracy of our products and services. There are no guarantees that we will be able to undertake such research and development successfully. Failure to successfully undertake such research and development, anticipate technical problems, or estimate research and development costs or timeframes accurately may adversely affect our results and viability.
If we fail to manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan or maintain high levels of service and customer satisfaction.
To continue to grow our business, it is important that existing customers renew their subscriptions when existing contracts expire and that we expand our relationships with existing customers. Customers have no obligation to renew their subscriptions and may decide not to renew their subscriptions with a similar contract period, at the same prices and terms, or at all. Our ability to retain customers and expand deployments with them may decline or fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, including customer satisfaction, functionality, reliability, customer support, prices, competitor prices, customer experience, new feature releases and overall performance of our technology.
Our growth strategy is largely dependent upon increasing the number of customers that use our technology. As we seek to increase our sales, we may face upfront sales costs and longer sales cycles, higher customer acquisition costs, more complex customer requirements and volume discount requirements. We may also be required to enter into customized contractual arrangements with certain customers, particularly large enterprises, pursuant to which we are required to offer more favorable pricing terms in exchange for larger total contract values that accompany large deployments. As we continue to expand our sales efforts, we will need to continue to increase investment in sales and marketing. There is no assurance that such investments will succeed and contribute to additional customer acquisition, and in turn result in revenue growth.
There can be no assurance that we will successfully commercialize our technology or our products and services or that existing product markets will continue to grow or that new markets will develop. If we are unable to increase sales to customers, our business, financial condition, operations and overall financial performance may suffer.
We will face additional risks as we offer new products and services, transact with a broader array of clients and counterparties, and expose ourselves to new geographical markets.
We are committed to providing new products and services in order to strengthen our market position in the industries that we operate in. We expect to expand our product and service offerings as permitted by relevant regulatory authorities, transact with new clients not in our traditional client base, and enter into new markets. If we are unable to achieve the expected results with respect to our offering of new products and services, our new client base, and in new geographical markets, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Real or perceived errors, failures, vulnerabilities, or bugs in our technology could harm our business, results of operations, financial condition, and our reputation could be harmed.
We will need to ensure that our technology continues to be developed, updated and enhanced to add new features. The success of any enhancement or new feature depends on several factors, including our understanding of market demand, timely execution, successful introduction or integration and market acceptance. We may not successfully develop new content and features or enhance our technology to meet customer needs or demands. In addition, new content and features or enhancements may not achieve adequate acceptance in the market.
Errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs may occur in our technology, particularly when updates are deployed or new features or enhancements are rolled out. In addition, utilization of our technology in complicated, large-scale customer environments may expose errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs. Any such errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs may not be identified until after updates are deployed or new features or enhancements are rolled out. As a provider of technology solutions, our brand and reputation are particularly sensitive to such errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs given that our customers’ proprietary information will be available through the technology. Any unauthorized access to customers’ proprietary information by third parties or loss in customer data could expose us to significant liability.
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Real or perceived errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs in our technology could result in negative publicity, loss of competitive position, loss of customer data, loss of or delay in market acceptance or claims for losses suffered or incurred by customers, all of which could adversely impact our business and our future operations and financial performance, competitive position and business prospects.
If there are interruptions or performance problems associated with the technology or infrastructure used to operate our technology, customers may experience service outages, other organizations may be reluctant to use our technology, and our reputation could be harmed.
Our technology is hosted through data centers provided by AWS, a provider of cloud infrastructure services. Our operations therefore depend on the virtual cloud infrastructure hosted by AWS as well as the information stored in these virtual data centers and which third-party Internet service providers transmit. Any incident affecting AWS’s infrastructure could negatively affect the availability, functionality or reliability of our technology. A prolonged AWS service disruption affecting our technology, or AWS no longer being willing to offer its cloud infrastructure services, could damage our reputation, expose us to liability, cause us to lose customers or otherwise adversely impact our business.
While our agreement with AWS is ongoing for an indefinite term and may be terminated by us for any reason upon the delivery of adequate notice, or by either party if the other party is in material breach of the agreement and such agreement remains uncured for a period of 30 days, AWS may also terminate our agreement with AWS for any reason by providing us at least 30 days’ advance notice, immediately upon notice to us if its relationship with a third-party partner who provides software or other technology used to provide its cloud infrastructure services expires, terminates or requires AWS to change the way it provide the software or other technology, or in order to comply with the law or requests of governmental entities. AWS may also change or discontinue any of its virtual cloud infrastructure services from time to time, temporarily suspend our right to access or use any portion of the virtual cloud infrastructure and may modify our agreement at any time upon requisite notice to us. While alternative cloud infrastructure services are available, we may incur significant costs and delays if it is required to transition to a new service provider, and alternative cloud infrastructure providers may provide services on terms less favorable to those offered by AWS.
We face cybersecurity risks that could result in damage to our reputation and/or subject us to fines, payment of damages, lawsuits and restrictions on our use of data.
Our information systems and data, including those we maintain with our third-party service providers, may be subject to cyber security breaches in the future. Computer programmers and hackers may be able to penetrate our network security and misappropriate, copy or pirate our confidential information or that of third parties, create system disruptions or cause interruptions or shutdowns of our internal systems and services. Our technology may become subject to denial-of-service attacks, where a website is bombarded with information requests eventually causing the website to overload, resulting in a delay or disruption of service. Computer programmers and hackers also may be able to develop and deploy viruses, worms and other malicious software programs that attack our products or otherwise exploit any security vulnerabilities of our products. Also, there is a growing trend of advanced persistent threats being launched by organized and coordinated groups against corporate networks to breach security for malicious purposes.
The techniques used to obtain unauthorized, improper, or illegal access to our systems, our data or customers’ data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems are constantly evolving and have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, may be difficult to detect quickly, and often are not recognized or detected until after they have been launched. Although we have developed systems and processes designed to protect our data and customer data and to prevent data loss and other security breaches and expect to continue to expend significant resources to bolster these protections, there can be no assurance that these security measures will provide absolute security.
Disruptions in the availability of our technology, through cyber-attacks or otherwise, could damage our computer or telecommunications systems, impact our ability to service our customers, adversely affect our operations and the results of operations, and have an adverse effect on our reputation. The costs to us to eliminate or alleviate security problems, bugs, viruses, worms, malicious software programs and security vulnerabilities could be significant, and the efforts to address these problems could result in interruptions, delays, cessation of service and loss of existing or potential customers and may impede our sales, distribution and other critical functions. We may also be subject regulatory penalties and litigation by customers and other parties whose information has been compromised, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows.
If we are unable to attract new users and organizations, our revenue growth and profitability will be harmed.
Our ability to broaden our customer base and achieve broader market acceptance of our technology will depend to a significant extent on the ability of our sales and marketing team to drive our sales pipeline and cultivate relationships to drive revenue growth.
We have invested in, and plan to continue, expanding our sales and marketing activities. Identifying, recruiting, and training sales personnel will require significant time, expense, and attention. We also plan to dedicate significant resources to sales and marketing programs. If we are unable to hire, develop, and retain talented sales or marketing personnel, if our new sales or marketing personnel are unable to achieve desired productivity levels in a reasonable period of time, or if our sales and marketing programs are not effective, our ability to broaden our customer base and achieve broader market acceptance of our technology could be harmed. In addition, the investments we make in our sales and marketing team will occur in advance of experiencing benefits from such investments, making it difficult to determine in a timely manner if we are efficiently allocating resources in these areas.
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If we fail to offer high-quality customer experience, our business and reputation will suffer.
Our business model is based on recurring revenue arising from customers. A poor user experience may not necessarily be anticipated but may affect the growth of customer numbers and repeat purchases or ongoing contracts for the use of our software services. Factors which may contribute to poor customer experience include:
(i) | ease of setting up and commencing use of the products offered; | |
(ii) | simplicity, functionality and reliability of customer usage; and | |
(iii) | quality of services provided. |
Poor user experiences may result in a decline in the level of usage of our products, the loss of customers, adverse publicity, litigation and regulatory investigations. If any of these occur, it may adversely impact our operations and financial performance, position and prospects.
Any inability to deal with and manage our development and growth could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial performance and business prospects.
Achievement of our objectives will largely depend on the ability of the board of directors and management to successfully implement our development and growth strategy. However, there can be no assurance that our board of directors and management will successfully implement our development and growth strategy. Failure by our board of directors and management to properly implement and manage the strategic direction of the Company and our business would adversely affect our financial performance.
In addition, we may be subject to growth related risks including capacity constraints and pressure on our internal systems, procedures and controls. Our ability to manage growth effectively will require us to continue to implement and improve our operational and financial systems and to expand, train and manage our employee base.
As we target rapid sales growth, this may bring challenges in recruiting sufficient qualified personnel to manage growth and maintain the desired quality of service and support. If any of the foregoing inabilities or challenges occurs, our business may be adversely impacted.
If we are not able to introduce new features or products successfully and to make enhancements to our existing products and services, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
To attract new customers and end users and keep our existing ones engaged, we must introduce new products and services and upgrade our existing offerings to meet their evolving preferences. It is difficult to predict the preferences of a particular customer or a specific group of customers. Changes and upgrades to our existing products may not be well received by our customers and end users, and newly introduced products or services may not achieve success as expected. Such efforts may require us to contribute a substantial amount of additional human capital and financial resources. We cannot assure you that any of such new products will achieve market acceptance or generate sufficient revenues to adequately compensate the costs and expenses incurred in relation to our development and promotion efforts. Enhancements and new products and services that we develop may not be introduced in a timely or cost-effective manner, may contain errors or defects, may have interoperability difficulties with our platform or other products and services or may not achieve the broad market acceptance necessary to generate significant revenue. If we fail to improve our existing products and introduce new ones in a timely or cost-effective manner, our ability to attract and retain customers and end users may be impaired, and our financial performance and business prospects may be adversely affected.
Failure to set optimal prices for our products could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We derive substantially all of our revenue from license subscription fees earned from customers using our technology as well as from advertising fees earned from customers publishing their content on our digital property network. We also offer tiered, volume-based discounts to our largest customers and in some cases, customers are contracted to some level of minimum revenue commitment. If competitors introduce new products or services at prices that are more competitive than ours for similar products and services, we may be unable to attract new customers or retain existing customers based on our historical pricing. Further, as we expand internationally, we also must determine the appropriate price to enable us to compete effectively internationally. As a result, in the future we may be required or choose to reduce our prices or change our pricing model, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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We cannot guarantee that our future monetization strategies will be successfully implemented or generate sustainable revenues and profit.
We have developed a diversified revenue model and plan to explore additional opportunities to monetize our customer base and technology by, for example, promoting additional value-added services to end users to generate more subscription fees. If these efforts fail to achieve our anticipated results, we may not be able to increase or maintain our revenue growth. Specifically, in order to increase the number of our customers and end users and their levels of spending, we will need to address a number of challenges, including providing consistent quality products and services; continuing to innovate and stay ahead of our competitors; and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our sales and marketing efforts. If we fail to address any of these challenges, we may not be successful in increasing the number of our customers and end users and their expenditures with us, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have been reliant on government subsidies and research and development grants in the past and we cannot ensure that our existing capital will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements.
To date, a substantial portion of our operations have been funded through government subsidies and research and development grants. Such subsidies and grants accounted for 23.6% and 26.4% of the sum of our revenue and other income (referred to herein as “total income”) for the years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021, respectively, and 45.2% and 17.7% of total income for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021, respectively. We expect to generate revenues primarily through license subscription fees from our customer-base and through the acquisition of additional online directories and databases to grow the number of business profiles within our network.
We believe that our existing capital and other sources of liquidity will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements, however, the adequacy of our available funds to meet our operating and capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our ability to achieve revenue growth and maintain favorable operating margins; the cost, progress and results of our future research and product development; our ability to improve or maintain coverage and reimbursement arrangements with third-party and government payers; the effect of competing technological and market developments; and costs incurred in enforcing and defending certain of the patents and other intellectual property rights upon which our technologies are based, to the extent such rights are challenged.
We cannot be certain that in the future alternative financing sources, including previously received government subsidies and research and development grants, will be available to us at such times or in the amounts we need or whether we can negotiate commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that our actual cash requirements will not be greater than anticipated. If we are unable to obtain future financing through the methods we described above or through other means, our business may be materially impaired and we may be unable to complete our business objectives and may be required to cease operations, curtail one or more product development or commercialization programs, significantly reduce expenses, sell assets, seek a merger or joint venture partner, file for protection from creditors or liquidate all our assets. Additionally, though we have engaged qualified external consultants to assist us with the preparation of our grant applications, our government subsidies remain subject to review and potential audits, and we may be required to repay all or portion of the grant with penalties, as applicable, if we are deemed ineligible for such subsidies following such audits.
If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brand and increase market awareness of our company and products, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
We believe that maintaining and enhancing the “Locafy” brand identity and increasing market awareness of our company and products, is critical to achieving widespread acceptance of our platform, to strengthen our relationships with our existing customers and to our ability to attract new customers. The successful promotion of our brand will depend largely on our continued marketing efforts, our ability to continue to offer high quality products, and our ability to successfully differentiate our products and platform from competing products and services. Our brand promotion activities may not be successful or yield increased revenue.
Negative publicity about us, our products or our platform could materially and adversely impact our ability to attract and retain customers, our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The promotion of our brand also requires us to make substantial expenditures, and we anticipate that these expenditures will increase as our market becomes more competitive and as we expand into new markets. To the extent that these activities increase revenue, this revenue may not be enough to offset the increased expenses we incurred. We cannot predict whether virtual marketing events and phone or virtual sales interactions will be as successful as in-person events and meetings or, for how long, or the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to constrain our marketing, promotional and sales activities. If we do not successfully maintain and enhance our brand, our business may not grow, our pricing power may be reduced relative to our competitors and we may lose customers, all of which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Compliance with the rapidly evolving landscape of global data privacy and security laws may be challenging, and any failure or perceived failure to comply with such laws, or other concerns about our practices or policies with respect to the processing of personal data, could damage our reputation and deter current and potential customers and end users from using our platform and products and services or subject us to significant compliance costs or penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to comply with the increasing number of data protection laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, as well as concerns about our practices with regard to the collection, use, storage, retention, transfer, disclosure, and other processing of personal data, the security of personal data, or other privacy-related matters, such as cybersecurity breaches, misuse of personal data and data sharing without necessary safeguards, including concerns from our customers, employees and third parties with whom we conduct business, even if unfounded, could damage our reputation and operating results. As we seek to expand our business, we are, and may increasingly become, subject to various laws, regulations and standards, as well as contractual obligations, relating to data privacy and security in the jurisdictions in which we operate. The regulatory and legal frameworks regarding data privacy and security issues in many jurisdictions are constantly evolving and developing and can be subject to significant changes from time to time, including in ways that may result in conflicting requirements among various jurisdictions. Interpretation and implementation standards and enforcement practices are similarly in a state of flux and are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. As a result, we may not be able to comprehensively assess the scope and extent of our compliance responsibility at a global level and we may fail to fully comply with the applicable data privacy and security laws, regulations and standards. Moreover, these laws, regulations and standards may be interpreted and applied differently over time and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and it is possible that they will be interpreted and applied in ways that may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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In certain jurisdictions in which we operate, stringent, extra-territorial data protection laws exist which increase our compliance burden and the risk of scrutiny. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”), which applies to the collection, use, storage, retention, transfer, disclosure, and other processing of personal data obtained from individuals located in the European Union (“EU”) or by businesses operating within the EU, became effective on May 25, 2018 and has resulted, and will continue to result, in significantly greater compliance burdens and costs for companies with customers, end users, or operations in the EU. The GDPR places stringent obligations and operational requirements on us as both a processor and controller of personal data and could make it more difficult or more costly for us to use and share personal data. Under the GDPR, data protection supervisory authorities are given various enforcement powers, including levying fines of up to 20 million Euros or up to 4% of an organization’s annual worldwide turnover, whichever is greater, for the preceding financial year, for non-compliance. Data subjects also have the right to be compensated for damages suffered as a result of a controller or processor’s non-compliance with the GDPR. While the GDPR provides a more harmonized approach to data protection regulation across the EU member states, it also gives EU member states certain areas of discretion and therefore laws and regulations in relation to certain data processing activities may differ on a member state by member state basis, which could further limit our ability to use and share personal data and could require localized changes to our operating model. In addition to the GDPR, the EU also has released a proposed Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications, or the ePrivacy Regulation, to replace the EU’s current Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive, or the ePrivacy Directive, to, among other things, better align EU member states and the rules governing online tracking technologies and electronic communications, such as unsolicited marketing and cookies, with the requirements of the GDPR. While the ePrivacy Regulation was originally intended to be adopted on May 25, 2018 (alongside the GDPR), it is currently going through the European legislative process, and commentators now expect it to be adopted in 2021. The current draft of the ePrivacy Regulation significantly increases fining powers to the same levels as GDPR and may require us to change our operational model and incur additional compliance expenses. Recent discussions were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, further delaying enactment of this regulation, the details of which remain in flux. Additional time and effort may need to be spent addressing the new requirements in the potential ePrivacy Regulation as compared to the GDPR.
Under the GDPR, restrictions are placed on transfers of personal data outside of the European Economic Area to countries which have not been deemed “adequate” by the European Commission (including the United States). As a global business, with customers and end users worldwide, we are susceptible to any changes in legal requirements affecting international data flows. The Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) issued a decision on July 16, 2020, invalidating the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework, which provided one mechanism for lawful cross-border transfers of personal data between the EU and the U.S. While the decision did not invalidate the use of standard contractual clauses, another mechanism for making lawful cross-border transfers, the decision has called the validity of standard contractual clauses into question under certain circumstances, and has made the legality of transferring personal data from the EU to the U.S. or various other jurisdictions outside of the EU more uncertain. Specifically, the CJEU stated that companies must now assess the validity of standard contractual clauses on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration whether the standard contractual clauses provide sufficient protection in light of any access by the public authorities of the third country to where the personal data is transferred, and the relevant aspects of the legal system of such third country. While the European Data Protection Board recently issued certain draft guidance relating to ongoing use of the standard contractual clauses, including certain proposed amendments to the standard contractual clauses, the CJEU’s decision has increased uncertainty surrounding data transfers from the EU to third countries that may not offer the same level of protection for data subjects’ rights as the EU. Due to this evolving regulatory guidance, we may need to invest in additional technical, legal and organization safeguards in the future to avoid disruptions to data flows within our business and to and from our customers and service providers. Furthermore, this uncertainty, and its eventual resolution, may increase our costs of compliance, impede our ability to transfer data and conduct our business, and harm our business or results of operations.
Outside of the EU, many jurisdictions have adopted or are adopting new data privacy and security laws, which may result in additional expenses to us and increase the risk of non-compliance. For example, in the United States, various federal and state regulators, including governmental agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, have adopted, or are considering adopting, laws and regulations concerning personal data and data security. This patchwork of legislation and regulation may give rise to conflicts or differing views of personal privacy rights. For example, certain state laws may be more stringent or broader in scope, or offer greater individual rights, with respect to personal data than federal, international or other state laws, and such laws may differ from each other, all of which may complicate compliance efforts. One such comprehensive privacy law in the United States is the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), which came into effect on January 1, 2020. Among other things, the CCPA requires companies that process information of California residents to make new detailed disclosures to consumers about such companies’ data collection, use and sharing practices, gives California residents expanded rights to access and delete their personal information, and to opt out of certain personal information sharing with (and sales of personal information to) third parties. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for certain data breaches that result in the loss of personal data. This private right of action is expected to increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, data breach litigation. The CCPA was amended in September 2018, November 2019 and September 2020, and it is possible that further amendments will be enacted, but even in its current form it remains unclear how various provisions of the CCPA will be interpreted and enforced. Additionally, a new privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), was approved by California voters in the election of November 3, 2020. The CPRA, which will take effect in most material respects on January 1, 2023, modifies the California Consumer Privacy Act significantly, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information and creating a new state agency to oversee implementation and enforcement efforts, potentially resulting in further uncertainty and requiring us to incur additional costs and expenses in an effort to comply. Other state laws are changing rapidly and there have been ongoing discussions and proposals in the U.S. Congress with respect to new federal data privacy and security laws to which we would become subject if enacted. All of these evolving compliance and operational requirements impose significant costs that are likely to increase over time, may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies, divert resources from other initiatives and projects, and could restrict the way products and services involving data are offered, all of which may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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In addition to government regulation, privacy advocates and industry groups have and may in the future propose self-regulatory standards from time to time. These and other industry standards may legally or contractually apply to us, or we may elect to comply with such standards. We expect that there will continue to be new proposed laws and regulations concerning data privacy and security, and we cannot yet determine the impact such future laws, regulations and standards may have on our business. New laws, amendments to or re-interpretations of existing laws, regulations, standards and other obligations may require us to incur additional costs and restrict our business operations. For example, there is an increasing trend of jurisdictions requiring data localization, which may prohibit companies from storing data relating to resident individuals in data centers outside the relevant jurisdiction or, at a minimum, require a complete set of the data to be stored in data centers within the relevant jurisdiction. Because the interpretation and application of laws, regulations, standards and other obligations relating to data privacy and security are still uncertain, it is possible that these laws, regulations, standards and other obligations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our data processing practices and policies or the features of our products and services. If so, in addition to the possibility of fines, lawsuits, regulatory investigations, public censure, other claims and penalties, and significant costs for remediation and damage to our reputation, we could be materially and adversely affected if legislation or regulations are expanded to require changes in our data processing practices and policies or if governing jurisdictions interpret or implement their legislation or regulations in ways that negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the developing requirements relating to clear and prominent privacy notices (including in the context of obtaining informed and specific consents to the collection and processing of personal data, where applicable) may potentially deter end users from consenting to certain uses of their personal data. In general, negative publicity of us or our industry regarding actual or perceived violations of our end users’ privacy-related rights, including fines and enforcement actions against us or other similarly placed businesses, also may impair users’ trust in our privacy practices and make them reluctant to give their consent to share their data with us. Any inability to adequately address data privacy or security-related concerns, even if unfounded, or to comply with applicable laws, regulations, standards and other obligations relating to data privacy and security, could result in additional cost and liability to us, harm our reputation and brand, damage our relationships with consumers and have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
With regard to our commercial arrangements, we and our counterparties, including business partners and external service providers, might be subject to contractual obligations regarding the processing of personal data. While we believe our and our counterparties’ conduct under these agreements is in material compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, certifications and orders relating to data privacy or security, we or our counterparties may fail, or be alleged to have failed, to be in full compliance. In the event that our acts or omissions result in alleged or actual failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, standards, certifications and orders relating to data privacy or security, we may incur liability. While we endeavor to include indemnification provisions or other protections in such agreements to mitigate liability and losses stemming from our counterparties’ acts or omissions, we may not always be able to negotiate for such protections and, even where we can, there is no guarantee that our counterparties will honor such provisions or that such protections will cover the full scope of our liabilities and losses.
While we strive to comply with our internal data privacy guidelines as well as all applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations, and contractual obligations in respect of personal data, there is no assurance that we are able to comply with these laws, regulations and contractual obligations in all respects. Any failure or perceived failure by us, external service providers or business partners to comply may result in proceedings or actions against us, including fines and penalties or enforcement orders (including orders to cease processing activities) being levied on us by government agencies or proceedings or actions against us by our business partners, customers or end-users, including class action privacy litigation in certain jurisdictions, and could damage our reputation and discourage current and future users from using our products and services, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, compliance with applicable laws on data privacy requires substantial expenditure and resources, including to continually evaluate our policies and processes and adapt to new requirements that are or become applicable to us on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, which would impose significant burdens and costs on our operations or may require us to alter our business practices. Concerns about the security of personal data also could lead to a decline in general Internet usage, which could result in a decrease in demand for our products and services and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, if the local government authorities in our target markets require real-name registration for users of our platform, the growth of our customer and end-user bases may slow down and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
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We rely on key personnel and employees with the technical know-how to lead and operate our businesses.
We depend on the expertise, experience and efforts of our executive officers and other key employees. A failure to attract and retain executive, business development, technical and other key personnel could reduce our revenues and operational effectiveness. There is a continuing demand for relevant qualified personnel, and we believe that our future growth and success will depend upon our ability to attract, train and retain such personnel.
Competition for personnel in our industry is intense, and there is a limited number of persons with knowledge of, and experience in, this industry. There can be no assurance that we will maintain sufficiently qualified personnel or hire additional qualified personnel on a timely basis, or that we will be able to retain our key management personnel. An inability to attract or maintain a sufficient number of requisite personnel, particularly those with the requisite technical expertise, could have a material adverse effect on our performance or on our ability to capitalize on market opportunities or meet our stated objectives.
If we fail to adequately protect our proprietary rights, our competitive position could be impaired and we may lose valuable assets, generate reduced revenue, and incur costly litigation to protect our rights.
We use intellectual property and technology developed in the course of our business. A substantial part of our commercial success will depend on our ability to establish and protect our intellectual property to maintain our software source code.
A component of the underlying technology on which our technology is built is patented in the United States (Patent Number US 9286274). However, the granting of a patent does not guarantee validity since it may be revoked on the grounds of invalidity at any time during its life and, at any point, an alleged infringer may assert that the patent is invalid. The granting of the patent also does not guarantee that the patentee has freedom to operate the invention claimed in the patent because, for example, the working of a patented invention may be prevented by the existence of another patent. In addition, there are limitations associated with patent protection and, generally speaking, a patent issued in one jurisdiction will not prevent unauthorized exploitation of the invention in other jurisdictions.
Further to the above, the commercial value of our intellectual property assets is dependent on any relevant legal protections. These legal mechanisms, however, do not guarantee that the intellectual property will be protected or that our competitive position will be maintained. No assurance can be given that employees or third parties will not, knowingly or unknowingly, breach confidentiality agreements, infringe or misappropriate our intellectual property or commercially sensitive information or that competitors will not be able to produce non-infringing competitive products. Competition in retaining and sustaining protection of technologies and the complex nature of technologies can lead to expensive and lengthy disputes for which there can be no guaranteed outcome. There can be no assurance that any intellectual property which we (or entities we deal with) may have an interest in now or in the future will afford us commercially significant protection of technologies or that any of the projects that may arise from technologies will have commercial applications.
In addition, there can be no assurance that we will implement adequate measures to protect our intellectual property. Failure in the measures implemented to protect our intellectual property may result in an erosion of any potential competitive position. Additionally, securing rights to (or developing) technologies complementing our existing intellectual property will also play an important part in our commercial success. There is no guarantee that such rights can be secured or such technologies can be developed.
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We face the risk that third parties will claim that we infringe on their intellectual property rights, which could result in costly license fees or expensive litigation.
There is a risk that the validity, ownership or authorized use of intellectual property relevant to us and our technology may be successfully challenged by third parties or that third parties may assert intellectual property infringement, unfair competition or like claims against us under copyright, trade secret, patent or other laws. While we are not aware of any claims of this nature in relation to any of the intellectual property rights in which we have or will acquire an interest, such claims, if made, may harm, directly or indirectly, our business and operations. If we are forced to defend claims of intellectual property infringement, whether they are with or without merit or are determined in our favor, the costs of such litigation may be potentially significant and may divert management’s attention from normal commercial operations. We have not undertaken an exhaustive assessment to determine any potential infringements or like claims.
Any such action as described in the foregoing may adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial performance.
Our results of operations may be harmed if we are subject to a protracted infringement claim, a claim that results in a significant damage award, or a claim that results in an injunction.
If a third party accuses us of infringing on its intellectual property rights or if a third party commences litigation against us for the infringement of intellectual property rights, we may incur significant costs in defending such action, whether or not it ultimately prevails. Typically, intellectual property litigation is expensive and may result in the inability to use the intellectual property in question. Costs that we incur in defending third-party infringement actions may also include diversion of management’s and technical personnel’s time and attention from normal commercial operations.
In addition, parties making claims against us may be able to obtain injunctive or other equitable relief that could prevent us from further using our technology and intellectual property or commercializing our products. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may be required to pay damages and other costs and obtain one or more licenses from the prevailing third party. If we are not able to obtain these licenses at a reasonable cost, if at all, it could encounter delays in commercializing our products or product introductions and loss of substantial resources while we attempt to develop alternative products. Defense of any lawsuit or failure to obtain any of these licenses could prevent us from commercializing available products and could cause us to incur substantial expense.
Any of these events could adversely impact our business and our future operations and financial performance, position and prospects.
We may need additional capital, and financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
Although our current cash and cash equivalents, anticipated cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business for at least 12 months following this offering, there is a risk that we may need additional cash resources in the future to fund our growth plans or if we experience adverse changes in business conditions or other developments. We may also need additional cash resources in the future if we find and wish to pursue opportunities for new investments, acquisitions, capital expenditures or similar actions. If we determine that our cash requirements exceed the amount of cash and cash equivalents we have on hand at the time, we may seek to issue equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. The issuance and sale of additional equity would result in further dilution to our shareholders. While one or more new debt financings could subject us to any or all of the following risks:
● | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenue is insufficient to repay debt obligations; | |
● | acceleration of obligations to repay the indebtedness (or other outstanding indebtedness), even if we make all principal and interest payments when due, if we breach any covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; | |
● | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding; | |
● | diverting a substantial portion of cash flow to pay principal and interest on such debt, which would reduce the funds available for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; and | |
● | creating potential limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate. |
The occurrence of any of these risks could adversely affect our operations or financial condition.
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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
The world is currently experiencing a deadly outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”). Public health and government authorities have recommended and mandated precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including in some cases quarantines and shelter-in-place orders. Despite the recent easing of certain precautions in certain geographic regions, some of our operating counterparties continue to experience temporary operational curtailments. There may be additional curtailments. The COVID-19 pandemic could also disrupt our supply or distribution chains or access to workers, which in turn could adversely impact our sales. Any of these events could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition in future periods. We are unable to predict the nature or extent of any impact the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our future results of operations and financial condition.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy and markets over the past several months and may continue to do so, which could adversely affect our business or the trading price of our ordinary shares.
The global economy and financial markets have experienced significant volatility and uncertainty due to COVID-19. Reduced economic and travel activities or illness among our management team as a result of COVID-19 could limit or delay our business activities. In addition, economic volatility and disruptions in the financial markets could adversely affect our ability to obtain future debt or equity financing on acceptable terms. Government efforts to counter the economic effects of COVID-19 through liquidity and stimulus programs may be insufficient or ineffective in preventing or reducing the effects of a recession. It is difficult to determine the extent of the economic and market impacts from COVID-19 and the many ways in which they may negatively affect our business and the trading price of our ordinary shares.
As a company primarily based outside of the United States, our business is subject to economic, political, regulatory and other risks associated with international operations.
As a company with substantial operations in Australia, our business is subject to risks associated with conducting business outside the United States. Many of our suppliers are located outside the United States. Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:
● | economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular non-U.S. economies and markets; | |
● | differing and changing regulatory requirements for product approvals; | |
● | differing jurisdictions could present different issues for securing, maintaining or obtaining freedom to operate in such jurisdictions; | |
● | potentially reduced protection for intellectual property rights; | |
● | difficulties in compliance with different, complex and changing laws, regulations and court systems of multiple jurisdictions and compliance with a wide variety of foreign laws, treaties and regulations; | |
● | changes in non-U.S. regulations and customs, tariffs and trade barriers; | |
● | changes in non-U.S. currency exchange rates, Australian dollar, U.S. dollar, and currency controls; | |
● | changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic environment; | |
● | trade protection measures, import or export licensing requirements or other restrictive actions by governments; | |
● | negative consequences from changes in tax laws; and | |
● | business interruptions resulting from geo-political actions, including war and terrorism, health epidemics, or natural disasters including earthquakes, typhoons, floods and fires. |
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Risks Related to Our Securities and this Offering
The requirements of being a U.S. public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members.
We have applied to have our ordinary shares and the Warrants listed on Nasdaq. As a U.S. public company, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will become subject to other reporting and corporate governance requirements, including certain requirements of the Nasdaq and certain provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”), which will impose significant compliance obligations upon us. We will also be required to ensure that we have the ability to prepare financial statements that are fully compliant with all applicable reporting requirements on a timely basis. Compliance with these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual reports with respect to our business and operating results. Sarbanes-Oxley, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and Nasdaq, have imposed increased regulation and disclosure and require enhanced corporate governance practices of public companies. Our efforts to comply with evolving corporate governance laws, regulations and standards are likely to result in increased administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. These changes will require a significant commitment of additional resources. We may need to hire more employees in the future to comply with these requirements, which will increase our costs and expenses.
We may not be successful in implementing these requirements and implementing them could materially adversely affect our business. In addition, if we fail to implement the requirements with respect to our internal accounting and audit functions, our ability to report our operating results on a timely and accurate basis could be impaired. If we do not implement such requirements in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, we might be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities, such as the SEC or Nasdaq. Any such action could harm our reputation and the confidence of investors, customers and other third parties with whom we do business and could materially adversely affect our business and cause the trading price of our ordinary shares to fall.
In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed.
We also expect that being a U.S. public company and these new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers.
We are a “foreign private issuer” and may have disclosure obligations that are different from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different U.S. securities laws and rules than a domestic U.S. issuer, which could limit the information publicly available to our shareholders.
As a “foreign private issuer,” we are subject to reporting obligations that, in certain respects, are less detailed and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, we are not required to issue quarterly reports, proxy statements that comply with the requirements applicable to U.S. domestic reporting companies, or individual executive compensation information that is as detailed as that required of U.S. domestic reporting companies. We will also have four months after the end of each fiscal year to file our annual reports with the SEC and will not be required to file current reports as frequently or promptly as U.S. domestic reporting companies. Furthermore, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the insider reporting and short-swing profit recovery requirements in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, our shareholders may not know on as timely a basis when our officers, directors and principal shareholders purchase or sell their ordinary shares, as the reporting deadlines under the corresponding Australian insider reporting requirements are not applicable. As a foreign private issuer, we are also exempt from the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) which, generally, are meant to ensure that select groups of investors are not privy to specific information about an issuer before other investors. As a result of such varied reporting obligations, shareholders should not expect to receive the same information at the same time as information provided by U.S. domestic companies.
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In addition, as a foreign private issuer, we have the option to follow certain Australian corporate governance practices rather than those of the United States, except to the extent that such laws would be contrary to U.S. securities laws, provided that we disclose the requirements we are not following and describe the Australian practices we follow instead. As a result, our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all domestic U.S. corporate governance requirements.
We may lose our “foreign private issuer” status in the future, which could result in additional costs and expenses to us.
We are a “foreign private issuer,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and are not subject to the same requirements that are imposed upon U.S. domestic issuers by the SEC. We may in the future lose foreign private issuer status if a majority of our ordinary shares are held in the United States and we fail to meet the additional requirements necessary to avoid loss of foreign private issuer status, such as if: (i) a majority of our directors or executive officers are U.S. citizens or residents; (ii) a majority of our assets are located in the United States; or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer would be significantly more than the costs incurred as an Australian foreign private issuer. If we are not a foreign private issuer, we would be required to file periodic and current reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are generally more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. In addition, we may lose the ability to rely upon exemptions from corporate governance requirements that are available to foreign private issuers.
We are an “emerging growth company,” and any decision on our part to comply only with certain reduced reporting and disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies could make our ordinary shares less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act. For as long as we continue to be an “emerging growth company,” we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to have our independent registered public accounting firm audit our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an “emerging growth company” until the fifth anniversary of the fiscal year end date following the completion of this offering, however, our status would change more quickly if we have more than US$1.07 billion in annual revenue, if the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds US$700 million as of June 30 of any year, or we issue more than US$1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period before the end of that period.
Investors could find our ordinary shares less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our ordinary shares less attractive as a result of any choices to reduce future disclosure, there may be a less active trading market for our ordinary shares and our share price may be more volatile.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our ordinary shares.
Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404 or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our ordinary shares.
Prior to this offering, we were a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal controls and procedures. Our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting. However, in preparing our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. As a result of lacking an effective accounting review process, material adjustments were made to the financial statements for the last two fiscal years in order to be in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards. We also identified a significant deficiency relating to insufficient written policies and procedures for accounting and financial reporting which led to inadequate financial statement closing process. To remediate our material weaknesses, we expect to incur substantially more additional costs for addressing our material weaknesses and deficiencies. Our remedial measures will include: (a) hiring qualified internal control personnel, including financial and IT personnel, to manage the implementation of internal control policies, procedures and improvement of the internal audit function, system user access, security management and data protection, as applicable; (b) developing and implementing written policies and procedures for accounting and financial reporting that meet the standards applied to public companies listed in the United States; and (c) conducting internal control training to management, key operations personnel and the accounting department, so that management and relevant personnel understand the requirements and elements of internal control over financial reporting mandated by the U.S. securities laws. We have already commenced the implementation of several aforementioned remedial measures, which we expect to complete by June 30, 2022. Our ongoing remedial measures include hiring an additional qualified finance employee to facilitate the segregation of duties between the authorization, recording and reporting material transactions, and formal documentation of key Company controls, processes and accounting transactions. The implementation of any or all of these measures, however, still may not fully address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Additionally, as most of our documentation will be prepared internally, we do not expect there to be significant material costs to implement our remedial measures. Our failure to correct the material weaknesses or our failure to discover and address any other material weaknesses or control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. Moreover, ineffective internal control over financial reporting significantly hinders our ability to prevent fraud.
For as long as we are an “emerging growth company”, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. We could be an “emerging growth company” until the fifth anniversary of the fiscal year end date following the completion of this offering. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal controls could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.
If we identify material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, or if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting when required, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our ordinary shares could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are listed, the SEC, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
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Substantial future sales of our ordinary shares, or the perception that these sales could occur, may cause the price of our ordinary shares to drop significantly, even if our business is performing well.
After this offering, we will have 20,730,236 ordinary shares (including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)) outstanding, or 21,002,963 ordinary shares if the underwriter exercises its option to purchase additional ordinary shares in full. This includes the 1,818,181 ordinary shares we are selling in this offering (or 2,090,908 ordinary shares if the underwriter exercises its option to purchase additional ordinary shares in full), which may be resold in the public market immediately. The remaining 91%, or 18,912,055 of our total outstanding ordinary shares will become available for resale in the public market as shown in the chart below.
As restrictions on resale end, the market price could drop significantly if the holders of these restricted shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them.
Number of shares / % of total outstanding ordinary shares (as of December 31, 2021)(1) | Date of availability for resale into public market
| |
5,531,193 / 29.25% | 180 days after the date of this prospectus due to an agreement these shareholders have with the underwriters. However, the underwriters can waive this restriction and allow these shareholders to sell their shares at any time. | |
13,380,862 / 70.75% | Within 365 days of the date of this prospectus due to the requirements of the federal securities laws; most of these ordinary shares are expected to have been beneficially owned for at least one year and therefore be freely transferable under Rule 144. |
(1) Including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus).
A large volume of sales of our ordinary shares, or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our ordinary shares, into the public market, including shares of our ordinary shares issued upon exercise of options or warrants, could decrease the prevailing market price of our ordinary shares and could impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities in the future. Even if a substantial number of sales of our ordinary shares or warrants does not occur, the mere perception of the possibility of these sales could depress the market price of our ordinary shares or warrants and have a negative effect on our ability to raise capital in the future.
We do not anticipate paying cash dividends and, accordingly, shareholders must rely on share appreciation for any return on their investment.
We have never paid any dividends on our ordinary shares. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our businesses and do not anticipate that we will declare or pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. See “Dividend Policy.” As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our ordinary shares will be your sole source of gain on your investment for the foreseeable future. Investors seeking cash dividends should not invest in our ordinary shares.
Our management team will have broad discretion to use the net proceeds from this offering and its investment of these proceeds may not yield a favorable return. They may invest the proceeds of this offering in ways with which investors disagree.
Our management team will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend or invest the proceeds in ways with which our shareholders disagree. Accordingly, investors will need to rely on our management team’s judgment with respect to the use of these proceeds. We intend to use the proceeds from this offering in the manner described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.” The failure by management to apply these funds effectively could negatively affect our ability to operate and grow our business.
We cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the closing of this offering. In addition, the amount, allocation and timing of our actual expenditures will depend upon numerous factors. Accordingly, we will have broad discretion in using these proceeds. Until the net proceeds are used, they may be placed in investments that do not produce significant income or that may lose value.
Investors in this offering will pay a much higher price than the book value of our ordinary shares and, as a result, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution of your investment.
The initial public offering price of the Units will be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per ordinary share based on the total value of our tangible assets less our total liabilities immediately following this offering. Therefore, if you purchase Units in this offering, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of approximately $5.23 per ordinary share, representing the difference between our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share after giving effect to this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants included in the Units, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. This dilution is due in large part to the fact that our earlier investors paid substantially less than the initial public offering price when they acquired their shares (including shares expected to be issued upon the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes at the closing of the offering). As of December 31, 2021, we had 1,312,750 outstanding performance rights to acquire ordinary shares at prices below the assumed initial public offering price. To the extent these outstanding performance rights or the Warrants included as part of the Units are ultimately exercised, you will experience further dilution. See “Dilution.”
Nasdaq may delist our securities from its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
While we expect that our ordinary shares and the Warrants will be listed on Nasdaq following this offering under the trading symbols “LCFY” and LCFY-W, respectively, we cannot assure you that our securities will be or will continue to be listed on Nasdaq. If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
● | a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; | |
● | a determination that our ordinary shares are a “penny stock,” which would require brokers trading in our ordinary shares to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our ordinary shares; | |
● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for us; and | |
● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
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We are governed by the corporate laws of Australia, which in some cases have a different effect on shareholders than the corporate laws of the United States and may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.
We are governed by the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”) and other relevant laws, which may affect the rights of shareholders differently from those of a company governed by the laws of a U.S. jurisdiction, and may, together with our Constitution, have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or may affect the price an acquiring party would be willing to offer in such an instance.
Our Constitution and Australian laws and regulations applicable to us may adversely affect our ability to take actions that could be beneficial to our shareholders.
As an Australian company we are subject to different corporate requirements than a corporation organized under the laws of the United States. Our Constitution, as well as the Corporations Act, sets forth various rights and obligations that apply to us as an Australian company and which may not apply to a U.S. corporation. These requirements may operate differently than those of many U.S. companies. You should carefully review the summary of these matters set forth under “Description of Share Capital” as well as our Constitution, which is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, prior to investing.
U.S. civil liabilities may not be enforceable against us, our directors, our officers or certain experts named in this prospectus.
We are governed by the Corporations Act and our principal place of business is in Australia. Many of our directors and officers, reside outside of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us and such directors, officers and experts or to enforce judgments obtained against us or such persons, in U.S. courts, in any action, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws or any other laws of the United States. Additionally, rights predicated solely upon civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws or any other laws of the United States may not be enforceable in original actions, or actions to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts, brought in Australian courts, including courts in the State of Western Australia. In addition, as a company incorporated in Australia, the provisions of the Corporations Act regulate the circumstances in which shareholder derivative actions may be commenced which may be different, and in many ways less permissive, than for companies incorporated in the United States.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ordinary shares will depend on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. We cannot assure you that analysts will cover us or provide favorable coverage. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or change their opinion of our ordinary shares, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of the Company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
U.S. holders of our ordinary shares and Warrants may suffer adverse tax consequences if we are characterized as a passive foreign investment company.
We do not believe we are a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”). However, the determination as to whether we are a PFIC for any taxable year is based on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules that are subject to differing interpretations. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder (as defined under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) holds the ordinary shares and Warrants, it would likely result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for such U.S. Holder. U.S. Holders should carefully read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for United States Holders” for more information and consult their own tax advisors regarding the likelihood and consequences if we are treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Insiders have substantial control over us which could delay or prevent a change in corporate control or result in the entrenchment of management or the board of directors.
After this offering, our directors, executive officers and principal shareholders, together with their affiliates and related persons, will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 29.7% of our outstanding ordinary shares. As a result, these shareholders, if acting together, may have the ability to determine the outcome of matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election and removal of directors and any merger, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, these persons, acting together, may have the ability to control the management and affairs of the Company. Accordingly, this concentration of ownership may harm the market price of our ordinary shares by:
● | delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control; | |
● | entrenching our management or the board of directors; | |
● | impeding a merger, takeover, or other business combination involving us; or | |
● | discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us. |
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Risks Related to Our Warrants
Our warrants have no prior trading history and an active market may not develop, which may limit the ability of our investors to sell warrants.
There is no public market for our warrants. Although we have applied to have the Warrants listed on Nasdaq, an active trading market for the Warrants may never develop or may not be sustained if one develops. If an active market for the Warrants does not develop, it may be difficult to sell your Warrants.
Holders of Warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as ordinary share shareholders until such holders exercise their Warrants and acquire our ordinary shares, except as set forth in the Warrants.
Until holders of Warrants acquire our ordinary shares upon exercise of the Warrants, such holders will have no rights with respect to the ordinary shares underlying the Warrants, except as set forth in the Warrants. Upon exercise of the Warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of an ordinary shareholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date. Accordingly, the Warrants do not confer any rights of ordinary share ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of our ordinary shares at a fixed price for a limited period of time.
The Warrants are speculative in nature.
Holders of the Warrants may exercise their right to acquire the ordinary shares and pay an exercise price of $ per ordinary share, subject to certain adjustments, commencing immediately upon issuance for a five-year period, after which period any unexercised Warrants will expire and have no further value. Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the Warrants, if any, is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the Warrants will equal or exceed their imputed offering price. The Warrants will not be listed or quoted for trading on any market or exchange. There can be no assurance that the market price of the ordinary shares will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the Warrants, and consequently, it may not ever be profitable for holders of the Warrants to exercise the Warrants.
Our Warrants will designate the courts of the State of New York sitting in the City and County of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our Warrants, which could limit the ability of Warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our Warrants will provide that all questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Warrants shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the law of the State of New York. Each party to the Warrant will agree that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by the Warrants (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City and County of New York. In addition, each party will irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City and County of New York, for the adjudication of any dispute under or in connection with or with any transaction contemplated by or discussed in the Warrant, and each party will irrevocably waive, and agree not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this exclusive forum provision shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction or any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act against us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or agents. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. In addition, stockholders cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a Warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our Warrant inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
We may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the Warrants.
Each Warrant may be exercised by way of a cashless exercise, meaning that the holder may not pay a cash purchase price upon exercise, but instead would receive upon such exercise the net number of our ordinary shares determined according to the formula set forth in the Warrant. Accordingly, we may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the Warrants.
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We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately $8.4 million, excluding the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Warrants, or $9.7 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional securities in full, from the sale of the Units offered by us, based upon the assumed initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Warrants. An increase (decrease) of $1.00 in the assumed initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by $1.67 million, assuming the number of ordinary shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Each increase (decrease) of 100,000 ordinary shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by $0.51 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price of the ordinary shares, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility, create a market for our ordinary shares, and facilitate future access to the public equity markets for us and our shareholders. We currently intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to accelerate the commercialization of our existing technology, continue to innovate by enhancing and developing alternative applications of the technology, reduce debt to strengthen our balance sheet, and execute potential strategic acquisitions, as well as for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
The expected use of net proceeds of this offering represents our current intentions based upon our present plan and business conditions. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering. We will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds in the category of “for general corporate purposes,” and investors will be relying on our judgment regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering. Depending on the outcome of our business activities and other unforeseen events, our plans and priorities may change and we may apply the net proceeds of this offering in different proportions than we currently anticipate.
Pending use of the net proceeds from this offering as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds of this offering in term deposits and short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities or certificates of deposit.
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We have never declared or paid any dividends on our ordinary shares or any of our other securities. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the growth and development of our business, and we do not anticipate that we will declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions under any future indebtedness and other factors the board of directors deems relevant.
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The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of December 31, 2021 derived from our Q2 YTD Unaudited Financial Statements prepared in accordance IFRS:
● | On an actual basis; and | |
● | On an “as adjusted” basis to give effect to our issuance and sale of the Units in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of US$5.50 (A$7.58) per Unit, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our historical financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
As of December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
Actual | As adjusted (1) | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | A$ 762,739 | 12,531,228 | ||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||
ASX Convertible Notes | 405,600 | 405,600 | ||||||
NASDAQ Convertible Notes | 1,777,000 | - | ||||||
Total current debt | 2,182,600 | 405,600 | ||||||
Equity: | ||||||||
Issued capital | 35,505,073 | 49,954,244 | ||||||
Reserves | 3,778,099 | 3,778,099 | ||||||
Accumulated losses | (41,510,312 | ) | (42,413,994 | ) | ||||
Total deficiency | (2,227,140 | ) | 11,318,349 | |||||
Total Capitalization | A$ (576,402) | 12,969,087 |
(1) Assumes the option to purchase additional securities is not exercised by the underwriters and no value is attributed to the Warrants included in the Units.
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of as adjusted additional paid-in capital, total deficiency and total capitalization by approximately $1.67 million (A$2.30 million), assuming the number of Units offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of Units we are offering. An increase (decrease) of 100,000 in the number of Units we are offering would increase (decrease) each of as adjusted additional paid-in capital, total deficiency and total capitalization by approximately US$0.51 million (A$0.70 million), assuming the assumed initial public offering price per Unit remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
The outstanding share information in the table above excludes the following:
● | 1,312,750 ordinary shares issuable upon the settlement of certain unvested and contingent performance rights outstanding as of December 31, 2021; | |
● | 1,818,181 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants at an exercise price of $ per share; | |
● | 109,090 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the representative’s warrants (or 125,454 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the representative’s warrants if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities is exercised in full) at an exercise price of $ ___ per ordinary share; and | |
● | 42,360 ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes issued subsequent to December 31, 2021. |
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If you invest in our Units in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per Unit and the as adjusted, net tangible book value per ordinary share immediately after this offering, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants included in the Units. The historical net tangible book value (deficit) of our ordinary shares as of December 31, 2021 was $(2,825,911), or $(0.15) per share, based upon 18,598,414 ordinary shares outstanding as of such date. Net tangible book value (deficit) per ordinary share represents our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, divided by the number of ordinary shares outstanding at December 31, 2021.
Our pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) of our ordinary shares as of December 31, 2021 was $(2,825,911), or $(0.15) per share. Pro forma net tangible book value per ordinary share represents our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, divided by the number of ordinary shares outstanding at December 31, 2021, after giving effect to the conversion of the NASDAQ Convertible Notes at December 31, 2021 into 313,641 ordinary shares (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)).
After giving effect to the receipt of the net proceeds from our sale of 1,818,181 Units in this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2021 would have been $5.53 million, or $0.27 per ordinary share. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.42 per ordinary share to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution of $5.23 per ordinary share, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants included in the Units, to new investors purchasing Units in this offering.
The following table illustrates this dilution on a per ordinary share basis to new investors (unaudited):
Assumed initial public offering price per Unit | $ | 5.50 | ||||||
Historical net tangible book value per ordinary share at December 31, 2021 (prior to giving effect to the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes) | (0.15 |
) | ||||||
Pro forma decrease in net tangible book value per ordinary share attributable to the conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes | (0.00 |
) | ||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value per ordinary share at December 31, 2021 (giving effect to the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes | (0.15 |
) | ||||||
Increase in pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share attributable to the offering of Units | $ | 0.42 |
||||||
Pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share after giving effect to the offering of Units | $ | 0.27 |
||||||
Dilution per ordinary share to new investors purchasing Units in this offering | $ | 5.23 |
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value, as adjusted to give effect to this offering, by approximately $1.67 million or $0.08 per ordinary share and would increase (decrease) the dilution to new investors by approximately $0.92 per ordinary share, assuming the number of Units offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We may also increase or decrease the number of Units we are offering. An increase of 100,000 in the number of Units offered by us would increase our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $0.50 million or $0.02 per share, and decrease the dilution per ordinary share to investors participating in this offering by $0.02 per share, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants and the assumed initial public offering price per Unit remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Similarly, a decrease of 100,000 in the number of Units offered by us would decrease our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $0.50 million or $0.02 per ordinary share, and increase the dilution per ordinary share to investors participating in this offering by $0.02 per ordinary share, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants and the assumed initial public offering price per Unit remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
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If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional securities in full, the pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share after the offering would be $0.33, the increase in pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share to existing shareholders would be $0.48 and the immediate dilution in net tangible book value per ordinary share to new investors in this offering would be $5.17, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants.
The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2021, on an as adjusted basis as described above, the aggregate number of ordinary shares, as well as the total consideration and the average price per ordinary share paid to us by existing shareholders, the holders of NASDAQ Convertible Notes, and to be paid by new investors acquiring shares in this offering, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants.
Shares Purchased | Total Consideration | Average Price Per | ||||||||||||||||||
Number | % | Amount | % | Share | ||||||||||||||||
Existing shareholders before this offering | 18,598,414 | 89.7 | $ | 25,776,683 | 69.4 | $ | 1.38 | |||||||||||||
Holders of NASDAQ Convertible Notes after giving effect to the conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes upon the closing of this offering | 313,641 | 1.5 | 1,380,018 | 3.7 | 4.40 | |||||||||||||||
Investors participating in this offering, assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants | 1,818,181 | 8.8 | 9,999,996 | 26.9 | 5.50 | |||||||||||||||
Total | 20,730,236 | 100.0 | $ | 37,156,697 | 100.0 | $ | 1.79 |
The table above assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ordinary shares and/or Warrants. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ordinary shares and/or Warrants is exercised in full, the number of ordinary shares held by the existing shareholders after this offering would be reduced to 88.6% of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding after this offering, and the number of ordinary shares held by new investors would increase to 2,090,908 ordinary shares, or 11.4% of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding after this offering.
The outstanding share information in the table above excludes the following:
● | 1,312,750 ordinary shares issuable upon the settlement of certain unvested and contingent performance rights outstanding as of December 31, 2021; | |
● | 1,818,181 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants at an exercise price of US$ _____ per share; | |
● | 109,090 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the representative’s warrants (or 125,454 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the representative’s warrants if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities is exercised in full) at an exercise price of $6.875 per ordinary share; and | |
● | 42,360 ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes issued subsequent to December 31, 2021. |
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRS, and the related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus. Amounts for subtotal, totals and percentage variances included in tables may not sum or calculate using the numbers as they appear in the tables due to rounding. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance and achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this prospectus, particularly under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Overview
We are an Australian company currently focused on commercializing our Software as a Service (SaaS) online publishing technology platform. Key aspects of our platform are patented in the United States. Central to our platform is the ability to publish almost any type of content to almost any device that uses a web browser to display web content. Further to that, our platform programmatically optimizes the published content for local search. Once data is integrated with our platform, the production of pages is largely automated. This enables the publication of large volumes of landing pages optimized for customer relevant search queries for local products and services in target locations.
“Local search” is one of the strongest emerging trends in search engine optimization, with consumers increasingly searching for products and services in close proximity to their immediate location. Approximately 46% of all online search is “local”. We provide businesses an automated and cost-effective solution to increase their online visibility. The objective is to increase the likelihood that local consumers will find our customer’s business online when searching for local products and services, regardless of search method. Regardless of whether the consumer is searching using more traditional means, such as by typing, or by using more modern methods such as voice search (e.g., Google Home, Alexa, Siri), a recent emergent trend, the landing pages are designed to be found for relevant search terms, locally. This is achieved through the automated attribution of schema and speakable codes to published content, which ensures that content and the context in which it is used is understood by all device types, including voice assistants.
The landing pages produced by our platform contain features that would otherwise require significant manual effort to achieve, or the application of additional and more expensive solutions. Our technology results in fast page load speed and the seamless delivery of content to all device types due to the platform’s adaptive nature of publishing content, and the automated attribution of security. We believe the results recently achieved in multiple markets, including North America, Australia and the UK, demonstrate the capability of our technology. Across 21,960 landing pages published up to November 28, 2021, more than 50% of these pages appeared in page one search results for the target keyword and location, while more than 33% of pages appeared in either the first, second and third positions on Page 1.
The importance of Page 1 results is exemplified by consumer behavior studies that found more than 95% of consumers were more likely to enter a new search query than to proceed to page 2 of a search result.
Specifically, our technology is able to process structured data provided in standard technical formats (for example XML, JSON, CSV and XLS) of any quantity, to be published to any web browser and made accessible on any viewing device that uses a browser to display content, including smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktops and wearables (in so far as the content from data feeds can be published on a myriad of devices). Data may be transmitted via Web API, FTP or local upload. In March 2016, we were granted a patent in the United States (Patent Number US 9286274) relating to this process.
Impact of COVID-19
We have been largely unaffected by COVID-19. Our existing larger international customers appeared to have withstood any financial impact caused by COVID-19 on their business. Our smaller customers are predominantly based in Australia, where COVID-19 generally had a relatively minor disruption to businesses.
Key Components of Our Results of Operations
Revenue. We derive substantially all of our revenue from license subscription fees earned from customers using our technology as well as from data and advertising fees earned from customers publishing their content on our digital property network.
We derived license subscription fees from 996 direct customers for the year ended June 30, 2021, as compared to license subscription fees from 297 direct customers for the year ended June 30, 2020. This increase was largely due to the acquisition of the PinkPages directory in November 2020. We derived license subscription fees from 17 channel partners that acquired 1,306 end user licenses for the year ended June 30, 2021, as compared to 7 channel partners that acquired 513 end user licenses for the year ended June 30, 2020. We derived data revenues from 8 data partners representing approximately 2.7 million end users for the year ended June 30, 2021, as compared to 8 data partners representing approximately 1.9 million end users for the year ended June 30, 2020.
Historically, we have not experienced any significant recoverability issues with respect to our accounts receivable. We offer tiered, volume-based discounts to our largest customers and in some cases, customers are contracted to some level of minimum revenue commitment.
Cost of Revenue and Gross Margin. Cost of revenue consists primarily costs of bandwidth purchased from cloud providers and third-party software resold individually or as part of a bundled solution. Gross profit is equal to our total revenues less cost of revenues. Gross profit as a percentage of our total revenue is referred to as gross margin. Our gross margin has been and will continue to be affected by a number of factors, including the timing and extent of our investments in our operation, our ability to manage server costs, our ability to manage the usage of third-party software and the extent to which we periodically choose to pass on the cost savings from lower pricing and higher utilization to our customers in the form or lower prices as well as our efforts to drive greater usage of our products through attractive pricing.
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Operating Expenses. The most significant components of operating expenses are personnel costs, which consist of salaries, benefits, bonuses and commissions. We also incur other non-personnel costs related to our general overhead expenses. We plan to continue investing in sales and marketing by increasing our sales and marketing headcount, expanding our sales channels and building our brand awareness. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to continue to increase in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future as we expand our sales and marketing efforts, although these expenses may fluctuate as a percentage of our total revenue from period to period depending on the timing of these expenses and, over the longer term, we expect them to decline as a percentage of revenue as we scale our business. Following the completion of this offering, we expect to incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including costs to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to companies listed on a national securities exchange, costs related to compliance and reporting obligations pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and increased expenses for insurance, investor relations and professional services.
Operating Results
Comparison of the Six Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
We have based the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations on our Q2 YTD Unaudited Financial Statements and the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The following table sets forth information concerning our operating results for the six months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
Six Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 (unaudited) |
2020 A$ (unaudited) |
|||||||
Revenue | 1,795,821 | 916,380 | ||||||
Other income | 386,245 | 775,058 | ||||||
Technology expense | (776,023 | ) | (263,831 | ) | ||||
Employee benefits expense | (2,098,756 | ) | (1,083,559 | ) | ||||
Occupancy expense | (23,167 | ) | (31,673 | ) | ||||
Advertising expense | (39,379 | ) | (40,529 | ) | ||||
Consultancy expense | (352,609 | ) | (159,283 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | (200,544 | ) | (194,297 | ) | ||||
Other expenses | (40,670 | ) | (5,732 | ) | ||||
Impairment of financial assets | - | (10,726 | ) | |||||
Operating loss | (1,349,082 | ) | (98,192 | ) | ||||
Financial cost | (24,530 | ) | (35,993 | ) | ||||
Loss before income tax | (1,373,612 | ) | (134,185 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense | - | - | ||||||
Loss for the year | (1,373,612 | ) | (134,185 | ) | ||||
Other comprehensive income | (18,050 | ) | 21,411 | |||||
Total comprehensive loss for the year | (1,391,662 | ) | (112,774 | ) |
Revenue
Six Months Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 (unaudited) |
2020 (unaudited) |
A$ | % | |||||||||||||
Revenue | 1,795,821 | 916,380 | 879,441 | +95.9 | % | |||||||||||
Other income | 386,245 | 775,058 | (388,813 | ) | -50.1 | % |
There was a A$879,441 increase in overall revenue for the six month period ended December 31, 2021 compared to the six month period ended December 31, 2020. Of this increase, A$204,718 is attributed to our acquisition of PinkPages in November 2020 and primarily results from the recognition of revenue from July to December 2021 as compared to November and December 2020, the only two months for which we included results from PinkPages for the same period in 2020. Subscription revenues (excluding those derived from PinkPages) increased by A$610,509 for the six month period ended December 31, 2021 compared to the six month period ended December 31, 2020, an increase of 174%. This increase is primarily due to the commercial release of our Landing Page and “proximity” products.
During the six month period ended December 31, 2020, other income included A$277,700 in COVID-19 related government subsidies. We did not receive any equivalent government subsidies during the six months ended December 31, 2021. Research and development grants, comprising an “R&D Tax Incentive” comprised A$386,245 for the six month period ended December 31, 2021, compared to A$497,358 for the six month period ended December 31, 2020.
Operating Expenses
Six Months Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021 (unaudited) |
2020 (unaudited) |
A$ | % | |||||||||||||
Technology expense | (776,023 | ) | (263,831 | ) | (512,192 | ) | 194.1 | % | ||||||||
Employee benefits expense | (2,098,756 | ) | (1,083,559 | ) | (1,015,197 | ) | 93.6 | % | ||||||||
Occupancy expense | (23,167 | ) | (31,673 | ) | 8,506 | (26.8 | )% | |||||||||
Advertising expense | (39,379 | ) | (40,529 | ) | 1,150 | (2.8 | )% | |||||||||
Consultancy expense | (352,609 | ) | (159,283 | ) | (193,326 | ) | 121.3 | % | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | (200,544 | ) | (194,297 | ) | (6,247 | ) | 3.2 | % | ||||||||
Other expenses | (40,670 | ) | (5,732 | ) | (34,938 | ) | 609.5 | % | ||||||||
Impairment of financial assets | - | (10,726 | ) | 10,726 | (100 | )% | ||||||||||
Total Operating Expenses | (3,531,148 | ) | (1,789,630 | ) | (1,741,518 | ) | 97.3 | % |
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Total Operating Expenses increased to A$3,531,148 for the six months ended December 31, 2021 from A$1,789,630 for the six months ended December 31, 2020, an increase of 97.3%. This increase was primarily due to the scaling up of our sales activities, increasing operational and technical resources as a result of our existing and anticipated growth, and establishing systems to support and enable further growth.
Technology expense. Technology expense includes the software and hosting services required to operate and maintain our platform, software that we use in the management of our broader operations, and third-party solutions that we may offer for resale, typically as part of a bundled solution. The increase in technology expense for the six months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the six months ended December 31, 2020 is mainly attributed to the increase in the sales of bundled “proximity” solutions, which incorporates an element of third-party software.
Employee benefits expense. Employee benefits expense relates to our engagement of employees and contractors, together with associated expenses including recruitment, payroll taxes and insurances. Total costs increased by A$1,015,197 for the six months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the six months ended December 31, 2020, as we increased sales and operational resources in our key markets (Australia, North America and Europe).
Occupancy expense. The decrease in occupancy expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the six months ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to the non-renewal of certain leased premises.
Advertising expense. Advertising expenses include the engagement of corporate marketing consultants and the purchase of third-party online advertising as required in specific customer engagements. These expenses were largely unchanged during the six months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the six months ended December 31, 2020.
Consultancy expense. Consultancy expenses include tax, corporate and general advisory services provided by third-party consultants. The increase in consultancy expenses during the six months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the six months ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to the costs associated in preparing this offering.
Depreciation and amortization expense. The six month periods ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 include the amortization of acquired database assets together with the depreciation of right-of-use assets with respect to the lease of office space in Perth, Australia.
Other expenses. Other expenses are sundry costs incurred that relate to business operations, which include insurance policies, legal and travel costs. Other expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2020 included a net gain of A$38,580 in realized foreign exchange which largely accounts for the difference in other expenses incurred during the six months ended December 31, 2021.
Comparison of the Years Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
The following table sets forth information concerning our operating results for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:
Year Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Revenue | 2,191,425 | 1,985,362 | ||||||
Other income | 788,258 | 615,356 | ||||||
Technology expense | (651,644 | ) | (979,161 | ) | ||||
Employee benefits expense | (2,359,459 | ) | (2,389,185 | ) | ||||
Occupancy expense | (52,219 | ) | (104,419 | ) | ||||
Advertising expense | (67,575 | ) | (265,996 | ) | ||||
Consultancy expense | (240,928 | ) | (273,978 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | (397,506 | ) | (362,917 | ) | ||||
Other expenses | (132,515 | ) | (438,418 | ) | ||||
Impairment of financial assets | (14,690 | ) | - | |||||
Operating loss | (936,853 | ) | (2,213,356 | ) | ||||
Financial cost | (58,913 | ) | (108,471 | ) | ||||
Loss before income tax | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense | - | - | ||||||
Loss for the year | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | ||||
Other comprehensive income | (1,653 | ) | (4,205 | ) | ||||
Total comprehensive loss for the year | (997,419 | ) | (2,326,032 | ) |
Revenue
Year Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021
A$ | 2020 | A$ | % | |||||||||||||
Revenue | 2,191,425 | 1,985,362 | 206,063 | +10.4 | % | |||||||||||
Other income | 788,258 | 615,356 | 172,902 | +28.1 | % |
While there was a 10.4% increase in overall revenue, of particular significance was the change in the mix of underlying revenue from a declining print business (resulting from our acquisition of SuperMedia in 2018) to a largely recurring subscription-based revenue. The strategic rationale for the SuperMedia acquisition was to gain access to their customer list and online directory asset, however, a requirement for the acquisition was to also acquire its print business. The print operations were never intended to be a continued business and were incidental to the acquisition. Hence, FY20 included A$310,349 print directory revenues, which in FY21 was a discontinued product line with no attributed revenue. Overall revenues from subscriptions were A$1,362,110 for the year ended June 30, 2021, as compared to A$831,733 for the year ended June 30, 2020, or an increase of A$530,377. This increase in subscription revenues included A$467,702 in additional subscription revenues, attributable to our acquisition of PinkPages in November 2020. Other income included government subsidies, which was A$290,900 for the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to A$116,000 for the year ended June 30, 2020, comprising “Jobkeeper” and “COVID-19 Cashflow Boost subsidies,” and research and development grants, which was A$497,358 for the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to A$494,577 for the year ended June 30, 2020, which comprised “R&D Tax Incentive.”
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Operating Expenses
Year Ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
2021
A$ | 2020 | A$ | % | |||||||||||||
Technology expense | (651,644 | ) | (979,161 | ) | 327,517 | (33.4 | )% | |||||||||
Employee benefits expense | (2,359,459 | ) | (2,389,185 | ) | 29,726 | (1.2 | )% | |||||||||
Occupancy expense | (52,219 | ) | (104,419 | ) | 52,200 | (50.0 | )% | |||||||||
Advertising expense | (67,575 | ) | (265,996 | ) | 198,421 | (74.6 | )% | |||||||||
Consultancy expense | (240,928 | ) | (273,978 | ) | 33,050 | (12.1 | )% | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | (397,506 | ) | (362,917 | ) | (34,589 | ) | 9.5 | % | ||||||||
Other expenses | (132,515 | ) | (438,418 | ) | 305,903 | (69.8 | )% | |||||||||
Impairment of financial assets | (14,690 | ) | - | (14,690 | ) | N/A | ||||||||||
Total Operating Expenses | (3,916,536 | ) | (4,814,074 | ) | (897,538 | ) | (18.6 | )% |
Total Operating Expenses decreased to A$3,916,536 for the year ended June 30, 2021 from A$4,814,074 for the year ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of 18.6%. This decrease was primarily due to the changes discussed below.
Technology expense. Technology expense includes the software and hosting services required to operate and maintaining our platform, software that we use in the management of our broader operations and third-party solutions that we may offer for resale, typically as part of a bundled solution. The decline in technology expense for the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to the year ended June 30, 2020 is mainly attributed to the reduction in the sale of third-party solutions, primarily as a result of a change in product mix.
Employee benefits expense. Employee benefits expense relates to our engagement of employees and contractors together with associated expenses including recruitment, payroll taxes and insurances. While the total costs were relatively unchanged for the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to the year ended June 30, 2020, we made significant changes in the reallocation of resources. Costs attributed to the now discontinued print business were redeployed to bolster sales and services related to our channel reseller target market.
Occupancy expense. From July 1, 2019 we have adopted IFRS 16 Leases which has resulted in changes in the classification, measurement and recognition of leases. The new standard, among other things, requires recognition of a right-of-use asset (the leased item) and a financial liability (lease payments) with expenses being recognized as depreciation costs. In applying IFRS 16 for the first time, as permitted by the standard, we have elected not to apply the new standard to existing short-term leases, but have applied the new standard to the lease of our head office in Perth, Australia. As a result, the financial impact from our application of the new standard is a comparative decrease in occupancy expenses and an increase in depreciation expenses. The decrease in occupancy expenses for the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to the year ended June 30, 2020 was also due to the non-renewal of certain leased premises.
Advertising expense. Advertising expenses during the year ended June 30, 2020 included print directory production costs, which was discontinued for the year ended June 30, 2021, representing a cost decrease of A$82,389. Further expense reductions of A$60,939 resulted from the decrease in the resale of third-party online advertising solutions as we continue to assist customers acquired through SuperMedia transition to use our technology.
Consultancy expense. Consultancy expenses include tax, corporate and general advisory services provided by third-party consultants.
Depreciation and amortization expense. During the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, we continued to amortize the acquired database assets for Hotfrog and SuperPages. Amortization expense commenced for the PinkPages database asset acquired during the year ended June 30, 2021. The depreciation of right -of -use assets was A$34,819 for the year ended June 30, 2021 and A$23,213 for the year ended June 30, 2020.
Other expenses. Other expenses are sundry costs incurred that relate to business operations which includes insurances, legal and travel costs. The decrease in other expenses for the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to the year ended June 30, 2020 is mainly attributed to the reduction in legal expenses to A$93,801 for the year ended June 30, 2021, from A$249,316 for the year ended June 30, 2020, primarily as a result of legal work undertaken in connection with a possible offering in Australia in the year ended June 30, 2020, with no corresponding work in the year ended June 30, 2021, as well as to the decrease in travel & related expenses to A$7,558 for the year ended June 30, 2021, from A$56,290 for the year ended June 30, 2020, and in business expenses to A$4,958 for the year ended June 30, 2021, from A$31,531 for the year ended June 30, 2020, as well as to a one-time share based payment of A$30,800 that occurred in the year ended June 30, 2020.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Since our inception and through December 31, 2021, we have financed our operations and capital expenditures primarily through cash flows generated by operations and private sales of our equity securities. From our inception in 2009 through to December 31, 2021, we have raised in excess of A$35 million of equity capital, in connection with such financings.
Comparison of the Six Months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
As at December 31, | ||||||||
2021 A$ (unaudited) |
2020 A$ (unaudited) |
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 762,739 | 399,571 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 850,825 | 462,242 | ||||||
Current Liabilities | 4,200,510 | 2,525,532 | ||||||
Working capital (1) | (2,284,161 | ) | (1,518,665 | ) |
(1) Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.
The table below presents our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Six Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 A$ (unaudited) |
2020 A$ (unaudited) |
|||||||
Net cash used by operating activities | (1,320,522 | ) | 276,545 | |||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (295,564 | ) | (418,965 | ) | ||||
Net cash from financing activities | 1,728,094 | 380,800 | ||||||
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 112,008 | 238,380 |
Operating Activities
For the six months ended December 31, 2021, net cash used by operating activities was A$1,320,522, attributable to a net loss of A$1,373,612. For the six months ended December 31, 2020, net cash used by operating activities was A$276,545, attributable to a net loss of A$134,185. The increase in net cash expenditure for the six month period ended December 31, 2021 is indicative of the increase in sales and commercial activities compared to December 31, 2020 as well as a decrease in government subsidies due to COVID-19.
Investing Activities
For the six months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, net cash used by investing activities was A$295,564 and A$418,965, respectively, attributable to A$261,737 and A$418,965 respectively, in cash payments for the purchase of intellectual property. Further cash payments of A$33,827 were made for the purchase of property, plant and equipment during the six month period ended December 31, 2021.
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Financing Activities
For the six months ended December 31, 2021, net cash from financing activities was A$1,728,094, of which A$1,747,000 was from the issuance of convertible loan notes which would convert to ordinary shares upon Nasdaq listing (the “NASDAQ Convertible Notes”) and offset by a A$18,906 reduction in leasing liabilities.
For the six months ended December 31, 2020, net cash from financing activities was A$380,800, of which A$699,850 was from the issuance of shares, partially offset by A$314,070 from the net repayment of borrowings and A$4,980 reduction in leasing liabilities.
Comparison of the Years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
The following table shows our cash, accounts receivable and working capital as of the dates indicated:
As at June 30, | ||||||||
2021 A$ |
2020 A$ |
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 650,731 | 161,191 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 391,016 | 232,017 | ||||||
Current liabilities | 2,402,068 | 2,683,588 | ||||||
Working capital (1) | (1,126,033 | ) | (2,171,930 | ) |
(1) Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.
The table below presents our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Years Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Net cash used by operating activities | (496,031 | ) | (1,484,589 | ) | ||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (442,423 | ) | (54,137 | ) | ||||
Net cash from financing activities | 1,427,994 | 1,397,961 | ||||||
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 489,540 | (140,765 | ) |
Operating Activities
For the year ended June 30, 2021, net cash used by operating activities was A$496,031, attributable to a net loss of A$995,766 adjusted for A$410,543 in operating cash flows before movements in working capital as well as a net cash inflow from cash generated from operations of A$89,192. Operating cash flows before movements in working capital of A$410,543 consisted of A$397,506 in depreciation and amortization expenses, A$14,690 from expected credit losses and A$1,653 of foreign exchange loss.
For the year ended June 30, 2020, net cash used by operating activities was A$1,484,589, attributable to a net loss of A$2,321,827 adjusted for A$397,442 in operating cash flows before movements in working capital as well as a net cash inflow from cash generated from operations of A$439,796. Operating cash flows before movements in working capital of A$397,442 consisted of A$370,847 in depreciation and amortization expenses, A$30,800 in share-based payments and A$4,205 of foreign exchange loss.
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Investing Activities
For the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, net cash used by investing activities was A$442,423 and A$54,137, respectively, attributable to A$433,639 and A$52,656 respectively, in cash payments for the purchase of intellectual property and further cash payments of A$8,784 and A$1,481, respectively, for the purchase of property, plant and equipment.
Financing Activities
For the year ended June 30, 2021, net cash from financing activities was A$1,427,994, of which A$1,739,999 was from the issuance of shares, partially offset by A$284,070 from the net repayment of borrowings and A$17,785 reduction in leasing liabilities.
For the year ended June 30, 2020, net cash from financing activities was A$1,397,961, of which A$2,301,050 was from the issuance of shares, partially offset by A$800,000 for payment for cancellation of shares, A$87,412 from net repayment of borrowings and A$13,235 reduction in leasing liabilities.
We intend to increase our capital expenditures to support the growth in our business and operations. Together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, funds raised in the offering will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months. However, our liquidity assumptions may prove to be incorrect, and we could exhaust our available financial resources sooner than we currently expect. We may seek additional funds at any time through equity, equity linked or debt financing arrangements. Our future capital requirements and the adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including those described in the section of this prospectus captioned “Risk Factors”. We may not be able to secure additional financing to meet our operating requirements on acceptable terms, or at all.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not engaged in any off-balance sheet financing arrangements and do not have any holdings in variable interest entities. We do not have any contingent assets or liabilities.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
We have adopted all of the new and revised Standards and Interpretations issued by IASB that are relevant to our operations and effective for the current year.
New and revised Standards and amendments thereof and Interpretations effective for the current year that are relevant to us include:
● | IFRS 16 “Leases”; and |
● | Interpretation 23 “Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments”. |
IFRS 16 Leases
We applied IFRS 16 Leases from July 1, 2019, which has resulted in changes in the classification, measurement and recognition of leases. The new standard introduces significant changes to lessee accounting by removing the distinction between operating and finance leases and requiring the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at commencement for all leases, except for short-term leases and leases of low value assets.
In applying IFRS 16 for the first time, as permitted by the standard, we have not elected to reassess whether a contract is, or contains, a lease at the date of initial application Instead, for contracts entered before the transition date we based our assessment by applying AASB 17 Leases and Interpretation 4 Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease. Further, the remaining terms of leases commencing before 1 July 2019 was less than 12 months. We started to apply IFRS 16 towards long term leases commencing during the year ended June 30, 2020. This has resulted in a comparative decrease in rent expenses and an increase in depreciation expenses.
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Interpretation 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments
We have significant tax losses carried forward but have assessed that they are not yet to be recognized in the accounts until such time that we are in a position to utilize those losses.
Impact of standards issued but not yet effective
The new Standards and Interpretations that have been issued but are not yet effective are not expected to have a material impact on the amounts recognized or disclosure included in our consolidated financial statements.
Contractual Obligations
Our future minimum payments under non-cancelable contracts were as follows as of December 31, 2021:
Contractual Obligations | Payment due by period | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | Less than 1 year | 1–3 years | 3–5 years | More than 5 years | ||||||||||||||||
Short-Term Debt Obligations (1) | A$ | 405,600 | A$ | 405,600 | A$ | - | A$ | - | A$ | - | ||||||||||
Convertible Notes (2) | 1,777,000 | 1,777,000 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Lease Payments(3) | 570,324 | 53,338 | 226,673 | 290,313 | - | |||||||||||||||
Purchase Obligations (4) | 114,466 | 114,466 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Total | A$ | 2,867,390 | A$ | 2,350,404 | A$ | 226,673 | A$ | 290,313 | A$ | - |
(1) | Relate to unsecured convertible notes which we would seek to repay. |
(2) | Relate to unsecured debt which would convert to ordinary shares upon Nasdaq listing. |
(3) | We lease our corporate head office in Perth, Australia under an operating lease arrangement that expires November 20, 2026. The terms of the lease agreement provide for rental payments on a graduated basis. We recognize rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease periods. |
(4) | Amounts consist of purchase obligations with certain vendors to provide products and services for operating purposes. |
The commitment amounts in the table above are associated with contracts that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum services to be used, fixed, minimum or variable price provisions, and the approximate timing of the actions under the contracts. The table does not include obligations under agreements that we can cancel without a significant penalty. We do not have any capital lease obligations and all of our property, equipment and software have been purchased with cash.
We enter into agreements in the normal course of business with vendors for products and services for operating purposes which are cancellable at any time by us. These payments are not included in this table of contractual obligations.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Our market risk exposure is primarily the result of fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rate risk.
Interest Rate Risk
As of December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of A$762,739 (year ended June 30, 2021: A$650,731). We have limited exposure to interest rate risk. Our exposure to market interest rates relates primarily to short-term deposits. Our cash and cash equivalents are not locked into long-term deposits at fixed rates so as to mitigate the risk of earning interest below the current floating rate. We do not have any credit facilities bearing variable interest rates or that allow lenders to reset the interest rate or the basis for the interest rate.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
As a result of services provided by third parties in the United States, Canada and Europe, we incur financial assets and liabilities in foreign currency denominated transactions that are affected by movements in the applicable exchange rate. We do not enter into any hedging transactions, although trade receivables and cash at banks held in foreign currency denominations provide a partial natural hedge against liabilities to be settled in foreign currencies. We are primarily exposed to foreign exchange risk inherent in U.S. dollar-denominated contracts related to our commercialization and acquisition activities. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had a decline of A$30,736 and an increase of A$228,063, respectively, in net exposure to the U.S. dollar, primarily in payables. An appreciation of the Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar by 10% would have decreased our operating loss for the period ended December 31, 2021 by A$2,794 and increased our operating loss for the period ended December 31, 2020 by A$20,733, while a depreciation would have increased our operating loss for the period ended December 31, 2021 by A$3,073 and would have decreased our operating loss by A$22,806 for the period ended December 31, 2020. As we continue our commercialization and acquisition activities, we expect to face continued exposure to exchange rate risk from the U.S. dollar. There was minimal or insignificant exposure to the euro, Great British Pound or to the Canadian dollar during the periods ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
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History and Development of the Company
We were incorporated on April 23, 2009 in Australia under the name Gumiyo Australia Pty Ltd. On January 14, 2021 we changed our name to Locafy Limited. On May 31, 2012, we established Moboom USA Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary in the state of Delaware in the United States. As of the date hereof, Moboom USA Inc. has ceased operations, and we intend to formally close the company. Our principal executive offices are located at 246A Churchill Avenue, Subiaco Western Australia 6008, Australia and our telephone number is +61 409 999 339. Our website address is www.locafy.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
Overview
We are an Australian company currently focused on commercializing our Software as a Service (SaaS) online publishing technology platform. Key aspects of our platform are patented in the United States. Central to our platform is the ability to publish almost any type of content to almost any device that uses a web browser to display web content. Further to that, our platform programmatically optimizes the published content for local search. Once data is integrated with our platform, the production of pages is largely automated. This enables the publication of large volumes of landing pages optimized for customer-relevant search queries for local products and services in target locations.
“Local search” is one of the strongest emerging trends in search engine optimization, with consumers increasingly searching for products and services in close proximity to their immediate location. Approximately 46% of all online search is “local”. We provide businesses an automated and cost-effective solution to increase their online visibility. The objective is to increase the likelihood that local consumers will find our customer’s business online when searching for local products and services, regardless of search method. Regardless of whether the consumer is searching using more traditional means, such as by typing, or by using more modern methods such as voice search (e.g., Google Home, Alexa, Siri), a recent emergent trend, the landing pages are designed to be found for relevant search terms, locally. This is achieved through the automated attribution of schema and speakable codes to published content, which ensures that content and the context in which it is used is understood by all device types, including voice assistants.
The landing pages produced by our platform contain features that would otherwise require significant manual effort to achieve, or the application of additional and more expensive solutions. Our technology results in fast page load speed and the seamless delivery of content to all device types due to the platform’s adaptive nature of publishing content, and the automated attribution of security. We believe the results recently achieved in multiple markets, including North America, Australia and the UK, demonstrate the capability of our technology. Across 21,960 landing pages published up to November 28, 2021, more than 50% of these pages appeared in page one search results for the target keyword and location, while more than 33% of pages appeared in either the first, second and third positions on Page 1.
The importance of Page 1 results is exemplified by consumer behavior studies that found more than 95% of consumers were more likely to enter a new search query than to proceed to page 2 of a search result. Specifically, our technology is able to process structured data provided in standard technical formats (for example, XML, JSON, CSV and XLS) of any quantity, to be published to any web browser and made accessible on any viewing device that uses a browser to display content, including smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktops and wearables (in so far as the content from data feeds can be published on a myriad of devices). Data may be transmitted via Web API, FTP or local upload. In March 2016, we were granted a patent in the United States (Patent Number US 9286274) relating to this process.
We believe that our technology is able to provide a number of products and services that are of value to our customers and are capable of generating revenue for us. We believe our technology has several key competitive advantages, including:
● | Page speed: the very fast loading speed of web pages produced using our technology; | |
● | Automated security features: the automated attribution of security certificates (SSL) to published web pages; |
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● | Seamless display of content across all devices: using the adaptive delivery of content we initially detect the device accessing a page published by Locafy. We produce the web page in accordance with the device profile in near-real time, which displays in the correct format on any device with an Internet browser; | |
● | Automated schema deployment: the automated attribution of a schema and speakable to content published on a web page to enhance search engine optimization for both traditional and voice search. “Speakable” is a type of schema developed by Google that translates longer-form website content from text-to-speech allowing for audible playback); | |
● | Scale: the substantial scale at which our platform is able to ingest and automatically publish structured data to produce individual, content-specific web pages; | |
● | State of the art page structures: the ability to increase the organic search engine ranking results by publishing content onto proprietary designed page structures (automated “search engine optimization” or “SEO”); | |
● | Synchronized publication of content: acting as a publishing “end point” for third -data providers (for example, citation management companies and Google My Business), who maintain control of their client’s data in their own database; and | |
● | Centralized maintenance: the ability for us to maintain and implement technology improvements centrally for all published pages is a unique feature of our platform that reduces maintenance costs. |
To continue our research into the deployment of large-scale web page production from structured data, in November 2016 we acquired the business assets relating to Hotfrog, a global online business directory. This acquisition allowed us to apply our technology to Hotfrog’s large customer database by repurposing Hotfrog’s business listing data to produce individual web pages. Additionally, the acquisition demonstrated a live use-case for our technology. We have undertaken several years of research since the acquisition to streamline the delivery of product, improve usability and flexibility for customers, and improve the performance of the products in the market.
As an example, voice search has recently been trending in the market. Today, all web products deployed using our technology have voice search optimization automatically attributed to content as it is published online. The majority of business listing information is not voice search enabled, which would impact the likelihood of appearing in voice search results. We intend to keep abreast of market trends and changes and to seek further channels and applications for our technology.
Our Industry
For the approximate 213 million small-to-medium businesses (“SMBs”) in the world that may be seeking to get found online for the products and services they offer, there are two main alternatives. The first is to pay for digital advertising and the alternative is to buy search engine optimization (“SEO”) services to enhance their own online presence. Both markets are substantial, with annual spend on digital advertising anticipated to be around $571 billion in 2021 and spend on SEO predicted to reach $773 billion globally in 2022.
Before the advent of search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing, one method for finding information online was through web directories. A web directory is a searchable catalogue of links to external websites. The links are typically organized according to categories, for example “professional services > bookkeeping.” A person searching for information can also browse by category or type a query in a search box. Many of these early web directories were built by companies that owned print directories, and they tended to employ the same commercial strategies online as they did in print. That business model has been superseded by search engine tactics that favor results for the most relevant service in the nearest proximity to the search user. Search engines now effectively operate in competition to traditional directory business models.
Search engines are programs that create a catalogue of information by, amongst other things, scanning the Internet to assess the structure of websites and the content within websites. Internet users utilize search engines through the use of keyword(s) search terms. The search engine analyzes those keyword(s) and returns SERP, with a list of websites it deems relevant or connected to the searched keyword(s) and, in regards to local search, the nearest in proximity. In addition to the technology factors that impact SERP, in terms of content, we believe relevance and proximity are two of the three major determining factors in generating local search results. The third factor, prominence, is achieved by publishing a customer’s business profile onto many online properties.
As new technologies are developed, the manner in which users access the Internet to conduct search queries has changed and continues to quickly evolve. In June 2007, the first Apple iPhone was released to the market, and in May 2015, Google announced that for the first time more Google searches were conducted on mobile devices than desktop computers.
Notwithstanding this evolution, while the overall trend for Internet searching appears to have shifted from desktop to mobile devices and may now be moving towards searching by voice, the underlying website technologies used to publish content predominantly suit desktop and increasingly mobile searches.
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The other major emerging trend is local search. According to research, 46% of all Google searches are for local information (in other words, consumers looking for products and services in their immediate proximity). Taken together, these two trends are challenging for existing technologies to cater for and would typically require a substantial re-write or rebuild to meet these needs. Most existing web and search technologies have not yet evolved to fully contemplate voice search enabled devices, and many of those technologies are not local search friendly. By way of example, in 2019, Uberall published their Voice Search Readiness Report, which observed that from a survey size of 73,000 businesses, only 4% were “voice search ready”. “Voice search ready” means a website whose content is capable of being searched by the entering of search terms by voice, which is predicted to be the majority of search in coming years. We believe that, similarly to when mobile sites were first deployed, clients would prefer that web pages they deploy can be viewed on any device and be found by search engines regardless of how the user conducts a search - by typing or using voice.
Due to the increasing number of Internet users engaged in voice search and the relatively low number of businesses that are voice search ready, we believe there is currently a significant market opportunity to provide businesses (and other content publishers) with pages that are also voice search enabled. In addition, businesses need to appear in local search queries in order to remain relevant to consumers. In short, we believe we are helping to solve the global problem for businesses wishing to engage with their local customers regardless of how they are searching and what they are searching for.
Our Strategy
We are focused on local search solutions and believe that our technology is well-positioned to provide a solution to the issues faced by Internet users and content publishers in their use of the Internet, which we believe can increase their SERP position for searches conducted within a certain proximity of their business’s core operating location. One of the challenges faced by SMBs is that around 81% of local searches are unbranded (as identified by Small Business Trends, June 9, 2020, https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/06/uberall-local-search-survey.html), which means that consumers are looking for a product or service but do not have a specific brand in mind, thus making highly ranked local products and services important. It is anticipated that mobile searches will influence around US $1.4 trillion in sales by 2021 (as identified by Quora Creative, January 7, 2021, https://quoracreative.com/article/mobile-marketing-statistics).
The goal for many content publishers (i.e., business owners) is for their own website or other online presence solutions to appear in the first SERP for related keyword searches. For example, a plumber may want to feature in searches where the keywords are “hot water systems” or “leaking tap.” Accordingly, a website’s keyword ranking is very important because the higher a website ranks in the SERP, the more likely Internet users will view the website. Given that more than 90% of all websites receive zero organic traffic and a further 5% receive less than 10 visits a month (as identified by 99 Firms, https://99firms.com/blog/local-seo-statistics/#gref), the value of having an online presence optimized for search engines is self-evident. Where a business can achieve more than one result in a SERP this is likely to lead to more calls, map views, requests for directions or form fills. This means the business can be expected to acquire more leads, which could generate more revenue. The importance of ranking well in an organic search is emphasized by the fact that around 97% of consumers that search online will search for local business (as identified by Local SEO Statistics, 99 Firms (https://99firms.com/blog/local-seo-statistics/#gref).
Search engines, like Google, have developed a series of algorithms to determine what content is best served for a particular keyword search. While search engines do not publish specific details about how their search algorithms operate, SEO is the method used to increase the likelihood of obtaining a high ranking (ideally first page) for relevant keyword searches. One market example that demonstrates performance was when a Yellow Pages online directory company provided Locafy with listing data for a services business in a major US region. Locafy utilized the same data as the Yellow Pages business listing and within less than 30 days, the Locafy powered landing pages were ranking higher than the Yellow Pages listing using specific service and location keywords.
A common SEO strategy involves paying an advertising fee to a search engine to appear in keyword search results. Google Ads (formerly Adwords) is an example of such a program. The major disadvantages to a business of implementing such a strategy are cost, complexity and a behavioral phenomenon coined “banner blindness,” which describes the phenomenon of users having learned to ignore content that resembles ads, is located in close proximity to ads, or that appears in locations traditionally dedicated to ads.
Given the challenges with paid advertising, there are a number of widely accepted SEO principles that can be applied to websites to positively influence search results. We have determined that there are eight key factors, what we call the “8S Factors,” which, when implemented collectively, we believe create a compelling local search solution. The “8S Factors” can be broken down into three core categories, in each of which we believe we have a competitive advantage in the market:
● | Core technology advantages | |
● | Automated SEO features | |
● | Commercial scale and agility |
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Core Technology Advantages
At the core of our technology is a platform that is able to publish any type of content on any device, for which we hold a patent. The pages produced are fast loading across all device types and securely hosted. Based on typical load times, Locafy-powered landing pages load around two times faster than 99% of all websites.
Factor 1: Speed - page load speed is widely recognized as one of the top -ranking factors.
There are a number of studies that suggest page loading speed times is a major factor that determines search ranking results. Our technology fundamentally changes the way web pages load on the Internet.
Generally, other website development platforms utilize the web browser on a user’s device to interpret the website’s code (instructions on what to display and how). The web browser then loads that content in a sequential manner (for example, header followed by image, followed by text block, followed by another text block). Accordingly, the page loading speed is the sum of the time to load each individual page element.
We have invented and developed an alternative page loading process whereby each page element loads simultaneously in its own micro server, resulting in page load speed being equal to the slowest loading element.
The overall result is that websites built on our technology theoretically load significantly faster compared to an equivalent website built on other technologies. In summary, our page load speed is the slowest page element versus platforms using traditional methodology where page load speed is the sum of loading individual page elements.
Factor 2: Seamless - content needs to be ubiquitously displayed across all devices.
Since 2015, Google has preferentially ranked mobile-friendly web pages (that is, ones that employ responsive display techniques). Traditional methods of delivering content to mobile devices have led to two streams of website development: responsive and adaptive web design. As both methods address the issue of rendering websites on various screen sizes, the term “responsive web design” is commonly used to refer to either method, however, there are key technology differences between the two. Responsive web design relies on a flexible grid that responds to any screen or device size by changing a website’s layout to suit the viewing device. In contrast, under adaptive web design the viewing device is detected and the website’s layout adapts to predefined content and style based on the specific device’s screen size.
Our technology delivers content in an “adaptive” fashion; meaning our technology detects the type of device accessing the website and only transmits content specifically for that type of device based on a predetermined set of layouts. The page elements are rendered on our servers, which removes the need for the device browsers to interpret the HTML. This also allows specific content to be served to specific devices. For example, a particular image can be selected to be shown on desktop browsers, versus a different image on a Samsung Galaxy phone or on an Apple iPad; this allows for very targeted marketing.
Factor 3: Security - a website must have security features to protect consumers.
Our technology is hosted on AWS and we automate the application of SSL security certificates for the pages published by our technology.
Automated SEO Features
Factor 4: Schema - universal coding language that provides context to content.
In 2011, Schema.org was founded in collaboration between Google, Bing, Yahoo! and, later, Yandex with the aim of creating a universal “search engine language” – essentially a form of software code that is included in webpages to “label” or “mark” specific content in order to make it easier for search engines to “read.” Adding schema markup to a website adds structure to content, which assists search engines to identify different content that might be relevant to a search query, such as events, prices and opening hours.
In April 2019, we determined a method to programmatically apply schema markup to content published in websites produced from our technology. This is an alternative solution to the current practice of website developers manually coding schema into individual websites (both new and existing).
Regardless of the volume of structured data synchronized with our technology, provided there is a unique identifier for each client in a data set, the technology can automate the production of web pages for each client in the data set and apply schema markup to every piece of content. This includes all types of schema including, but not limited to, website, organization, local business and breadcrumbs.
Factor 5: Speakable - applying code to assist rapidly growing voice search.
Currently in beta testing, “Speakable,” developed by Google, is a type of schema which translates longer-form website content from text-to-speech, allowing for audible playback. In April 2019, we developed a method to programmatically apply both schema markup and speakable code to websites produced from our platform. This is an alternative solution to the current practice of website developers manually coding schema and speakable into individual websites (both new and existing).
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Factor 6: Page structure - optimized page structure helps search algorithms better understand content.
We understand the importance of page layout and URL structure when deploying a page that is aiming to rank for products and services in a defined geographical area. Content synchronized with our technology is published to a pre-built design template which automates the production of the page, attribution of the schema and speakable code and generation of optimal headers and URL structure.
Commercial Scale and Agility
Factor 7: Synchronize - consistency of commercial content strengthens confidence in data.
Our technology can integrate with any structured data set via any standard data transfer methods including, but not limited to: API, CSV, and XML. Examples of datasets that are already integrated with us include Google My Business (GMB) profiles, citation management solutions and digital solutions marketplaces. The benefit of synchronization is that the client can maintain a trusted source of truth as the primary data source while being able to publish that content to our generated web products.
Factor 8: Scale - automated web page production at scale from synchronized data sets.
We believe our technology allows any volume and type of structured data to be published to any device with a browser that is connected to the Internet. As an extension of that, our technology can ingest very large quantities of data, from which it can produce a separate website for each entity contained in the data feed. Each website can have schema markup applied to all its content published online via the platform.
Our Products and Services
We provide an integrated suite of solutions with the objective of helping maximize the local online presence for business owners. The products can be broadly categorized as:
1. | Listings | |
2. | Landing pages | |
3. | Locators | |
4. | Marketplace |
Listings
We own and operate several online directories. An important component of an online presence for a business owner is to publish a business profile on various online directories, also referred to as “citation management.” Business owners or digital agencies on behalf of business owners publish business profiles (providing search relevancy) on many business directories in markets in which the business operates (providing search prominence in their proximity). While many smaller business owners do this manually, there are service providers that manage large volumes of business profiles through technology platforms. It is more efficient for these citation management services to be managed via an API that can synchronize with and publish to third-party directories, such as those we own.
We have several commercial agreements with citation management companies that pay a fee to connect to our directories via API to publish citations for their clients. The attraction for citation management companies is that our directory network attracts high volumes of Internet traffic and clicks as a result of consumers searching for local products and services.
We intend to upgrade the directory network over the next 12 to 18 months to further increase traffic and also to enable the automated production of web products from the data published to the directories. We aim to extend our commercial agreements with our current customers to also include licensing or reselling agreements.
We also intend to continue to seek out additional commercial citation management opportunities and to add to our publishing network through the production of additional niche directories or acquisition of relevant directories, databases and complementary technologies in our main target markets of Australia, the United States, Canada and Europe.
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Landing Pages
Landing page products can range from a single optimized web page for a business seeking a simple digital presence through to hundreds of interconnected landing pages that target multiple products and services across several regions. The primary function of the landing page product is to provide a cost-effective online presence that enables a business to rank high (search prominence) in organic search for local products and services (search relevance) in the regions they service (search proximity).
Proximity Page
We market our single page landing page product as Proximity Page, primarily due to its capability to provide a customer with an online presence that enables their business to be found for a specific product or service in a target location. Each proximity Page is published with all 8S Factors applied which assists in search rankings. Visually, a Proximity Page appears as a normal website and typically closely represents the customer’s brand. Proximity Page can be produced individually either manually via a form fill process or programmatically at scale from a dataset into a pre-built template. There are automated features that enable the Proximity Page to align the site look and feel with client branding, including through automated color schemes based on the colors of the provided logo.
Proximity Network
Proximity Network is a collection of interlinked Proximity Pages that promote a number of products and services in a targeted geographical region for a single business operation. The primary purpose of our technology-powered Proximity Pages is to create a prominent and relevant online presence in a business’s immediate proximity in order to deliver more sales leads at a lower cost of acquisition than alternative methods. Typical calls to action include chat-bots, click-to-call, click-to-book, request directions and request-a-quote (via basic form fill). The power of the Proximity Page combined with the interlinking of related pages within a single solution provides additional SEO benefits that generally result in improved page ranking for the desired keywords. The Proximity Network complements a customer’s existing online marketing presence and does not require any adjustment to their existing website.
As an example, a client of Locafy is a multi-location global business that sells electric bicycles under brand licensing arrangements with car manufacturers. Locafy publishes 2,375 pages promoting “electric bicycles” and related keywords in 49 locations. Of the 2,375 keyword-location pages Locafy published, 74.3% appeared on the first page of search engine results, and 61.1% in ranking positions 1, 2 or 3. Across all pages, the average search ranking position was 7.2.
Locators
Our Locator product is a combination of location-specific Lead Pages interlinked for multi-location businesses that have common corporate branding, products and services. The solution can be expanded from a small regional size solution, through to state, national and even global deployments.
The Locators can be programmatically produced from any structured data sets including citation management platforms, proprietary databases and Google My Business profiles. The Locators can be set to be controlled centrally, or their data management can be distributed to the individual region or business, depending on the client’s business requirements.
The Locators can incorporate custom widgets that deliver specific outcomes for the client. For example, if the client has an existing booking engine, this can be incorporated seamlessly into each Proximity Page within the Locator. Developers can also produce custom widgets that will render to any Proximity Page without having to undertake traditional coding work related to device detection and responsive design.
A unique aspect of our technology is that it is coding language agnostic which means that developers can use any coding language they choose and even have traditionally incompatible coding languages render on the same web page. This allows developers to choose solutions that offer the best desired outcome without being limited by coding language incompatibility.
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Marketplace
The “Locafy Marketplace” is an emerging solution that enables third-party developers to make available for consumption by our users three types of products:
1. | Themes: website designs that can be cloned, altered and published. | |
2. | Widgets: tools that make a website function better, for example: payment gateways, booking engines, appointment scheduling, job quoting and lead generation tools. | |
3. | Modules: typically, integrations to third-party systems that enable content to be published to third parties, for example, CRM, citation management, GMB management and accounting systems. |
Currently, we offer some third-party products and solutions as part of product bundles, including citation management, GMB optimization, GMB posting and proximity boosting solutions.
Our Competitive Strengths
We automate many SEO tasks that would otherwise take considerable time, cost and manual effort to undertake. Our key technology advantages are the adaptive delivery of content to the web (which is patented), resulting in fast page load time combined with device specific content publishing. The nature of the adaptive platform has enabled further competitive advantages with the capability to undertake client-wide maintenance and upgrades centrally. By way of example, we created and centrally deployed a widget that applied schema to published content across all client implementations.
The typical providers of local search solutions could be broadly classified into three categories: enterprise level organizations, digital media agencies and SEO freelancers. We believe that Locafy has a competitive advantage over alternative local search solutions in regards to:
1. | Scale; | |
2. | Set-up time; | |
3. | Set-up costs; | |
4. | Monthly costs; and | |
5. | Time to effect. |
Locafy’s ability to scale is substantial through its patented platform that enables very high volumes of page publishing through automation. Our self-serve capability provides an unlimited number channel partners and customers capability to create and publish landing pages. Enterprise customers would typically service tens of thousands of customers using their own technology solutions, while digital agencies would typically service dozens to hundreds of clients while SEO freelancers would typically service a handful of customers. The labor required to deploy alternative local search solutions is a limiting factor in their ability to scale.
The typical set up time for Locafy solutions is minutes compared to potentially weeks or months for alternative solutions, which leads to the next advantage of set up costs. Given that Locafy is automated, we typically charge no set-up fee. In comparison, digital agencies and SEO freelancers generally charge a few thousand dollars through to tens of thousands of dollars in set up fees. Enterprise solution providers would generally not charge a set-up fee.
In Australia, Locafy’s entry-level local search product has a recommended retail price of $375 per month, which compares favorably to enterprise solutions that typically range from $500 to $2,000 per month. Where digital agencies are engaged typical monthly packages range from $1,000 per month through to tens of thousands per month and SEO freelancers would generally charge from $500 per month for their services.
Locafy deployed solutions have consistently demonstrated impact in local search results within 30 days of deployment, compared to enterprise, digital agencies and SEO freelancers all of whom typically set expectations with customers of achieving results in 6 to 12 months from deployment.
Revenue Model and Commercial Overview
Our technology can be thought of as a scalable publishing engine that automates the conversion of structured business data into highly optimized, search-friendly landing pages at scale. The pages are primarily monetized primarily through subscriptions. In some cases, professional service fees may be charged for customized projects.
Locafy solutions are sold direct to customers and also via a reseller channel that comprises digital agencies and SEO freelancers. The company’s major focus is on assisting existing channel partners to sell to more of their clients and to add more resellers to the channel.
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Channel partners receive Locafy solutions at a discount to the recommended retail price. Resellers on sell the solution to their customers at a price solely determined by the reseller. In some markets, Locafy engages master resellers that have the rights to appoint resellers within their own network. In these cases, the master reseller appoints customers both directly and via their reseller network. The diagram below demonstrates the impact of having a master reseller in a market:
We currently have three operating segments: the Publishing segment, the Direct sale segment and the Channel sales segment.
Recently, we have migrated the customers we acquired through our corporate acquisitions from traditional advertising solutions, such as print and pay-per-click, to our own solutions. This has resulted in a shift from Publishing revenues to Direct sales revenues. Our Publishing revenue for the year ended June 30, 2021 was A$779,430, or 35.6% of our overall revenue, as compared with A$1,101,720, or 55.5% of our overall revenue, for the year ended June 30, 2020. Of that decrease, A$310,349, or 96%, was attributable to a project we undertook to migrate our print directory customers to digital products.
Our Direct revenue for the year ended June 30, 2021 was A$1,183,025, or 53.9% of our overall revenue, as compared with A$604,703, or 30.5% of our overall revenue, for the year ended June 30, 2020. Our acquisition of PinkPages in November 2020 accounted for an increase of A$467,702, or 80.1%, in our Direct revenue for the year ended June 30, 2021.
Our Channel revenue for the year ended June 30, 2021 was A$228,970, or 10.4% of our overall revenue, as compared with A$278,939, or 14.0% of our overall revenue, for the year ended June 30, 2020. Despite these historically low percentages, we expect Channel revenues to increase at a faster rate in the near term compared to our Publishing and Direct revenue segments. This expectation is based on our sales strategy to increase our network of reseller partners who are better positioned to sell to and provide continued support to their customer base. We anticipate that the combination of growing resellers and in turn their end-user customers will result in a multiplier effect which we expect will lead to an increase in channel sales revenues.
Revenue Model
Our business model is focused on securing long-term, recurring revenue contracts for advertising and subscription licenses via both direct and channel sales. The delivery of these contracts may incorporate professional services, however, these services tend to be limited in scope as most implementations are highly automated.
Service Fees
We may enter into commercial contracts with clients to produce various online publishing solutions in exchange for service fees. These solutions range from the production of custom Proximity Page, Proximity Network or Locators to the replacement of an entire online directory. Under these contracts, we may also charge ongoing service fees to maintain and support the solution in a managed services arrangement.
Advertising
We generate advertising revenue from our Listing Products, which are available through our Publishing Network. We enter into commercial contracts with owners or managers of online business databases, including citation management companies that seek to advertise their client’s business profile on our Publishing Network of online directories under bulk publishing deals. We have existing commercial agreements with citation management companies and digital agencies. The fees charged are typically based on the volume of business profiles being published. The contracts are either fixed price for an agreed term or variable based on the volume of profiles being published. To facilitate the bulk publishing the citation management company will connect to our API, which enables automated publishing to one or more of our directories in our network.
We own several online directories, including the global directory network Hotfrog, which has a presence in more than 40 countries and a number of Australian directories including AussieWeb.com.au, PinkPages.com.au and SuperPages.com.au.
From each directory, additional advertising revenue is generated, for instance, from Google Ads (formerly Adsense), which is variable and based on a number of factors, including site traffic. In some cases, business owners also pay a premium advertising rate to appear higher within a specific directory’s search results pages.
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Subscription Fees
We charge recurring subscription fees for our Proximity Page, Proximity Network, Locator and Marketplace Products. Proximity Page products can be acquired on a singular basis; however, the sales emphasis is on securing Proximity Network solutions that enable customers to promote multiple products and services within multiple locations. Locators are inherently an aggregated collection of Proximity Network solutions.
Proximity Page, Proximity Network Locator licenses are acquired by direct clients and resellers. Direct clients are typically charged our recommended retail price (“RRP”) and can also qualify for volume discounts. Resellers are typically charged wholesale prices which are a discount to RRP. The sales focus is to maximize the local search presence for our clients by utilizing Proximity Pages within a Proximity Network to promote a niche (i.e., a single product or service in a specific location). The number of Proximity Pages acquired by a client would therefore be the aggregate of products and services they promote multiplied by the total locations in which they promote. As an example, a client promoting 7 products in 20 locations would require 140 landing pages. The landing pages can be sold on a standalone basis or as part of a bundled solution that might include third party solutions (for example, citation management, GMB optimization, GMB posts and proximity boosting technology).
Locator solutions are akin to a micro-directory for a single business that has multiple physical locations or service providers that operate in several service areas. We generate recurring subscription fees based on the volume of business locations or service providers in a network.
Our subscription fee revenue model can be summarized as follows:
Revenue = Keywords (i.e., products and services) x Locations (i.e., proximity) x Price (per page per month)
Commercial Overview
Our business has two core aspects - data acquisition and data publishing.
Data Acquisition
An important aspect of search engine optimization and proximity marketing for a business owner is to have their business profile advertised consistently across multiple online directories, search engines, applications and maps (collectively, “endpoints”). The business owner can do this manually for free, which is time consuming and difficult to maintain, or they can engage a citation management company to distribute their profile to these endpoints via an API feed for a fee. We engage with and are also engaged by citation management companies to secure bulk publishing agreements that enable these publishers to advertise their client’s business profiles on one or more of our online directories in our publishing network.
Citation management companies currently collectively publish more than 2.5 million business profiles on the Hotfrog properties, and we anticipate this will increase further and some will soon commence publishing on our Australian Publishing Network. Hotfrog publishes more than 50 million business profiles, and each of the Australian directories publishes approximately 1 million business profiles.
We expect small business owners and SEO agencies will also manually add business profiles to each directory in our network. This represents a largely untapped market opportunity for us to provide an upgrade path for advertising and subscription-based products.
Data acquisition is monetized through advertising agreements.
Data Publishing
Data Publishing relates to the production of Proximity Pages, Proximity Networks and Locators as either standalone products or as part of a bundled solution.
The Proximity Page products can be produced either manually or programmatically at scale. Manual production of Proximity Pages requires an online form to be completed to produce a single Proximity Page or a Proximity Network, which are multiple, interlinked Proximity Pages within a design template. We can also produce high volumes of such pages through the synchronization of data held by third parties.
Our business model is primarily based on creating a sales network by leveraging channel partners who supply our products and services to their end-user client base. Our resellers would typically manage many business profiles, ranging from a few dozen for smaller agencies, to several thousand for mid-sized agencies, to hundreds-of-thousands or even millions for larger enterprises. By initially engaging with these types of channel partners, we reduce upfront sales and marketing costs and gain access to large client bases where there is a strong existing client relationship with a trusted service provider.
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Our resellers obtain pricing which is typically at a discount to suggested retail pricing. We invoice the reseller and support them through our customer success team. Our resellers are responsible for invoicing their end user clients and maintaining those relationships. Under this model, we believe we can achieve revenue growth without a proportionate increase in costs since our solutions are generally digital in nature and highly scalable with minimal marginal production cost.
We have agreements with data providers where we monetize data received through the publication of business profiles on online directories and on-page advertising.
Growth Strategy
Upon completion of this offering, our main objectives are to rapidly expand our channel network in multiple markets, and through automation, expand their uptake. We also intend to accelerate our data acquisition activities and data synchronization projects to maximize the addressable market within our ecosystem to which we can apply our technology. We plan to accomplish these objectives by way of the following:
● | Invest in our sales and marketing team to escalate the velocity at which we appoint resellers in key target markets, primarily the United States, Australia, Canada and Europe and to enter into direct commercial deals with multi-location businesses; | |
● | Invest in our operations team to help maintain and grow the customer base of our channel partners in each market; | |
● | Increase the velocity of data synchronization projects with database owners, online directories, SEO agencies and citation management companies to enable more resellers to market and sell our products directly from the resellers’ own administration dashboards; | |
● | Undertake acquisitions of relevant digital agencies, online directories and databases to grow the number of business profiles within our network and marketing control, which has the potential to increase the number of direct clients that subscribe to our products; | |
● | Undertake a major data migration project to unify all current business profiles across our disparate online publishing network, thereby enabling streamlined customer management, sales and marketing; | |
● | Increase the production of niche business directories utilizing our own technology to target high value business categories to generate advertising and subscription revenues; | |
● | Enhance the scale of our existing commercial partners; | |
● | Further develop our technology and its capabilities, including the expansion of our existing Locafy Marketplace; | |
● | Boost the operations team to ensure customer success and retention, with customer retention rates measured by various factors, including but not limited to, customer satisfaction and customer effort scores; customer churn rates and product churn rates; and | |
● | Upgrade and implement new internal systems and reporting to support our anticipated growth and any increased commercial activities. |
We intend to seek additional staffing and resources as needed to assist in implementing these key objectives, secure new commercial contracts and service our existing client base.
Initially, our regions of focus for expansion will be the United States, Australia and Canada. We plan to generate increased revenues through existing partnerships and also through securing new commercial partnerships. We also plan to explore new acquisitions and business initiatives, which expand both our client base and the capabilities of our technology and solutions in both existing and new markets.
We plan to target clients who own or manage large online databases and are seeking to reduce their operating costs, increase their organic traffic and increase revenues from advertising and lead generation solutions. Accordingly, the type of commercial partners that we are targeting include online directory publishers, data management companies, digital agencies, domain registrars and industry associations.
We intend to acquire additional resources in management, engineering, marketing and design to help grow the business and facilitate this commercialization strategy.
We will continue our ongoing maintenance, development and enhancement of our technology to ensure it meets consumer demand and remains compliant with new and emerging technologies and data protection laws.
Competition
We compete against various companies to attract and engage users, some of which are larger and have greater brand name recognition, longer operating histories, larger marketing budgets and established customer relationships, access to larger customer bases and significantly greater resources for the development of their solutions. In addition, we may face potential competition from participants in adjacent markets that may enter our markets by leveraging related technologies and partnering with or acquiring other companies or providing alternative approaches to provide similar results.
Furthermore, rival product offerings by existing and new competitors as well as technology developments by competitors may have an adverse impact on our business operations, financial performance and prospects as well as on the value and market price of our ordinary shares. This risk may influence our customer acquisition cost and customer lifetime value.
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Intellectual Property
Our ability to establish and protect our core technology and intellectual property, including our software source code and copyright, is critical to our success. We rely on a combination of patents, trade secrets, including know-how, and contractual rights to establish and protect our proprietary rights in our technology. A component of the underlying technology on which our technology is built is patented in the United States (Patent Number US 9286274), which will remain in effect until January 27, 2035. In addition, we enter into confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with our employees and business partners. The agreements we entered into with our employees also provide that all software, inventions, developments, works of authorship and trade secrets created by them during the course of their employment are our property.
See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Business and Industry—If we fail to adequately protect our proprietary rights, our competitive position could be impaired and we may lose valuable assets, generate reduced revenue, and incur costly litigation to protect our rights.”
Property and Facilities
We are headquartered in Perth, Australia where we lease and occupy for office space approximately 603 square meters (approximately 6,490 square feet) as of the date of this prospectus. We believe that our existing facilities are generally adequate to meet our current of future needs, but we expect to seek additional space as needed to accommodate future growth.
Employees
As of February 28, 2022, we had 43 full time employees located in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States. These employees are engaged in technical development, sales and marketing, customer support, finance, legal, human resources and general management. We rely upon and engage consultants on a contract basis to provide services, management and personnel who assist us to carry on our technical development, administrative, shareholder communication and marketing activities.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal proceedings relating to claims arising out of our operations. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
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Executive Officers and Directors
The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our directors and executive officers as of the date of this prospectus. The address for our directors and executive officers is c/o Locafy Limited., 246A Churchill Avenue, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia.
Name | Age | Position(s) | |
Gavin Burnett | 52 | Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director | |
Melvin Tan | 44 | Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director | |
Collin Visaggio | 60 | Chairman and Non-Executive Director |
There are no family relationships between any of our directors or members of senior management. There are no arrangements or understandings with major shareholders, customers, suppliers or others pursuant to which any of our directors or members of senior management were selected to be a director or member of senior management.
Senior Management and Key Employees
Gavin Burnett, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Mr. Burnett has been a director of public companies for more than 13 years and has 20 years’ experience in technology, both as an entrepreneur and as a senior executive of a large, publicly listed Australian media organization. Mr. Burnett has received considerable commercial recognition including dual Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, BRW Fastest Growing companies (10th), twice in Deloitte’s technology Fast 50 Companies (3rd and 5th), Western Australia’s fastest growing company (1st) and Western Australia’s Technology Product of the Year (2004), with BigRedSky Pty Ltd. Mr. Burnett founded technology company BigRedSky Pty Ltd in 1999, taking the business from concept to a national business in a few years, winning numerous government and corporate contracts. The business was ultimately purchased by the international media group, Thomson Reuters. Mr. Burnett was appointed West Australian Newspapers’ (now Seven West Media) first General Manager of Digital in 2006. Mr. Burnett founded Locafy (formerly, Moboom Limited) in 2009 and, as the Chief Executive Officer, has been instrumental in raising in excess of A$35,000,000 to develop, trial and commence marketing and implementing the patented web-building platform that we have today. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Curtin University.
Melvin Tan, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director
Mr. Tan has held senior finance roles in technology companies for the majority of his career, and has experience in growing businesses organically and through strategic acquisitions. Prior to joining us in 2012, Mr. Tan worked as a finance executive in both public and private companies. Most recently, he served as the Australasia Financial Controller for Gemcom Software International (“Gemcom”) for more than seven years, helping to make Gemcom (now named Geovia) into the world-leading mine management software company it is today. He was responsible for all regional financial and legal matters and played a key role in Gemcom’s expansion throughout Asia. Prior to Gemcom, Mr. Tan worked as a Management Accountant for Schlumberger and as a Business Recovery Accountant at RSM Bird Cameron. He is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA), Fellow Governance Institute Australia (FGIA/FCIS) and holds bachelor’s degrees in law and commerce from The University of Western Australia (LLB, BCom).
Non-Employee Directors
Collin Visaggio, Chairman and Non-Executive Director
Mr. Visaggio has 39 years of experience in corporate leadership, strategy, financing and governance. Mr. Visaggio was formerly the CFO of InterOil Corporation, a company that attained listing on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2009. As CFO, he had overall responsibility for the financial, information technology, investor relations and supply chain functions of a fully integrated oil and gas company. During his tenure at Interoil, the company grew to be valued at over $3 billion with over 1000 employees.
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Mr. Visaggio is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has a Bachelor of Business Degree from Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia. While completing his MBA, he won the Alcoa Australia prize for top student in Strategic Management and he has also attended the Stanford Senior Executive Program (SEP) in Management at Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Mr. Visaggio has had experience in senior business positions within Woodside Petroleum and BP Australia. Mr. Visaggio was at Woodside Petroleum from March 1988 until July 2005, with his final position being Manager, Compliance and Business for the Africa Business Unit, and prior position as Manager, Commercial and Planning for the Gas Business Unit. Prior to this and during his 17 years with Woodside, he was Deputy Chief Financial Officer, and Financial Analyst and Planning Manager within the Corporate Finance Unit.
Mr. Visaggio has been our Chairman since August 2017. He also served on the board of Santa Maria Ladies College from 2004 to March 2010, including as Chairman for four of those years. He was on the Woodside Superannuation Board for a period of three years representing employees’ interests and he was a Board Director on 26 subsidiary boards of Interoil Corporation, covering the United States, Singapore, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cayman Islands, Bahamas and Barbados.
The board of directors continually assesses its composition and skills matrix to consider the addition of board and management resources as the Company and its business develops and grows.
We are aware of the need to have sufficient management to properly supervise its operations. As the Company’s activities require an increased level of involvement, the board of directors will look to appoint additional management, consultants or other contractors when and where appropriate to ensure proper management of the Company’s activities.
Corporate Governance
We are incorporated under the laws of Australia. Our governing documents consist of our Constitution and we have implemented a corporate governance framework that is guided by The Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (4th Edition) as published by the Australian Securities Exchange’s Corporate Governance Council.
We qualify as a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Section 405 of the Securities Act. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose disclosure requirements as well as procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, the members of our board of directors and senior management are not subject to short-swing profit and insider trading reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. They will, however, be subject to the obligations to report changes in share ownership under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules, to the extent applicable.
The foreign private issuer exemption will also permit us to follow home country corporate governance practices or requirements instead of certain Nasdaq listing requirements, including the following:
● | We expect to rely on an exemption from the requirement that our independent directors meet regularly in executive sessions under Nasdaq listing rules. The Corporations Act do not require the independent directors of an Australian company to have such executive sessions, accordingly, we plan to claim this exemption. |
● | We expect to rely on an exemption from the quorum requirements applicable to meetings of shareholders under Nasdaq listing rules. In compliance with Australian law, our Constitution provides that two shareholders present, in person or by proxy, attorney or a representative, shall constitute a quorum for a general meeting. Nasdaq listing rules require that an issuer provide for a quorum as specified in its by-laws for any meeting of the holders of ordinary shares, which quorum may not be less than 33 1/3% of the outstanding voting ordinary shares. Accordingly, because applicable Australian law and rules governing quorums at shareholder meetings differ from Nasdaq’s quorum requirements, we plan to claim this exemption. |
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● | We expect to rely on an exemption from the requirement to disclose third-party director and director nominee compensation under Nasdaq listing rules. The Corporations Act does not have a similar requirement, accordingly, we plan to claim this exemption. |
● | We expect to rely on an exemption from the independence requirements for a majority of our board of directors as prescribed by Nasdaq listing rules. The Corporations Act does not require us to have a majority of independent directors although ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations do recommend a majority of independent directors. During fiscal 2021, we did not have a majority of directors who were “independent” as defined in the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, which definition differs from Nasdaq’s definition. Accordingly, because Australian law regarding director independence differ to the independence requirements under Nasdaq listing rules, we plan to claim this exemption. |
Board Composition and Election of Directors
Our board of directors currently consists of three directors. Our board of directors will facilitate its exercise of independent supervision over management by ensuring that a majority of its members are “independent” following this offering. Under our Constitution, at each annual general meeting one-third of the directors, other than the Managing Director, or if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third (rounded upwards in case of doubt) of the directors must retire.
Notwithstanding the above, no director, other than the Managing Director, shall hold office for a period in excess of 3 years, or until the third annual general meeting following his or her appointment, whichever is the longer, without submitting himself for re-election.
A retiring director remains in office until the relevant shareholder meeting and will be eligible for re-election at that meeting.
A director who has a material interest in a matter before our board of directors or any committee on which he or she serves is required to disclose such interest as soon as the director becomes aware of it. In situations where a director has a material interest in a matter to be considered by our board of directors or any committee on which he or she serves, such director may be required to remove himself or herself from the meeting while discussions and voting with respect to the matter are taking place.
Meetings of Directors
Our board of directors is responsible for the stewardship of the Company and providing oversight as to the management of our business and affairs, including providing guidance and strategic oversight to management by, among other things:
● | appointing our Chief Executive Officer; |
● | developing the corporate goals and objectives that our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for meeting, and reviewing the performance of our Chief Executive Officer against such corporate goals and objectives; |
● | taking steps to satisfy itself as to the integrity of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers and that our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers create a culture of integrity throughout the organization; |
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● | reviewing and approving our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and reviewing and monitoring compliance with the Code of Conduct and our enterprise risk management processes; |
● | adopting a strategic planning process to establish objectives and goals for our business and reviewing, approving, and modifying, as appropriate, the strategies proposed by management to achieve such objectives and goals; and |
● | reviewing and approving material transactions not in the ordinary course of business. |
Foreign Private Issuer Status
We are a “foreign private issuer” under SEC and Nasdaq rules, which also exempts us, as well as our directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders, from certain requirements that apply to U.S. public companies and their directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders. See “Risk Factors — We are a “foreign private issuer” and may have disclosure obligations that are different from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different U.S. securities laws and rules than a domestic U.S. issuer, which could limit the information publicly available to our shareholders.”
Board Committees
In light of the Company’s size and nature, we believe that the current size of the board of directors is a cost effective and practical method of directing and managing the Company. As our activities develop in size, nature and scope, the size of the board, the formation of board committees and the implementation of additional corporate governance policies and structures will be reviewed.
To assist with the effective discharge of its duties, our board of directors intend to establish an Audit and Risk Committee prior to the closing of the offering. The Audit and Risk Committee will operate under a charter approved by our board of directors, which will set forth the purposes and responsibilities of the Audit and Risk Committee as well as qualifications for committee membership, committee structure and operations and committee reporting to our board of directors.
Audit and Risk Committee
The members of our Audit and Risk Committee, which we intend to establish prior to the closing of the offering, are expected to be Gavin Burnett, Melvin Tan and Collin Visaggio. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Visaggio will satisfy the independence requirements under Nasdaq listing standards and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act. The chairperson of our Audit and Risk Committee is expected to be Colin Visaggio. Our board of directors has determined that Collin Visaggio is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC regulations. Each member of our Audit and Risk Committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements in accordance with applicable requirements. In arriving at these determinations, our board of directors has examined each member’s scope of experience and the nature of his or her employment.
The Audit and Risk Committee’s duties will be specified in our Audit and Risk Committee Charter, and will include, but not be limited to:
● | appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors; | |
● | reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response; | |
● | discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors; | |
● | reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any steps taken to monitor and control major financial risk exposures; | |
● | reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions; | |
● | annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter; | |
● | meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and | |
● | monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance |
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Compensation Committee
We intend to rely upon the exemption available to foreign private issuers under the Nasdaq listing rules with respect to the determination of the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers in lieu of forming a compensation committee consisting entirely of independent directors (or the determination of such compensation solely by the independent members of our board of directors). In lieu of a compensation committee, the remuneration of an executive director will be decided by our board of directors, without the affected executive director participating in that decision-making process.
The total maximum remuneration of non-executive directors is initially set by the Constitution and subsequent variation is by ordinary resolution of shareholders in general meeting in accordance with the Constitution and the Corporations Act, as applicable. The determination of non-executive directors’ remuneration within that maximum will be made by the board of directors having regard to the inputs and value to the Company of the respective contributions by each non-executive director. The current amount has been set at an amount not to exceed A$300,000 per annum.
Where agreed by the board of directors, directors are also entitled to be paid reasonable travel, hotel and other expenses incurred by them respectively in or about the performance of their duties as directors.
Our board of directors reviews and approves the remuneration policy to enable the Company to attract and retain executives and directors who will create value for shareholders having consideration to the amount considered to be commensurate for a company of its size and level of activity as well as the relevant directors’ time, commitment and responsibility. Our board of directors is also responsible for reviewing any employee incentive and equity-based plans including the appropriateness of performance hurdles and total payments proposed.
Nominating Committee
Our board of directors does not currently have a nominating committee, as director nominees are presented by our board of directors to our shareholders based upon the nominations made by the board of directors itself. We intend to rely upon the exemption available to foreign private issuers under the Nasdaq listing rules related to independent director oversight of nominations to our board of directors and the adoption of a formal written charter or board resolution addressing the nominations process.
Code of Conduct
We have adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. We post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the listing standards of Nasdaq concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Conduct. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at or available through our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of, this prospectus.
Monitoring Compliance with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our board of directors is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the Code of Conduct periodically and will make any necessary changes thereto. Our board of directors is also charged with the monitoring of compliance with the Code of Conduct and will be responsible for considering any waivers of the Code of Conduct.
Interests of Directors
A director who has a material interest in a matter before our board of directors or any committee on which he or she serves is required to disclose such interest as soon as the director becomes aware of it. In situations where a director has a material interest in a matter to be considered by our board of directors or any committee on which he or she serves, such director may be required to excuse himself or herself from the meeting while discussions and voting with respect to the matter are taking place. Directors will also be required to comply with the relevant provisions of the Corporations Act regarding conflicts of interest and any material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the Company. Under the Corporations Act, the Company may be required to obtain approval of shareholders before providing certain financial benefits to directors, unless an exemption set out in the Corporations Act applies.
Complaint Reporting and Whistleblower Policy
In order to foster a climate of openness and honesty in which any concern or complaint pertaining to a suspected violation of the law, our Code of Conduct or any of our policies or any unethical or questionable act or behavior, the board of directors will adopt a whistleblower policy that requires that our employees promptly report such violation or suspected violation. In order to ensure that violations or suspected violations can be reported without fear of retaliation, harassment or an adverse employment consequence, our whistleblower policy will contain procedures that are aimed to facilitate confidential, anonymous submissions by our employees.
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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Introduction
The following section describes the significant elements of our executive and director compensation programs.
Overview
Compensation Philosophy
The goal of our compensation program is to attract, retain and motivate our employees and executives. Our board of directors is responsible for setting our executive compensation and establishing corporate performance objectives. In considering executive compensation, the board strives to ensure that our total compensation is competitive within the industry in which we operate and supports our overall strategy and corporate objectives. The combination of base salary, annual incentives and long-term incentives that we provide our executive officers is designed to accomplish this. Our board of directors considers the implications of the risks associated with our compensation policies and practices. For additional details regarding the relevant education and experience of our board of directors see “Management—Executive Officers and Directors.”
Components of Compensation Package
There are two major components of our executive compensation program:
● | Base salary; and |
● | Variable-performance based compensation, consisting of: |
● | annual, discretionary cash bonuses based on a comparison of individual and corporate performance to pre-set goals and objectives; and |
● | long-term incentives, consisting of grants of long-term stock performance rights. |
Executive Compensation Practices
The objective of the board of directors when determining compensation to be paid to our senior executives is to ensure that the level and form of compensation: (a) attracts and retains talented, qualified, experienced and effective executives consistent with the general sector; (b) motivates the short and long-term performance of these executives; (c) reflects our current state of development; (d) reflects our performance and financial status; (e) reflects individual performance, and (f) aligns the interests of the executives with our overall business objectives and the interests of our shareholders. As there are no formal policies and compensation decisions are generally subjective, we do not tie any significant element of compensation to specific performance criteria or goals.
In addition to industry trends, the board of directors considers a variety of other factors it considers relevant and appropriate when assessing compensation policies and practices for director and executive compensation levels. These factors include the long-range interests of the Company and our shareholders, the implications of the risks associated with our compensation policies and practices in light of our financial performance, our overall financial and operating performance and the board of director’s assessment of each executive’s individual achievements, performance and contribution toward meeting corporate objectives.
Assessments to determine executive compensation are made through board discussion without formal objectives, criteria and analysis. To ensure our executive compensation is appropriate and competitive, the board of directors will typically review the compensation practices on an annual basis but may also conduct reviews on an ad hoc basis as the need arises. We have not retained any third-party advisors to conduct compensation reviews of its pay levels and practices. We aim to provide compensation that is competitive with companies at a similar stage of development; however, no formal benchmark group of companies is established.
We have adopted both short-term and long-term incentive plans. These plans are available to directors, key employees, including officers, and consultants of the Company, as determined by our board of directors.
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Non-Employee Director Compensation Practices
Following this offering, we expect to pay non-employee directors a fixed fee annually and performance-based awards with the same performance targets as those currently issued.
Base Salary
Base salaries for our named executive officers (“NEOs”) are evaluated and established to provide a reasonable amount of non-contingent remuneration in order to retain executives with experience and skills required to achieve our strategic and organizational goals. In determining base salaries, the board of directors reference salary levels in the industry and location in which we operate, the individual’s experience level, the scope and complexity of the position held, and the level of expertise and capabilities demonstrated by and expected by the executive officers.
Bonus
The board of directors considers, on an annual basis, discretionary cash bonuses to reward extraordinary performance during the preceding fiscal year which has led to our milestones, strategic transactions, or capital raising achievements. The discretionary bonuses are intended to provide a short-term incentive for executive officers to meet our goals, as well as to remain competitive within the industry. In determining whether a bonus will be awarded, the board of directors considers such factors as the executive’s performance over the past year, our achievements in the past year and the executive’s role in effecting such achievements, after taking into account our financial and operating performance.
The board of directors determines performance bonus payments based on the results achieved as compared to targets established for a particular fiscal year.
Variable-Performance Based Compensation
The board of directors considers long-term performance incentive awards and stock performance rights to be an important component of executive compensation. Under our Incentive Performance Rights Plan (the “Performance Rights Plan”) adopted by the Company, executive officers may be provided with long-term incentives consisting of grants of long-term stock performance rights. The objective of providing long-term incentives is to encourage our executive officers to acquire an ownership interest in the Company over a period of time, which is intended to align the interests of executive officers with the interests of shareholders while discouraging excessive risk taking. In granting long-term incentives, the board of directors considers past grants offered to executive officers under the Performance Rights Plan as well as other factors. The board of directors retains the discretion to declare who may be eligible to receive long-term stock performance rights and to, by resolution, amend or add to all or any of the provisions of the Performance Rights Plan, or the terms or conditions of any long-term stock performance rights granted under the Performance Rights Plan including giving any amendment retrospective effect, amongst others. Continued service to the Company is attached to the vesting of the long-term stock performance rights, unless otherwise resolved by the board of directors.
Summary of Compensation
The following is the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each of our named executive officers for the year ended June 30, 2021.
Post-employment | ||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Short
Term Salary | Superannuation benefits | Total Compensation | |||||||||
Gavin Burnett Chief Executive Officer | $ | 300,000 | $ | 28,500 | $ | 328,500 | ||||||
Melvin Tan Chief Financial Officer | $ | 200,000 | $ | 19,000 | $ | 219,000 |
Executive Employment, Consulting and Management Arrangements and Termination and Change in Control Benefits
Following is a summary description of material terms of compensation awarded to, earned by, paid or payable to our NEOs pursuant to agreements or arrangements.
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Gavin Burnett, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
On January 1, 2020, we entered into an Executive Agreement with Gavin Burnett (the “Burnett Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Burnett is serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Company. The Burnett Agreement will continue on an ongoing basis, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. Pursuant to the Burnett Agreement, we will pay Mr. Burnett A$328,500 per annum, inclusive of superannuation and exclusive of any short-term incentives, long term incentives or bonus entitlements. Under the Burnett Agreement, if certain short-term incentive milestones are achieved within the required time frame, Mr. Burnett will be eligible to receive a percentage increase to his base salary. In addition, if 100 to 125 percent of certain Gross Revenue Targets (as defined in the Burnett Agreement) are reached by certain dates, Mr. Burnett will be eligible to receive increases to his base salary, as specified in the Burnett Agreement.
In the event that Mr. Burnett is terminated under certain circumstances, notwithstanding such termination, if targets are ultimately met for the fiscal year during which the termination occurred, Mr. Burnett shall be entitled to receive a cash bonus that is prorated for the number of days Mr. Burnett was employed during that fiscal year.
The Burnett Agreement contains other terms and conditions considered standard for an agreement of this nature.
Melvin Tan, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director
On January 1, 2020, we entered into an Executive Agreement with Melvin Tan (the “Tan Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Tan is serving as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Tan Agreement will continue on an ongoing basis, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. Pursuant to the Tan Agreement, we will pay Mr. Tan A$219,000 per annum, inclusive of superannuation and exclusive of any short-term incentives, long term incentives or bonus entitlements. Under the Tan Agreement, if certain short-term incentive milestones are achieved within the required time frame, Mr. Tan will be eligible to receive a percentage increase to his base salary. In addition, if 100 to 125 percent of certain Gross Revenue Targets (as defined in the Tan Agreement), Mr. Tan will be eligible to receive increases to his base salary, as specified in the Tan Agreement.
In the event that Mr. Tan is terminated in certain circumstances, notwithstanding such termination, if targets are ultimately met for the fiscal year during which the termination occurred, Mr. Tan shall be entitled to receive a cash bonus that is prorated for the number of days Mr. Tan was employed during that fiscal year.
The Tan Agreement contains other terms and conditions considered standard for an agreement of this nature.
Director Compensation
As of June 30, 2021, the following amounts were paid or accrued in directors’ fees to the members of our board of directors:
Name | Fees earned | |||
Collin Visaggio | A$80,000 |
We expect to pay cash and performance rights (with the same performance hurdles as those currently issued) to non-employee directors following the completion of this offering.
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Agreements with Executive Officers
Director and Senior Management Compensation
For a description of our agreements with our executive officers, please see “Management— Executive and Director Compensation.”
Indemnification Agreements
Our Constitution provides that, except to the extent prohibited by law including under the Corporations Act, we will indemnify every person who is or has been an officer of the Company against any liability (other than conduct involving a lack of good faith on the part of the officer) incurred by that person as an officer. This includes any liability incurred by that person in their capacity as an officer of our subsidiary where we requested that person to accept that appointment.
We have entered into Deeds of Indemnity, Insurance and Access (“Indemnity Deeds”), with Collin Visaggio, Gavin Burnett and Melvin Tan. Under the Indemnity Deeds, we have agreed to indemnify (to the maximum extent permitted by law and our Constitution, subject to certain specified exceptions) each director against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as our or our subsidiaries’ director and any and all costs and expenses relating to such a claim or to any notified event incurred by such director, including costs and expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred to mitigate any liability for such a claim or any claim which may arise from such a notified event.
Separately, we have obtained insurance for our directors and executive officers, as required by the Indemnity Deeds.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Private Placements
For a description of private placement agreements, please see “Description of Share Capital—History of Securities Issuances.”
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The following table indicates information as of the date of this prospectus regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares, after giving effect to the sale of the Units offered in this offering, for:
● | each person who is known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our ordinary shares; | |
● | each named executive officer; | |
● | each of our directors; and | |
● | all of our directors and executive officers as a group. |
As of the date of this prospectus, there were 18,598,414 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, and A$2,017,000 in aggregate principal amount of NASDAQ Convertible Notes issued and outstanding; the NASDAQ Convertible Notes are expected to be converted automatically at or around the closing of this offering into 356,001 ordinary shares.
The percentage ownership information shown in the column labeled “Percentage of Shares Outstanding” is based upon 18,912,055 ordinary shares (including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of the NASDAQ Convertible Notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021 (as defined herein) (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)) outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
The percentage ownership information shown in the column labeled “Percentage of Shares Outstanding” after the offering assumes that there is no exercise of the Warrants included in the Units nor of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities and is based upon 20,730,236 (including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of the NASDAQ Convertible Notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021 (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)) (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) ordinary shares to be outstanding immediately after the offering, including the sale of 1,818,181 ordinary shares included in the Units in this offering.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules include ordinary shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options or warrants or upon conversion of a security that are either exercisable or convertible within 60 days of the date of this prospectus. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them. As of the date of this prospectus, we had 525 record holders of our ordinary shares, with 498 record holders in Australia, representing 93.0% of our outstanding ordinary shares, and 3 record holders in the United States, representing 1.2% of our outstanding ordinary shares. The address for our directors and executive officers is c/o Locafy Limited, 246A Churchill Avenue, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia.
Prior to the Offering | After the Offering | |||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares Outstanding | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares Outstanding(1) | ||||||||||||
Named Executive Officers and Directors: | ||||||||||||||||
Gavin Burnett | 3,530,486 | (2) | 19.0 | % | 3,530,486 | 17.0 | % | |||||||||
Melvin Tan | 1,493,385 | (3) | 8.0 | % | 1,493,385 | 7.2 | % | |||||||||
Collin Visaggio | 507,322 | (4) | 2.7 | % | 507,322 | 2.4 | % | |||||||||
All Current Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (3 persons) | 5,531,193 | (2)(3)(4) | 29.7 | % | 5,531,193 | 26.6 | % |
(1) | Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021 (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). | |
(2) | Excluding 250,000 ordinary shares underlying certain unvested and contingent performance rights. | |
(3) | Excluding 150,000 ordinary shares underlying certain unvested and contingent performance rights. | |
(4) | Excluding 100,000 ordinary shares underlying certain unvested and contingent performance rights. |
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
General
Australian law does not limit the authorized share capital that may be issued by a corporation and does not recognize the concept of par value. Subject to our Constitution, the Corporations Act, and the rules governing the listing of our securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market, our directors are entitled to issue shares in our capital, grant options over unissued shares, and settle the manner in which fractions of a share are to be dealt with. The directors may decide the persons to whom, and the terms on which, shares are issued or options are granted as well as the rights and restrictions that attach to those shares or options subject to our Constitution, the Corporations Act and the rules governing the listing of our securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
On August 20, 2021, the Company’s shareholders approved the Reverse Share Split. Accordingly, the number of ordinary shares outstanding was consolidated to 18,598,414 (difference due to rounding on individual holdings) and an aggregate of 1,144,000 ordinary shares underlying outstanding performance rights as at June 30, 2021. As at December 31, 2021, there are 18,912,055 ordinary shares (including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021 (as defined herein) (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)) outstanding, along with an aggregate of 1,312,750 ordinary shares underlying outstanding performance rights as at such date.
Units
Each Unit consists of one ordinary share and one (1) Warrant to purchase an ordinary share. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $ per share.
Ordinary shares
Voting Rights
Each holder of our ordinary shares is entitled to receive notice of and to be present, to vote and to speak at general meetings. Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares, on a show of hands each holder of ordinary shares present has one vote and, on a poll, one vote for each fully paid share held, and for each partly paid share, a fraction of a vote equivalent to the proportion to which the share has been paid up. Voting may be in person or by proxy, attorney or representative.
No business, the election of a chairman and the adjournment of the meeting, shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present comprising two shareholders present in person, by proxy, attorney or representative.
Dividend Rights
Holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by the directors, subject to and in accordance with the Corporations Act, the rights of any preference shareholders and to the rights of the holders of any shares created or raised under any special arrangement as to dividend. If the directors determine that a final or interim dividend is payable, it is (subject to the terms of issue on any shares or class of shares) paid on all shares proportionate to the amount for the time being paid on each share. Dividends may be paid by cash, electronic transfer, or any other method as the board determines.
The directors have the power to capitalize and distribute the whole or part of the amount from time to time standing to the credit of any reserve account or the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution to shareholders, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class or class of shares. The capitalization and distribution must be in the same proportions which the shareholders would be entitled to receive if distributed by way of a dividend.
Subject to the rules of Nasdaq, the directors may pay a dividend out of any fund or reserve or out of profits derived from any source.
Variation of Class Rights
The Corporations Act provides that if a company has a constitution that sets out the procedure for varying or cancelling rights attached to shares in a class of shares, those rights may be varied or cancelled only in accordance with the procedure.
The rights attached to our ordinary shares may only be varied with the consent in writing of members holding at least three-quarters of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of shares of that class. Any variation of rights will be subject to the Corporations Act.
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Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders
There are no specific limitations in the Corporations Act which restrict the acquisition, ownership, or disposal of shares in an Australian company by non-resident or foreign shareholders. The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) regulates investment in Australian companies and may restrict the acquisition, ownership, and disposal of our ordinary shares by non-resident or foreign shareholders.
Below is a reconciliation of the number of ordinary shares outstanding from June 30, 2020 through June 30, 2021:
Number
of Ordinary shares | ||||
Ordinary shares outstanding at June 30, 2020 | 17,389,894 | |||
Shares issued from capital raisings | 957,500 | |||
Shares issued for assets | 25,000 | |||
Shares issued to suppliers in lieu of cash | 186,020 | |||
Shares issued to related parties | 40,000 | |||
Ordinary shares outstanding at June 30, 2021: | 18,598,414 |
History of Share Capital
During the last three years, the following changes have been made to our ordinary share capital:
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, the Company issued the following securities:
Period | Details | No. | Issue
Price A$ | Total
Value A$ | ||||||||
July to August 2020 | Shares issued from capital raising | 10,000 | 2.00 | 20,000 | ||||||||
October to December 2020 | Shares issued from capital raising | 690,000 | 1.00 | 690,000 | ||||||||
October to December 2020 | Shares issued to supplier in lieu of cash | 84,665 | 1.00 | 84,665 | ||||||||
February 2021 | Shares issued to suppliers in lieu of cash | 37,125 | 2.00 | 74,250 | ||||||||
February 2021 | Shares issued to related parties | 40,000 | 2.00 | 80,000 | ||||||||
March 2021 | Shares issued from capital raising | 257,500 | 4.00 | 1,030,000 | ||||||||
April 2021 | Shares issued for assets | 25,000 | 4.00 | 100,000 | ||||||||
May to June 2021 | Shares issued to suppliers in lieu of cash | 64,230 | 4.00 | 256,918 | ||||||||
Net Change | 1,208,520 | 2,335,832 |
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, the Company issued the following securities:
Period | Details | No. | Issue
Price A$ | Total
Value A$ | ||||||||
July 2019 to March 2020 | Shares issued from capital raising | 213,917 | 2.00 | 427,836 | ||||||||
August 2019 to January 2020 | Shares issued from capital raising (special placement) | 1,543,110 | 1.11 | 1,714,568 | ||||||||
October 2019 | Shares issued to related parties | 40,000 | 2.00 | 80,000 | ||||||||
November 2019 | Share buy-back approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on November 27, 2019 | (2,623,386 | ) | 0.30 | (800,001 | ) | ||||||
December 2019 | Shares issued from capital raising | 100,000 | 1.00 | 100,000 | ||||||||
January 2020 | Shares issued to convertible note holders | 27,500 | 1.12 | 30,800 | ||||||||
February 2020 | Shares issued to suppliers in lieu of cash | 70,022 | 1.12 | 78,647 | ||||||||
Net Change | (628,837 | ) | 1,631,850 |
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During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, the Company issued the following securities:
Period | Details | No. | Issue
Price A$ | Total
Value A$ | ||||||||
August 2018 to June 2019 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 309,721 | 2.00 | 619,442 | ||||||||
June 2019 | Shares issued from capital raising | 90,000 | 1.11 | 100,000 | ||||||||
June 2019 | Shares issued to a vendor in relation to a business acquisition agreement dated April 23, 2018 | 50,000 | 7.00 | 350,000 | ||||||||
Net Change | 449,721 | 1,069,442 |
Rights and Restrictions on Classes of Shares
Subject to the Corporations Act, rights attaching to our ordinary shares are detailed in our Constitution. Our Constitution provides that any of our ordinary shares may be issued with preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in relation to dividends, voting, return of share capital, payment of calls or otherwise as the board may determine from time to time. Except as provided by contract or by our Constitution to the contrary, all unissued shares are under the control of the board which may grant options on the ordinary shares, allot or otherwise issue the ordinary shares on the terms and conditions and for the consideration it deems fit. Currently our outstanding share capital consists of only one class of ordinary shares.
Dividend Rights
The board may from time to time determine to pay dividends to shareholders. All unclaimed dividends may be invested or otherwise made use of by the board for our benefit until claimed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with our Constitution, except as otherwise provided by statute.
Voting Rights
Under our Constitution, each holder of our ordinary shares is entitled to receive notice of and to be present, to vote and to speak at general meetings. Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares, on a show of hands each holder of ordinary shares present has one vote and, on a poll, one vote for each fully paid share held, and for each partly paid share, a fraction of a vote equivalent to the proportion to which the share has been paid up.
Under Australian law, shareholders of a public company with more than one member are not permitted to approve corporate matters by written consent. Our Constitution does not provide for cumulative voting.
Pursuant to the Corporations Act, our board of directors must convene a general meeting if requested to do so by shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at the general meeting or members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting may call, and arrange to hold, a general meeting.
Generally, only items of business included in the relevant notice of meeting (or any supplementary notice) would be considered and voted on at general meetings.
Right to Share in our Profits
Subject to the Corporations Act (which contains no overriding provisions as of the date of this prospectus) and pursuant to our Constitution, our shareholders are entitled to participate in our profits only by payment of dividends. The board may from time to time determine to pay dividends to the shareholders.
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Rights to Share in the Surplus in the Event of Liquidation
Our Constitution provides for the right of shareholders to participate in a surplus in the event of our liquidation. In certain circumstances, any division may be otherwise than in accordance with the legal rights of the contributories, and in particular, our creditors and any other class of security holders may be given preferential or special rights or may be excluded altogether or in part from participation in a surplus in the event of liquidation.
If the Company is wound up, the liquidator may, with the authority of a special resolution, divide among the Shareholders in kind the whole or any part of the property of the Company, and may for that purpose set such value as he considers fair upon any property to be so divided, and may determine how the division is to be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders.
The liquidator may, with the authority of a special resolution, vest the whole or any part of any such property in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator thinks fit, but so that no Shareholder is compelled to accept any shares or other securities in respect of which there is any liability.
Redemption Provisions
Under our Constitution and subject to the Corporations Act (which contains no overriding provisions as of the date of this prospectus) we are able to:
● | redeem and cancel ordinary shares, subject to obtaining the necessary and prior shareholder approval; and | |
● | issue preference shares on the terms that they are, or may at our option be, liable to be redeemed, with or without shareholder approval. |
Shareholders Meetings
We must hold an annual general meeting within five months of the end of each fiscal year. Our end of fiscal year is currently June 30th each year. At the annual general meeting, shareholders typically consider the annual financial report, directors’ report and auditor’s report and vote on matters, including the election of directors and the appointment of the auditor (if necessary). We may also hold other meetings of shareholders from time to time. The annual general meeting must be held in addition to any other meetings which we may hold.
Unless applicable law or our Constitution requires a special resolution, a resolution of shareholders is passed if more than 50% of the votes at the meeting are cast in favor of the resolution by shareholders in person or proxy entitled to vote upon the relevant resolution. A special resolution is passed if the notice of meeting sets out the intention to propose the special resolution and it is passed if at least 75% of the votes at the meeting are cast by shareholders in person or proxy entitled to vote upon the relevant resolution.
A special resolution usually involves more important questions affecting us as a whole or the rights of some or all of our shareholders. Special resolutions are required in a variety of circumstances under our Constitution and the Corporations Act, including without limitation:
● | to change our name; | |
● | to amend or repeal and replace our Constitution; | |
● | to approve the terms of issue of preference shares; | |
● | to approve the variation of class rights of any class of shareholders; | |
● | to convert one class of shares into another class of shares; | |
● | to approve certain buy backs of shares; | |
● | to approve a selective capital reduction of our shares; | |
● | to approve financially assisting a person to acquire our shares; | |
● | to change our company type; | |
● | with the leave of an authorized Australian court, to approve our voluntary winding up; | |
● | to confer on a liquidator, with either general or specific authority in respect of compensation arrangements of such liquidator; and | |
● | to approve an arrangement entered into between a company about to be, or in the course of being, wound up. |
Warrants
General
The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the Warrants that are being offered hereby. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the form of warrant, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Warrants.
Duration and Exercise Price
Each Unit offered in this offering consists of one ordinary share and one Warrant. Each whole warrant shall be exercisable into one ordinary share at an exercise price equal to $ per ordinary share. The Warrants will be immediately exercisable and will be immediately exercisable for a five-year period after the date of issuance. The exercise prices and numbers of shares of ordinary stock issuable upon exercise are subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our ordinary shares. The Warrants will be issued in certificated form only.
Exercisability
The Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of our ordinary shares purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of such holder’s Warrants to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.895% of our outstanding ordinary shares immediately after exercise.
Cashless Exercise
If, at the time a holder exercises a Warrant, a registration statement registering under the Securities Act either (i) the issuance of the ordinary shares for which the Warrants are exercisable or (ii) the resale of the ordinary shares for which the Warrants are exercisable by the holder is not then effective or available for the issuance or resale, respectively, of such ordinary shares, then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) such number of ordinary shares as determined according to a formula set forth in the Warrant.
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Transferability
A Warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the Warrant to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Fractional Shares
No fractional ordinary shares will be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants. Rather, the number of ordinary shares to be issued will, at our election, either be rounded up to the nearest whole number or we will pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price.
Trading Market
There is no established trading market for any of the Warrants. Although we have applied to have the Warrants listed on Nasdaq, an active trading market for our Warrants may never develop or may not be sustained if one develops. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Warrants will be limited.
Rights as a Shareholder
Except as otherwise provided in the Warrants or by virtue of the holders’ ownership of our ordinary shares, the holders of Warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our ordinary shares, including any voting rights, until such warrant holders exercise their Warrants.
Fundamental Transaction
In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our ordinary shares, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding ordinary shares, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding ordinary shares, the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.
Waivers and Amendments
No term of the Warrants may be amended or waived without the written consent of the holder of such Warrant.
Exclusive Forum
We have agreed that any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the Warrants will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York sitting in the City and County of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. See “Risk Factors”. This exclusive forum provision shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction or any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act against us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or agents. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable
All of our outstanding ordinary shares are, and the ordinary shares to be issued pursuant to this offering (including the ordinary shares to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants and the representative’s warrant), when paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Registration Rights
No holders of any of our securities have registration rights.
Corporate Governance
Our Constitution
Our constituent document is a Constitution, which is similar in nature to the by-laws of a company incorporated under the laws of a U.S. state. Our Constitution does not provide for or prescribe any specific objectives or purposes of Locafy. Our Constitution is subject to the terms of the Corporations Act. Our Constitution may be amended or repealed and replaced by special resolution of shareholders, which is a resolution passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution.
Directors
Interested Directors
Except where permitted by the Corporations Act, a director who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered at a meeting of directors must not be present while the matter is being considered at the meeting or vote on that matter.
Unless a relevant exception applies under the Corporations Act, our directors are:
● | required to disclose all their and their associates’ holdings of our securities, any and all dealings in any of those securities and certain other interests; and | |
● | required to obtain prior shareholder approval of any provision of related party benefits to any of those directors or their associates. |
Borrowing Powers Exercisable by Directors
Pursuant to our Constitution, the management and control of our business affairs are vested in our board of directors, subject to the Constitution and the Corporations Act. The board of directors has the power to raise or borrow money. The board of directors may also charge any of our property or business or any uncalled capital and may issue debentures or give any other security for any of our debts, liabilities or obligations or of any other person, in each case, in the manner and on terms it deems fit.
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Retirement of Directors
Under our Constitution, at each annual general meeting one-third of the directors, other than the Managing Director, or if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third (rounded upwards in case of doubt) of the directors must retire.
Notwithstanding the above, no director, other than the Managing Director, shall hold office for a period in excess of 3 years, or until the third annual general meeting following his or her appointment, whichever is the longer, without submitting himself for re-election.
A retiring director remains in office until the relevant shareholder meeting and will be eligible for re-election at that meeting.
Access to and Inspection of Documents
Inspection of our records is governed by our Constitution and the Corporations Act. Any member of the Company has the right to inspect or obtain copies of our share register on the payment of any prescribed fee required by the company. Our books containing the minutes of general meetings will be kept at our registered office and will be open to inspection of members at all times when the office is required to be open to the public. Generally other corporate records, including minutes of directors’ meetings, financial records and other documents, are not open for inspection by shareholders (who are not directors). Where a shareholder is acting in good faith and an inspection is deemed to be made for a proper purpose, a shareholder may apply to the court to make an order for inspection of our books.
Takeovers - Change of Control
Takeovers of Australian public companies, such as Locafy, are regulated by the Corporations Act, which prohibits the acquisition of a “relevant interest” in issued voting shares in a company if the acquisition will lead to that person’s or someone else’s voting power in the company increasing from 20% or below to more than 20% or increasing from a starting point that is above 20% and below 90%, subject to a range of exceptions.
Generally, a person will have a relevant interest in securities if the person:
● | is the holder of the securities; | |
● | has power to exercise, or control the exercise of, a right to vote attached to the securities; or | |
● | has the power to dispose of, or control the exercise of a power to dispose of, the securities, including any indirect or direct power or control. |
If, at a particular time, a person has a relevant interest in issued securities and the person:
● | has entered or enters into an agreement with another person with respect to the securities; | |
● | has given or gives another person an enforceable right, or has been or is given an enforceable right by another person, in relation to the securities (whether the right is enforceable presently or in the future and whether or not on the fulfillment of a condition); | |
● | has granted or grants an option to, or has been or is granted an option by, another person with respect to the securities; | |
● | the other person would have a relevant interest in the securities if the agreement were performed, the right enforced or the option exercised; or | |
● | the other person is taken to already have a relevant interest in the securities. |
There are a number of exceptions to the above prohibition on acquiring a relevant interest in issued voting shares above 20%. In general terms, some of the more significant exceptions include:
● | acquisition relating to takeover bids; |
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● | when shareholders approve the takeover by resolution passed at general meeting; | |
● | an acquisition by a person of no more than 3% in any 6 month period; or | |
● | when the acquisition results from the issue of securities under a pro rata rights issue. |
Breaches of the takeovers provisions of the Corporations Act are criminal offenses. ASIC (as defined herein) and the Australian Takeovers Panel have a wide range of powers relating to breaches of takeover provisions, including the ability to make orders canceling contracts, freezing transfers of, and rights attached to, securities, and forcing a party to dispose of securities. There are certain defenses to breaches of the takeover provisions provided in the Corporations Act.
Foreign Ownership Regulation
There are no limitations on the rights to own securities imposed by our Constitution. However, the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) and Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulations 2015, (together, “Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime’), regulates certain types of acquisitions by ‘foreign persons’ of equity interests in Australian companies and acquisitions and proposed acquisitions of shares and voting power in Australian companies.
Under Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime, as currently in effect, foreign persons must make a mandatory notification to the Australian Treasurer through the Foreign Investment Review Board (“FIRB”) and obtain receipt of a no objections notification from the Australian Treasurer in the following circumstances (among others):
● | all foreign persons acquiring a ‘direct interest’ (generally an interest of 10% or more) of the shares in a company that is a ‘national security business’, regardless of value; | |
● | ‘foreign government investors’ acquiring a direct interest in the share of any company, regardless of value; and | |
● | ‘foreign persons’ that are not ‘foreign government investors’ acquiring a substantial interest (generally 20% or more) of the shares in a company which has a total asset value of A$281 million or more (or A$1,216 million or more in the case of investors incorporated in the US and ultimately owned by entities and persons within the US). |
At present, we do not have total assets of A$281 million and we are not a ‘national security business.
An entity is a ‘foreign government investor’ if it is:
● | a foreign government or separate government entity; or | ||
● | a corporation, trust or limited partnership in which foreign government entities/separate government entities/ from: | ||
○ | a single country, together with associates, hold (directly or indirectly) an interest of 20% or more (including through actual or potential voting power); or | ||
○ | multiple countries, together with associates, hold (directly or indirectly) interests of 40% or more in aggregate (including through actual or potential voting power) – provided the interest holders do not meet certain passive investor requirements. |
Please note that acquisitions thresholds take account of interests held by ‘associates’ and there are tracing rules that can apply. “Associates” is a broadly defined term under Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime and includes:
● | spouses, lineal ancestors and descendants, and siblings; | |
● | partners, officers of companies, the company or its subsidiaries; | |
● | their shareholders related through substantial shareholdings or voting power; | |
● | corporations whose directors are controlled by the person, or who control a person; | |
● | associations between trustees and substantial beneficiaries of trust estates; and | |
● | for foreign government investors, any foreign government investor from the same country. |
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The Australian Federal Treasurer may prevent a proposed acquisition in the above categories or impose conditions on such acquisition if the Australian Federal Treasurer is satisfied that the acquisition would be contrary to the national interest. If a foreign person acquires shares or an interest in shares in an Australian company in contravention of Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime, the Australian Treasurer may order the divestiture of such person’s shares or interest in shares in such company. The Australian Treasurer may order divestiture pursuant to Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime if it is determined that the acquisition has resulted in that foreign person, either alone or together with other non-associated or associated foreign persons, controlling the company and that such control is contrary to the national interest. Criminal offences and civil penalties for breaches of Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime can apply to failing to give notification of certain acquisitions, undertaking certain acquisitions without a no objection notification or contravening a condition in a no objection notification.
Each foreign person seeking to acquire holdings in excess of the above caps (including their Associates, as the case may be) would need to complete an application form setting out the proposal and relevant particulars of the acquisition/shareholding. The Australian Treasurer then has 30 days to consider the application and a further 10 days to notify the applicant of that decision. The decision period commences upon receipt of payment of the correct application fee. However, FIRB can request an extension of time. If the applicant does not consent to the extension, FIRB can issue an interim order preventing the foreign person from carrying out the proposed transactions and allowing FIRB a further 90 days to consider the application.
If we become a ‘foreign person’ under Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime due to levels of foreign ownership of our shares, we would be required to obtain the approval of the Australian Treasurer for us, together with our associates, to undertake certain acquisitions of Australian entities, businesses and land.
Listing
We have applied to list our ordinary shares and Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “LCFY” and “LCFY-W”, respectively.
Transfer Agent, Registrar and Auditor
Upon the closing of this offering, the transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares in the United States will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at its principal office in Canton, Massachusetts.
Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd, located at Central Park, 152-158 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia is our independent registered public accounting firm and has been appointed as our independent auditor.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Upon closing of this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, we will have outstanding 20,730,236 ordinary shares (including 313,641 ordinary shares expected to be issued on or about the closing of this offering upon the automatic conversion of NASDAQ Convertible Notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021 (assuming a public offering price of $5.50 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)) outstanding (assuming no exercise of the Warrants included in the Units and no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ordinary shares and/or Warrants). All of the ordinary shares issued in this offering will be freely transferable, except for any shares purchased by holders subject to lock-up agreements or by any of our “affiliates”, by persons without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act.
Of the 20,730,236 ordinary shares to be outstanding on the closing date of this offering (assuming no exercise of the Warrants included in the Units and no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ordinary shares and/or Warrants), approximately 5,531,193 shares will be “locked-up” as a result of the agreements that each of our directors and executive officers, as well as certain other parties, have signed restricting their ability to transfer our stock and other applicable securities for 180 days after the date of this prospectus. Substantially all of the remaining approximately 15 million shares are held by persons who are not deemed to be affiliates (at the time of or at any time during the three months preceding a sale), were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering, and have been beneficially owned for at least one year and are freely transferable under Rule 144.
Sales of substantial numbers of our ordinary shares in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our ordinary shares. While we expect our ordinary shares will be listed on Nasdaq following this offering, we cannot assure you that a regular trading market will develop in our ordinary shares. Future sales of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market or the perception that such sales might occur could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, an “affiliate” who has beneficially owned our ordinary shares for a period of at least six months is entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of ordinary shares that does not exceed the greater of either 1% of the then outstanding shares or the average weekly trading volume of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing with the SEC of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale. Such sales under Rule 144 of the Securities Act are also subject to prescribed requirements relating to the manner of sale, notice and availability of current public information about us.
Under Rule 144, a person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned the ordinary shares proposed to be sold for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior holder other than an affiliate, is entitled to sell such shares without restriction, provided we have been in compliance with our reporting requirements under the Exchange Act for 90 days preceding such sale. A person who has not been one of our affiliates for at least the three months immediately preceding the sale and who has beneficially owned the applicable ordinary shares for at least one year is entitled to sell the shares under Rule 144 without regard to any of the limitations described above.
To the extent that our affiliates sell their shares, other than pursuant to Rule 144 or a registration statement, the purchaser’s holding period for the purpose of effecting a sale under Rule 144 commences on the date of transfer from the affiliate.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees or directors who acquire our ordinary shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock plan or other written agreement executed prior to the closing of this offering is eligible to resell such shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144.
Regulation S
Regulation S under the Securities Act provides that securities owned by any person may be sold without registration in the United States, provided that the sale is effected in an “offshore transaction” and no “directed selling efforts” are made in the United States (as these terms are defined in Regulation S) and subject to certain other conditions. In general, this means that our ordinary shares may be sold in some manner outside the United States without requiring registration in the United States.
Lock-up Agreements
For a description of the lock-up arrangements that we and our shareholders have entered into in connection with this offering, see “Underwriting.”
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the ownership and disposition of ordinary shares and Warrants by U.S. Holders (as defined below). This discussion applies to U.S. Holders that purchase our ordinary shares and Warrants pursuant to this prospectus and hold such ordinary shares and Warrants as capital assets. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to specific U.S. Holders in light of their particular circumstances or to U.S. Holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law (such as certain financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers and traders in securities or other persons that generally mark their securities to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes, tax-exempt entities, retirement plans, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, persons who hold our ordinary shares and Warrants as part of a “straddle”, “hedge”, “conversion transaction”, “synthetic security” or integrated investment, persons that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar, persons that own directly, indirectly or through attribution 10% or more of the voting power of our ordinary shares, corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax, persons subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code, partnerships and other pass-through entities, and investors in such pass-through entities). This discussion does not address any U.S. state or local or non-U.S. tax consequences or any U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax consequences.
As used in this discussion, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares and Warrants that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (1) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a corporation (or entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, (3) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source or (4) a trust (i) with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or (ii) that has elected under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a domestic trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our ordinary shares and Warrants, the U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to an investment in our ordinary shares and Warrants will depend in part upon the status and activities of such entity and the particular partner. Any such entity should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to it and its partners of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares and Warrants. Persons considering an investment in our ordinary shares and Warrants should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax consequences applicable to them relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares and Warrants, including the applicability of U.S. federal, state and local tax laws and non-U.S. tax laws.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Consequences
In general, a corporation organized outside the United States will be treated as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year in which either (1) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income”, or the “PFIC income test”, or (2) on average at least 50% of its assets, determined on a quarterly basis, are assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, the “PFIC asset test”. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, royalties, rents, and gains from the sale or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income. Assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income generally include cash, even if held as working capital or raised in a public offering, marketable securities, and other assets that may produce passive income. Generally, in determining whether a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC, a proportionate share of the income and assets of each corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, at least a 25% interest (by value) is taken into account.
Section 1298(a)(4) of the Code provides that to the extent provided in regulations, if any person has an option to acquire stock in a PFIC, such stock shall be considered as owned by such person. Certain proposed regulations provide rules for treatment of options to acquire stock in a PFIC. It is not currently known if, when or the extent to which such proposed regulations will be finalized and become effective. The discussion below assumes that regulations relating to options to acquire PFIC stock will become effective and would apply to the Warrants. Each prospective investor is urged to consult with its own tax advisor about the tax consequences of holding Warrants if we are classified as a PFIC.
Although we do not believe that we will be a PFIC for the tax year ending December 31, 2021, our determination is based on an interpretation of complex provisions of the law, which are not addressed in a significant number of administrative pronouncements or rulings by the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS. Accordingly, because PFIC status is determined on an annual basis and generally cannot be determined until the end of the taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year. Because we may continue to hold a substantial amount of cash and cash equivalents, and because the calculation of the value of our assets may be based in part on the value of our ordinary shares, which may fluctuate considerably, we may be a PFIC in future taxable years. Even if we determine that we are not a PFIC for a taxable year, there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with our conclusion and that the IRS would not successfully challenge our position. Our status as a PFIC is a fact-intensive determination made on an annual basis. Accordingly, our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status and also expresses no opinion with regard to our expectations regarding our PFIC status.
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If we are a PFIC in any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owns our ordinary shares and Warrants, the U.S. Holder could be liable for additional taxes and interest charges under the “PFIC excess distribution regime” upon (1) a distribution paid during a taxable year that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for our ordinary shares and Warrants, and (2) any gain recognized on a sale, exchange or other disposition, including a pledge, of our ordinary shares and Warrants, whether or not we continue to be a PFIC. Under the PFIC excess distribution regime, the tax on such distribution or gain would be determined by allocating the distribution or gain ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for our ordinary shares and Warrants. The amount allocated to the current taxable year (i.e., the year in which the distribution occurs or the gain is recognized) and any year prior to the first taxable year in which we are a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income earned in the current taxable year. The amount allocated to other taxable years will be taxed at the highest marginal rates in effect for individuals or corporations, as applicable, to ordinary income for each such taxable year, and an interest charge, generally applicable to underpayments of tax, will be added to the tax.
If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ordinary shares and Warrants, we must generally continue to be treated as a PFIC by that holder for all succeeding years during which the U.S. Holder holds our ordinary shares and Warrants, unless we cease to meet the requirements for PFIC status and the U.S. Holder makes a “deemed sale” election with respect to our ordinary shares and Warrants. If the election is made, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to sell our ordinary shares and Warrants it holds at their fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year in which we qualified as a PFIC, and any gain recognized from such deemed sale would be taxed under the PFIC excess distribution regime. After the deemed sale election, the U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares and Warrants would not be treated as shares of a PFIC unless we subsequently become a PFIC.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ordinary shares and Warrants and one of our non-U.S. corporate subsidiaries is also a PFIC (i.e., a lower-tier PFIC), such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the ordinary shares of the lower-tier PFIC and would be taxed under the PFIC excess distribution regime on distributions by the lower-tier PFIC and on gain from the disposition of shares of the lower-tier PFIC even though such U.S. Holder would not receive the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions. Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to our non-U.S. subsidiaries.
If we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder will not be subject to tax under the PFIC excess distribution regime on distributions or gain recognized on our ordinary shares if such U.S. Holder makes a valid “mark-to-market” election for our ordinary shares. A mark-to-market election is available to a U.S. Holder only for “marketable stock”.
Our ordinary shares will be marketable stock as long as they remain listed on the Nasdaq and are regularly traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. If a mark-to-market election is in effect, a U.S. Holder generally would take into account, as ordinary income each year, the excess of the fair market value of our ordinary shares held at the end of such taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ordinary shares. The U.S. Holder would also take into account, as an ordinary loss each year, the excess of the adjusted tax basis of such our ordinary shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the excess of amounts previously included in income over ordinary losses deducted as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our ordinary shares would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss recognized as a result of the mark-to-market election. Any gain from a sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares in any taxable year in which we are a PFIC would be treated as ordinary income and any loss from such sale, exchange or other disposition would be treated first as ordinary loss (to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains previously included in income) and thereafter as capital loss.
A mark-to-market election will not apply to our ordinary shares for any taxable year during which we are not a PFIC, but will remain in effect with respect to any subsequent taxable year in which we become a PFIC. Such election will not apply to any non-U.S. subsidiaries that we may organize or acquire in the future. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to tax under the PFIC excess distribution regime with respect to any lower-tier PFICs that we may organize or acquire in the future notwithstanding the U.S. Holder’s mark-to-market election for our ordinary shares.
The tax consequences that would apply if we are a PFIC would also be different from those described above if a U.S. Holder were able to make a valid qualified electing fund, or QEF, election. Because at this time we do not expect to provide U.S. Holders with the information necessary for a U.S. Holder to make a valid QEF election, prospective investors should assume that a QEF election will not be available.
Each U.S. person that is an investor of a PFIC is generally required to file an annual information return on IRS Form 8621 containing such information as the U.S. Treasury Department may require. The failure to file IRS Form 8621 could result in the imposition of penalties and the extension of the statute of limitations with respect to U.S. federal income tax.
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The U.S. federal income tax rules relating to PFICs are very complex. Prospective U.S. investors are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the impact of PFIC status on the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares and Warrants, the consequences to them of an investment in a PFIC, any elections available with respect to our ordinary shares and Warrants and the IRS information reporting obligations with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the ordinary shares and Warrants of a PFIC.
Distributions
Subject to the discussion above under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Consequences”, a U.S. Holder that receives a distribution with respect to our ordinary shares generally will be required to include the gross amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend when actually or constructively received to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of our current and/or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). To the extent a distribution received by a U.S. Holder is not a dividend because it exceeds the U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, it will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital and reduce (but not below zero) the adjusted tax basis of the U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares. To the extent the distribution exceeds the adjusted tax basis of the U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares, the remainder will be taxed as capital gain. Because we may not account for our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, U.S. Holders should expect all distributions to be reported to them as dividends. Distributions on our ordinary shares that are treated as dividends generally will constitute income from sources outside the United States for foreign tax credit purposes and generally will constitute passive category income. Such dividends will not be eligible for the “dividends received” deduction generally allowed to corporate shareholders with respect to dividends received from U.S. corporations.
Dividends paid by a “qualified foreign corporation” are eligible for taxation for certain non-corporate U.S. Holders at a reduced capital gains rate rather than the marginal tax rates generally applicable to ordinary income provided certain requirements are met. However, if we are a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year (see discussion above under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Consequences”), we will not be treated as a qualified foreign corporation, and therefore the reduced capital gains tax rate described above will not apply. Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends with regard to its particular circumstances.
A non-United States corporation (other than a corporation that is classified as a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year) generally will be considered to be a qualified foreign corporation (a) if it is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States which the Secretary of Treasury of the United States determines is satisfactory for purposes of this provision and which includes an exchange of information program, or (b) with respect to any dividend it pays on our ordinary shares that are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. We believe that we qualify as a resident of Australia for purposes of, and are eligible for the benefits of, the U.S.-Australia Treaty, although there can be no assurance in this regard. Further, the IRS has determined that the U.S.-Australia Treaty is satisfactory for purposes of the qualified dividend rules and that it includes an exchange of information provision. Therefore, subject to the discussion above under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Consequences”, if the U.S.-Australia Treaty is applicable, such dividends will generally be “qualified dividend income” in the hands of individual U.S. Holders, provided that certain conditions are met, including holding period and the absence of certain risk reduction transactions. In addition, it is anticipated that our ordinary shares will qualify for the exception applicable to dividends from stock that is readily tradeable on an established securities market.
Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of our Ordinary Shares and Warrants
Subject to the discussion above under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Consequences”, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares and Warrants in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realized (i.e., the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received) on the sale, exchange or other disposition and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our ordinary shares and Warrants. Such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain taxable at a reduced rate for noncorporate U.S. Holders or long-term capital loss if, on the date of sale, exchange or other disposition, our ordinary shares and Warrants were held by the U.S. Holder for more than one year. Any capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. Holder that is not long-term capital gain is taxed at ordinary income rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder from the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares and Warrants generally will be gain or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.
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Allocation of Purchase Price and Tax Basis
For United States federal income and other applicable tax purposes, each purchaser of our Units in this offering must allocate its purchase price between each component (i.e. the ordinary shares and Warrants) based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. These allocated amounts will be the holder’s tax basis in each component. Because each investor must make its own determination of the relative value of each component of the Units, we urge each investor to consult its tax advisor in connection with this analysis.
Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant
Subject to the PFIC rules described above and except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss on the exercise of a warrant and related receipt of an ordinary share, except to the extent that cash is received in lieu of the issuance of a fractional ordinary share.
A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the ordinary share received on the exercise of a warrant should be equal to the sum of (i) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrant plus (ii) the exercise price paid by the U.S. Holder on the exercise of the warrant. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for ordinary shares received on exercise of a warrant will commence on the date following the date of exercise of the warrant and will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrant.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise of warrants into ordinary shares is unclear, and the tax consequences of a cashless exercise could differ from the consequences upon the exercise of a warrant described in the preceding paragraph.
Due to the absence of clear authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance as to the tax treatment that would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of our Warrants.
The exercise of a Warrant for ordinary shares generally will not be a taxable event for the exercising U.S. Holder. A U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in the ordinary shares received on exercise of a Warrant equal to the sum of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Warrant surrendered, reduced by any portion of the basis allocable to a fractional share, plus the exercise price of the Warrant. A U.S. Holder generally will have a holding period in ordinary shares acquired on exercise of a Warrant that commences on the date of exercise of the Warrant.
Tax Basis of each ordinary share and Warrant
The ordinary shares will be sold together with an accompanying Warrant. The initial tax basis of a beneficial owner in each ordinary share will be equal to the amount paid for the ordinary share less the fair market value of their accompanying Warrant. The initial basis in the accompanying Warrant will equal the initial fair market value of the Warrant.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals, estates or trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% U.S. federal income tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which generally includes dividends (and constructive dividends) on the securities and net gains from the disposition of ordinary shares or warrants. U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to them.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
U.S. Holders may be required to file certain U.S. information reporting returns with the IRS with respect to an investment in our ordinary shares and Warrants, including, among others, IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets). As described above under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Consequences”, each U.S. Holder who is a shareholder of a PFIC must file an annual report containing certain information. U.S. Holders paying more than US$100,000 for our ordinary shares may be required to file IRS Form 926 (Return by a U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation) reporting this payment. Substantial penalties may be imposed upon a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with the required information reporting.
Dividends on and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares and Warrants may be reported to the IRS unless the U.S. Holder establishes a basis for exemption. Backup withholding may apply to amounts subject to reporting if the holder (1) fails to provide an accurate United States taxpayer identification number or otherwise establish a basis for exemption, or (2) is described in certain other categories of persons. However, U.S. Holders that are corporations generally are excluded from these information reporting and backup withholding tax rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if the required information is furnished by the U.S. Holder on a timely basis to the IRS.
U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the backup withholding tax and information reporting rules.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO IT OF AN INVESTMENT IN OUR UNITS IN LIGHT OF THE INVESTOR’S OWN CIRCUMSTANCES.
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CERTAIN AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
In this section, we discuss the material Australian income tax, stamp (or transfer) duty and goods and services tax considerations related to the acquisition, ownership and disposal by the absolute beneficial owners of the ordinary shares. It is based upon existing Australian tax law as of the date of this registration statement, which is subject to change, possibly retrospectively. This discussion does not address all aspects of Australian tax law which may be important to particular investors in light of their individual investment circumstances, such as shares held by investors subject to special tax rules (for example, financial institutions, insurance companies or tax-exempt organizations). In addition, this summary does not discuss any non-Australian or state tax considerations, other than transfer duty.
Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the Australian and non-Australian income and other tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the ordinary shares. This summary is based upon the premise that the holder is not an Australian tax resident and is not carrying on business in Australia through a permanent establishment (referred to as a “Non-Australian Holder” in this summary).
This summary is of a general nature only and is not, and is not intended to be, legal or tax advice to any particular shareholder, and no representations with respect to the income tax consequences to any particular shareholder are made. This summary is not exhaustive of all Australian federal income tax considerations. Accordingly, you should consult your own tax advisor with respect to your particular circumstances.
Non-Australian residents may be liable to pay Australian tax on income derived from Australian sources. One mechanism by which that tax is paid (for non-residents who have no permanent establishment or fixed base in Australia or where the income is not connected with a permanent establishment or fixed base) is known as withholding tax. Dividends paid by a resident Australian company to a resident of the United States of America who is entitled to the benefits of the Australia/US double tax treaty and is beneficially entitled to the dividends are subject to withholding tax at the rate of 15% to the extent the dividends are ‘unfranked’. The rate of withholding tax on dividends is normally 30%, but since the United States has concluded a double tax treaty agreement with Australia, the rate is reduced to 15% where the benefits of the treaty apply. It should be noted, however, that under Section 128B(3) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth), to the extent that dividends paid to non-residents have been franked (generally where a company pays tax itself), such dividends are exempt from withholding tax. “Franked dividends” is the expression given to dividends when the profits out of which those dividends are paid have been taxed at company level and such tax is allocated to the dividend. Accordingly, an Australian company paying fully franked dividends to a non-resident is not required to deduct any withholding tax. Dividends on which withholding tax has been paid are generally not subject to any further Australian tax. In other words, the withholding tax should represent the final Australian tax liability in relation to those dividends.
The pertinent provisions of the double tax treaty between Australia and the United States provide that dividends are primarily liable for tax in the country of residence of the beneficial owner of the dividends. However, the source country, in this case Australia, may also tax them, but in such case the tax will be limited to 15% if the benefits of the treaty apply. Where the beneficial owner is a United States resident corporation that directly holds at least 10% of the voting power in us, the tax will be limited to 5%. The 15% limit does not apply to dividends derived by a resident of the United States of America who has a permanent establishment or fixed base in Australia, if the holding giving rise to the dividends is effectively connected with that establishment or base. Such dividends are taxed on a net assessment basis as business income or independent personal services income as the case may be.
We have not paid any cash dividends since our inception and we do not anticipate the payment of cash dividends in the foreseeable future. See “Item 8.A. Financial Statements and Other Financial Information–Dividend Policy.”
A Non-Australian Holder will not generally be subject to capital gains tax in Australia as the Non-Australian Holder is unlikely to have an indirect interest in Australian real property. An indirect interest in Australian real property will only occur where more than 50% of the market value of our assets are attributable to Australian real property.
Dual Residency
If an investor were a resident of both Australia and the United States under those countries’ domestic taxation laws, that investor may be subject to tax as an Australian resident. If, however, the shareholder is determined to be a United States resident for the purposes of Australia/US double tax treaty, the Australian tax applicable would be limited by the Australia/US double tax treaty. Shareholders should obtain specialist taxation advice in these circumstances.
Transfer Duty
Any transfer of shares through trading on the Nasdaq should not be subject to transfer duty.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes in Australia
Australia does not have estate or death duties. Generally, no capital gains tax liability is realized upon the inheritance of a deceased person’s shares. The disposal of inherited shares by beneficiaries, may, however, give rise to a capital gains tax liability.
Goods and Services Tax
The issue or transfer of shares will not incur Australian goods and services tax and does not require a stockholder to register for Australian goods and services tax purposes.
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H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or H.C. Wainwright, is acting as the book-running manager of the offering and the representative of the underwriters of this offering. We have entered into an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus with H.C. Wainwright as representative of the several underwriters named below, with respect to this offering. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase from us the number of our securities set forth opposite its name below.
Underwriter | Units | |||
H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC | ||||
Total |
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities in this offering are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, if any of securities are purchased, other than those ordinary shares covered by the option to purchase additional ordinary shares and warrants described below. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that, under certain circumstances, the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
The underwriters are offering the Units, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Underwriting Discounts, Commissions and Expenses
The following table shows the initial public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions and proceeds, before expenses to us. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ordinary shares.
Per Unit(1) | Total
Without Option Exercise | Total
With Full Option Exercise | ||||||||||
Initial public offering price | $ | |||||||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | $ | |||||||||||
Proceeds to us (before expenses)(2)(3) | $ |
(1) The initial public offering price and underwriting discount corresponds to an initial public offering price per Unit of $ .
(2) Represents an underwriting discount equal to 8% of the aggregate gross proceeds purchase price paid by the underwriters to us per Unit. In addition, we have agreed to issue to the representative of the underwriters or its designees warrants (the “representative’s warrants”) to purchase a number of ordinary shares equal to 6% of the ordinary shares sold in this offering (including additional ordinary shares sold), at an exercise price of $ per ordinary share, which represents 125% of the initial public offering price per Unit. We have also agreed to reimburse the representative of the underwriters for certain of their expenses.
(3) Does not include proceeds from the exercise of Warrants or representative’s warrants.
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $841,056 and is payable by us. Subject to compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f), we have agreed to reimburse the representative of the underwriters for its out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and expenses of legal counsel, up to $350,000, and for closing costs in the amount of $15,950. We have paid an advance of $75,000 to the representative, which will be credited against the fees and expenses of legal counsel and other out-of-pocket accountable expenses that will be incurred in connection with this offering. Such advance will be returned to us to the extent such out-of-pocket expenses were not actually incurred, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A) and (g)(5)(A).
Option to Purchase Additional Securities
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable not later than 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to additional ordinary shares and/or warrants to purchase up to ordinary shares in any combination thereof. Any ordinary shares and warrants so purchased shall be sold at the initial public offering price per ordinary share or initial public offering price per Warrant, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. If any additional ordinary shares or warrants are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will offer these additional ordinary shares and warrants on the same terms as those on which the other ordinary shares are being offered hereby.
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Representative’s Warrant
Upon closing of this offering, we will issue to H.C. Wainwright a warrant entitling H.C. Wainwright or its designees to purchase up to ordinary shares (or ordinary shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional ordinary shares) (equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of ordinary shares sold in this offering) at $ per ordinary share (equal to 125% of the initial public offering price per Unit). The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance and will have a termination date of the five-year anniversary of the commencement of the sales pursuant to this offering.
The representative’s warrants and the ordinary shares underlying such warrants are registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e), the representative’s warrants and any ordinary shares issuable thereunder shall not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of commencement of sales of this offering, except the transfer of any security: (i) by operation of law or by reason of reorganization of the issuer; (ii) to any FINRA member firm participating in the offering and the officers, partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period; (iii) if the aggregate amount of our securities held by the representative or related persons does not exceed 1% of the securities being offered; (iv) that is beneficially owned on a pro-rata basis by all equity owners of an investment fund, provided that no participating member manages or otherwise directs investments by the fund and the participating members in the aggregate do not own more than 10% of the equity in the fund; (v) the exercise or conversion of any security, if all securities remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period; (vi) if we meet the registration requirements of Forms S-3, F-3 or F-10; or (vii) back to us in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
Pricing of the Offering
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares or Warrants. The initial public offering price was determined by negotiations between us and the representative. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were our future prospects and those of our industry in general, our sales, earnings and certain other financial and operating information in recent periods, and the price-earnings ratios, price-sales ratios, market prices of securities, and certain financial and operating information of companies engaged in businesses similar to ours.
We cannot assure you that the initial public offering price will correspond to the price at which our ordinary shares or Warrants will trade in the public market subsequent to this offering or that an active trading market for our ordinary shares or Warrants will develop and continue after this offering.
Right of First Refusal
We have also granted the representative (or any affiliate designated by the representative), subject to certain exceptions, a right of first refusal for a period of twelve (12) months following the closing of this offering to act as sole book-running manager, sole underwriter or sole placement agent for each and every future public offering or private placement of equity or debt securities by us or any of our subsidiaries.
Tail
We have also agreed to pay H.C. Wainwright a “tail” fee equal to the compensation in the offering if any investor which H.C. Wainwright contacted or introduced us to during the term of H.C. Wainwright’s engagement (other than pre-existing investors of ours) provides us with further capital in a public or private offering or capital raising transaction and such offering or transaction is consummated during the 12-month period following termination or expiration of that certain engagement letter, dated March 22, 2021, entered into between us and H.C. Wainwright.
Lock-up Agreements
Our officers, directors and principal shareholders have agreed with the representative of the underwriters to be subject to a lock-up period of 180 days following the date of this prospectus. This means that, during the applicable lock-up period, such persons may not offer for sale, contract to sell, sell, distribute, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any ordinary shares or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, ordinary shares, subject to certain customary exceptions. In addition, in accordance with the Corporations Act (subject to certain relief that we have applied for with, and expect to have granted by, ASIC prior to the closing of the offering, for which the granting of such relief is a condition), the lock-up will not apply in the event that the Company becomes subject to a change of control transaction under Australian law or otherwise as required under Australian law. We have also agreed, in the underwriting agreement, to similar lock-up restrictions on the issuance and sale of our securities for 180 days following the closing of this offering, subject to certain customary exceptions, and a restriction on the issuance of variable priced securities until the warrants issued in this offering are no longer outstanding, subject to an exception, without the consent of the representative. The representative of the underwriters may, in its sole discretion and without notice, waive the terms of any of these lock-up agreements.
Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
In connection with this offering, the underwriter may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in connection with our ordinary shares.
● | Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriter of ordinary shares in excess of the number of ordinary shares the underwriter is obligated to purchase. This creates a syndicate short position which may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of ordinary shares over-allotted by the underwriter is not greater than the number of ordinary shares that it may purchase in the option to purchase additional ordinary shares. In a naked short position, the number of ordinary shares involved is greater than the number of ordinary shares in the option to purchase additional ordinary shares. The underwriter may close out any short position by exercising its option to purchase additional ordinary shares and/or purchasing ordinary shares in the open market. | |
● | Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase ordinary shares so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. | |
● | Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of ordinary shares in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Such a naked short position would be closed out by buying securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. | |
● | Penalty bids permit the underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. |
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These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our ordinary shares or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our ordinary shares. As a result, the price of our ordinary shares in the open market may be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our ordinary shares. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Other Relationships
The representative and its affiliates may in the future engage in investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. The representative may in the future receive customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Upon the closing of this offering, the transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares in the United States will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A.. We do not intend to have a transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares in Australia.
Nasdaq Listing
Prior to this offering, no public market has existed for our ordinary shares or warrants. We have applied to list our ordinary shares and the Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “LCFY” and “LCFY-W”, respectively. Listing will be subject to the fulfilment of all of the applicable listing requirements of Nasdaq.
SELLING RESTRICTIONS
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each a “Relevant State”), no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to such securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:
(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;
(b) | to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or |
(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,
provided that no such offer of any securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any securities in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
United Kingdom
In relation to the United Kingdom, no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities that either (i) have been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, or (ii) is to be treated as if it had been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the transitional provision in Regulation 74 of the Prospectus (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, except that offers of the securities may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation:
(a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
(b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of representatives for any such offer; or
(c) in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”),
provided that no such offer of ordinary shares shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
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For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
In addition, this prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, persons who are outside the United Kingdom or persons in the United Kingdom (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”); and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”) or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the securities in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the FSMA.
Australia
This document:
● | does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”); | |
● | has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and | |
● | may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors available under section 708 of the Corporations Act (“Exempt Investors”). |
The securities may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the securities may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any securities may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the securities, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.
As any offer of the securities under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the securities you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the securities, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those securities to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.
80 |
Canada
The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the units must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Switzerland
The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (“FINMA”), and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of securities.
Israel
In the State of Israel, this prospectus shall not be regarded as an offer to the public to purchase securities under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968, which requires a prospectus to be published and authorized by the Israel Securities Authority, if it complies with certain provisions of Section 15 of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968, including, inter alia, if: (i) the offer is made, distributed or directed to not more than 35 investors, subject to certain conditions (the “Addressed Investors”); or (ii) the offer is made, distributed or directed to certain qualified investors defined in the First Addendum of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 –1968, subject to certain conditions (the “Qualified Investors”). The Qualified Investors shall not be taken into account in the count of the Addressed Investors and may be offered to purchase securities in addition to the 35 Addressed Investors. The Company has not and will not take any action that would require it to publish a prospectus in accordance with and subject to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. We have not and will not distribute this prospectus or make, distribute or direct an offer to subscribe for our securities to any person within the State of Israel, other than to Qualified Investors and up to 35 Addressed Investors.
81 |
EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS OFFERING
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the offer and sale of our ordinary shares in this offering. All amounts listed below are estimates except the SEC registration fee and FINRA filing fee.
Itemized expense | Amount | |||
SEC registration fee | $ | 2,073 | ||
Nasdaq listing fee | 75,000 | |||
FINRA filing fee | 3,854 | |||
Printing and engraving expenses | 5,995 | |||
Transfer agent and registrar fees | 18,500 | |||
Legal fees and expenses | 660,000 | |||
Accounting fees and expenses | 35,000 | |||
Public Relations fees | $ | 24,684 | ||
Miscellaneous fees and expenses | 15,950 | |||
Total | 841,056 |
* | To be provided by amendment |
The validity of the ordinary shares and Warrants being offered by this prospectus and other legal matters concerning this offering relating to Australian law will be passed upon for us by Lander & Rogers, Melbourne, Australia. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering relating to U.S. law will be passed upon for us by Haynes and Boone, LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Rimon Law Pty Ltd, with respect to Australian law, and by Lucosky Brookman LLP, with respect to the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America.
The audited financial statements of Locafy as of and for the years ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 appearing in this prospectus and registration statement have been audited by Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as an expert in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act, including relevant exhibits and schedules, with respect to the ordinary shares to be sold in this offering. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should read the registration statement and its exhibits for further information with respect to us and the ordinary shares. Some of these exhibits consist of documents or contracts that are described in this prospectus in summary form. You should read the entire document or contract for the complete terms. You may read and copy the registration statement and its exhibits at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov, from which you can electronically access the registration statement and its exhibits.
After this offering, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers. As a foreign private issuer, the SEC’s rules do not require us to deliver proxy statements or to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, among other things. In addition, our “insiders” are not subject to the SEC’s rules regarding insider reporting and prohibiting short-swing trading under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file annual, quarterly and current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. registrants whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we will be required to file with the SEC an annual report on Form 20-F containing, among other information, our consolidated financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, or such other time as prescribed by the SEC, and will furnish unaudited quarterly financial information to the SEC on Form 6-K promptly after they are available.
We also maintain a website at www.locafy.com. Information contained in, or accessible through, our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference.
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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Locafy Limited
Opinion on the consolidated financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Locafy Limited and its subsidiary (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, the related consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive loss, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2021, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Going concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company incurred a net loss of $995,766 and operating cash outflows of $496,031 during the year ended June 30, 2021, and as of that date, the Company’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by $1,126,033. These events or conditions, along with other matters set forth in Note 3.2, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern as at June 30, 2021. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 3.2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON AUDIT PTY LTD
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021. Perth, Australia
November 10, 2021
F-2 |
Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the years ended 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2020
Consolidated Group | ||||||||||
Notes | 2021
A$ | 2020
A$ | ||||||||
Revenue | 5 | 2,191,425 | 1,985,362 | |||||||
Other income | 6 | 788,258 | 615,356 | |||||||
Technology expense | (651,644 | ) | (979,161 | ) | ||||||
Employee benefits expense | (2,359,459 | ) | (2,389,185 | ) | ||||||
Occupancy expense | (52,219 | ) | (104,419 | ) | ||||||
Advertising expense | (67,575 | ) | (265,996 | ) | ||||||
Consultancy expense | (240,928 | ) | (273,978 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortisation expense | (397,506 | ) | (362,917 | ) | ||||||
Other expenses | 8 | (132,515 | ) | (438,418 | ) | |||||
Impairment of financial assets | (14,690 | ) | - | |||||||
Operating loss | (936,853 | ) | (2,213,356 | ) | ||||||
Financial cost | 8 | (58,913 | ) | (108,471 | ) | |||||
Loss before income tax | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | ||||||
Income tax expense | 9 | - | - | |||||||
Loss for the year | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income: | ||||||||||
Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss | ||||||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign
operations | (1,653 | ) | (4,205 | ) | ||||||
Total Comprehensive Loss for the year | (997,419 | ) | (2,326,032 | ) | ||||||
Earnings per share | ||||||||||
Basic loss per share | 25 | (0.05 | ) | (0.13 | ) | |||||
Diluted loss per share | 25 | (0.05 | ) | (0.13 | ) |
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-3 |
Consolidated statement of financial position
As at 30 June 2021
Consolidated Group | ||||||||||
Notes | 2021
A$ | 2020
| ||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 650,731 | 161,191 | ||||||||
Trade and other receivables | 10 | 391,016 | 232,017 | |||||||
Other assets | 11 | 234,288 | 118,450 | |||||||
Total current assets | 1,276,035 | 511,658 | ||||||||
Non-current assets | ||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | 13 | 12,392 | 5,698 | |||||||
Right of use assets | 14 | 95,756 | 130,575 | |||||||
Intangible assets | 15 | 1,397,397 | 984,355 | |||||||
Total non-current assets | 1,505,545 | 1,120,628 | ||||||||
Total assets | 2,781,580 | 1,632,286 | ||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||||
Trade and other payables | 16 | 1,058,037 | 1,168,435 | |||||||
Borrowings | 17 | 435,600 | 719,670 | |||||||
Provisions | 18 | 384,914 | 288,224 | |||||||
Accrued expenses | 19 | 456,140 | 457,060 | |||||||
Lease liabilities | 14 | 43,298 | 17,785 | |||||||
Contract and other liabilities | 20 | 24,079 | 32,414 | |||||||
Total current liabilities | 2,402,068 | 2,683,588 | ||||||||
Non-current liabilities | ||||||||||
Lease liabilities | 14 | 87,400 | 130,698 | |||||||
Provisions | 18 | 10,557 | 5,693 | |||||||
Accrued expenses | 19 | 1,117,033 | 976,048 | |||||||
Total non-current liabilities | 1,214,990 | 1,112,439 | ||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,617,058 | 3,796,027 | ||||||||
Net liabilities | (835,478 | ) | (2,163,741 | ) | ||||||
Equity | ||||||||||
Issued capital | 21 | 35,505,073 | 33,179,391 | |||||||
Reserves | 22 | 3,796,149 | 3,797,802 | |||||||
Accumulated losses | 23 | (40,136,700 | ) | (39,140,934 | ) | |||||
Total deficiency | (835,478 | ) | (2,163,741 | ) |
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-4 |
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the years ended 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2020
Consolidated | Issued capital | Foreign currency translation reserve | Share option reserve | Accumulated losses | Total | |||||||||||||||
A$ | A$ | A$ | A$ | A$ | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at 1 July 2019 | 31,599,639 | 198,091 | 3,603,916 | (36,819,107 | ) | (1,417,461 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss for the year | - | - | - | (2,321,827 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | |||||||||||||
Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations | - | (4,205 | ) | - | - | (4,205 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income | - | (4,205 | ) | - | (2,321,827 | ) | (2,326,032 | ) | ||||||||||||
Issue of ordinary shares | 2,431,849 | - | - | - | 2,431,849 | |||||||||||||||
Share issue costs | (52,097 | ) | - | - | - | (52,097 | ) | |||||||||||||
Shares cancelled during the year | (800,000 | ) | - | - | - | (800,000 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at 30 June 2020 | 33,179,391 | 193,886 | 3,603,916 | (39,140,934 | ) | (2,163,741 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at 1 July 2020 | 33,179,391 | 193,886 | 3,603,916 | (39,140,934 | ) | (2,163,741 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss for the year | - | - | - | (995,766 | ) | (995,766 | ) | |||||||||||||
Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations | - | (1,653 | ) | - | - | (1,653 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income | - | (1,653 | ) | - | (995,766 | ) | (997,419 | ) | ||||||||||||
Issue of ordinary shares | 2,335,832 | - | - | - | 2,335,832 | |||||||||||||||
Share issue costs | (10,150 | ) | - | - | - | (10,150 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at 30 June 2021 | 35,505,073 | 192,233 | 3,603,916 | (40,136,700 | ) | (835,478 | ) |
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-5 |
Consolidated statement of cash flows
for the years ended 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2020
Consolidated Entity | ||||||||||
Notes | 2021
A$ | 2020 A$ | ||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||
Receipts from customers | 2,192,798 | 2,084,018 | ||||||||
Payments to suppliers and employees | (3,127,274 | ) | (3,962,643 | ) | ||||||
R&D Tax Rebate | 6 | 497,358 | 494,577 | |||||||
Financial Cost | (58,913 | ) | (100,541 | ) | ||||||
Net cash used by operating activities | 24 | (496,031 | ) | (1,484,589 | ) | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||||
Purchase of intellectual property | (433,639 | ) | (52,656 | ) | ||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (8,784 | ) | (1,481 | ) | ||||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (442,423 | ) | (54,137 | ) | ||||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||||
Proceeds from issue of shares | 1,739,999 | 2,301,050 | ||||||||
Payment for share issue costs | (10,150 | ) | (2,432 | ) | ||||||
Payment for cancellation of shares | - | (800,000 | ) | |||||||
Repayment of borrowings | (284,070 | ) | (87,412 | ) | ||||||
Leasing liabilities | (17,785 | ) | (13,235 | ) | ||||||
Net cash from financing activities | 1,427,994 | 1,397,961 | ||||||||
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 489,540 | (140,765 | ) | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year | 161,191 | 301,956 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year | 650,731 | 161,191 |
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-6 |
Notes to the financial statements
1. General Information
Locafy Limited (the Company) is an unlisted public company incorporated in Australia. The addresses of its registered office and principal places of business are as follows:
Registered Office | Principal places of business | |
246A Churchill Avenue | 246A Churchill Avenue | |
Subiaco WA 6008 | Subiaco WA 6008 | |
Australia | Australia |
The entity’s principal activities are the continued development of the Locafy platform and the commercialisation of the Company’s technologies. The Company’s platform has unlimited production capability to produce voice, mobile and web search optimised Listings, Landing Pages, Locators and Lead Sites at large scale.
2. Application of new and revised Accounting Standards
New and revised standards that are effective for these financial statements
Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are mandatory for 30 June 2021 reporting periods and have not been adopted by the Group. The Group’s assessment of the impact of these new standards do not have a material impact on the entity in the current reporting periods.
Impact of standards issued but not yet applied
The following new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 30 June 2021 reporting periods, have not been early adopted by the Group, and are as follows:
i) IAS 38 Intangible Assets - Agenda Decision
The Agenda Decision requires that management capitalise those elements of expenditure that meet the definition of an “Intangible Asset” as defined by IAS 38 Intangible Assets and recognise any additional amounts as an expense as the entity benefits from the expenditure – either by applying IAS 138 or applying another accounting standard. The Agenda Decision then clarified:
● | The nature of expenditure that met the definition of an Intangible Asset; | |
● | Methods of differentiating between Intangible Assets and expenses; and | |
● | The pattern in which the entity benefits from expenditure that does not qualify as an Intangible Asset. |
When this policy is first adopted for the reporting period ending 31 December 2021, there will be no material impact on the transactions and balances recognised in the financial statements.
The Agenda Decision requires that management capitalise those elements of expenditure that meet the definition of an “Intangible Asset” as defined by IAS 138 Intangible Assets and recognise any additional amounts as an expense as the entity benefits from the expenditure – either
by applying IAS 138 or applying another accounting standard.
The Agenda Decision then clarified:
● | The nature of expenditure that met the definition of an Intangible Asset; | |
● | Methods of differentiating between Intangible Assets and expenses; and | |
● | The pattern in which the entity benefits from expenditure that does not qualify as an Intangible Asset. |
When this policy is first adopted for the reporting period ending 31 December 2021, there will be no material impact on the transactions and balances recognised in the financial statements.
F-7 |
Impact of standards issued but not yet applied (Cont.)
ii) Amendments to IAS 1: Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current
The amendment specify the requirements for classifying liabilities as current or non-current. The amendments clarify:
● | What is meant by a right to defer settlement | |
● | That a right to defer must exist at the end of the reporting period | |
● | That classification is unaffected by the likelihood that an entity will exercise its deferral right | |
● | That only if an embedded derivative in a convertible liability is itself an equity instrument would the terms of a liability not impact its classification. |
The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023 and must be applied retrospectively. The Group’s assessment of the impact of the new standard is not expected to have a material impact on the entity in future reporting periods.
iii) Amendments to IAS 3 Business Combinations - Reference to the Conceptual Framework
The amendments are intended to replace a reference to the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements, issued in 1989, with a reference to the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting issued in March 2018 without significantly changing its requirements.
The Board also added an exception to the recognition principle of IFRS 3 to avoid the issue of potential ‘day 2’ gains or losses arising for liabilities and contingent liabilities that would be within the scope of IAS 37 or IFRIC 21 Levies, if incurred separately. At the same time, the Board decided to clarify existing guidance in IAS 3 for contingent assets that would not be affected by replacing the reference to the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements.
The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022 and apply prospectively.
iv) Onerous Contracts - Costs of Fulfilling a Contract - Amendments to IAS 37
The amendments to IAS 37 specific which costs an entity needs to include when assessing whether a contract is onerous or loss-making. The amendments apply a “directly related cost approach”. The costs that relate directly to a contract to provide goods or services include both incremental costs and an allocation of costs directly related to contract activities. General and administrative costs do not relate directly to a contract and are excluded unless they are explicitly chargeable to the counterparty under the contract.
The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022. The Group will apply these amendments to contracts for which it has not yet fulfilled all its obligations at the beginning of the annual reporting period in which it first applies the amendments.
v) IAS 9 Financial Instruments – Fees in the ‘10 per cent’ test for derecognition of financial liabilities
The amendment clarifies the fees that an entity includes when assessing whether the terms of a new or modified financial liability are substantially different from the terms of the original financial liability. These fees include only those paid or received between the borrower and the lender, including fees paid or received by either the borrower or lender on the other’s behalf. An entity applies the amendment to financial liabilities that are modified or exchanged on or after the beginning of the annual reporting period in which the entity first applies the amendment.
The amendment is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022 with earlier adoption permitted. The Group will apply the amendments to financial liabilities that are modified or exchanged on or after the beginning of the annual reporting period in which the entity first applies the amendment.
F-8 |
The amendments are not expected to have a material impact on the Group.
3. Significant accounting policies
3.1. Statement of compliance
Theses financial statements comprise the consolidated financial statements of the Group. For the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Company is a for-profit entity.
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). They have been prepared under the assumption that the Group operates on a going concern basis.
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021 (including comparatives) were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 10 November 2021.
3.2. Basis of preparation
The Group’s financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis and under the historical cost convention, modified where applicable, by the measurement at fair value of selected non-current assets, financial assets and financial liabilities. Historical cost is generally based on the fair values of the consideration given in exchange for goods and services. Monetary amounts are expressed in Australian dollars, rounded to the whole dollar, unless otherwise noted.
Going concern basis
The financial report has been prepared on the going concern basis, which assumes continuity of normal business activities and the realisation of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the ordinary course of business.
The Consolidated Entity and Company have incurred a net loss after tax of A$995,766 (2020: A$2,321,827 and experienced net cash outflows from operating activities of A$496,031 (2020: A$1,484,589) for the year ended 30 June 2021.
As at 30 June 2021, the Consolidated Entity and Company had cash assets of A$650,731 (2020: A$161,191) and reported current liabilities exceed its current assets by of A$1,126,033 (2020: A$2,171,930).
The ability of the Consolidated Entity and Company to continue as going concerns and to pay their debts as and when they fall due is dependent on the following:
● | the ability to raise additional funding, including A$880,000 under a “new” convertible note; | |
● | commercialising Locafy’s technology in line with management’s forecasts; | |
● | managing all costs in line with management’s forecasts, including the deferred payment of director employment costs and provision except for personal monthly reimbursement approved by the board and deferred repayments of creditors and convertible notes; | |
● | receipt of Research and Development tax incentive in line with management’s estimates for the amount and expected timing; and | |
● | obtain necessary deferral of current liabilities to allow the company to manage its cash flow, that includes deferrals from directors salaries and fees. |
The Directors have prepared a cash flow forecast which indicates that the Consolidated Entity will have sufficient cash flows to meet minimum operating overheads and committed expenditure requirements for the 12 month period from the date of signing the financial report if they are successful in relation to matters referred to above.
The Directors are confident that they will achieve the matters set out above and therefore the going concern basis of preparation is appropriate. The financial report has therefore been prepared on the going concern basis.
F-9 |
Should the Consolidated Entity and the Company be unable to achieve successful outcomes in relation to each of the matters referred to above, there is a significant uncertainty whether the Consolidated Entity and the Company will be able to continue as a going concern and, therefore, whether they will realise their assets and discharge their liabilities in the normal course of business.
The financial report does not include adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts, nor to the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Consolidated Entity and the Company not continue as a going concern.
3.3 Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities (including structured entities) controlled by the Company and its subsidiaries. Control is achieved when the Company:
● | has power over the investee; | |
● | is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and | |
● | has the ability to use its power to affect its returns. |
The Company reassesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control listed above.
Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Company obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Company loses control of the subsidiary. Specifically, income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income from the date the Company gains control until the date when the Company ceases to control the subsidiary.
Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income are attributed to the owners of the Company and to the non-controlling interests. Total comprehensive income of subsidiaries is attributed to the owners of the Company and to the non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance.
When necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with the Group’s accounting policies.
All intragroup assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between members of the Group are eliminated in full on consolidation.
3.4 Segment Reporting
The Group has three operating segments: publishing, direct sales and channel sales. In identifying these operating segments, management generally follows the Group’s service lines representing its main products and services (see Note 7).
Each of these operating segments are managed separately as each requires different technologies, marketing approach and other resources.
3.5 Revenue
Overview
Revenue arises mainly from the sale of digital marketing solutions and associated services.
To determine whether to recognise the revenue, the Group follows a 5-step process:
1. | Identifying the contract with a customer |
2. | Identifying performance obligations |
3. | Determining the transaction price |
4. | Allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations |
5. | Recognising revenue when/as performance obligations are satisfied |
F-10 |
The Group often enters into transactions involving a range of the Group’s products and services, for example for the delivery software and related after-sales support.
In all cases, the total transaction price for a contract is allocated amongst the various performance obligations based on their relative stand-alone selling prices. The transaction price for a contract excludes any amounts collected on behalf of third parties.
Revenue is recognised either at a point in time or over time, when (or as) the Group satisfies performance obligations by transferring the promised goods or services to its customers.
The Group recognises contract liabilities for consideration received in respect of unsatisfied performance obligations and reports these amounts as contract liabilities in the statement of financial position (see Note 20). Similarly, if the Group satisfies a performance obligation before it receives the consideration, the Group recognises either a contract asset or a receivable in its statement of financial position, depending on whether something other than the passage of time is required before the consideration is due.
● | Publishing: The Group generates revenues from its online properties (websites) through advertisements on a Pay-Per-Impression or similar basis and through publishing business directory listings on a per insertion basis. Advertising revenues are primarily derived through third parties and accordingly recognised on a net basis during the period in which the advertisements or listings are published. | |
● | Direct: The Group separately identifies end user customers to which we have a direct sales, support and billing relationship. These customers are primarily through the SuperMedia business who acquire a range of digital products and services. Revenue is derived from providing customers access to group platforms and is recognised in accordance with the terms of contracts provided in the subscription agreement. The SaaS and related support revenue (if any) is recognised over time, being the subscription period, as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefit of accessing the platform. |
Revenues from the sale of product licences are recognised during the period in which the subscription is made available to our customers for use.
Where the Group provides services which involve developing a customer-specific website design or solution, in such cases, revenue is recognised during the period in which the professional services were delivered or upon the achievement of agreed milestones.
Access to the platforms is not considered distinct from other performance obligations, as access to any platform alone does not allow the customer to obtain substantially all the benefits of the access, and is therefore accounted for as a single performance obligation.
Consideration received can be variable in nature, based upon customer usage in excess of contractually agreed units. The variable consideration is included in the transaction price at the company’s best estimate, using either an expected value or most likely outcome, whichever provides the best estimate and is included in revenue to the extent that it is highly probable that there will be no significant reversal of the cumulative amount of revenue when any price uncertainty is resolved.
● | Channel: The Group separately identifies end user customers to which sales, support and billing relationships are conducted through third party resellers and partners. |
Revenues from the sale of product licences are recognised during the period in which the subscription is made available to our reseller for use. Where the Group provides services which involve developing a customer-specific website design or solution, in such cases, revenue is recognised during the period in which the professional services were delivered or upon the achievement of agreed milestones.
3.6 Foreign currencies
The individual financial statements of each group entity are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each group entity are expressed in Australian dollars (A$), which is the functional currency of the Company and the presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements.
F-11 |
In preparing the financial statements of each individual group entity, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency are recognised at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At the end of each reporting period, monetary items denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing at that date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.
For the purpose of presenting these consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations are translated into Australian dollars using exchange rates prevailing at the end of the reporting period, unless exchange rates fluctuated significantly during that period, in which case the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions are used. Exchange differences arising, if any, are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity.
3.7 Government grants
JobKeeper
The Federal Government’s JobKeeper scheme effectively provided a wage subsidy to entities materially impacted by COVID-19. The JobKeeper scheme ended on 28 March 2021.
This grant is recognised as a receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the entity will comply with the conditions attached to the grant and the grant will be received. The grant is recognised in profit or loss in the period in which the entity recognises the related costs as expenses. Where the employee cost is recognised as an expense, the entity has an accounting policy choice of presenting the grant income as other income, or alternatively deducting the grant from the related expense. The entity has elected to recognise as income on a systematic basis over the periods that the related costs, for which it is intended to compensate, are expenses.
Other government grants
Government grants are recognised where there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and all attached conditions will be complied with. When the grant relates to an expense item, it is recognised as income on a systematic basis over the periods that the related costs, for which it is intended to compensate, are expensed.
When the grant relates to an asset, it is recognised as income in equal amounts over the expected useful life of the related asset. When the Group receives grants of non-monetary assets, the asset and the grant are recorded at nominal amounts and released to profit or loss over the expected useful life of the asset, based on the pattern of consumption of the benefits of the underlying asset by equal annual instalments.
3.8 Employee benefits
A liability is recognised for benefits accruing to employees in respect of wages and salaries, annual leave, long service leave, when it is probable that settlement will be required and they are capable of being measured reliably.
Liabilities recognised in respect of short-term employee benefits, are measured at their nominal values using the remuneration rate expected to apply at the time of settlement.
Liabilities recognised in respect of long-term employee benefits are measured as the present value of the estimated future cash outflows to be made by the Group in respect of services provided by employees up to reporting date.
3.9 Share-based payments arrangements
Equity-settled share-based payments to employees and others providing similar services are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date.
F-12 |
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees are measured at the fair value of the goods or service received, except where that fair value cannot be estimated reliably, in which case they are measured at their fair value of the equity instruments granted, measured at the date the entity obtains the goods or the counterparty renders the service.
The Group measures options issued by reference to the fair value of the equity instrument at the date which they are granted using either the Binomial model or Black-Scholes model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the instruments were granted.
For performance rights, the Group makes a judgement around whether performance conditions, linked to activities are more probable to be met at which point the value of the rights are recognised either in full or over any service period. The judgement made is based on management’s knowledge of the performance condition and how the Group is tracking bases on activities as at the report date and with reference to subsequent events. The fair value of performance rights with non-market conditions are measured based on the fair value of the security (usually the last capital raising price of the Group’s securities in an open market). The fair value of performance rights for market conditions is measured at the date at which they are granted and are determined using the one of the Monte Carlo model, Binomial model and Black Scholes model, considering the terms and conditions upon which the instruments were granted.
3.10 Taxation
Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
Current tax
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit before tax as reported in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income because of items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years, and items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period.
Deferred tax
Deferred tax is recognised on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets are generally recognised for all deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which those deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary differences arise from the initial recognition of assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reported period. The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Group expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities.
3.11 Property, plant and equipment
Fixtures and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives, using the diminishing value method. The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation method are reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with the effect of any changes in estimate accounted for on a prospective basis.
F-13 |
An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected to arise from the continued use of the asset. Any gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an item of property, plant and equipment is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in profit or loss.
Depreciation is recognised on a straight-line basis to write down the cost less estimated residual value of buildings, IT equipment and other equipment. The following useful lives are applied:
Class of fixed asset | Depreciation rate | |
Plant and equipment | 10-25% | |
Office furniture and equipment | 20% |
In the case of right-of-use assets, expected useful lives are determined by reference to comparable owned assets or the lease term, if shorter. Material residual value estimates and estimates of useful life are updated as required, but at least annually.
Gains or losses arising on the disposal of property, plant and equipment are determined as the difference between the disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the assets and are recognised in profit or loss within other income or other expenses.
3.12 Intangible assets other than goodwill
Research and development
Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.
An internally-generated intangible asset arising from development is recognised if, and only if, all of the following have been demonstrated:
● | the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale; |
● | the intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it; |
● | the ability to use or sell the intangible asset; |
● | how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits; |
● | the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible asset; and |
● | the ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development. |
The amount initially recognised for internally-generated intangible assets is the sum of the expenditure incurred from the date when the intangible asset first meets the recognition criteria listed above. Where no internally-generated intangible asset can be recognised, development expenditure is recognised in profit or loss in the period in which it is incurred.
Subsequent to initial recognition, internally-generated intangible assets are reported at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Patents and trademarks
Patents and trademarks are recognised at cost of acquisition and amortised over their useful lives. They have a finite life and are reported at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Databases
Databases are recognised at cost of acquisition and amortised over their useful lives. They have a finite life as data becomes dated and are reported at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
The following useful lives are applied:
Class of fixed asset | Amortisation Rate | |||
Database | 16.67 | % | ||
Patents | 5 | % | ||
Trademarks | 10 | % |
F-14 |
3.13 Impairment of tangible and intangible assets other than goodwill
At the end of each reporting period, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). When it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. When a reasonable and consistent basis of allocation can be identified, corporate assets are also allocated to individual cash-generating units, or otherwise they are allocated to the smallest group of cash-generating units for which a reasonable and consistent allocation basis can be identified.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and intangible assets not yet available for use are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
When an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
3.13. Provisions
Provisions for product warranties, legal disputes, onerous contracts or other claims are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of economic resources will be required from the Group and amounts can be estimated reliably. The timing or amount of the outflow may still be uncertain.
Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses.
Provisions are measured at the estimated expenditure required to settle the present obligation, based on the most reliable evidence available at the reporting date, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the present obligation. Where there are a number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required in settlement is determined by considering the class of obligations as a whole. Provisions are discounted to their present values, where the time value of money is material.
No liability is recognised if an outflow of economic resources as a result of present obligations is not probable. Such situations are disclosed as contingent liabilities unless the outflow of resources is remote.
3.14. Financial instruments
Recognition and derecognition
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument.
F-15 |
Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or when the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards are transferred. A financial liability is derecognised when it is extinguished, discharged, cancelled or expires.
Classification and initial measurement of financial assets
All financial assets are initially measured at fair value adjusted for transaction costs (where applicable). Financial assets are classified into one of the following categories:
● | amortised cost |
● | fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL), or |
● | fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI). |
In the periods presented the Group does not have any financial assets categorised as FVTPL or FVOCI.
The classification is determined by both:
● | the entity’s business model for managing the financial asset, and |
● | the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. |
All revenue and expenses relating to financial assets that are recognised in profit or loss are presented within finance costs, finance income or other financial items.
Subsequent measurement of financial assets
Financial assets are measured at amortised cost if the assets meet the following conditions (and are not designated as FVTPL):
● | they are held within a business model whose objective is to hold the financial assets and collect its contractual cash flows, and |
● | the contractual terms of the financial assets give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. |
After initial recognition, these are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.
Impairment of financial assets
IFRS 9’s impairment requirements use forward-looking information to recognise expected credit losses – the ‘expected credit loss (ECL) model’. Instruments within the scope of the requirements included loans and other debt-type financial assets measured at amortised cost and FVOCI, trade receivables, contract assets recognised and measured under IFRS 15 and loan commitments and some financial guarantee contracts (for the issuer) that are not measured at fair value through profit or loss.
The Group considers a broader range of information when assessing credit risk and measuring expected credit losses, including past events, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the expected collectability of the future cash flows of the instrument.
In applying this forward-looking approach, a distinction is made between:
● | financial instruments that have not deteriorated significantly in credit quality since initial recognition or that have low credit risk (‘Stage 1’) and |
● | financial instruments that have deteriorated significantly in credit quality since initial recognition and whose credit risk is not low (‘Stage 2’). |
‘Stage 3’ would cover financial assets that have objective evidence of impairment at the reporting date.
‘12-month expected credit losses’ are recognised for the first category (ie Stage 1) while ‘lifetime expected credit losses’ are recognised for the second category (ie Stage 2).
F-16 |
Trade and other receivables and contract assets
The Group makes use of a simplified approach in accounting for trade and other receivables as well as contract assets and records the loss allowance as lifetime expected credit losses. These are the expected shortfalls in contractual cash flows, considering the potential for default at any point during the life of the financial instrument. In calculating, the Group uses its historical experience, external indicators and forward-looking information to calculate the expected credit losses. The Group assesses impairment of trade receivables on an individual account basis.
Classification and measurement of financial liabilities
The Group’s financial liabilities include borrowings, trade and other payables and derivative financial instruments.
Financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, and, where applicable, adjusted for transaction costs unless the Group designated a financial liability at fair value through profit or loss.
Subsequently, financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method except for derivatives and financial liabilities designated at FVTPL, which are carried subsequently at fair value with gains or losses recognised in profit or loss (other than derivative financial instruments that are designated and effective as hedging instruments). All interest-related charges and, if applicable, changes in an instrument’s fair value that are reported in profit or loss are included within finance costs or finance income.
Convertible Notes
The component parts of convertible notes issued by the Group are classified separately as financial liabilities and equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangements and the definitions of a financial liability and an equity instrument. Conversion options that will be settled by the exchange of a fixed amount of cash or another financial asset for a fixed number of the Company’s own equity instruments is an equity instrument.
At the date of issue, the fair value of the liability component is estimated using the prevailing market interest rate for similar non-convertible instruments. This amount is recognised as a liability on an amortised cost basis using the effective interest method until extinguished upon conversion or at the instrument’s maturity date.
3.15. Trade and other receivables
The Group makes use of a simplified approach in accounting for trade and other receivables and records the loss allowance as lifetime expected credit losses. These are expected shortfalls in contractual cash flows, considering the potential for default at any point during the lifetime of the financial instrument. In calculating, the Group uses its historical experience, external indicators and forward-looking information to calculate expected credit losses using a provision matrix.
The Group asses impairment of trade receivables on a collective basis as they possess shared credit risk characteristics they have been grouped based on the days past due.
The Group assess impairment of trade receivables on a collective basis as they possess shared credit risk characteristics they have been grouped based on the days past due. Refer to Note 3.14 for a detailed analysis of how the impairment requirements of IAS 9 are applied.
3.16. Goods and services tax
Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST), except:
i. | where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the taxation authority, it is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of an asset or as part of an item of expense; or |
ii. | for receivables and payable which are recognised inclusive of GST. |
F-17 |
The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of receivables or payables.
Cash flows are included in the cash flow statement on a gross basis. The GST component of cash flows arising from investing and financing activities which is recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is classified within operating cash flows.
3.17. Classification and measurement of financial liabilities
The Group’s financial liabilities include borrowings, trade payables and other payables.
Financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, and, where applicable, adjusted for transaction costs unless the Group designated a financial liability at fair value through profit or loss.
Subsequently, financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method except for financial liabilities designated at FVTPL, which are carried subsequently at fair value with gains or losses recognised in profit or loss.
All interest-related charges and, if applicable, changes in an instrument’s fair value that are reported in profit or loss are included within finance costs or finance income.
3.18. Leases
For any new contracts entered into the Group considers whether a contract is, or contains a lease. A lease is defined as ‘a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration’. To apply this definition the Group assesses whether the contract meets three key evaluations which are whether:
● | the contract contains an identified asset, which is either explicitly identified in the contract or implicitly specified by being identified at the time the asset is made available to the Group; |
● | the Group has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset throughout the period of use, considering its rights within the defined scope of the contract; |
● | the Group has the right to direct the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use. The Group assess whether it has the right to direct ‘how and for what purpose’ the asset is used throughout the period of use. |
At lease commencement date, the Group recognises a right of use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet. The right of use asset is measured at cost, which is made up of the initial measurement of the lease liability, any initial direct costs incurred by the Group, an estimate of any costs to dismantle and remove the asset at the end of the lease, and any lease payments made in advance of the lease commencement date (net of any incentives received).
The Group depreciates the right of use assets on a straight-line basis from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right of use asset or the end of the lease term. The Group also assesses the right of use asset for impairment when such indicators exist.
At the commencement date, the Group measures the lease liability at the present value of the lease payments unpaid at that date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily available or the Group’s incremental borrowing rate.
Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are made up of fixed payments (including in substance fixed), variable payments based on an index or rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee and payments arising from options reasonably certain to be exercised.
Subsequent to initial measurement, the liability will be reduced for payments made and increased for interest. It is remeasured to reflect any reassessment or modification, or if there are changes in in-substance fixed payments.
F-18 |
When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment is reflected in the right of use asset, or profit and loss if the right of use asset is already reduced to zero.
The Group has elected to account for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets using the practical expedients. Instead of recognising a right of use asset and lease liability, the payments in relation to these are recognised as an expense in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
On the statement of financial position, right of use assets have been included in property, plant and equipment and lease liabilities have been included in trade and other payables.
Short-term leases and leases of low value
Short-term leases (lease term of 12 months or less) and leases of low value assets (under 5,000 AUD) are recognised as incurred as an expense in the consolidated income statement. Low value assets comprise office equipment hire.
3.19. Equity, reserves and dividend payments
Share capital represents the nominal (par) value of shares that have been issued.
Share premium includes any premiums received on issue of share capital. Any transaction costs associated with the issuing of shares are deducted from share premium, net of any related income tax benefits.
Other components of equity include the following:
● | share option reserve – comprises equity-settled employee benefits and equity-settled supplier payments (see Note 3.8 and Note 3.9) |
● | translation reserve – comprises foreign currency translation differences arising from the translation of financial statements of the Group’s foreign entity into functional currency (see Note 3.6). |
Accumulated losses include all current and prior period accumulated losses.
All transactions with owners of the parent are recorded separately within equity.
Dividend distributions payable to equity shareholders are included in other liabilities when the dividends have been approved in a general meeting prior to the reporting date.
4. Significant management judgement in applying accounting policies and estimation uncertainty
The following are the judgements made by management in applying the accounting policies of the Group that have the most significant effect on these consolidated financial statements.
Recognition of revenues due to COVID-19
The extent to which revenue can be recognised is, amongst other criteria, based on an assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on our customers and in particular trade receivables risk.
Capitalisation of internally developed software
Distinguishing the research and development phases of a new customised software project and determining whether the recognition requirements for the capitalisation of development costs are met requires judgement. After capitalisation, management monitors whether the recognition requirements continue to be met and whether there are any indicators that capitalised costs may be impaired (see Note 3.13). Costs relating to maintaining current technology platforms are expensed in the period they are incurred.
F-19 |
Recognition of deferred tax assets
The extent to which deferred tax assets can be recognised is based on an assessment of the probability that future taxable income will be available against which the deductible temporary differences and tax loss carry-forwards can be utilised. In addition, significant judgement is required in assessing the impact of any legal or economic limits or uncertainties.
Research and development tax offset:
Research and development tax offers are recognised when it is reasonable reliable the costs relating to the project can be determined. Refundable research and development credits received from the research and development tax offset scheme are accounted for as a government grant as per IAS 20. Consequently, a credit has been recognised in the same period necessary to match the benefits of the credit with the costs for which it is intended to compensate. This credit has been presented as other income.
Estimating uncertainty
Impairment of non-financial assets
In assessing impairment, management estimates the recoverable amount of each asset or cash generating unit based on expected future cash flows and uses an interest rate to discount them. Estimation uncertainty relates to assumptions about future operating results and the determination of a suitable discount rate.
Useful lives and residual values of depreciable assets
Management reviews its estimate of the useful lives and residual values of depreciable assets at each reporting date, based on the expected utility of the assets. Uncertainties in these estimates relate to technological obsolescence that may change the utility of certain software and IT equipment.
Leases – determination of the appropriate discount rate to measure lease liabilities
As noted above, the Group enters into leases with third-party landlords and as a consequence the rate implicit in the relevant lease is not readily determinable. Therefore, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for determining its lease liabilities at the lease commencement date. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that the Group would have to pay to borrow over similar terms which requires estimations when no observable rates are available.
F-20 |
5. Revenue
The following is an analysis of the Group’s revenue for the year from continuing operations. The Group’s revenue disaggregated by primary revenue sources are as follows:
For the year ended 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Subscriptions | - | 1,153,255 | 208,855 | 1,362,110 | ||||||||||||
Advertising | 177,126 | - | - | 177,126 | ||||||||||||
Data | 602,304 | - | - | 602,304 | ||||||||||||
Services | - | 29,770 | 20,115 | 49,885 | ||||||||||||
Total | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 |
For the year ended 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Subscriptions | - | 552,794 | 278,939 | 831,733 | ||||||||||||
Advertising | 174,498 | 1,500 | - | 175,998 | ||||||||||||
Data | 616,873 | - | - | 616,873 | ||||||||||||
Print directory sales | 310,349 | - | - | 310,349 | ||||||||||||
Services | - | 50,409 | - | 50,409 | ||||||||||||
Total | 1,101,720 | 604,703 | 278,939 | 1,985,362 |
The Group’s revenue disaggregated by primary geographical markets is as follows:
For the year ended 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Australia | 34,741 | 1,042,621 | 170,061 | 1,247,423 | ||||||||||||
Europe | 398,406 | 132,000 | - | 530,406 | ||||||||||||
United States | 315,711 | 7,772 | 7,778 | 331,261 | ||||||||||||
Other countries | 30,572 | 632 | 51,131 | 82,335 | ||||||||||||
Total | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 |
For the year ended 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Australia | 383,085 | 602,659 | 106,478 | 1,092,223 | ||||||||||||
Europe | 433,487 | - | 152,000 | 585,487 | ||||||||||||
United States | 283,890 | - | - | 282,890 | ||||||||||||
Other countries | 1,257 | 2,044 | 20,461 | 23,762 | ||||||||||||
Total | 1,101,720 | 604,703 | 616,873 | 1,985,362 |
The Group’s revenue disaggregated by pattern of revenue recognition is as follows:
For the year ended 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Services transferred at a point in time | 177,126 | 29,770 | 20,115 | 227,011 | ||||||||||||
Services transferred over time | 602,304 | 1,153,255 | 208,855 | 1,964,414 | ||||||||||||
Total | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 |
For the year ended 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Services transferred at a point in time | 174,498 | 51,909 | - | 226,407 | ||||||||||||
Services transferred over time | 927,720 | 552,794 | 278,939 | 1,758,955 | ||||||||||||
Total | 1,101,720 | 604,703 | 278,939 | 1,985,362 |
F-21 |
6. Other Income
Consolidated Group | ||||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||||
Government subsidy | (a) | 290,900 | 116,000 | |||||||
Research and development grants | (b) | 497,358 | 494,577 | |||||||
Other income | - | 4,779 | ||||||||
Total other income | 788,258 | 615,356 |
(a) | Comprising Jobkeeper and COVID-19 Cashflow Boost subsidies. |
(b) | R&D Tax Incentive. |
7. Segment Reporting
Management currently identifies three operating segments (see Note 3.4). Management monitors the performance of these operating segments as well as deciding on the allocation of resources to them. Segmental performance is monitored using adjusted segment operating results.
For the year ended 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
From external customers | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 | ||||||||||||
Segment revenue | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 | ||||||||||||
Technology expense | (225,324 | ) | (12,724 | ) | (376 | ) | (238,424 | ) | ||||||||
Employee benefit expense | (407,876 | ) | (359,082 | ) | (209,251 | ) | (976,209 | ) | ||||||||
Occupancy expense | (1,857 | ) | (15,807 | ) | - | (17,664 | ) | |||||||||
Advertising expense | (659 | ) | (46,734 | ) | - | (47,393 | ) | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortisation | (198,578 | ) | (143,468 | ) | (10,544 | ) | (352,590 | ) | ||||||||
Other expenses | (294 | ) | (625 | ) | (1,379 | ) | (2,298 | ) | ||||||||
Segment operating profit/(loss) | (55,158 | ) | 604,585 | 7,420 | 556,847 | |||||||||||
Segment assets | 1,654,054 | 151,460 | 85,889 | 1,891,403 | ||||||||||||
Segment liabilities | (382,104 | ) | (212,644 | ) | (43,251 | ) | (637,999 | ) |
For the year ended 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
From external customers | 1,101,720 | 604,703 | 278,939 | 1,985,362 | ||||||||||||
Segment revenue | 1,101,720 | 604,703 | 278,939 | 1,985,362 | ||||||||||||
Technology expense | (251,859 | ) | (10,875 | ) | - | (262,734 | ) | |||||||||
Employee benefit expense | (404,527 | ) | (478,592 | ) | - | (883,119 | ) | |||||||||
Occupancy expense | (2,585 | ) | (72,562 | ) | - | (75,147 | ) | |||||||||
Advertising expense | (128,275 | ) | (98,144 | ) | - | (226,419 | ) | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortisation | (180,146 | ) | (58,345 | ) | (40,259 | ) | (278,750 | ) | ||||||||
Other expenses | (6,609 | ) | (14,305 | ) | (4,180 | ) | (25,094 | ) | ||||||||
Segment operating profit/(loss) | 127,719 | (128,120 | ) | 234,500 | 234,099 | |||||||||||
Segment assets | 1,218,608 | 29,210 | 5,968 | 1,253,786 | ||||||||||||
Segment liabilities | (101,986 | ) | (157,069 | ) | - | (259,055 | ) |
During 30 June 2021, A$292,179 or 10.9% (2020: A$318,843 or 12.8%) of the Group’s revenues depended on a single customer in the publishing segment.
F-22 |
The totals presented for the Group’s operating segments reconcile to the key financial figures as presented in its financial statements as follows:
7. Segment Reporting (Cont.)
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Revenue | ||||||||
Total reportable segment revenue | 2,191,425 | 1,985,362 | ||||||
Segment operating profit/(loss) | 556,847 | 234,099 | ||||||
Other income not allocated | 290,900 | 120,779 | ||||||
Research and development grants | 497,358 | 494,577 | ||||||
Research and development costs | (761,140 | ) | (1,274,584 | ) | ||||
Technology expenses not allocated | (48,750 | ) | (41,604 | ) | ||||
Employee benefit expense not allocated | (986,580 | ) | (906,305 | ) | ||||
Occupancy expense not allocated | (34,555 | ) | (29,272 | ) | ||||
Advertising expense not allocated | (20,182 | ) | (39,577 | ) | ||||
Consultancy expense not allocated | (240,928 | ) | (273,978 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortisation not allocated | (44,916 | ) | (84,167 | ) | ||||
Impairment of financial assets not allocated | (14,690 | ) | - | |||||
Other expenses not allocated | (130,217 | ) | (413,324 | ) | ||||
Group operating loss | (936,853 | ) | (2,213,356 | ) | ||||
Finance costs | (58,913 | ) | (108,471 | ) | ||||
Group loss before tax | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) |
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Total reportable segment assets | 1,911,403 | 1,253,786 | ||||||
Other segment assets | 870,177 | 378,500 | ||||||
Group assets | 2,781,580 | 1,632,286 | ||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||
Total reportable segment liabilities | (657,999 | ) | (259,055 | ) | ||||
Other segment liabilities | (2,959,059 | ) | (3,536,972 | ) | ||||
Group liabilities | 3,617,058 | 3,796,027 |
8. Other expenses and financial costs
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Other expenses | ||||||||
Travel & related expenses | (7,558 | ) | (56,290 | ) | ||||
Legal expenses | (93,801 | ) | (249,316 | ) | ||||
Insurance expenses | (59,685 | ) | (60,733 | ) | ||||
Business expenses | (4,958 | ) | (31,531 | ) | ||||
Foreign exchange gain / (loss) | 33,487 | (9,747 | ) | |||||
Share based payment | - | (30,800 | ) | |||||
Total other expenses | (132,515 | ) | (438,417 | ) | ||||
Finance costs | ||||||||
Interest expense | (40,106 | ) | (86,127 | ) | ||||
Bank charges | (8,155 | ) | (8,060 | ) | ||||
Merchant facility fees | (10,652 | ) | (14,284 | ) | ||||
Total finance costs | (58,913 | ) | (108,471 | ) |
F-23 |
9. Tax expense
(a) Tax expense
The major components of tax expense and the reconciliation of the expected tax expense based on the domestic effective tax rate of Locafy Limited at 26% (2020: 27.5%) and the reported tax expense in profit or loss are as follows:
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Loss before income tax | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | ||||
Domestic tax rate | 26 | % | 27.5 | % | ||||
Expected tax expense/(benefit) | (258,899 | ) | (638,502 | ) | ||||
Adjustment for tax-exempt income: | ||||||||
- Decline in value of depreciating assets | (12,401 | ) | (141,285 | ) | ||||
- Other deductable expenses | (142,272 | ) | (161,467 | ) | ||||
- R&D tax rebate | (136,773 | ) | (136,009 | ) | ||||
Adjustment for non-deductible expenses: | ||||||||
- R&D expenses | - | 314,422 | ||||||
- Other non-deductable expenses | 176,897 | 252,031 | ||||||
Income tax expense/(benefit) | - | - | ||||||
Movement in unrecognised deferred tax | 373,448 | 510,810 |
(b) Deferred tax assets and liabilities
As at 30 June 2021, the Company had accumulated tax losses totalling A$25,825,721 (2020: A$24,847,504). A deferred tax asset in relation to the tax value of losses carried forward has not been recognised in the accounts as, presently, the Company does not expect to be in a position to utilise these losses in the foreseeable future.
10. Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables consist of the following:
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Trade receivables | 368,285 | 214,054 | ||||||
Trade receivables | 368,285 | 214,054 | ||||||
Amounts receivable from other parties | ||||||||
Related parties | - | - | ||||||
Other parties | - | - | ||||||
GST receivable | 22,731 | 17,963 | ||||||
Trade and other receivables | 391,016 | 232,017 |
All amounts are short term. The net carrying amount of trade receivables is considered a reasonable approximation of fair value.
F-24 |
The following table details the Group’s trade receivables exposed to credit risk with ageing analysis and provisions for impairment. Amounts are considered “past due” when the debt has not been settled with the terms and conditions agreed between the Group and the customer. Receivables that are past due are assessed for impairment by ascertaining solvency of the debtor and are provided for where there are specific circumstances indicating that the debt may not be fully repaid to the Group. Allowance for credit losses for 30 June 2021 have been assessed as insignificant, as the credit risk for trade receivables is negligible.
10. Trade and other receivables (Cont.)
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Gross amount | 368,285 | 214,054 | ||||||
Within initial trade terms | 217,461 | 31,629 | ||||||
Past due but not impaired (days overdue) | ||||||||
< 30 days | 80,365 | 40,429 | ||||||
31 – 60 days | 19,625 | 107,160 | ||||||
61 – 90 days | 15,728 | 16,614 | ||||||
> 90 days | 35,106 | 18,222 | ||||||
368,285 | 214,054 |
11. Other assets
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Current | ||||||||
Prepayments | 164,346 | 56,490 | ||||||
Deposits | 69,942 | 61,960 | ||||||
234,288 | 118,450 |
12. Interest in Subsidiaries
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following subsidiaries in accordance with accounting policy described in Note 3:
Name of subsidiary | Principal activity | Place of incorporation and operation | Proportion of ownership interest and voting power held by the Group | |||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||
Moboom USA Inc | Dormant | USA | 100 | % | 100 | % |
13. Property, plant & equipment
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Carrying amounts of: | ||||||||
Plant & equipment | 12,392 | 5,698 | ||||||
12,392 | 5,698 |
F-25 |
Movements in carrying amounts between the beginning and end of the financial year.
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Plant & equipment | ||||||||
Opening balance | 5,698 | 5,821 | ||||||
Additions | 8,784 | 1,480 | ||||||
Disposals | - | - | ||||||
Depreciation expense | (2,090 | ) | (1,603 | ) | ||||
Carrying amount of plant & equipment | 12,392 | 5,698 |
14. Right of use assets and lease liabilities
Right-of-use assets
Buildings A$ | ||||
Gross carrying amount | ||||
Balance as at 1 July 2020 | 153,788 | |||
Additions | - | |||
Disposals | - | |||
Balance as at 30 June 2021 | 153,788 |
Depreciation and impairment | ||||
Balance as at 1 July 2020 | (23,213 | ) | ||
Disposals | - | |||
Depreciation | (34,819 | ) | ||
Balance as at 30 June 2021 | (58,032 | ) | ||
Carrying amount as at 30 June 2021 | 95,756 |
Lease liabilities
Lease liabilities are presented in the consolidated statement of financial position as follows:
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Current | 43,298 | 17,785 | ||||||
Non-current | 87,400 | 130,698 | ||||||
130,698 | 148,483 |
The Company has a lease for office space. This lease is reflected in the consolidated financial statement of financial position as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. For the lease over the office space, the Company must keep this property in a good state of repair and return the property in their original condition at the end of lease.
F-26 |
Right-of-use asset | No of right-of-use assets leased | Range of remaining term | Average remaining lease term | No of leases with extension options | No of leases with options to purchase | No of leases with variable payments linked to an index | No of leases with termination options | |||||||||||||||
Office building | 1 | 2-4 years | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
The lease liabilities are secured by the related underlying assets. Future minimum lease payments at 30 June 2021 were as follows:
Within 1 year | 1-2 years | 2-3 years | Total | |||||||||||||
Lease payments | 51,642 | 53,018 | 40,555 | 145,215 | ||||||||||||
Finance charges | (8,344 | ) | (4,934 | ) | (1,239 | ) | (14,517 | ) | ||||||||
Net present value | 43,298 | 48,084 | 39,316 | 130,698 |
15. | Intangible assets |
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Carrying amounts of: | ||||||||
Databases | 1,340,179 | 918,951 | ||||||
Trademarks | 22,458 | 37,754 | ||||||
Patents | 34,760 | 27,650 | ||||||
1,397,397 | 984,355 |
Databases | ||||||||
Opening balance | 918,951 | 1,150,846 | ||||||
Additions | 773,638 | 46,855 | ||||||
Disposals | - | - | ||||||
Amortisation expense | (352,410 | ) | (278,750 | ) | ||||
Carrying amount for databases | 1,340,179 | 918,951 |
Patents | ||||||||
Opening balance | 37,754 | 94,453 | ||||||
Additions | - | - | ||||||
Disposals | - | (54,116 | ) | |||||
Amortisation expense | (2,994 | ) | (2,583 | ) | ||||
Carrying amount for patents | 34,760 | 37,754 |
Trademarks | ||||||||
Opening balance | 27,650 | 24,500 | ||||||
Additions | - | 5,818 | ||||||
Disposals | - | - | ||||||
Amortisation expense | (5,192 | ) | (2,668 | ) | ||||
Carrying amount for trademarks | 22,458 | 27,650 |
On 1 November 2020, the Company acquired the customer database and intellectual property assets of PinkPages, a long established Australian online business directory. The acquisition was made to enhance the Company’s position in expanding its citation management network as well as providing a customer base to which the Company can cross sell its digital solutions.
The acquisition of PinkPages comprised of an upfront cash payment of A$80,000, followed by 14 equal monthly instalments of A$40,000 each. A further performance component is payable if net sales for 12 months from PinkPages exceed target levels agreed by both parties. The maximum total consideration payable to the vendor is capped at A$980,000. The reported asset value reflects the amount of consideration that has been paid at balance date.
F-27 |
During FY21, a further A$168,262 was paid with respect to the FY20 acquisition of the intellectual property assets of Aussieweb. This included a A$100,000 share-based payment (refer Note 21).
16. Trade and other payables
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Trade payables | 475,069 | 1,026,622 | ||||||
Sundry payables | 342,968 | 141,813 | ||||||
Deferred consideration | 240,000 | - | ||||||
1,058,037 | 1,168,435 |
17. Borrowings
Borrowings include the following financial liabilities:
Consolidated Group | ||||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||||
Short term loan | - | 307,577 | ||||||||
Net interest and fees payable on loans | - | 6,493 | ||||||||
Convertible notes | (a) | 435,600 | 405,600 | |||||||
435,600 | 719,670 | |||||||||
Balance at the beginning of the period | 719,670 | 807,091 | ||||||||
Short term loans | - | 440,950 | ||||||||
Net interest and fees payable on loans | - | 17,743 | ||||||||
Repayment of borrowings | (314,070 | ) | (401,114 | ) | ||||||
Conversion of debt to equity | - | (145,000 | ) | |||||||
Convertible notes | (b) | 30,000 | - | |||||||
435,600 | 719,670 |
(a) | As at 30 June 2021 the convertible notes are due and payable. The Company has on issue A$435,600 in unsecured convertible notes, including accrued interest. A$405,600 of these notes have matured, have a fixed repayment amount and are not accruing further interest. These notes automatically convert to equity upon an ASX listing at a 50% discount to the listing price. In the event an ASX listing does not occur the notes will be redeemed in cash at their face value plus interest. All convertible notes are due and payable as at reporting date. |
(b) | The A$30,000 in convertible notes mature in 12 months from the date the funds are received. They are redeemable at 120% of the note’s face value, non-interest bearing and automatically convert to equity upon a NASDAQ listing at a 20% discount to the listing price. |
18. Provisions
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Employee benefits | ||||||||
Current | 384,914 | 288,224 | ||||||
Non Current | 10,557 | 5,693 | ||||||
395,471 | 293,917 |
The provision for employee benefits represents accrued annual leave and vested and unvested long service leave entitlements.
19. Accrued expenses
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Current | ||||||||
Accrued expenses | 310,835 | 239,051 | ||||||
Salaries payable | 145,305 | 218,009 | ||||||
456,140 | 457,060 | |||||||
Non-Current | ||||||||
Salaries payable | 1,117,033 | 976,048 | ||||||
1,117,033 | 976,048 |
The net increase in the carrying amount of salaries payable for the current year results from benefits payable to employees who have agreed to defer payment 12 months from the date of signing the financial statements to assist the company with managing its cash flow.
20. Contract liabilities
Contract liabilities consist of the following:
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Deferred revenue | 24,079 | 32,414 | ||||||
24,079 | 32,414 |
21. Issued capital
Note | 2021 Number of Shares | 2021 Share Capital A$ | 2020 Number of Shares | 2020 Share Capital A$ | ||||||||||||||
Balance at 1 July | 347,795,378 | 33,179,391 | 360,372,075 | 31,599,639 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued from capital raisings | (a) | 19,150,000 | 1,740,000 | 37,140,573 | 2,301,050 | |||||||||||||
Shares issued to convertible note holders | - | - | 550,000 | 30,800 | ||||||||||||||
Cancellation of ordinary shares due to buy-back | - | - | (52,467,725 | ) | (800,001 | ) | ||||||||||||
Share based payments | (b) | 3,720,400 | 415,832 | 360,000 | 20,000 | |||||||||||||
Shares issued to related parties | (c) | 800,000 | 80,000 | 800,000 | 80,000 | |||||||||||||
Shares issued for assets | (d) | 500,000 | 100,000 | - | - | |||||||||||||
Share issue costs | - | (10,150 | ) | 1,040,455 | (52,097 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance at 30 June | (e) | 371,965,778 | 35,505,073 | 347,795,378 | 33,179,391 |
* Amounts prior to Reverse Share Split of 20 August 2021 (refer Note 32)
(a) The Company issued ordinary shares for cash at an average price of A$0.091 per share (2020: A$0.062).
(b) Share based payments relate to shares issued as payments to suppliers in lieu of cash at an average price of A$0.11 per share.
(c) These shares were issued for director’s fees in lieu of cash payments at an average price of A$0.10 per share.
(d) Shares issued in relation to the acquisition of the Aussieweb business assets at an average price of A$0.20 per share.
(e) The net change in shares issued during the year corresponds to an increase of 6.9% total shares issued (2020: -3.5%).
F-28 |
22. Reserves
Consolidated Group | ||||||||||
Notes | 2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation reserve | (a) | |||||||||
Opening balance at 1 July | 193,886 | 198,091 | ||||||||
Exchange differences arising from foreign operations | (1,653 | ) | (4,205 | ) | ||||||
Closing balance at 30 June | 192,233 | 193,886 | ||||||||
Share option reserve | (b) | |||||||||
Opening balance at 1 July | 3,603,916 | 3,603,916 | ||||||||
Closing balance at 30 June | 3,603,916 | 3,603,916 | ||||||||
Total reserves | 3,796,149 | 3,797,802 |
22. Reserves (Cont.)
(a) Foreign currency translation reserve
Exchange differences relating to the translation of the results and net assets of the Group’s foreign operations from their functional currencies to the Group’s presentation currency (ie Australian dollars) are recognised directly in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the foreign currency translation reserve.
(b) Share option reserve
The Company had issued share options to certain employees and suppliers. While these options have since expired unexercised, the value of the options at the date of issue are accumulated in the share option reserve.
In addition to the above, the Company has issued Performance Rights (refer Note 29). At the date of issuing the Performance Rights, it was assessed that it would be highly probable that the vesting conditions would not be met and the Performance Right would expire unexercised. Accordingly, there has been no change to share option reserve.
23. Accumulated losses
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Balance at beginning of year | (39,140,934 | ) | (36,819,107 | ) | ||||
Profit attributable to owners of the Company | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | ||||
Balance at end of year | (40,136,700 | ) | (39,140,934 | ) | ||||
24. Reconciliation of profit for the year to net cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Loss for the year | (995,766 | ) | (2,321,827 | ) | ||||
Adjustments for: | ||||||||
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 2,090 | 9,534 | ||||||
Amortisation of intangible assets | 360,597 | 338,100 | ||||||
Depreciation of right of use asset | 34,819 | 23,213 | ||||||
Share based payments | - | 30,800 | ||||||
Foreign exchange loss | (1,653 | ) | (4,205 | ) | ||||
Expected credit losses | 14,690 | - | ||||||
Operating cash flows before movements in working capital | 410,543 | 397,442 | ||||||
Movements in working capital | ||||||||
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables | (173,689 | ) | (22,123 | ) | ||||
(Increase)/decrease in prepayments and deposits | (115,838 | ) | 14,457 | |||||
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables | 65,435 | 529,419 | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in provisions and accruals | 321,619 | 160,270 | ||||||
Increase/(decrease) in deferred revenue | (8,335 | ) | (242,227 | ) | ||||
Cash generated from operations | 89,192 | 439,796 | ||||||
Net cash generated by operating activities | (496,031 | ) | (1,484,589 | ) |
F-29 |
25. | Earnings per share |
Both basic and diluted earnings per share have been calculating the profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company (Locafy Limited) as the numerator, i.e. no adjustments to profit were necessary in 2021 or 2020.
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary equity holders of the company | (A$995,766) | (A$2,321,827) | ||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year used in calculation of basic and diluted loss per share* | 18,598,414 | 17,389,769 | ||||||
Loss per share (cents per share) | (A$0.05) | (A$0.13) | ||||||
On 20 August 2021, the Company’s shareholders authorised, at an extraordinary general shareholders meeting, a one-for-twenty reverse share split of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (the “Reverse Share Split”). In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards the weighted average number of ordinary shares for financial years 2021 and 2020 is adjusted retrospectively. A reconciliation of the adjusted weighted average number of shares on issue is as follows:
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 No. | 2020 No. | |||||||
Issued capital as at reporting date | 371,965,778 | 347,795,378 | ||||||
Adjusted issued capital balance as at reporting date including the twenty to one reverse share split | 18,598,414 | 17,389,769 |
26. Contingent liabilities
There were no contingent liabilities in both 2021 and 2020.
27. Financial risk management and policies
The financial instruments of the Company comprise of (i) cash and cash equivalents; (ii) trade and other receivables; (iii) other financial assets; (iv) trade and other payables and (vi) borrowings (convertible notes).
Risk management is carried out under the policies approved by the Board of Directors. The Board identifies and evaluates the risk and takes appropriate measures to minimise the risk.
The financial instruments expose the Company to certain risks. The nature and extent of such risks, and management’s risk management strategy are noted below.
Fair value of financial instruments | Consolidated Group | |||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 650,731 | 161,192 | ||||||
Trade and other receivables 1 | 368,285 | 214,054 | ||||||
Term deposits with financial institutions 2 | 69,942 | 61,960 | ||||||
Trade and other payables 1 | (1,058,037 | ) | (1,168,435 | ) | ||||
Borrowings 3 | - | (314,070 | ) | |||||
30,921 | (1,045,299 | ) |
F-30 |
1. | The fair values are a close approximation of the carrying amounts for trade and other receivables and payables on account of the short term maturity cycle. |
2. | The fair values are a close approximation of the carrying amounts for term deposits as these deposits are interest bearing and are rolled over at short maturity. |
3. | Borrowings relate to short term loan (see Note 17). |
27. Financial risk management and policies (Cont.)
Risk management strategies
Credit risk
The Company’s credit risk arises from potential default of trade and other receivables. The receivable balances primarily relate to advertising and data publication sales, which are largely recurring monthly. The credit risk arising from such balances are mitigated by the Company’s ability to terminate the services provided to the debtor. For services engagements, the Company generally requires an upfront deposit prior to commencing the work.
Credit risk also exists in relation to the probable default of the financial institutions in honouring the cash balances at maturity. However, this is considered to be low as the Company transacts with highly reputed financial institutions which are subject to strict prudential norms by legislation/regulations.
Liquidity risk
The Company’s liquidity risks arise from potential inability of the Company to meet its financial obligations as and when they fall due, generally due to a shortage of cleared funds. The Company is exposed to liquidity risk on account of trade and other payables.
The Company manages its liquidity risk through continuously monitoring the cleared funds position and by utilising short term cash budgets and negotiating extended payment terms.
The contractual maturity analysis of the Company’s financial instruments is noted below:
2021 | 3 months or less A$ | Over 3 to 12 months A$ | Total A$ | |||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Trade and other payables | (1,058,037 | ) | - | (1,058,037 | ) | |||||||
(1,058,037 | ) | - | (1,058,037 | ) | ||||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 650,731 | - | 650,731 | |||||||||
Trade and other receivables | 319,016 | - | 319,016 | |||||||||
Term deposit with financial institutions | - | 69,942 | 69,942 | |||||||||
969,747 | 69,942 | 1,039,689 |
2020 | 3 months or less A$ | Over 3 to 12 months A$ | Total A$ | |||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Trade and other payables | (1,168,435 | ) | - | (1,168,435 | ) | |||||||
Borrowings | - | (314,070 | ) | (314,070 | ) | |||||||
(1,168,435 | ) | (314,070 | ) | (1,168,749 | ) | |||||||
Financial assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 161,192 | - | 161,192 | |||||||||
Trade and other receivables | 266,641 | - | 266,641 | |||||||||
Term deposit with financial institutions | - | 61,960 | 61,960 | |||||||||
427,833 | 61,960 | 489,793 |
F-31 |
27. Financial risk management and policies (Cont.)
Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that fair values and cash flows of the Company’s financial instruments will be affected by changes in the market interest rates.
The Company’s cash and term deposits with financial institutions are impacted by interest rate risks. Other receivables and payables have short maturities and are non-interest bearing. Management believes that the risk of interest rate movement would not have a material impact on the Company’s operations.
The Company is in the business of software development. Earning interest income is not the primary objective of the business. Hence, management does not closely monitor the movements in market interest rates as these do not have a material impact on the Company’s business activities. The cash balances and term deposits are placed at the prevailing short term market interest rates with credit worthy financial institutions.
At the reporting date, the interest rate risk profile of the consolidated entity’s interest-bearing financial instruments was as follows:
Fixed Interest maturing in: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | Floating interest rate
| 1 year or less | Over 1 to 5 years | More than 5 years | Non-Interest bearing | Total | Weighted average interest rate | |||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade and other payables | - | - | - | - | 1,058,037 | 1,058,037 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings | - | - | - | - | 435,600 | 435,600 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 1,493,637 | 1,493,637 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | - | - | - | - | 650,731 | 650,731 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Trade and other receivables | - | - | - | - | 319,016 | 319,016 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Term deposits with financial institutions | - | 69,942 | - | - | - | 69,942 | 0.28 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
- | 69,942 | - | - | 969,747 | 1,039,689 |
Fixed Interest maturing in: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | Floating interest rate | 1 year or less | Over 1 to 5 years | More than 5 years | Non-Interest bearing | Total | Weighted average interest rate | |||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade and other payables | - | - | - | - | 1,168,435 | 1,168,435 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings | - | 314,070 | - | - | 405,600 | 719,670 | 6.11 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
- | 314,070 | - | - | 1,574,035 | 1,888,105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | - | - | - | - | 161,192 | 161,192 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Trade and other receivables | - | - | - | - | 266,641 | 266,641 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Term deposits with financial institutions | - | 58,810 | - | - | - | 58,810 | 1.42 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other deposits | - | - | - | - | 3,150 | 3,150 | Nil | |||||||||||||||||||||
- | 58,810 | - | - | 430,983 | 489,793 |
F-32 |
27. Financial risk management and policies (Cont.)
The consolidated entity has performed sensitivity analysis relating to its exposure to interest rate risk, at balance date. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates the effect on the current year results and equity which could result from a change in these risks. At 30 June 2021, the effect on profit and equity as a result in changes in the interest rate, with all other variables remaining constant would be as follows:
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Impact on profit and equity for a +1% movement | (699 | ) | (2,553 | ) | ||||
Impact on profit and equity for a -1% movement | 699 | 2,553 |
Foreign currency risk
Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transaction and recognised assets and liabilities dominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency and net investments in foreign operations. The functional and presentation currency of the Company is Australian Dollars.
The Company manages foreign currency risk by continuously monitoring expected cash receipts and payments in their respective currencies together with movements in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not currently engage in any hedging activities.
28. Capital management policies and procedures
The Company’s capital management objectives are:
● | To ensure the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern |
● | To provide an adequate return to shareholders by pricing products and services in a way that reflects the level of risk involved in providing those goods and services. |
Management assesses the Company’s capital requirements in order to maintain an efficient overall financing structure while avoiding excessive leverage. The Company manages the capital structure and makes adjustments to it in the light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may issue new shares, convert debt to equity or sell assets to reduce debt.
29. Share-based payments
Performance Rights Plan
The Group has a performance-based compensation scheme which allows select employees and consultants the right to acquire ordinary shares in Locafy upon the attainment of certain milestones and performance targets (“Performance Right”). No amounts are paid or payable by the recipient on receipt of the Performance Right or the shares (if issued). The Performance Rights carry neither entitlement to dividends nor voting rights.
F-33 |
Performance Rights Vesting Conditions
Tranche | Vesting Conditions | Expiry Date | ||
1 | Total Group operating revenue greater than A$500,000 for 3 consecutive calendar months. | 31 December 2021 | ||
2 | Total Group operating revenue greater than A$1,000,000 for 3 consecutive calendar months. | 31 December 2022 | ||
3 | Total Group operating revenue greater than A$2,000,000 for 3 consecutive calendar months. | 31 December 2023 | ||
4 | Total Group operating revenue greater than A$2,500,000 for 3 consecutive calendar months. | 31 December 2023 |
29. Share-based payments (Cont.)
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s listing and hence its ability to access capital to execute on operational plans, the expiry dates for each vesting conditions were extended by 6 months. On 16 November 2020, when the expiry dates were extended, the Group’s operating revenues were similar to the operating revenues at the time the Performance Rights were initially issued, which was significantly below the vesting conditions thresholds. Accordingly, it was assessed that there was no change in the incremental fair value of the Performance Rights granted and merely affirmed the Company’s initial assessment that it was highly probable that the Performance Rights would expire unexercised. Accordingly, despite the modification to the vesting conditions no incremental change to share-based payments expense has been recognised for these Performance Rights.
Movements in Performance Rights during the year
The following reconciles the Performance Rights outstanding at the beginning and end of the year:
Tranche 1 | Tranche 2 | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of year | 245,000 | - | 367,500 | - | ||||||||||||
Granted during the year | 47,800 | 245,000 | 123,575 | 367,500 | ||||||||||||
Forfeited during the year | (75,000 | ) | - | (112,500 | ) | - | ||||||||||
Exercised during the year | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Expired during the year | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Balance at end of year | 217,800 | 245,000 | 378,575 | 367,500 |
Tranche 3 | Tranche 4 | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of year | 612,500 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Granted during the year | 122,625 | 612,500 | - | - | ||||||||||||
Forfeited during the year | (187,500 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||
Exercised during the year | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Expired during the year | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Balance at end of year | 547,625 | 612,500 | - | - |
The number of Performance Rights granted under Tranche 4 will increase by the number of expired Performance Rights granted under Tranches 1 to 3, as and when those Performance Rights expire.
On 20 August 2021, our shareholders authorised, at an extraordinary general shareholders meeting, a one-for-twenty reverse share split of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (the “Reverse Share Split”). All performance rights issued were also subject to the Reverse Share Split and the amounts following the split are reflected in the table above.
F-34 |
30. Key management personnel compensation
The aggregate compensation paid or payable to key management personnel of the Group is set out below:
Consolidated Group | ||||||||
2021 A$ | 2020 A$ | |||||||
Short-term employee benefits | 617,263 | 655,640 | ||||||
Post-employment benefits | 47,500 | 49,163 | ||||||
Share-based payment | 80,000 | 80,000 | ||||||
744,763 | 784,803 |
31. Related party transactions
Balance and transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties of the Company, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed in this note. There are otherwise no transactions between the Group and other related parties requiring disclosure.
32. Post-reporting date events
Between the 30 June reporting date and the date of authorisation, the Company has raised a further A$880,000 under the same convertible note instrument disclosed under Note 17(b), namely these convertible notes will mature in 12 months from the date the funds are received. They are redeemable at 120% of the note’s face value, non-interest bearing and automatically convert to equity upon a Nasdaq listing at a 20% discount to the listing price. The Company has engaged advisers to list on the Nasdaq Capital Markets which will involve raising further capital through an Initial Public Offer. The convertible notes disclosed under Note 17(b) will convert to equity upon Nasdaq listing, however, the Company intends to settle all convertible notes disclosed under Note 17(a) with funds raised from the Nasdaq listing.
On 20 August 2021, our shareholders authorised, at an extraordinary general shareholders meeting, a one-for-twenty reverse share split of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (the “Reverse Share Split”). No fractional ordinary shares were issued in connection with the Reverse Share Split, and all such fractional interests were rounded to the nearest whole number. Issued and outstanding performance rights were split on the same basis. Unless noted otherwise, all information presented in these financial statements, including the share and per share amounts, reflects the Reverse Share Split.
33. Authorisation of financial statements
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021 (including comparatives) were approved by the board of directors on 10 November 2021.
Gavin Burnett | Melvin Tan | |
Chief Executive Officer | Chief Financial Officer |
F-35 |
Locafy Limited
ACN 136 737 767
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements For the six months ended 31 December 2021
F-36 |
Locafy Limited
Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the six months ended 31 December 2021
Note |
6 months to 31 Dec 2021 A$ (unaudited) |
6 months to 31 Dec 2020 A$ (unaudited) |
Year to 30 Jun 2021 A$
|
||||||||||||
Revenue | 6 | 1,795,821 | 916,380 | 2,191,425 | |||||||||||
Other income | 7 | 386,245 | 775,058 | 788,258 | |||||||||||
Technology expense | (776,023 | ) | (263,831 | ) | (651,644 | ) | |||||||||
Employee benefits expense | (2,098,756 | ) | (1,083,559 | ) | (2,359,459 | ) | |||||||||
Occupancy expense | (23,167 | ) | (31,673 | ) | (52,219 | ) | |||||||||
Advertising expense | (39,379 | ) | (40,529 | ) | (67,575 | ) | |||||||||
Consultancy expense | (352,609 | ) | (159,283 | ) | (240,928 | ) | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortisation expense | (200,544 | ) | (194,297 | ) | (397,506 | ) | |||||||||
Other expenses | (40,670 | ) | (5,732 | ) | (132,515 | ) | |||||||||
Impairment of financial assets | - | (10,726 | ) | (14,690 | ) | ||||||||||
Operating loss | (1,349,082 | ) | (98,192 | ) | (936,853 | ) | |||||||||
Financial cost | (24,530 | ) | (35,993 | ) | (58,913 | ) | |||||||||
Loss before income tax | (1,373,612 | ) | (134,185 | ) | (995,766 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax expense | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Loss for the period | (1,373,612 | ) | (134,185 | ) | (995,766 | ) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive income | |||||||||||||||
Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss: | |||||||||||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations | (18,050 | ) | 21,411 | (1,653 | ) | ||||||||||
Total Comprehensive Loss for the period | (1,391,662 | ) | (112,774 | ) | (997,419 | ) | |||||||||
Earnings per share | |||||||||||||||
Basic loss per share | (0.07 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.05 | ) | |||||||||
Diluted loss per share | (0.07 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.05 | ) |
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-37 |
Locafy Limited
Consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 December 2021
Note |
31 Dec 2021 A$ (unaudited) |
31 Dec 2020 A$ (unaudited) |
30 Jun 2021 A$
|
||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||
Current assets | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 762,739 | 399,571 | 650,731 | ||||||||||||
Trade and other receivables | 850,825 | 462,242 | 391,016 | ||||||||||||
Other assets | 302,785 | 145,054 | 234,288 | ||||||||||||
Total current assets | 1,916,349 | 1,006,867 | 1,276,035 | ||||||||||||
Non-current assets | |||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | 42,459 | 5,016 | 12,392 | ||||||||||||
Right of use assets | 9 | 452,711 | 113,165 | 95,756 | |||||||||||
Intangible assets | 1,212,589 | 1,227,115 | 1,397,397 | ||||||||||||
Total non-current assets | 1,707,759 | 1,345,296 | 1,505,545 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | 3,624,108 | 2,352,163 | 2,781,580 | ||||||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Current liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Trade and other payables | 1,322,516 | 1,274,698 | 1,058,037 | ||||||||||||
Borrowings | 10 | 2,182,600 | 405,600 | 435,600 | |||||||||||
Provisions | 467,156 | 344,885 | 384,914 | ||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | 185,397 | 435,779 | 456,140 | ||||||||||||
Lease liabilities | 9 | 19,507 | 33,882 | 43,298 | |||||||||||
Contract and other liabilities | 23,334 | 30,688 | 24,079 | ||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 4,200,510 | 2,525,532 | 2,402,068 | ||||||||||||
Non-current liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Lease liabilities | 9 | 439,480 | 109,622 | 87,400 | |||||||||||
Provisions | 17,413 | 8,580 | 10,557 | ||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | 1,193,845 | 1,200,429 | 1,117,033 | ||||||||||||
Total non-current liabilities | 1,650,738 | 1,318,631 | 1,214,990 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities | 5,851,248 | 3,844,163 | 3,617,058 | ||||||||||||
Net liabilities | (2,227,140 | ) | (1,492,000 | ) | (835,478 | ) | |||||||||
Equity | |||||||||||||||
Issued capital | 11 | 35,505,073 | 33,963,905 | 35,505,073 | |||||||||||
Reserves | 3,778,099 | 3,819,214 | 3,796,149 | ||||||||||||
Accumulated losses | (41,510,312 | ) | (39,275,119 | ) | (40,136,700 | ) | |||||||||
Total deficiency | (2,227,140 | ) | (1,492,000 | ) | (835,478 | ) |
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-38 |
Locafy Limited
Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 31 December 2021
Consolidated | Issued capital | Foreign currency translation reserve | Share option reserve | Accumulated losses | Total | |||||||||||||||
A$ (unaudited) |
A$ (unaudited) |
A$ (unaudited) |
A$ (unaudited) |
A$ (unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
Balance at 1 July 2021 | 35,505,073 | 192,233 | 3,603,916 | (40,136,700 | ) | (835,478 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss for the period | - | - | - | (1,373,612 | ) | (1,373,612 | ) | |||||||||||||
Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations | - | (18,050 | ) | - | - | (18,050 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income | - | (18,050 | ) | - | (1,373,612 | ) | (1,391,662 | ) | ||||||||||||
Issue of ordinary shares | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Share issue costs | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Balance at 31 December 2021 | 35,505,073 | 174,183 | 3,603,916 | (41,510,312 | ) | (2,227,140 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at 1 July 2020 | 33,179,391 | 193,886 | 3,603,916 | (39,140,934 | ) | (2,163,741 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss for the period | - | - | - | (134,185 | ) | (134,185 | ) | |||||||||||||
Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations | - | 21,411 | - | - | 21,411 | |||||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income | - | 21,411 | - | (134,185 | ) | (112,774 | ) | |||||||||||||
Issue of ordinary shares | 794,665 | - | - | - | 794,665 | |||||||||||||||
Share issue costs | (10,150 | ) | - | - | - | (10,150 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at 31 December 2020 | 33,963,906 | 215,297 | 3,603,916 | (39,275,119 | ) | (1,492,000 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at 1 July 2020 | 33,179,391 | 193,886 | 3,603,916 | (39,140,934 | ) | (2,163,741 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss for the year | - | - | - | (995,766 | ) | (995,766 | ) | |||||||||||||
Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations | - | (1,653 | ) | - | - | (1,653 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income | - | (1,653 | ) | - | (995,766 | ) | (997,419 | ) | ||||||||||||
Issue of ordinary shares | 2,335,832 | - | - | - | 2,335,832 | |||||||||||||||
Share issue costs | (10,150 | ) | - | - | - | (10,150 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance at 30 June 2021 | 35,505,073 | 192,233 | 3,603,916 | (40,136,700 | ) | (835,478 | ) |
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-39 |
Locafy Limited
Consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended 31 December 2021
Note |
6 months to 31 Dec 2021 A$ (unaudited) |
6 months to 31 Dec 2020 A$ (unaudited) |
Year to 30 Jun 2021 A$
|
||||||||||||
Operating activities | |||||||||||||||
Receipts from customers | 1,267,516 | 926,525 | 2,192,798 | ||||||||||||
Payments to suppliers and employees | (2,949,753 | ) | (1,111,345 | ) | (3,127,274 | ) | |||||||||
R&D Tax Rebate | 7 | 386,245 | 497,358 | 497,358 | |||||||||||
Financial Cost | (24,530 | ) | (35,993 | ) | (58,913 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash from operating activities | (1,320,522 | ) | 276,545 | (496,031 | ) | ||||||||||
Investing activities | |||||||||||||||
Purchase of intellectual property | (261,737 | ) | (418,965 | ) | (433,639 | ) | |||||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (33,827 | ) | - | (8,784 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (295,564 | ) | (418,965 | ) | (442,423 | ) | |||||||||
Financing activities | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from issue of shares | - | 710,000 | 1,739,999 | ||||||||||||
Payment for share issue costs | - | (10,150 | ) | (10,150 | ) | ||||||||||
Borrowings | 1,747,000 | (314,070 | ) | (284,070 | ) | ||||||||||
Leasing liabilities | (18,906 | ) | (4,980 | ) | (17,785 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash from financing activities | 1,728,094 | 380,800 | 1,427,994 | ||||||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 112,008 | 238,380 | 489,540 | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 650,731 | 161,191 | 161,191 | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | 762,739 | 399,571 | 650,731 | ||||||||||||
This statement should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements.
F-40 |
Notes to the financial statements
1. Nature of operations
Locafy Limited (the Company) is an unlisted public company incorporated in Australia. The Company’s principal activities are the continued development of Locafy’s technologies and the commercialisation of the Locafy platform. The Locafy platform has the capability to rapidly produce voice, mobile and web search optimised listings, landing pages, locators and lead sites at large scale. The Company’s activities include selling Locafy’s software-as-a-service products direct to end user and through channel partners, related after-sales service and research and development. The Company also owns and operates a number of online properties from which it derives revenues through publishing content and advertising.
2. General information, basis of preparation and statement of compliance with IFRS
The Financial Statements are for the six months ended 31 December 2021 and are presented in Australian Dollars (A$), which is the functional currency of the parent company. They have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). They do not include all of the information required in annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021.
3. New Standards adopted at 1 July 2021
There are no accounting pronouncements which have become effective from 1 July 2021 that have a significant impact on the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements.
4. Unaudited interim financial statements
In the opinion of the Company’s management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the Company’s Statements of Financial Position at 31 December 2021, Statements of Financial Performance, Statements of Changes in Equity and Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2020. Certain notes and other information have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2021.
There have been no significant changes in accounting policies during the six months ended 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2020, from those disclosed in the annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021 and the related notes.
5. Estimates and judgements
When preparing the Financial Statements, management undertakes a number of judgements, estimates and assumptions about recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The actual results may differ from the judgements, estimates and assumptions made by management, and will seldom equal the estimated results.
The judgements, estimates and assumptions applied in the Financial Statements, including the key sources of estimation uncertainty, were the same as those applied in the Company’s last annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021.
6. Revenue
The Group’s revenue disaggregated by primary revenue sources are as follows:
F-41 |
6. Revenue (cont.)
Year to 30 June 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Subscriptions | - | 1,153,255 | 208,855 | 1,362,110 | ||||||||||||
Advertising | 177,126 | - | - | 177,126 | ||||||||||||
Data | 602,304 | - | - | 602,304 | ||||||||||||
Services | - | 29,770 | 20,115 | 49,885 | ||||||||||||
Total | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 |
The Group’s revenue disaggregated by primary geographical markets is as follows:
Year to 30 June 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Australia | 34,741 | 1,042,621 | 170,061 | 1,247,423 | ||||||||||||
Europe | 398,406 | 132,000 | - | 530,406 | ||||||||||||
United States | 315,711 | 7,772 | 7,778 | 331,261 | ||||||||||||
Other countries | 30,572 | 632 | 51,131 | 82,335 | ||||||||||||
Total | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 |
The Group’s revenue disaggregated by pattern of revenue recognition is as follows:
Six months to 31 December 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Services transferred at a point in time | 161,113 | 22,514 | 27,141 | 210,768 | ||||||||||||
Services transferred over time | 304,702 | 641,003 | 639,348 | 1,585,053 | ||||||||||||
Total | 465,815 | 663,517 | 666,489 | 1,795,821 |
Six months to 31 December 2020 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Services transferred at a point in time | 102,701 | 17,536 | 15,615 | 135,852 | ||||||||||||
Services transferred over time | 315,405 | 387,458 | 77,665 | 780,528 | ||||||||||||
Total | 418,106 | 404,994 | 93,280 | 916,380 |
F-42 |
6. Revenue (cont.)
Year to 30 June 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Services transferred at a point in time | 177,126 | 29,770 | 20,115 | 227,011 | ||||||||||||
Services transferred over time | 602,304 | 1,153,255 | 208,855 | 1,964,414 | ||||||||||||
Total | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 |
7. Other Income
Note |
31 December 2021 A$ (unaudited) |
31 December 2020 A$ (unaudited) |
30 June 2021 A$
|
||||||||||||
Government subsidy | - | 277,700 | 290,900 | ||||||||||||
Research and development grants | (a) | 386,245 | 497,358 | 497,358 | |||||||||||
Total other income | 386,245 | 775,058 | 788,258 |
(a) R&D Tax Incentive.
8. Segment Reporting
Management currently identifies three operating segments: publishing, direct sales and channel sales. In identifying these operating segments, management generally follows the Company’s service lines representing its main products and services. These operating segments are monitored by the Company’s chief operating decision maker who is the Company’s chief executive officer and he makes the strategic decisions on the allocation of resources based on segment reporting results.
Each of these operating segments are managed separately as each requires different technologies, marketing approach and other resources.
During the six month period to 31 December 2021, there have been no changes from prior periods in the measurement methods used to determine operating segments and reported segment profit or loss.
The revenues and profit generated by each of the Company’s operating segments and segment assets and liabilities are summarised as follows:
Six months to 31 December 2021 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
From external customers | 465,815 | 663,517 | 666,489 | 1,795,821 | ||||||||||||
Segment revenues | 465,815 | 663,517 | 666,489 | 1,795,821 | ||||||||||||
Segment operating profit/(loss) | 193,205 | 278,781 | 611,888 | 1,083,874 | ||||||||||||
Segment assets | 1,562,363 | 184,012 | 395,740 | 2,142,115 | ||||||||||||
Segment liabilities | (58,192 | ) | (224,046 | ) | (76,957 | ) | (359,195 | ) |
Six months to 31 December 2020 (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
From external customers | 418,106 | 404,994 | 93,280 | 916,380 | ||||||||||||
Segment revenues | 418,106 | 404,994 | 93,280 | 916,380 | ||||||||||||
Segment operating profit/(loss) | (13,458 | ) | 201,708 | 45,302 | 233,552 | |||||||||||
Segment assets | 1,467,214 | 116,753 | 40,207 | 1,624,174 | ||||||||||||
Segment liabilities | (366,243 | ) | (149,241 | ) | (9,242 | ) | (524,726 | ) |
F-43 |
8. Segment Reporting (cont.)
Year to 30 June 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Publishing | Direct | Channel | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
From external customers | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 | ||||||||||||
Segment revenues | 779,430 | 1,183,025 | 228,970 | 2,191,425 | ||||||||||||
Segment operating profit/(loss) | (55,158 | ) | 604,585 | 7,420 | 556,847 | |||||||||||
Segment assets | 1,654,054 | 151,460 | 85,889 | 1,891,403 | ||||||||||||
Segment liabilities | (382,104 | ) | (212,644 | ) | (43,251 | ) | (637,999 | ) |
The totals presented for the Group’s operating segments reconcile to the key financial figures as presented in its financial statements as follows:
31 December 2021 A$ (unaudited) |
31 December 2020 A$ (unaudited) |
30 June 2021 A$
|
||||||||||
Profit of loss | ||||||||||||
Segment operating profit/(loss) | 1,083,874 | 233,552 | 556,847 | |||||||||
Other income not allocated | - | 277,700 | 290,900 | |||||||||
Research and development grants | 386,245 | 497,358 | 497,358 | |||||||||
Research and development costs | (316,382 | ) | (397,577 | ) | (761,140 | ) | ||||||
Technology expenses not allocated | (743,703 | ) | (24,537 | ) | (48,750 | ) | ||||||
Employee benefit expense not allocated | (1,331,013 | ) | (460,532 | ) | (986,580 | ) | ||||||
Occupancy expense not allocated | (19,218 | ) | (17,443 | ) | (34,555 | ) | ||||||
Advertising expense not allocated | (22,325 | ) | (13,332 | ) | (20,182 | ) | ||||||
Consultancy expense not allocated | (352,609 | ) | (159,282 | ) | (240,928 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortisation not allocated | 6,386 | (18,092 | ) | (44,916 | ) | |||||||
Impairment of financial assets not allocated | - | (10,727 | ) | (14,690 | ) | |||||||
Other expenses not allocated | (40,337 | ) | (5,280 | ) | (130,217 | ) | ||||||
Group operating loss | (1,349,082 | ) | (98,192 | ) | (936,853 | ) | ||||||
Finance costs | (24,530 | ) | (35,993 | ) | (58,913 | ) | ||||||
Group loss before tax | (1,373,612 | ) | (134,185 | ) | (995,766 | ) |
9. Right of use assets and lease liabilities
Right-of-use assets
The following tables show the movements in right-of-use assets:
Buildings A$ | ||||
Gross carrying amount | ||||
Balance as at 1 July 2021 | 153,788 | |||
Additions | 460,384 | |||
Disposals | (153,788 | ) | ||
Balance as at 31 December 2021 (unaudited) | 460,384 |
Amortisation and impairment | ||||
Balance as at 1 July 2021 | (58,032 | ) | ||
Disposals | 72,540 | |||
Amortisation | (22,181 | ) | ||
Balance as at 31 December 2021 (unaudited) | (7,673 | ) | ||
Carrying amount as at 31 December 2021 (unaudited) | 452,711 |
F-44 |
9. Right of use assets and lease liabilities (cont.)
Lease liabilities
Lease liabilities are presented in the consolidated statement of financial position as follows:
31 December 2021 A$ (unaudited) |
31 December 2020 A$ (unaudited) |
30 June 2021 A$
|
||||||||||
Current | 19,507 | 33,882 | 43,298 | |||||||||
Non-current | 439,480 | 109,622 | 87,400 | |||||||||
458,987 | 143,504 | 130,698 |
The Company has a lease for office space. This lease is reflected in the consolidated financial statement of financial position as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. For the lease over the office space, the Company must keep this property in a good state of repair and return the property in their original condition at the end of lease.
During the current period, the Company entered into a surrender of lease agreement with respect to the lease of existing office space and a new lease agreement with respect to larger office space in anticipation of business growth. The agreements were signed simultaneously giving the effect of replacing the existing lease with the new lease.
F-45 |
9. Right of use assets and lease liabilities (cont.)
The lease liabilities are secured by the related underlying assets. Future minimum lease payments at 31 December 2021 were as follows:
Minimum lease payments due | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Within 1 year | 1-2 years | 2-3 years | 3-4 years | 4-5 years | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
31 December 2021 (unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lease payments | 53,338 | 81,152 | 145,521 | 149,696 | 140,617 | 570,324 | ||||||||||||||||||
Finance charges | (33,832 | ) | (31,459 | ) | (25,234 | ) | (15,679 | ) | (5,133 | ) | (111,337 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net present values | 19,506 | 49,693 | 120,287 | 134,017 | 135,484 | 458,987 | ||||||||||||||||||
31 December 2020 (unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lease payments | 43,710 | 52,325 | 53,721 | 13,518 | - | 163,274 | ||||||||||||||||||
Finance charges | (9,828 | ) | (6,684 | ) | (3,091 | ) | (167 | ) | - | (19,770 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net present values | 33,882 | 45,641 | 50,630 | 13,351 | - | 143,504 | ||||||||||||||||||
30 June 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lease payments | 51,642 | 53,018 | 40,555 | - | - | 145,215 | ||||||||||||||||||
Finance charges | (8,344 | ) | (4,934 | ) | (1,239 | ) | - | - | (14,517 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net present values | 43,298 | 48,084 | 39,316 | - | - | 130,698 |
Lease payments not recognised as a liability
The Company has elected not to recognise a lease liability for short term leases (leases with an expected term of 12 months or less). Payments made under such leases are expensed on a straight-line basis.
10. Borrowings
Borrowings include the following financial liabilities:
Note |
31 December 2021 A$ (unaudited) |
31 December 2020 A$ (unaudited) |
30 June 2021 A$
|
||||||||||||
ASX Convertible notes | (a) | 405,600 | 405,600 | 405,600 | |||||||||||
NASDAQ Convertible notes | (b) | 1,777,000 | - | 30,000 | |||||||||||
2,182,600 | 405,600 | 435,600 |
(a) | As at 31 December 2021 the convertible notes are due and payable. The Company has on issue A$435,600 in unsecured convertible notes, including accrued interest. A$405,600 of these notes have matured, have a fixed repayment amount and are not accruing further interest. These notes automatically convert to equity upon an ASX listing at a 50% discount to the listing price. In the event an ASX listing does not occur the notes will be redeemed in cash at their face value plus interest. All convertible notes are due and payable as at reporting date. |
(b) | The NASDAQ convertible notes mature in 12 months from the date the funds are received. They are redeemable at 120% of the note’s face value, non-interest bearing and automatically convert to equity upon a NASDAQ listing at a 20% discount to the listing price. |
F-46 |
11. Issued capital
Note |
31 December 2021 (unaudited) |
31 December 2020 (unaudited) |
30 June 2021
|
||||||||||||
Shares issued and fully paid: | |||||||||||||||
- Beginning of the period | 371,965,778 | 347,795,378 | 347,795,378 | ||||||||||||
- Reduction of ordinary shares due to reverse share split | (a) | (353,367,364 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||
- Shares issued from capital raisings | - | 14,000,000 | 19,150,000 | ||||||||||||
- Share based payments to suppliers | - | 1,693,300 | 3,720,400 | ||||||||||||
- Shares issued to related parties | - | - | 800,000 | ||||||||||||
- Shares issued for assets | - | 500,000 | |||||||||||||
Shares issued and fully paid at the end of the period | 18,598,414 | 363,488,678 | 371,965,778 |
(a) | On 20 August 2021, our shareholders authorised, at an extraordinary general shareholders meeting, a one-for-twenty reverse share split of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (the “Reverse Share Split”). No fractional ordinary shares were issued in connection with the Reverse Share Split, and all such fractional interests were rounded to the nearest whole number. Issued and outstanding performance rights were split on the same basis. |
12. Share-based payments
Performance Rights Plan
The
Group has a performance-based compensation scheme which allows select employees and consultants the right to acquire ordinary shares
in Locafy upon the attainment of certain milestones and performance targets (“Performance Right”). No amounts are paid or
payable by the recipient on receipt of the Performance Right or the shares (if issued). The Performance Rights carry neither entitlement
to dividends nor voting rights.
Performance Rights Vesting Conditions
Tranche | Vesting Conditions | Expiry Date | ||
1 | Total Group operating revenue greater than A$500,000 for 3 consecutive calendar months. | 30 June 2024 | ||
2 | Total Group operating revenue greater than A$1,000,000 for 3 consecutive calendar months. | 30 June 2024 | ||
3 | Total Group operating revenue greater than A$2,000,000 for 3 consecutive calendar months. | 30 June 2024 |
Due to the continued impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s listing and hence its ability to access capital to execute on operational plans, on 16 July 2021, the expiry dates for each vesting condition were extended to 30 June 2024 and the previously issued “Tranche 4” Performance Rights removed altogether. As a consequence of this change, the Company has assessed the fair value of the Performance Rights granted by applying an adjusted Black-Scholes options pricing model as a proxy. Accordingly, the Company has recognised a share-based payment expense in the current financial period. Previously, the Company had assessed that it was highly probable that the Performance Rights would expire unexercised and, hence, no share-based payments expense had been recognised.
F-47 |
12. | Share-based payments (cont.) |
Movements in Performance Rights during the period
The following reconciles the Performance Rights outstanding at the beginning and end of the period:
Tranche 1 | Tranche 2 | Tranche 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
31 December 2021 (unaudited) |
30 June 2021 |
31 December 2021 (unaudited) |
30 June 2021 |
31 December 2021 (unaudited) |
30 June 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | 217,800 | 245,000 | 378,575 | 367,500 | 547,625 | 612,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
Granted during the period | 38,750 | 47,800 | 93,125 | 123,575 | 196,875 | 122,625 | ||||||||||||||||||
Forfeited during the period | (25,000 | ) | (75,000 | ) | (72,500 | ) | (112,500 | ) | (62,500 | ) | (187,500 | ) | ||||||||||||
Exercised during the period | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance at end of period | 231,550 | 217,800 | 399,200 | 378,575 | 682,000 | 547,625 |
13. Events after the reporting date
No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the reporting period, not otherwise disclosed in this report, which significantly affected, or may significantly affect, the operations of the Group, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Group in future financial years.
F-48 |
_________ Units
each consisting of one ordinary share and
one Warrant to purchase one ordinary share
Locafy Limited
PROSPECTUS
, 2022
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
Until , 2022 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotment or subscription.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Australian law
Australian law provides that a company or a related body corporate of the company may provide for indemnification of officers and directors for liabilities and costs incurred while acting as a director or officer of the company, subject to restrictions imposed under the Corporations Act which provides that a company or a related body corporate of the company must not indemnify an officer or director against any of the following liabilities incurred as an officer or director of the company:
● | a liability owed to the company or a related body corporate of the company; | |
● | a liability for certain pecuniary penalty orders or compensation orders; | |
● | a liability that is owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate of the company and did not arise out of conduct in good faith; or | |
● | as to legal costs, legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as an officer or director of the company if the costs are incurred: |
○ | in defending or resisting proceedings in which the officer or director is found to have a liability for which they could not be indemnified by reason of the limitations on indemnification set out above; | |
○ | in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the officer or director is found guilty; | |
○ | in defending or resisting proceedings brought by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission or a liquidator for a court order if the grounds for making the order are found by the court to have been established (except costs incurred in responding to actions taken by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission or a liquidator as part of an investigation before commencing proceedings for a court order); or | |
○ | in connection with proceedings for relief to the officer or director under the Corporations Act, in which the court denies the relief. |
Constitution
Our Constitution provides, except to the extent prohibited by law including under the Corporations Act, for the indemnification of every person who is or has been an officer or a director of the Company against any liability (other than conduct involving a lack of good faith on the part of the officer) incurred by that person as an officer or director. This includes any liability incurred by that person in their capacity as an officer or director of a subsidiary of the Company where the Company requested that person to accept that appointment.
Indemnification Agreements
Pursuant to Deeds of Indemnity, Insurance and Access, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this registration statement, we have agreed to indemnify (to the maximum extent permitted by law and our Constitution, subject to certain specified exceptions) our directors against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director.
SEC Position
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Pursuant to the underwriting agreement for this offering, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, the underwriters will agree to indemnify our directors and officers and persons controlling us, within the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities that might arise out of or are based upon certain information furnished to us by any such underwriter.
II-1 |
Item 7. | Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities |
Set forth below is information regarding all securities issued by us without registration under the Securities Act in the past three years. The information presented below gives effect to our Reverse Share Split.
Period |
Details | No. | Issue Price A$ |
Total Value A$ |
||||||||
August 2018 to June 2019 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 309,721 | 2.00 | 619,442 | ||||||||
June 2019 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 90,000 | 1.11 | 100,000 | ||||||||
June 2019 | Shares issued for assets | 50,000 | 7.00 | 350,000 | ||||||||
July 2019 to March 2020 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 213,917 | 2.00 | 427,836 | ||||||||
August 2019 to January 2020 | Shares issued from capital raising (special placement) | 1,543,110 | 1.11 | 1,714,568 | ||||||||
October 2019 | Shares issued to related parties | 40,000 | 2.00 | 80,000 | ||||||||
November 2019 | Share cancellation pursuant to legal settlement approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on November 29, 2019 | (2,623,386) | 0.30 | (800,001) | ||||||||
December 2019 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 100,000 | 1.00 | 100,000 | ||||||||
January 2020 | Shares issued to holders of ASX Convertible Notes (as defined below) in relation to maturity date extensions(1) | 27,500 | 1.12 | 30,800 | ||||||||
February 2020 | Shares issued to suppliers in lieu of cash | 70,022 | 1.12 | 78,647 | ||||||||
July to August 2020 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 10,000 | 2.00 | 20,000 | ||||||||
October to December 2020 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 690,000 | 1.00 | 690,000 | ||||||||
October to December 2020 | Shares issued to supplier in lieu of cash | 84,665 | 1.00 | 84,665 | ||||||||
February 2021 | Shares issued to suppliers in lieu of cash | 37,125 | 2.00 | 74,250 | ||||||||
February 2021 | Shares issued to related parties | 40,000 | 2.00 | 80,000 | ||||||||
March 2021 | Shares issued from capital raisings | 257,500 | 4.00 | 1,030,000 | ||||||||
April 2021 | Shares issued for assets | 25,000 | 4.00 | 100,000 | ||||||||
May to June 2021 | Shares issued to suppliers in lieu of cash | 64,230 | 4.00 | 256,918 | ||||||||
June 2021 to February 2022 | NASDAQ Convertible Notes(2) | N/A |
N/A |
(1) In 2015 we privately placed certain non-interest bearing convertible notes (the “ASX Convertible Notes”), in each case constituted by a Convertible Note Deed, in the aggregate principal amount of A$405,600 as of December 31, 2021. The ASX Convertible Notes may be converted under their terms upon notice by the holder thereof, on the basis of one ordinary share (pre-reverse share split) for each ASX Convertible Note. Following a successful listing on the ASX, the ASX Convertible Notes are contemplated to be converted mandatorily into ordinary shares of Locafy, in the case of an IPO, or into common equity of an acquiring company, in the case of a reverse merger into a listed company. The description of the ASX Convertible Notes is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Convertible Note Deed, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.4.
(2) In 2021 and 2022 we privately placed certain non-interest bearing NASDAQ Convertible Notes, in each case constituted by a Deed Poll Constituting Convertible Loan Notes, in the aggregate principal amount of A$1,777,000 as of December 31, 2021, and A$2,017,000 as of the date of this prospectus, each with a face value of A$1.00, which may be converted under their terms, upon notice by the holder thereof, on the basis of one ordinary share for each five NASDAQ Convertible Notes. Following a successful IPO, the NASDAQ Convertible Notes are contemplated to be converted mandatorily into that amount of ordinary shares equal to (i)(A) the face value of such notes being converted multiplied by (B) the foreign exchange conversion rate (A$1 = US$0.7726), divided by (ii) the price that is 80% of the price at which the relevant ordinary shares were issued under a prospectus at the time of listing. The description of the NASDAQ Convertible Notes is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Deed Poll Constituting Convertible Loan Notes, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1.
None of the foregoing transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions or any public offering. All recipients had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about us. The sales of these securities were made without any general solicitation or advertising.
II-2 |
Item 8. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this Registration Statement.
^ Previously filed.
* Filed herewith.
** To be filed by amendment.
# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
All schedules have been omitted because they are not required, are not applicable or the information is otherwise set forth in the financial statements and related notes thereto.
Item 9. | Undertakings |
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§ 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.
II-3 |
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F (17 CFR § 249.220f) at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§ 230.424 of this chapter);
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(f) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(i) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-4 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Perth, Australia on March 7, 2022.
Locafy LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Gavin Burnett | |
Name: | Gavin Burnett | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Gavin Burnett | ||||
Gavin Burnett | Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director | March 7, 2022 | ||
* | ||||
Melvin Tan | Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Director | March 7, 2022 | ||
* | ||||
Collin Visaggio | Chairman and Non-Executive Director | March 7, 2022 |
*By | /s/ Gavin Burnett | |
Name: | Gavin Burnett | |
Title: | Attorney-in-Fact |
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned has duly signed this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, thereunto duly authorized, on March 7, 2022.
Puglisi & Associates | ||
(Authorized Representative in the United States) | ||
By: | /s/ Donald J. Puglisi | |
Name: | Donald J. Puglisi | |
Title: | Managing Director |
II-5 |
Exhibit 1.1
____________ UNITS
EACH UNIT CONSISTING OF ONE ORDINARY SHARE AND
ONE WARRANT TO PURCHASE ONE ORDINARY SHARE
OF
LOCAFY LIMITED
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
____________, 2022
H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
As Representative of the
several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Locafy Limited, a company incorporated under the law of the Commonwealth of Australia (collectively, with its subsidiaries and affiliates, the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with the several underwriters (such underwriters, including the Representative (as defined below), the “Underwriters” and each an “Underwriter”) named in Schedule I hereto for which H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC is acting as representative (the “Representative” and if there are no Underwriters other than the Representative, references to multiple Underwriters shall be disregarded and the term Representative as used herein shall have the same meaning as Underwriter) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public offering of the Public Securities (as defined below) as soon as the Representative deems it advisable to do so. The Public Securities are to be initially offered to the public at the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus (as defined below).
It is further understood that you will act as the Representative for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Closing Securities (as defined below) and, if any, the Option Securities (as defined below) in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:
“Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(k).
“Affiliate” means with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Applicable Time” means [ ][a.m.][p.m.], New York City time, on the date of this Agreement.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in the City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Closing Securities pursuant to Section 2.1.
“Closing Date” means the hour and the date on the Trading Day on which all conditions precedent to (i) the Underwriters’ obligations to pay the Closing Purchase Price and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Closing Securities, in each case, have been satisfied or waived, but in no event later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date hereof or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company.
“Closing Purchase Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b), which aggregate purchase price shall be net of the underwriting discounts and commissions.
“Closing Securities” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(ii).
“Closing Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).
“Closing Warrants” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(ii).
“Combined Purchase Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b).
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company Auditor” means Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd, located in Central Park, 152-158 St. Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia.
“Company Australian Counsel” means Lander & Rogers, with offices at Level 15 Olderfleet, 477 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
“Company U.S. Counsel” means Haynes and Boone, LLP, with offices located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10112.
“Controlling Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.1.
“Effective Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f).
“Engagement Agreement” means that certain engagement agreement, dated March 22, 2021, by and between the Company and the Representative.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Date” shall mean the date on which the parties execute and enter into this Agreement.
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“Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) Ordinary Shares or options to employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Company pursuant to any stock or option or other long-term equity incentive plan (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Incentive Performance Rights Plan) existing on the date hereof or otherwise duly adopted for such purpose by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Company (provided, however, if to consultants, issuances of not more than 5% of the total outstanding Ordinary Shares in any 3-month period and provided that such securities are either unregistered and do not carry registration rights or are subject to a lock-up, in each case until the 90th day following the Closing Date), (b) Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of warrants issued to the Representative, 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 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement, 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 or to extend the term of such securities, and (c) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions, provided that such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement under the Securities Act in connection therewith within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, and provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equity holders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.
“FCPA” means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards, as adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved.
“Incentive Performance Rights Plan” means that certain incentive performance rights plan of the Company, dated as of July 16, 2021, as amended or restated from time to time.
“Indebtedness” means (a) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $100,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (b) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (c) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $100,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
“IT Systems and Data” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(bb).
“Liens” means a lien, charge, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, pre-emptive right or other similar restriction.
“Lock-Up Agreements” means the lock-up agreements that are delivered on the date hereof by each of the Company’s officers, directors and each holder of Ordinary Shares and Ordinary Share Equivalents holding, on a fully diluted basis, more than 5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
“Lock-Up Period” means the period from the date hereof to and including the date that is 180 days from the Closing Date
“Material Adverse Effect” means (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document.
“Offering” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(c).
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“Option Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Option Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.
“Option Closing Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(c).
“Option Closing Purchase Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b), which aggregate purchase price shall be net of the underwriting discounts and commissions.
“Option Securities” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).
“Option Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).
“Option Warrants” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).
“Ordinary Share Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Ordinary Shares, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred shares, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Ordinary Shares.
“Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of the Company, no par value, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Option” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).
“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.
“Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
“Prospectus” means the final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in the Offering, that includes the Rule 430A information including the pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto
“Prospectus Supplement” means, if any, any supplement to the Prospectus complying with Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act that is filed with the Commission.
“Public Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.2(c).
“Public Securities” means, collectively, the Closing Securities and, if any, the Option Securities.
“Registration Statement” means, the registration statement prepared by the Company on Form F-1 (File No. 333-262442) with respect to the Securities, as amended as of the date hereof, including the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement, if any, the Preliminary Prospectus, if any, and all exhibits filed with such registration statement, and includes any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
“Representative’s Securities” means the Representative’s Warrant and the Representative’s Warrant Shares.
“Representative’s Warrant” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a).
“Representative’s Warrant Shares” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a).
“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).
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“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.
“Rule 430A Information” means information permitted to be omitted from the preliminary prospectus contained within the Registration Statement at the time the registration statement was declared effective.
“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” means any registration statement prepared by the Company registering additional Public Securities, filed with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof and that became automatically effective pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.
“Securities” means the Closing Securities, the Option Securities, the Warrant Shares and the Representative’s Warrant Shares.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Selected Dealer” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.1.
“Share Purchase Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b).
“Shares” means, collectively, Ordinary Shares delivered to the Underwriters in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(i) and Section 2.2(a).
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which Ordinary Shares are listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Warrants, the Warrant Agency Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements, the Representative’s Warrants and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
“Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A. any successor transfer agent of the Company.
“Underwriters’ Australian Counsel” means Rimôn Law Pty Ltd, with offices located at Level 10, 20 Martin Place, Sydney, Australia NSW 2000.
“Underwriters’ U.S. Counsel” means Lucosky Brookman LLP, with offices located at 101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor, Woodbridge, New Jersey, 08830.
“Warrant Agency Agreement” means the warrant agency agreement dated on or about the date hereof, among the Company and Computershare Trust Company N.A., as warrant agent, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.
“Warrant Purchase Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b).
“Warrant Shares” means Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
“Warrants” means, collectively, the Ordinary Share purchase warrants delivered to the Underwriters in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(ii) and Section 2.2, the form of which is set forth in the Warrant Agency Agreement.
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ARTICLE II.
PURCHASE AND SALE
2.1 Closing.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell in the aggregate ________ Ordinary Shares and ___________Warrants exercisable for an aggregate of _____ Ordinary Shares, and each Underwriter agrees to purchase, severally and not jointly, at the Closing, the following securities of the Company:
(i) the number of Ordinary Shares (the “Closing Shares”) set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereof; and
(ii) Warrants to purchase up to the number of Ordinary Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereof (the “Closing Warrants” and, collectively with the Closing Shares, the “Closing Securities”), which Warrants shall have an exercise price of $____, subject to adjustment as provided therein.
(b) The aggregate purchase price for the Closing Securities shall equal the amount set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereto (the “Closing Purchase Price”). The combined purchase price for one Share and a Warrant to purchase ___ Warrant Share shall be $_____ (the “Combined Purchase Price”) which shall be allocated as $_____ per Share (the “Share Purchase Price”) and $____ per Warrant (the “Warrant Purchase Price”) (representing a gross underwriting discount of 8.0%.
(c) On the Closing Date, each Underwriter shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company, via wire transfer, immediately available funds equal to such Underwriter’s Closing Purchase Price and the Company shall deliver to, or as directed by, such Underwriter its respective Closing Securities and the Company shall deliver the other items required pursuant to Section 2.4 deliverable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.4 and 2.5, the Closing shall occur at the offices of Underwriters’ U.S. Counsel or such other location as the Company and Representative shall mutually agree. The Public Securities are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (the “Offering”).
(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to any Notice(s) of Exercise (as defined in the Warrants) delivered by a purchaser on or prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date, which Notice(s) of Exercise may be delivered at any time after the time of execution of this Agreement, provided that the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrants) has been delivered to the Company, the Company shall deliver the Warrant Shares subject to such notice(s) to the purchaser by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the purchasers are third-party beneficiaries of this covenant of the Company.
2.2 Option to Purchase Additional Securities.
(a) The Representative is hereby granted an option (the “Option”) to purchase, in the aggregate, up to _____ Ordinary Shares (the “Option Shares”) and/or ________Warrants to purchase up to ____ Ordinary Shares (the “Option Warrants” and, collectively with the Option Shares, the “Option Securities”) which may be purchased in any combination of Option Shares and/or Option Warrants at the Share Purchase Price and/or Warrant Purchase Price, respectively.
(b) In connection with an exercise of the Option, (a) the purchase price to be paid for the Option Shares is equal to the product of the Share Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Option Shares to be purchased and (b) the purchase price to be paid for the Option Warrants is equal to the product of the Warrant Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Option Warrants to be purchased (the aggregate purchase price to be paid on an Option Closing Date, the “Option Closing Purchase Price”).
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(c) The Option granted pursuant to this Section 2.2 may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Securities within 30 days after the Execution Date. An Underwriter will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Securities prior to the exercise of the Option by the Representative. The Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission setting forth the number of Option Shares and/or Option Warrants to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Securities (each, an “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than two (2) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of Underwriters’ U.S. Counsel or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Securities does not occur on the Closing Date, each Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Shares and/or Option Warrants specified in such notice. The Representative may cancel the Option at any time prior to the expiration of the Option by written notice to the Company.
2.3 Representative’s Warrants.
(a) The Company hereby agrees to issue to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, if any, a warrant (“Representative’s Warrant”) for the purchase up to an aggregate of _______ Ordinary Shares (or, in the event the Option is exercised in full, up to an aggregate of ______ Ordinary Shares) (the “Representative’s Warrant Shares”), respectively, representing 6.0% of the aggregate number of Closing Shares and Option Shares, respectively . Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share at the exercise price thereof. The Representative’s Warrant shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on the date of issuance and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the commencement of the sales in connection with the Offering at an initial exercise price of $____ per share, which is equal to 125% of the initial public offering price of the Closing Securities. The Representative’s Warrants shall be subject to the limitation on exercise set forth in FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G)(i); provided, however that pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1) the Representative’s Warrants shall not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Registration Statement, except for the transfers enumerated in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2).
(b) Delivery of the Representative’s Warrant shall be made on the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, if any, and shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.
2.4 Deliveries. The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters the following:
(i) | At the Closing Date, the Closing Shares and, as to each Option Closing Date, if any, the applicable Option Shares, which shares shall be delivered via The Depository Trust Company Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system for the accounts of the several Underwriters; | |
(ii) | At the Closing Date, the Closing Warrants and, as to each Option Closing Date, if any, the applicable Option Warrants, which Warrants shall be delivered via The Depository Trust Company Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system for the accounts of the several Underwriters; | |
(iii) | At the Closing Date, a legal opinion of Company U.S. Counsel addressed to Representative, as representative of the Underwriters and a negative assurance letter, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and, as to each Option Closing Date, if any, a bring-down opinion from Company U.S. Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative; |
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(iv) | At the Closing Date, a legal opinion of Company Australian Counsel addressed to Representative, as representative of the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and, as to each Option Closing Date, if any, a bring-down opinion of Company Australian Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative; | |
(v) | At the Closing Date, each of the Transaction Documents not delivered on the date hereof pursuant to this Section 2.4, duly executed by the parties thereto; | |
(vi) | Contemporaneously herewith, a cold comfort letter, addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to the Representative from the Company Auditor dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and a bring-down letter dated as of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any; | |
(vii) | On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, the duly executed certificate of its Chief Executive Officer or President and its Chief Financial Officer stating that on behalf of the Company and not in an individual capacity that: |
(a) | such officers have examined the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, in their opinion, the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto after the Effective Date, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date) and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto after the Effective Date, as of the respective date thereof and as of the Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; | |
(b) | to their knowledge after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), and | |
(c) | there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus, a Material Adverse Effect. |
(viii) | On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, the duly executed certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (if such date is other than the Closing Date), certifying on behalf of the Company and not in an individual capacity: (a) that the Constitution of the Company filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (b) that the resolutions of the Board of Directors relating to the Offering have been duly adopted, are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (c) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; and (d) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate. | |
(ix) | Contemporaneously herewith, the duly executed and delivered Lock-Up Agreements; and | |
(x) | Such other documents and certificates as to the accuracy and completeness of any statement in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus, as of the time of purchase and, if applicable, the additional time of purchase, as you may reasonably request. |
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2.5 Closing Conditions. The respective obligations of each Underwriter hereunder in connection with the Closing and each Option Closing Date are subject to the following conditions being met:
(i) the accuracy in all material respects when made and on the date in question (other than representations and warranties of the Company already qualified by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects) of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein);
(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the date in question shall have been performed;
(iii) the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.4 of this Agreement;
(iv) the Registration Statement shall be effective on the date of this Agreement and at each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative;
(v) by the Execution Date, the Underwriters shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement;
(vi) the Public Securities have been approved for listing on the Trading Market;
(vii) prior to and on each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any:
(a) | there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; | |
(b) | no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Affiliate of the Company before or by any court or federal, state or provincial commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; | |
(c) | no stop order shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and | |
(d) | the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any 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, and |
(viii) The application by the Company and the Representative to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission for voluntary escrow relief under section 655A(1)(b) of the Corporations Act relating to the Lock-Up Agreements shall have been granted.
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ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the Execution Date, as of the Closing Date and as of each Option Closing Date, if any, as follows:
(a) Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital shares or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding capital shares of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. If the Company has no Subsidiaries, all other references to the Subsidiaries or any of them in the Transaction Documents shall be disregarded.
(b) Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.
(c) Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s shareholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Company is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal, state or provincial securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(e) Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, provincial, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than: (i) the filing with the Commission of the Prospectus, (ii) the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, (iii) application(s) to each applicable Trading Market for the listing of the Securities for trading in the time and manner required thereby, and (iv) such filings as are required to be made under applicable federal, state and provincial securities laws (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).
(f) Registration Statement. The Company has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, including any related Prospectus, for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, which Registration Statement has been prepared by the Company in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on ________ (the “Effective Date”). The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number 001-___) providing for the registration under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act of Ordinary Shares and Warrants. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus has been issued, and no proceeding for any such purpose is pending or has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened by the Commission. The Company will not, without the prior consent of the Representative, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(g) Issuance of Securities. The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Warrant Shares and the Representative’s Warrant Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and the Representative’s Warrant, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Company has all necessary authorizations to issue the maximum number of Ordinary Shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement, the Warrants and the Representative’s Warrants. The holder of the Securities will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holder. The Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. All corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Prospectus.
(h) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities or as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any Ordinary Shares or the capital shares of any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Share Equivalents or the capital shares of any Subsidiary. The issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue Ordinary Shares or other securities to any Person (other than the Underwriters). There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary with any provision that adjusts the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of such security or instrument upon an issuance of securities by the Company or any Subsidiary. There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or such Subsidiary. Other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. All of the outstanding capital shares of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal, state and provincial securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. The authorized shares of the Company conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the Company’s securities were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers, exempt from such registration requirements. No further approval or authorization of any shareholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. There are no shareholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital shares to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.
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(i) Financial Statements and Other Agreements. The financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus have been prepared, in all material respects, in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by IFRS, and fairly present in all material respects the statement of financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the date indicated and the consolidated statements of loss and other comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed, or for which an exemption has been granted or an undertaking by the Company has been given. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses.
(j) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent filing with the Commission, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to IFRS or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its shareholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any of its capital shares, and (v) other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company share option and other long term incentive plans The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information.
(k) Litigation. There is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, provincial, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal, state or provincial securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or prospectus filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
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(l) Labor Relations. No labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, provincial, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state, provincial and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, provincial, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (each, a “Material Permit”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of federal, state, provincial, local and all foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects.
(o) Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to any real property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and Liens for the payment of federal, state, provincial or other taxes, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties.
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(p) Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights required for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and which the failure to do so could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.
(r) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from, any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including share option agreements under any share option plan of the Company.
(s) Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date. The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) 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 IFRS and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and the Subsidiaries have established “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and the Subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that (i) the information is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company and its subsidiaries, including their respective principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate and (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.
(t) Certain Fees. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA. The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve months prior to the Execution Date, other than fees paid to the Representative. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.
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(u) Foreign Private Issuer Status. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5005(a)(19).
(v) Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged in any Section 5(d) Written Communication or any Section 5(d) Oral Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act. The Company will promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an emerging growth company at any time prior to the later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is not required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) and (ii) the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
(w) Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Securities will not be, or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(x) Registration Rights. No Person has any right to cause the Company or any Subsidiary to effect the registration under the Securities Act or issuance of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(y) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements. The Ordinary Shares are currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees of the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.
(z) Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and the Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation that is or could become applicable as a result of the Underwriters and the Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents.
(aa) Disclosure; 10b-5. The Registration Statement contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, if any, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations under the Securities Act and did not and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, each as of its respective date, comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations. Each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, did not and will not contain as of the date thereof any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement reflecting any facts or events arising after the date thereof which represent, individually or in the aggregate, a fundamental change in the information set forth therein is required to be filed with the Commission. There are no documents required to be filed with the Commission in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby that (x) have not been filed as required pursuant to the Securities Act or (y) will not be filed within the requisite time period. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus, or to be filed as exhibits or schedules to the Registration Statement, which have not been described or filed as required.
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(bb) Cybersecurity. (i)(x) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of its respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of it), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Company has not been notified of, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data; (ii) the Company is presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, in the case of this clause (ii), individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) the Company has implemented and maintained commercially reasonable safeguards to maintain and protect its material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and Data; and (iv) the Company has implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.
(cc) Privacy laws.
(i) The Company and its subsidiaries have at all times implemented and maintained reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and Data (including all Personal Data (as defined below), sensitive, confidential, or regulated data (“Confidential Data”)) used in connection with their businesses. There have been no actual or reasonably suspected breaches of, violations of, outages of, or unlawful or unauthorized uses of, destruction of, losses of, alterations of, or accesses to IT Assets and no unlawful or unauthorized uses of, destruction of, losses of, alterations of, or accesses to Confidential Data, nor any such actual or reasonably suspected incidents under internal review or investigation.
(ii) The Company and its subsidiaries comply, and have at all times complied in all material respects with all (i) applicable laws, statutes, regulations, directives, and industry standards concerning the protection, collection, use, disclosure, transfer, storage, disposal, privacy, confidentiality, integrity and security of Confidential Data (including, without limitation, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679); the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (“VCDPA”) (collectively, “Privacy Laws”)) and (ii) all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, policies, procedures, and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and Confidential Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data and Confidential Data from unlawful or unauthorized use, destruction, loss, alteration, access, misappropriation or modification and have imposed equivalent contractual obligations on any third parties having direct or indirect access to IT Systems and Data or responsible for any processing Confidential Data. The Company and its subsidiaries have at all times made all required disclosures to and obtained all necessary consents from individuals (including, without limitation, customers, users, and personnel) for the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ collection, use, and disclosure of Confidential Data, and complied with all such disclosures and consents. None of such disclosures made or contained in any policies or notices have been materially inaccurate, misleading or incomplete.
(iii) For purposes of this section, “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, customer or account number, biometric identifier, medical, health or insurance information, gender, date of birth, educational or employment information, any religious or political view or affiliation, marital or other status, photograph, face geometry and any information that can identify, relate to, describe, be associated with, or be reasonably capable of being associated with an individual; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; (iv) “personal information” as defined by CCPA; (v) “consumer personal information” as defined in the VCDPA and (vi) any other information that constitutes “personal data”, “personal information”, “personally identifiable information”, “nonpublic personal information”, “customer proprietary network information”, “individually identifiable health information”, “protected health information”, or similar information under any Privacy Law.
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(dd) Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder, (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.
(ee) Tax Status.
(i) | Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each has (x) made or filed, when due, all federal, state, provincial and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (y) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (z) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. | |
(ii) | There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim. | |
(iii) | The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. |
The term “taxes” mean all federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.
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(ff) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or representative of the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment of corporate funds or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including, without limitation, of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offense under any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company has instituted, maintained and enforced, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(gg) Share Option Plans. Each share option granted by the Company under the Company’s share option or other long term incentive plan was granted(i) in accordance with the terms of such plans and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares on the date such share option would be considered granted under IFRS and applicable law. No share option granted under the Company’s share option plan has been backdated.
(hh) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or representative of the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Crimean region, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
(ii) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon the request of the Representative.
(jj) Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.
(kk) Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
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(ll) D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering and in the Lock-Up Agreement provided to the Underwriters is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in such questionnaires to become inaccurate and incorrect.
(mm) FINRA Affiliation. No officer, director or any beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company’s unregistered securities has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA) that is participating in the Offering. The Company will advise the Representative and Underwriters’ U.S. Counsel if it learns that any officer, director or owner of 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Share Equivalents is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member firm on or before Closing.
(nn) Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or Underwriters’ U.S. Counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
(oo) Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Prospectus captioned “Management”. The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the Board of Directors comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and the rules of the Trading Market. At least one member of the Board of Directors qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Trading Market.
(pp) Forward-Looking Statements. Each “forward-looking statement” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed with a reasonable basis and in good faith and is based on assumptions that are reasonable in the circumstances.
(qq) Auditors. The Company Auditor who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company and its subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are (i) independent accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and by the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”), (ii) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and (iii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the PCAOB whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn.
ARTICLE IV.
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
4.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company has delivered, or will as promptly as practicable deliver, to the Underwriters complete conformed copies of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts, as applicable, filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits), and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as an Underwriter reasonably requests. Neither the Company nor any of its directors and officers has distributed and none of them will distribute, prior to the Closing Date, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Prospectus and the Registration Statement. The Company shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
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4.2 Securities Laws.
(a) Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will notify the Underwriters promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 4.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Securities Act.
(b) Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424.
(c) Exchange Act Registration. For the earlier of (i) three years from the Execution Date and (ii) such time as no Warrants are outstanding (the “Public Period”), the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the registration of the Ordinary Shares and Warrants under the Exchange Act. During the Public Period, the Company will not deregister the Ordinary Shares or the Warrants under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
(d) Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, without the prior written consent of the Representative. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representative is herein referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus”. The Company represents that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in rule and regulations under the Securities Act, and has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.
4.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectus. The Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus are required to be delivered under the Securities Act such number of copies of each Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to you two original executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith and all original executed consents of certified experts.
4.4 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Underwriters. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus until the later of nine (9) months from the Execution Date and the date on which the Warrants are no longer outstanding, and will notify the Underwriters and holders of the Warrants immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 4.4 that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission, any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
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4.5 Expenses of the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of the Securities to be sold in the Offering (including the Option Securities) with the Commission; (b) all FINRA Public Offering Filing System fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; all fees and expenses relating to the listing of the Closing Shares, Option Shares, Representative’s Warrant Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares on the Trading Market and such other share exchanges as the Company and the Representative together determine; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of such Securities under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other foreign jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees, and the fees and expenses of Blue Sky counsel); (d) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the Underwriting Agreement, any Blue Sky Surveys and, if appropriate, any Agreement Among Underwriters, Selected Dealers’ Agreement, Underwriters’ Questionnaire and Power of Attorney), Registration Statements, Prospectus and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final Prospectus as the Representative may reasonably deem necessary; (e) the costs and expenses of the Company’s public relations firm; (f) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering the Securities; (g) fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent for the Securities (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company); (h) share transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; (i) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (j) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives; (k) up to $350,000 in the aggregate for the fees and expenses of Underwriters’ U.S. Counsel, Underwriters’ Australian Counsel and other out-of-pocket expenses and (l) up to $15,950 for the Representative’s clearing fees. The Underwriters may also deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or each Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters. The Company has advanced to the Representative the sum of $75,000 against fees and expenses of legal counsel and other out-of-pocket accountable expenses anticipated to be incurred, subject to reimbursement by the Representative to the Company if not actually incurred, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A) and Rule 5110(g)(5)(A). Such sum shall be credited against the legal fees and expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Representative.
4.6 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus and to file such reports with the Commission with respect to the sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
4.7 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Execution Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Execution Date.
4.8 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities (it being understood that the Company makes no statement as to the activities of the Underwriters).
4.9 FINRA. On or before Closing, the Company shall advise the Underwriters (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 5% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of an Underwriter.
4.10 No Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely contractual and commercial in nature, based on arms-length negotiations and that neither the Underwriters nor their affiliates or any selected dealer shall be deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may have financial interests in the success of the Offering that are not limited to the difference between the price to the public and the purchase price paid to the Company by the Underwriters for the Securities and the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose, or account to the Company for, any of such additional financial interests. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.
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4.11 Warrant Shares and Representative’s Warrant Shares. If all or any portion of a Warrant or a Representative’s Warrant is exercised at a time when there is an effective registration statement to cover the issuance of the Warrant Shares or the Representative’s Warrant Shares, respectively, or if a Warrant or a Representative’s Warrant is exercised via cashless exercise, the Warrant Shares or Representative’s Warrant Shares, as applicable, issued pursuant to any such exercise shall be issued free of all restrictive legends. If at any time following the date hereof, the Registration Statement (or any subsequent registration statement registering the sale or resale of the Warrant Shares or the Representative’s Warrant Shares) is not effective or is not otherwise available for the sale of the Warrant Shares or the Representative’s Warrant Shares, as applicable, the Company shall immediately notify the holders of the Warrants or the Representative’s Warrants in writing that such registration statement is not then effective and thereafter shall promptly notify such holders when the registration statement is effective again and available for the sale of the Warrant Shares or the Representative’s Shares (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing shall not limit the ability of the Company to issue, or any holder thereof to sell, any of the Warrant Shares or any of the Representative’s Warrant Shares in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws).
4.12 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. At the request of the Representative, by 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof (or on the next Trading Day if this Agreement is signed after 9:00 a.m. (New York City time), the Company shall issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the Offering. The Company and the Representative shall consult with each other in issuing any other press releases with respect to the Offering, and neither the Company nor any Underwriter shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of such Underwriter, or without the prior consent of the Representative, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication. The Company will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without sufficient prior written notice to the Representative, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the first business day following the 30th day following the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.
4.13 Shareholder Rights Plan. No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, with the consent of the Company, any other Person, that any Underwriter of the Securities is an “Acquiring Person” under any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or similar anti-takeover plan or arrangement in effect or hereafter adopted by the Company, or that any Underwriter of Securities could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Securities pursuant to the Offering.
4.14 Reservation of Ordinary Shares. As of the date hereof, the Company obtained all necessary authorizations, corporate or otherwise, to issue, free of pre-emptive rights, a sufficient number of Ordinary Shares for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue Option Shares pursuant to the Option, Warrant Shares pursuant to any exercise of the Warrants and Representative’s Warrant Shares pursuant to any exercise of the Representative’s Warrants.
4.15 Listing of Ordinary Shares and Warrants. During the Public Period, the Company hereby agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Closing Shares, Option Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares and Representative’s Warrant Shares on the Trading Market. During the Public Period, the Company agrees to maintain the eligibility of the Ordinary Shares for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation, including, without limitation, by timely payment of fees to the Depository Trust Company or such other established clearing corporation in connection with such electronic transfer.
4.16 Subsequent Equity Sales. During the Lock-Up Period, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any shares of Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Share Equivalents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.16 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance.
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4.17 Research Independence. The Company acknowledges that each Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments, if any, are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriter’s research analysts may hold and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the Offering that differ from the views of its investment bankers. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against such Underwriter with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriter’s investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that the Representative is a full-service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short position in debt or equity securities of the Company.
ARTICLE V.
DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS
If on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, if any, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company), the Representative, or if the Representative is the defaulting Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters, shall use their reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours the Representative shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Closing Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company or the Representative will have the right to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company except to the extent provided in Article VI hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Article V, the applicable Closing Date may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as the Representative, or if the Representative is the defaulting Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters, may determine in order that the required changes in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term “Underwriter” includes any Person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE VI.
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, and each dealer selected by each Underwriter that participates in the offer and sale of the Public Securities (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective agents, directors, officers and employees and each Person, if any, who controls such Underwriter or any Selected Dealer (“Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between such Underwriter and the Company or between such Underwriter and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, if any, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Article VI, collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state or provincial securities commission or agency, Trading Market or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of 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, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the applicable Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, if any, the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that the only information furnished by an Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6.5). With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, if any, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6.1 shall not inure to the benefit of an Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the Person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Public Securities to such Person as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Agreement. The Company agrees promptly to notify each Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Public Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
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6.2 Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter, a Selected Dealer or a Controlling Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 6.1, such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter or such Selected Dealer, as the case may be) and payment of actual expenses. Such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person unless (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action, or (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by such Underwriter (in addition to local counsel), Selected Dealer and/or Controlling Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Underwriter, Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by Section 6.1 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6.1 effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
6.3 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and employees and agents who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, if any, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, if any, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other Person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, if any, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against such Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other Person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to such Underwriter by the provisions of this Article VI. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.3, no Underwriter shall be required to indemnify the Company for any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter. The Underwriters’ obligations in this Section 6.3 to indemnify the Company are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
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6.4 Contribution.
(a) Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in any case in which (i) any Person entitled to indemnification under this Article VI makes a claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Article VI provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution be required on the part of any such Person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Article VI, then, and in each such case, the Company and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and such Underwriter, as incurred, in such proportions that such Underwriter is responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no Person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of such Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each Person, if any, who controls such Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter or the Company, as applicable. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.4, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter. The Underwriters’ obligations in this Section 6.4 to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(b) Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing party”), notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen days, the contributing party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section 6.4 are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available.
6.5 Information Provided by the Underwriters. The Underwriters severally confirm and the Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to Offering set forth under the caption “Underwriting” under the heading “Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus.
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ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 Termination.
(a) Termination Right. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in its opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on any Trading Market shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Securities, or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, as in the case of (iii) or (viii) in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Public Securities.
(b) Expenses. In the event this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(a), within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Representative its actual and accountable out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable, including the fees and disbursements of Underwriters’ U.S. Counsel and Underwriters’ Australian Counsel up to $350,000, less any sums previously advanced to the Representative (provided, however, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement).
(c) Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Article VI shall not be in any way effected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
7.2 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Engagement Agreement, shall continue to be effective and the terms therein shall continue to survive and be enforceable by H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC in accordance with its terms, provided that, in the event of a conflict between the terms of the Engagement Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
7.3 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 time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the email address set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the e-mail address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second (2nd) Trading 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 set forth on the signature pages attached hereto.
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7.4 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Representative. 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 any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.
7.5 Headings. 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.
7.6 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns.
7.7 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed in accordance with law of the State of New York. Each party agrees that all legal Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, sitting in the County and City of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York . Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Action or Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such Action or Proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such Proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Action or Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an Action or Proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company under Article VI, the prevailing party in such Action or Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Action or Proceeding.
7.8 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the Option Closing, if any, and the delivery of the Securities.
7.9 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
7.10 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
7.11 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Underwriters and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any Action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
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7.12 Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.
7.13 Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and Ordinary Shares in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward share splits, share dividends, share combinations and other similar transactions of the Ordinary Shares that occur after the date of this Agreement.
7.14 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVE FOREVER ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
(Signature Page Follows)
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||
LOCAFY LIMITED | ||
|
||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address for Notice:
Copy to:
Haynes and Boone, LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza, 26th Floor
New York, New York 10112
Attention: Rick Werner, Esq.
E-mail: rick.werner@haynesboone.com
Accepted on the date first above written.
H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC,
as the Representative of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO., LLC
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address for Notice:
430 Park Avenue, 3th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
notices@hcwco.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Lucosky Brookman LLP
101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor
Woodbridge, NJ 08330
Attention: Joseph M. Lucosky, Esq.
Fax No.: (732) 395-4401
Email: jlucosky@lucbro.com
SCHEDULE I
Schedule of Underwriters
Underwriters | Closing Shares | Closing Warrants | Closing Purchase Price | |||
H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC |
||||||
Total |
I- 1 |
SCHEDULE II
Pricing Information
Number of Closing Shares:
Number of Closing Warrants:
Number of Option Shares:
Number of Option Warrants:
Public Offering Price per Closing Share:
Public Offering Price per Closing Warrant:
Public Offering Price per Option Share:
Public Offering Price per Option Warrant:
Closing Warrant Exercise Price:
Option Warrant Exercise Price:
Underwriting Discount per Closing Share:
Underwriting Discount per Closing Warrant:
Underwriting Discount per Option Share:
Underwriting Discount per Option Warrant:
Proceeds to Company per Share (before expenses):
Proceeds to Company per Closing Warrant (before expenses):
Proceeds to Company per Option Warrant (before expenses):
II- 1 |
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
A- 1 |
EXHIBIT B
Form of Warrant Agency Agreement
B- 1 |
Exhibit 4.2
REPRESENTATIVE PURCHASE WARRANT FOR ORDINARY SHARES
Locafy LIMITED
Warrant Shares: _______ | Initial Exercise Date: _____, 2022 |
THIS REPRESENTATIVE PURCHASE WARRANT (this “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, _____________ or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date hereof (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on [_____]1 (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Locafy Limited, a company incorporated under the law of the Commonwealth of Australia (the “Company”), up to ______ Ordinary Shares of the Company (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”). The purchase price of one Ordinary Share under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b). This Warrant is issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Attribution Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Beneficial Ownership Limitation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Ordinary Shares are not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Ordinary Shares are then reported on the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per Ordinary Share reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of one Ordinary Share as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
1 Insert the date that is the [__] year anniversary after the commencement of the sales pursuant to the offering.
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“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Buy-In” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(iv) hereof.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“DWAC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) hereof.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exercise Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(d) hereof.
“Holder” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Initial Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Notice of Exercise” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Ordinary Shares” means ordinary shares of the Company, no par value per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Ordinary Share Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Ordinary Shares, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Ordinary Shares.
“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.
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“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-262442), as amended, filed by the Company with the Commission and declared effective by the Commission on March __, 2022.
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Ordinary Shares as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Trading Day” and “Trading Days” means a day or days, respectively, on which Ordinary Shares are traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which Ordinary Shares are listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, and any successor transfer agent appointed by the Company.
“Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement, dated as of March __, 2022, among the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC as representative of the several underwriters named therein, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Ordinary Shares are not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Ordinary Shares are then reported on the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per Ordinary Share so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of one Ordinary Share as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
3 |
“Warrant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) hereof.
“Warrant” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant and “Warrants” means this Warrant and other purchase warrants for Ordinary Shares issued by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“Warrant Shares” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Warrant Share Delivery Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) hereof.
Section 2. Exercise.
a) Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Business Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
4 |
b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Ordinary Share under this Warrant shall be US$_____2, subject to adjustment as provided herein (the “Exercise Price”).
c) Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise of this Warrant there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares to the Holder, then this Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
(A) | = | as applicable: |
(i) | the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, | |
(ii) | at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Ordinary Shares on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or | |
(iii) | the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
(B) | = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
(X) | = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the registered characteristics of the Warrants being exercised. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).
2 125% of the initial public offering price.
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d) Mechanics of Exercise.
i. Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. Following delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement under the Securities Act permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) this Warrant is being exercised via cashless exercise, and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earliest of (i) two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, (ii) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Company and (iii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Ordinary Shares on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10.00 per Trading Day (increasing to $20.00 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Notice(s) of Exercise delivered on or prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Initial Exercise Date, which may be delivered at any time after the time of execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agrees to deliver the Warrant Shares subject to such notice(s) by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Initial Exercise Date and the Initial Exercise Date shall be the Warrant Share Delivery Date for purposes hereunder, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by such Warrant Share Delivery Date.
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ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date (subject to receipt of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise)), then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.
iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant 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, Ordinary Shares to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (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 Ordinary Shares so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue by (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 Warrant 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 Ordinary Shares that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Ordinary Shares having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of Ordinary Shares 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, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
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v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.
vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant 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 Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant 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 that Warrant 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 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. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its shareholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
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e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of Ordinary Shares which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Ordinary Share Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder shall be deemed to represent to the Company each time it delivers a Notice of Exercise that such Notice of Exercise has not violated the restrictions set forth in this paragraph, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with or furnished to the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall in no event exceed 9.99% of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.
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Section 3. Certain Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding:
(i) | pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on or with respect to the Ordinary Shares or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in Ordinary Shares (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Ordinary Shares issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), |
(ii) | subdivides outstanding Ordinary Shares into a larger number of shares, |
(iii) | combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding Ordinary Shares into a smaller number of shares, or |
(iv) | issues by reclassification of Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of Ordinary Shares 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 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
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b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Ordinary Share Equivalents or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of its capital stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of Ordinary Shares 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 on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Ordinary Shares are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such Ordinary Shares as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend (other than cash) or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of Ordinary Shares by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (each 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 Ordinary Shares 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 as of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the holders of record of Ordinary Shares 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, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any Ordinary Shares as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
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d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Ordinary Shares are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of Ordinary Shares or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which Ordinary Shares are effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires more than 50% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (not including any Ordinary Shares held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of ordinary shares or shares of common stock, as applicable, of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one Ordinary Share 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 Ordinary Shares are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Ordinary Shares in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Ordinary Shares are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Ordinary Shares are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function the Bloomberg Terminal service of Bloomberg, L.P. (“Bloomberg”) determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the “HVT” function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (i) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (ii) the highest VWAP during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request pursuant to this Section 3(d), (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within five Business Days of the Holder’s election (or, if later, on the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction). The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(d) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the number of Ordinary Shares acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.
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e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 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 3, the number of Ordinary Shares deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
f) Notice to Holder.
i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Ordinary Shares, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of Ordinary Shares, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of Ordinary Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any shareholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Company’s capital stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby Ordinary Shares are converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) 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 delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 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 record of Ordinary Shares 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 record of Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to exchange their Ordinary Shares for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously furnish such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Report on Form 6-K. The Holder shall remain 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 except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
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g) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant, subject to the prior written consent of the Holder, reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.
Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.
a) Transferability. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e), neither this Warrant nor any Warrant Shares issued upon exercise of this Warrant shall be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of commencement of sales of the offering pursuant to which this Warrant is being issued, except the transfer of any security:
(i) | by operation of law or by reason of reorganization of the Company; | |
(ii) | to any FINRA member firm participating in the offering and the officers, partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction in this Section 4(a) for the remainder of the time period; | |
(iii) | if the aggregate amount of securities of the Company held by the Holder or related person does not exceed 1% of the securities being offered; | |
(iv) | that is beneficially owned on a pro-rata basis by all equity owners of an investment fund, provided that no participating member manages or otherwise directs investments by the fund, and participating members in the aggregate do not own more than 10% of the equity in the fund; | |
(v) | the exercise or conversion of any security, if all securities received remain subject to the lock-up restriction in this Section 4(a) for the remainder of the time period; | |
(vi) | if the Company meets the registration requirements of Forms S-3, F-3 or F-10; or | |
(vii) | back to the Company in a transaction exempt from registration with the Commission. |
Subject to the foregoing restriction, 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 attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, 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 instrument of assignment, 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. This Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
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b) 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 4(a), 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 the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the Holder of record 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.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
a) No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) and Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
b) 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 Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the 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.
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c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.
d) Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Ordinary Shares may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate 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 the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
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e) Governing Law. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the courts of the State of New York and of the United States of America, in each case sitting in the City and County of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
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h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at ___________, Attention: ___________, e-mail address: ___________, or such other e-mail address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously furnish such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Report on Form 6-K.
i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Ordinary Share or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holder of this Warrant, on the other hand.
m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
(Signature Page Follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
LOCAFY LIMITED | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | Director / Company Secretary |
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: LOCAFY LIMITED
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
[ ] in lawful money of the United States; or
[ ] if permitted the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).
(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
_______________________________
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity: ________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
Name: | |
(Please Print) | |
Address: | |
(Please Print) | |
Phone Number: | |
E-mail Address: |
|
Dated: _______________ __, _______________________ | |
Holder’s Signature:________________________________ | |
Holder’s Address:_________________________________ |
Exhibit 4.3
Warrant Certificate
PURCHASE WARRANT FOR ORDINARY SHARES
Locafy LIMITED
Warrant Shares: ________ | Initial Exercise Date: ______, 2022 |
CUSIP: | |
ISIN: |
THIS PURCHASE WARRANT (this “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, _____________ or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date hereof (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on [_____]1 (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Locafy Limited, a company incorporated under the law of the Commonwealth of Australia (the “Company”), up to ______ Ordinary Shares of the Company (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”). The purchase price of one Ordinary Share under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b). This Warrant shall initially be issued and maintained in the form of a security held in book-entry form and the Depository Trust Company or its nominee (“DTC”) shall initially be the sole registered holder of this Warrant, subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement, in which case this sentence shall not apply.
Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Attribution Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Beneficial Ownership Limitation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
1 Insert the date that is the [__] year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date, provided that, if such date is not a Trading Day, insert the immediately following Trading Day.
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“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Ordinary Shares are not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Ordinary Shares are then reported on the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per Ordinary Share reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of one Ordinary Share as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Buy-In” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(iv) hereof.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“DTC” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“DWAC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) hereof.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exercise Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(d) hereof.
“Holder” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Initial Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Notice of Exercise” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
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“Ordinary Shares” means ordinary shares of the Company, no par value per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Ordinary Share Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Ordinary Shares, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Ordinary Shares.
“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.
“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-262442), as amended, filed by the Company with the Commission and declared effective by the Commission on March __, 2022.
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Ordinary Shares as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Trading Day” and “Trading Days” means a day or days, respectively, on which Ordinary Shares are traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which Ordinary Shares are listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, and any successor transfer agent appointed by the Company.
“Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement, dated as of March __, 2022, among the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC as representative of the several underwriters named therein, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
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“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which Ordinary Shares are then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price per Ordinary Share for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Ordinary Shares are not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Ordinary Shares are then reported on the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per Ordinary Share so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of one Ordinary Share as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Warrant Agency Agreement” means that certain warrant agency agreement, dated on or about the Initial Exercise Date, between the Company and the Warrant Agent.
“Warrant Agent” means collectively, Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., with a mailing address of 1462 South 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40202, and any successor warrant agent of the Company.
“Warrant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) hereof.
“Warrant” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant and “Warrants” means this Warrant and other purchase warrants for Ordinary Shares issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement.
“Warrant Shares” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Warrant.
“Warrant Share Delivery Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) hereof.
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Section 2. Exercise.
a) Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Business Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 2(a), a Holder whose interest in this Warrant is a beneficial interest in certificate(s) representing this Warrant held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect exercises made pursuant to this Section 2(a) by delivering to DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that are required by DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable), subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement, in which case this sentence shall not apply.
b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Ordinary Share under this Warrant shall be US$_____, subject to adjustment as provided herein (the “Exercise Price”).
c) Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise of this Warrant there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares to the Holder, then this Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
(A) = | as applicable: |
(i) | the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, |
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(ii) | at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Ordinary Shares on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or | |
(iii) | the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
(B) = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
(X) = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the registered characteristics of the Warrants being exercised. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).
d) Mechanics of Exercise.
i. | Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. Following delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement under the Securities Act permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) this Warrant is being exercised via cashless exercise, and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earliest of (i) two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, (ii) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Company and (iii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Ordinary Shares on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10.00 per Trading Day (increasing to $20.00 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Notice(s) of Exercise delivered on or prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Initial Exercise Date, which may be delivered at any time after the time of execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agrees to deliver the Warrant Shares subject to such notice(s) by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Initial Exercise Date and the Initial Exercise Date shall be the Warrant Share Delivery Date for purposes hereunder, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by such Warrant Share Delivery Date. |
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ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date (subject to receipt of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise)), then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.
iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant 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, Ordinary Shares to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (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 Ordinary Shares so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue by (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 Warrant 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 Ordinary Shares that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Ordinary Shares having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of Ordinary Shares 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, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.
vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant 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 Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant 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 that Warrant 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 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. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
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vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its shareholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of Ordinary Shares which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Ordinary Share Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder shall be deemed to represent to the Company each time it delivers a Notice of Exercise that such Notice of Exercise has not violated the restrictions set forth in this paragraph, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with or furnished to the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% (or, upon election by a Holder prior to the issuance of any Warrants, 9.99%) of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall in no event exceed 9.99% of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.
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Section 3. Certain Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding:
(i) | pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on or with respect to the Ordinary Shares or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in Ordinary Shares (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Ordinary Shares issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), |
(ii) | subdivides outstanding Ordinary Shares into a larger number of shares, |
(iii) | combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding Ordinary Shares into a smaller number of shares, or |
(iv) | issues by reclassification of Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of Ordinary Shares 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 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Ordinary Share Equivalents or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of its capital stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of Ordinary Shares 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 on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Ordinary Shares are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such Ordinary Shares as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
c) 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 Ordinary Shares 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) (each 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 Ordinary Shares 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 as of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the holders of record of Ordinary Shares 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, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any Ordinary Shares as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
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d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Ordinary Shares are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of Ordinary Shares or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which Ordinary Shares are effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires more than 50% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (not including any Ordinary Shares held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of ordinary shares or shares of common stock, as applicable, of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one Ordinary Share 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 Ordinary Shares are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Ordinary Shares in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Ordinary Shares are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Ordinary Shares are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function the Bloomberg Terminal service of Bloomberg, L.P. (“Bloomberg”) determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the “HVT” function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (i) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (ii) the highest VWAP during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request pursuant to this Section 3(d), (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within five Business Days of the Holder’s election (or, if later, on the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction). The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(d) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the number of Ordinary Shares acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.
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e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 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 3, the number of Ordinary Shares deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
f) Notice to Holder.
i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Ordinary Shares, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of Ordinary Shares, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of Ordinary Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any shareholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Company’s capital stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby Ordinary Shares are converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) 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 delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 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 record of Ordinary Shares 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 record of Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to exchange their Ordinary Shares for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously furnish such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Report on Form 6-K. The Holder shall remain 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 except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
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g) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant, subject to the prior written consent of the Holder, reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.
Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.
a) Transferability. This Warrant and all rights hereunder 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 attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, 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 instrument of assignment, 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. This Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
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b) New Warrants. If this Warrant is not held in global form through DTC (or any successor depositary), 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 4(a), 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 the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
c) Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Warrant Agent for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the Holder of record hereof from time to time. The Company and the Warrant Agent 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.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
a) No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) and Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
b) 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 Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it or its designated agent, if any, including the posting of a surety bond by the Holder (provided that the posting of any such bond by the Holder shall not be required under this Section 5(b) in connection with Warrants held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), 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.
c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.
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d) Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Ordinary Shares may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate 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 the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
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e) Governing Law. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the courts of the State of New York and of the United States of America, in each case sitting in the City and County of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at ___________, Attention: ___________, e-mail address: ___________, or such other e-mail address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously furnish such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Report on Form 6-K.
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i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Ordinary Share or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holder or the beneficial owner of this Warrant, on the other hand.
m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
o) Warrant Agency Agreement. If this Warrant is held in global form through DTC (or any successor depositary), this Warrant is issued subject to the Warrant Agency Agreement. To the extent any provision of this Warrant conflicts with the express provisions of the Warrant Agency Agreement, the provisions of this Warrant shall govern and be controlling with respect to the rights and obligations of the Holders and the Company; provided that, solely with respect to the rights, duties, obligations, protections, immunities and liabilities of the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agency Agreement shall govern and control.
********************
(Signature
Page Follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
LOCAFY LIMITED | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | Director / Company Secretary |
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: | LOCAFY LIMITED |
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
[ ] in lawful money of the United States; or
[ ] if permitted the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).
(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
_______________________________
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity: ________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
Name: | _____________________________________ |
(Please Print) | |
Address: | _____________________________________ |
Phone Number:
E-mail Address: |
(Please Print)
______________________________________
______________________________________ |
Dated: _______________ __, ______ | |
Holder’s Signature:___________________ | |
Holder’s Address:___________________ |
Exhibit 4.5
Exhibit 5.1
7 March 2022
Locafy Limited 246A Churchill Avenue Subiaco WA 6008, Australia |
Ref:SID:2100875
|
Dear Sirs
Locafy Limited – Registration Statement on Form F-1
We have acted as Australian legal adviser to Locafy Limited (ACN 136 737 767) (Company), an Australian incorporated company, in connection with the Registration Statement under the Securities Act in connection with the Company’s proposed initial public offering in conjunction with which it will seek a listing on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (Transaction).
The Transaction will involve the proposed offer and sale of:
(a) | Units pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement (and an option to purchase additional Shares and/or Warrants representing up to 15% of the Shares comprising the Units and/or up to 15% of the Warrants comprising the Units, respectively, granted to the underwriters); | |
(b) | Representative’s Warrants representing 6.0% of the number of Shares sold under the Registration Statement (including any Shares sold pursuant to the option described in paragraph (a); and | |
(c) | Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and the Representative’s Warrants. |
1. | Definitions |
In this opinion:
ASIC means the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Board means the board of directors of the Company.
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth of Australia).
Prospectus means the prospectus filed by the Company with the SEC under rule 430A and rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, and any supplement to that document filed to the date of this opinion.
Level
15 Olderfleet 477 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 |
GPO
Box 1842 Melbourne VIC 3001 |
DX
370 Melbourne VIC |
T
+61 3 9269 9000 F +61 3 9269 9001 landers.com.au |
ABN 58 207 240 529 |
Registration Statement means the registration statement prepared by the Company on Form F-1 (file no. 333-262442) with respect to the Units, each as amended to the date of this opinion, including any Prospectus.
Representative’s Warrant means a warrant to purchase a Share, in the form included as Exhibit 4.2 of Registration Statement, issued to the Representative as compensation.
Representative’s Warrant Shares means the Shares issued on exercise of a Representative’s Warrant.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the United States of America.
Share means a fully paid ordinary share of no par value in the Company.
Underwriting Agreement means that certain underwriting agreement, between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC as representative of the several underwriters named therein, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
Unit means a unit subscribed for under the Transaction, comprising one Share and one Warrant.
Warrant means a warrant to purchase a Share, in the form included as Exhibit 4.3 of the Registration Statement.
Warrant Agency Agreement means the agreement governing the Warrants, to be entered into by the Company and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively, as warrant agent.
Warrant Shares means the Shares issued on exercise of a Warrant.
2. | Documents examined and searches made |
For the purposes of issuing this opinion, we have undertaken the following searches and examined and relied on electronic copies of the following documents (Examined Materials) only and have not examined any other documents or records and undertaken no other enquiries for the purpose of this opinion:
(a) | Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and certificates of name change; | |
(b) | the Company’s constitution filed as exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement; | |
(c) | Certificate of the company secretary of the Company certifying certain matters regarding the Company’s constitution and resolutions of the Board dated the date of this opinion; | |
(d) | Certificate of incumbency dated the date of this opinion; | |
(e) | the Registration Statement, including the exhibits being filed therewith and incorporated by reference therein from previous filings made by the Company with the SEC; | |
(f) | the form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement; |
Lander & Rogers | Page 2 |
(g) | the form of Warrant filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement; | |
(h) | the form of Representative’s Warrant filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement; | |
(i) | the Warrant Agency Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement; and | |
(j) | a search of the ASIC records of the Company undertaken on the date of this opinion. |
3. | Opinions |
Subject to the assumptions and qualifications set out in this opinion, we are of the opinion that:
(a) | the Units and the Shares comprising the Units have been duly authorised by all necessary corporate action by the Company, and, when issued and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Units and the Shares comprising the Units will be validly issued and fully paid, and holders of such the Units and the Shares comprising the Units, having fully paid all amounts due on such Units and the Shares comprising the Units, will be under no personal liability to contribute to the assets and liabilities of the Company in their capacities purely as holders of such Units and the Shares comprising the Units; | |
(b) | the Warrant Shares and the Representative’s Warrant Shares have been duly authorised by all necessary corporate action by the Company and, when issued and paid for as contemplated by the Warrants and the Representative’s Warrants, as applicable, will be validly issued and fully paid, and holders of the Warrant Shares and the Representative’s Warrant Shares, having fully paid all amounts due on such securities, will be under no personal liability to contribute to the assets and liabilities of the Company in their capacities purely as holders of such securities; and | |
(c) | the Warrant and Representative’s Warrant have been duly authorised, and, when issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, each Warrant and Representative’s Warrant will be created and validly issued by the Company. |
4. | Consent |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption ‘Legal Matters’ in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
5. | Assumptions |
In this opinion we have assumed the following matters and have not made any independent investigation, or enquiries in respect of such matters:
(a) | all seals and signatures and any duty stamps or markings on documents examined by us are authentic and that all copies of documents examined by us are complete and conform to the originals; |
Lander & Rogers | Page 3 |
(b) | the documents, information and reports reviewed by us have not been modified, amended or terminated by subsequent actions or agreements of which we are not aware; | |
(c) | any facts which may give reason to question the validity, continuing effectiveness or lawfulness of any document or instrument examined by us have been drawn to our attention and otherwise all factual matters are correct; | |
(d) | all certificates, letters and opinions given by external advisers of the Company in relation to the documents examined by us are genuine, complete, up-to-date and accurate; | |
(e) | all certificates, letters and opinions given by the Company’s management in relation to the documents examined by us are genuine, complete, up-to-date and accurate; | |
(f) | all resolutions of the Board that we have relied upon for the purposes of this opinion have not been and will not be varied or revoked and that the meetings of the Board at which the resolutions were considered were properly convened, all directors who attended and voted were entitled to do so, the resolutions were properly passed, and the directors have performed their duties properly and all provisions relating to the declaration of directors’ interests or the power of interested directors were duly observed; | |
(g) | the Company’s registrar promptly follows all instructions regarding the issue of securities given by the Board to make the appropriate entries in the Company’s registers of securities as instructed; | |
(h) | no director of the Company was interested in a matter the subject of a Board resolution, except as permitted by the Constitution or the Corporations Act; | |
(i) | at the time of execution of a document, no signatory of them on behalf of the Company had received notice of revocation of their authority to execute that document; | |
(j) | no laws other than the relevant laws of the Commonwealth of Australia affect this opinion; | |
(k) | no person is entitled to rely on this opinion if it is aware that any assumption made by us is incorrect (but this assumption is not to affect any person who is entitled to rely on this opinion who is not so aware); | |
(l) | where we have searched or inspected public records, we have assumed the accuracy of those records; and | |
(m) | we have assumed that there were no documents other than those which were disclosed to us which related to the Examined Materials. |
At the time of giving this opinion, we have no actual knowledge and we are not aware of any fact which would render any of the assumptions incorrect.
Lander & Rogers | Page 4 |
6. | Qualifications |
This opinion expressed herein is subject to the following qualifications:
(a) | our opinion is based on our review of the Examined Materials only; | |
(b) | we are entitled to make all of the assumptions specified in section 129 of the Corporations Act; | |
(c) | we have not verified work performed by any other advisers or experts retained by the Company and accept no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of their work; | |
(d) | this opinion must be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the opinion is given in respect of the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia as applied by the courts of the Commonwealth of Australia as at the date of this opinion. We have made no investigation of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the Commonwealth of Australia and we do not express or imply any opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the Commonwealth of Australia. We are under, and assume, no obligation to inform any person of, or of the effect of, any future changes to those or any other laws. We have not considered, and have not expressed any opinion with regard to, or as to the effect of, any other law, rule or regulation, state or federal, applicable to the Company. In particular, we express no opinion as to United States federal securities laws; | |
(e) | this opinion is furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 8.a. of Form F-1 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose; | |
(f) | the matters the subject of this opinion are based on the knowledge of those partners and employees of Lander & Rogers directly engaged in advising the Company on the Transaction; | |
(g) | we are not, in this opinion, giving an opinion on, and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, fairness or completeness of, any statement contained in the Registration Statement; | |
(h) | the statements made in this opinion are made by us as lawyers admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Australia and without reference to any laws or judicial decisions or statements of the United States of America; and | |
(i) | we provide no opinion on any non-legal matters, including but not limited to operational, financial, statistical or accounting matters. |
This opinion is given in respect of and limited to the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia on the date of this opinion. This opinion is limited to the matters stated and no opinion may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Lander & Rogers | |
Lander & Rogers |
Simon Davidson | Partner D +61 3 9269 9331 sdavidson@landers.com.au |
David Morris | Partner D +61 2 8020 7772 dmorris@landers.com.au |
We support the environment and ask that all correspondence be sent in digital form.
Lander & Rogers | Page 5 |
Exhibit 5.2
HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP
March 7, 2022
Locafy Limited
246A Churchill Avenue
Subiaco WA 6008
Australia
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as New York counsel to Locafy Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed offering of a maximum aggregate offering price of $22,362,500 of (i) units (the “Units”), with each such unit consisting of (a) one ordinary share, no par value, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”) and (b) one warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share (the “Investor Warrants”), and such Investor Warrants to be issued under a warrant agency agreement to be entered into by the Company and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agreement”), (ii) warrants (“Representative’s Warrants” and together with the Investor Warrants, the “Warrants”) to be issued to the representative of the underwriters as compensation, and (iii) Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants. The Units, the Ordinary Shares, the Warrants and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are being offered and sold pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-262442) originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 1, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”).
Our opinions set forth below are limited solely to the laws of the State of New York (collectively, the “Applicable Laws”). We have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction (including, without limitation, any laws of any other jurisdiction which might be referenced by the choice-of-law rules of the Applicable Laws).
In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined and relied upon the originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein; (ii) the form of Warrant Agreement; (iii) the specimen warrant certificate (the “Warrant Certificate”) for the Investor Warrants; (iv) the form of Representative’s Warrant; and (v) such other records, documents and instruments as we have deemed necessary for the expression of the opinions stated herein.
In making the foregoing examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies thereof and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to all questions of fact material to these opinions, where such facts have not been independently established, and as to the content and form of certain minutes, records, resolutions or other documents or writings of the Company, we have relied, to the extent we have deemed reasonably appropriate, upon representations or certificates of officers of the Company or governmental officials.
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have also assumed that (1) the Company is validly existing and in good standing under the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (2) the Company has duly authorized the issuance of the Warrants pursuant to the Registration Statement in accordance with its organizational documents and the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (3) Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Warrant Agreement in accordance with its organizational documents and the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (4) the Company has duly authorized each of the Warrant Certificate and the form of Representative’s Warrant in accordance with its organizational documents and the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (5) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Warrant Agreement and the issuance of the Warrants pursuant thereto and the form Warrant Certificate do not constitute a breach or violation of its organizational documents or violate the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized or any other jurisdiction (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the law of the State of New York), (6) the Warrant Agreement will have been executed and delivered by all applicable parties and will be enforceable in all respects in accordance with its terms, and (7) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Warrant Agreement and the offering and issuance of the Warrants pursuant to the Registration Statement (a) do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company and (b) complies with all applicable regulatory requirements.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Warrants constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinion set forth in the paragraph above is subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and (iv) to the effects of the possible judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental or judicial action affecting creditors’ rights.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Haynes and Boone, LLP | |
Haynes and Boone, LLP |
Exhibit 10.1
Executive Agreement
Moboom Limited (ACN 136 737 767)
Company
Gavin Burnett
Executive
i |
Contents
1. | Interpretation | 1 |
2. | Term | 3 |
3. | Duties | 3 |
4. | Location | 4 |
5. | Hours and Days of Work | 4 |
6. | Reporting and Supervision | 4 |
7. | Performance Review | 4 |
8. | Policies | 4 |
9. | Exclusive Service | 4 |
10. | External Directorships | 5 |
11. | Remuneration | 5 |
12. | Superannuation | 5 |
13. | Expenses | 6 |
14. | Annual Leave | 6 |
15. | Long Service Leave | 6 |
16. | Personal Leave | 6 |
17. | Other leave | 6 |
18. | Public Holidays | 6 |
19. | Confidentiality | 7 |
20. | Intellectual Property | 7 |
21. | Suspension | 8 |
22. | Termination | 8 |
23. | Redundancy | 10 |
24. | Resignation from Other Offices | 10 |
25. | Restraint of Trade | 11 |
26. | Medical Tests | 12 |
27. | Insurance | 12 |
28. | Compliance | 12 |
29. | General | 13 |
30. | Warranties | 14 |
31. | Acknowledgement | 14 |
Schedule 1 - Remuneration | 15 | |
Schedule 2 - Duties and Position Description - includes Key Performance Indicators | 16 |
ii |
Executive Agreement
Date | 1 January 2020 |
Parties | Moboom Limited ACN 136 737 767 of 246A Churchill Road, Subiaco WA 6008 (the Company). |
Gavin Burnett of 3 Roscommon Road, Floreat WA 6014 (the Executive). |
Recitals
A. | The Executive has been performing the role of Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director of the Company since 23 April 2009 but only as a full time employee since 1 July 2012. |
B. | The Company and the Executive have agreed to enter into a new employment agreement on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. |
1. | Interpretation |
1.1 | Interpretations |
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; | |
(b) | words importing any gender include every gender; | |
(c) | where a particular word or a phrase is given a particular meaning in this Agreement, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings; | |
(d) | words importing persons include natural persons, partnerships, trusts, associations, and bodies corporate; | |
(e) | clause or sub-clause headings do not affect the interpretation or construction of this Agreement; | |
(f) | references to recitals, parts, clauses, or paragraphs by letter or number are references to recitals, parts, clauses, or paragraphs in this Agreement; and | |
(g) | a reference to any statute includes a reference to that statute as amended, modified or replaced and includes orders, ordinances, regulations, rules and by-laws under or pursuant to that statute. |
1.2 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
“Agreement” means this employment agreement signed on 23 December 2019.
“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors as constituted from time to time.
1 |
“Complying Superannuation Fund” has the meaning given in the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).
“Confidential Information” means any and all information which at any time is in the knowledge, possession or control of:
(a) | the Company; or | |
(b) | any subsidiary or employee or agent of the Company, |
relating to the business, operations or affairs of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, information relating to:
(c) | Intellectual Property; | |
(d) | technical details of work undertaken by the Company; | |
(e) | details of contracts, projects or work being undertaken by or involving the Company; | |
(f) | details of the Company’s internal management practices and procedures; | |
(g) | details of the Company’s finances; | |
(h) | details of products developed by the Company; and | |
(i) | details of the Company’s marketing strategies, customer information and sales databases, but does not include information which is lawfully in the public domain otherwise than as a result of a breach of this Agreement. |
“Documents” means software (including source code and object code versions), manuals, drawings, diagrams, graphs, charts, projections, specifications, estimates, records, accounts, plans, formulae, designs, processes, supplier lists, price lists, customer lists, market research information, correspondence, letters and papers of every description, including all copies of and extracts from any of the same.
“Duties” means the duties described in clause 3 of this Agreement.
“Intellectual Property” means
(a) | the various rights and property conferred by statute, common law and equity in and in relation to patents of any kind, inventions, utility models, designs, copyright, trademarks, trade names, business names, corporate names, logos and get up, circuit layouts, know-how, trade secrets and confidential information and the right to have trade secrets and confidential information kept confidential and all other intellectual property rights as defined by Article 2 of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Convention of July 1967; |
and includes
(b) | all applications for registration, extension, renewal or otherwise in respect of the rights and property referred to in paragraph (a) of this definition; and | |
(c) | all rights of action in respect of the rights or property referred to in paragraph (a) of this definition. |
“Policies” means the Company’s policies, guidelines and rules as amended or discontinued from time to time and includes any new policies, guidelines and rules the Company implements.
2 |
“Related Body Corporate” has the meaning set out in section 50 of the Corporations Act (Cth) 2001.
“Remuneration” means the amount described in Schedule 1.
“Salary” means the amount described as “Salary” in Schedule 1.
2. | Term |
The Executive’s employment will continue on an ongoing basis, unless terminated earlier in accordance with clause 22 of this Agreement.
3. | Duties |
3.1 | At all times, the Executive will: |
(a) | carry out the Duties listed in Schedule 2 of this Agreement and any other Duties the Company may, from time to time require; | |
(b) | discharge any responsibility the Company may allocate to him; | |
(c) | devote the whole of his time, attention and skill, during normal business hours and at such other times as reasonably necessary, to performing the Duties and to discharging all of his allocated responsibilities; | |
(d) | perform the Duties and discharge the allocated responsibilities, in a diligent, faithful and prudent manner; | |
(e) | behave, at all times, including outside work time, in a manner that is not inconsistent with: |
(i) | the protection and promotion of the Company’s business and good name; | |
(ii) | the performance of the Duties; or | |
(iii) | discharging the allocated responsibilities; and |
(f) | notify the Company of any information directly or indirectly relating to any business opportunity relevant to the Company as soon as practicable after becoming aware of such information. |
3.2 | Without limiting the Executive’s Duties, during the employment the Executive must not: |
(a) | act in conflict with the Company’s best interests; | |
(b) | on discovery, allow a conflict between the Executive’s interests and the interests of the Company to continue; or | |
(c) | compete, or prepare to compete, with the Company; | |
(d) | in performing the Duties, accept any financial or other benefit except from the Company; | |
(e) | use internet, email or voicemail at the Company’s workplace for excessive personal use or to view or distribute offensive or illegal material; and | |
(f) | unlawfully discriminate, bully or sexually harass another person. |
3 |
4. | Location |
The Executive will be located at the Company’s office at 246A Churchill Avenue, Subiaco WA 6008. The Executive may be required to be located at any other locations that are agreed to by the parties (except that the Executive’s agreement is not required if a new location is in the Perth region). The Executive may be required to undertake domestic and international travel from time to time as required to fulfil his responsibilities.
5. | Hours and Days of Work |
The Executive’s hours of work are 38 hours per week plus reasonable additional hours that are necessary for the Executive to perform the Duties and to discharge his allocated responsibilities with the required attention and skill.
6. | Reporting and Supervision |
The Executive will report to the Board, and be subject to the Board’s direction.
7. | Performance Review |
(a) | The Remuneration Committee will formally review the Executive’s performance each year. | |
(b) | The Executive’s performance will be measured against the Key Performance Indicators set out in Schedule 2, as updated from time to time. | |
(c) | The Chair shall inform the Executive of any concerns the Company has with his performance or conduct as soon as reasonable in the circumstances. |
8. | Policies |
(a) | The Company must make available to the Executive all Policies with which the Executive must comply with. | |
(b) | The Company may establish, amend, replace or delete any Policies at its sole discretion from time to time. | |
(c) | The Company must ensure that the Executive is informed about any amendments to the Policies or about any new or discontinued Policies. | |
(d) | The Executive agrees to comply with all Policies except that, if there is any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and those Policies, then the provisions of this Agreement will prevail over the Policies to the extent of the inconsistency. | |
(e) | The parties acknowledge that the Policies do not form part of the Executive’s contract of employment with the Company. |
9. | Exclusive Service |
The Executive must not, without the Board’s prior written consent, in any capacity, either during or outside of work time, be engaged or concerned or have any other interest for financial advantage that:
(a) | competes with, conflicts with, or detracts from the business of the Company or the business of a Related Body Corporate; or |
4 |
(b) | interferes with: |
(i) | the proper performance of the Duties; or | |
(ii) | the proper discharge of the Executive’s allocated responsibilities. |
10. | External Directorships |
(a) | Subject to clause (b), the Executive warrants that the Executive will not be a board member of any entity other than the Company or a Related Body Corporate without written consent of the Board. | |
(b) | Where directed by the Board, the Executive may be the Company’s nominee on the board of entities other than the Company or a Related Body Corporate. | |
(c) | Apart from discretionary trusts and private superannuation funds, the Executive must not accept a directorship or similar positions with any entity other than the Company or a Related Body Corporate, without written consent of the Board. |
11. | Remuneration |
(a) | The Company shall pay the Executive the Remuneration set out in Schedule 1. | |
(b) | The Executive will be paid monthly into an account nominated by the Executive. | |
(c) | Subject to this Agreement, the Remuneration, benefits and any other entitlements provided or referred to in this Agreement are the entire consideration payable to the Executive and are compensation for all time worked to fulfil his obligations under this Agreement regardless of the number, distribution and timing of the hours of work. |
12. | Superannuation |
12.1 | Company Contributions |
(a) | The Company will make the superannuation contributions described in Schedule 1 on behalf of the Executive and to the Executive’s account with a Complying Superannuation Fund. The superannuation contributions form part of the Executive’s total Remuneration. | |
(b) | As at the date of this Agreement, the superannuation contributions described in Schedule 1 are in accordance with the contributions required by the Company to avoid a tax penalty or charge, pursuant to the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth). | |
(c) | The Company will increase the amount of superannuation contributions as a component of the Executive’s Remuneration if necessary at any time to avoid a tax penalty or charge, pursuant to the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) but this obligation does not require the Company to increase the Executive’s total Remuneration. |
12.2 | Executive May Make Contributions |
The Executive may from time to time request in writing that the Company deduct a sum of money from the Salary and remit it as the Executive’s contributions to the trustees of a Complying Superannuation Fund nominated by the Executive to the extent permitted by law.
5 |
13. | Expenses |
Subject to the production of documentary evidence sufficient to satisfy the Board of their authenticity and reasonableness, the Company will reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses he incurs in performing the Duties and in discharging his responsibilities including:
(a) | travel costs including fares, accommodation and meals; | |
(b) | mobile telephone charges; | |
(c) | mobile device and laptop; | |
(d) | membership of relevant professional organisations and associations as approved by the Board; | |
(e) | professional development or training activities; and | |
(f) | any other expenses properly incurred provided for in the Policies. |
14. | Annual Leave |
The Executive is entitled to 4 weeks’ paid annual leave per annum in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). If the Executive’s employment is terminated, then the Executive will be entitled to payment for any accumulated unused annual leave.
15. | Long Service Leave |
The Executive is entitled to long service leave in accordance with and subject to the Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA).
16. | Personal Leave |
(a) | The Executive is entitled to 10 days’ paid personal leave per annum in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Such personal leave is available if the Executive: |
(i) | is unable to attend work due to illness (sick leave); or | |
(ii) | is required to provide care or support to an immediate family member or other member of the Executive’s household due to their illness or unexpected emergency (carer’s leave). |
(b) | Unused personal leave is not paid out on the termination of employment. |
17. | Other leave |
The Executive is entitled to other forms of leave, including parental leave, compassionate leave, and community services leave, in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 (Cth).
18. | Public Holidays |
The Executive in entitled to Public Holidays in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
6 |
19. | Confidentiality |
19.1 | The Executive’s Acknowledgment |
The Executive acknowledges that:
(a) | during his employment with the Company, the Executive will acquire Confidential Information; and | |
(b) | because of the importance to the Company of the Confidential Information, the Company wishes to protect the Confidential Information during the Executive’s employment and after the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company; and | |
(c) | the Confidential Information has been and will be acquired by the Company at the Company’s initiative and expense; and | |
(d) | the Company has expended and will expend effort and money in establishing and maintaining employee skills and the Confidential Information. |
19.2 | The Executive’s Obligations |
The Executive agrees that at all times during and after the termination of his employment, he will:
(a) | keep the Confidential Information confidential; and | |
(b) | not use it for any purpose other than for the purpose of discharging his obligations to the Company under this Agreement. |
19.3 | Confidentiality of Terms of Agreement |
The Company and the Executive must not disclose any of the provisions of this Agreement except:
(a) | to comply with any applicable law, or any requirement of any regulatory body (including any relevant stock exchange); | |
(b) | to the extent necessary for either party to meet their obligations under this Agreement; | |
(c) | to enforce its rights or to defend any claim or action under this Agreement; | |
(d) | to a professional adviser, financial adviser, banker, financier or auditor if that person is obliged to keep the information confidential; or | |
(e) | if the information has come into the public domain through no fault of that party. |
20. | Intellectual Property |
(a) | The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company is the exclusive owner of all rights, titles and interests in the Documents created by him and all Intellectual Property in anything the Executive creates: | |
(b) | within the scope of his employment; or | |
(c) | using the Company’s facilities, resources or Confidential Information, notwithstanding that the creation of such Documents or Intellectual Property: |
(i) | is not within the scope of the Duties or functions; |
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(ii) | is done by the Executive in his own time; or | |
(iii) | involved only partial use of the Company’s facilities, resources or Confidential Information; and |
(d) | for any of the Company’s customers or in relation to any of the Company’s contracts or projects, or for any purpose related to the Company’s business notwithstanding that the creation of such Documents or Intellectual Property: |
(i) | is not within the scope of the Duties; | |
(ii) | is done by the Executive in his own time; and | |
(iii) | does not involve the use of the Company’s facilities or resources. |
(e) | The Executive will, at the Company’s request, do all things necessary to evidence or convey to the Company, ownership of all Intellectual Property relating to anything he creates including, but without limitation to the foregoing, all assistance necessary or desirable to assist the Company to obtain registration of any rights in respect of the Intellectual Property. The Company must pay the Executive’s reasonable expenses associated with complying with this sub-clause. | |
(f) | The Executive hereby waives, to the fullest extent permissible by law, all moral rights the Executive may have in any copyright works or films made in the course of the Executive’s employment. Pursuant to sections 195AW(4) and 195AWA(4) of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), the Executive hereby consents and acknowledges that the Company may do all or any acts or omissions (whether occurring before or after this consent is given) in relation to all copyright works or films made by him, in the course of his employment. |
21. | Suspension |
The Company may suspend the Executive with full pay for up to 3 months while it investigates any concerns that it has in relation to his performance or conduct.
22. | Termination |
22.1 | Termination by the Company |
Subject to clauses 22.3, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment:
(a) | Within the first 24 months of this Agreement by: |
(i) | giving 12 months’ notice in writing; or | |
(ii) | giving to the Executive 6 months’ notice in writing if, by reason of the illness, injury or incapacity of the Executive: |
A. | the Executive is unable to perform the Duties for a total of 13 weeks in any 52 consecutive weeks; or | |
B. | the Executive becomes permanently incapable of performing the Duties. |
(b) | After the first 24 months of this Agreement and prior to 48 months of employment by: |
(i) | giving 6 months’ notice in writing; or |
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(ii) | giving to the Executive 4 months’ notice in writing if, by reason of the illness, injury or incapacity of the Executive: |
A. | the Executive is unable to perform the Duties for a total of 13 weeks in any 52 consecutive weeks; or | |
B. | the Executive becomes permanently incapable of performing the Duties. |
(c) | After the first 48 months of this Agreement by: |
(i) | giving 3 months’ notice in writing; or | |
(ii) | giving to the Executive 2 months’ notice in writing if, by reason of the illness, injury or incapacity of the Executive: |
A. | the Executive is unable to perform the Duties for a total of 13 weeks in any 52 consecutive weeks; or | |
B. | the Executive becomes permanently incapable of performing the Duties. |
22.2 | Termination by the Executive |
The Executive may terminate his employment by giving:
(a) | 12 months’ notice in writing, if within the first 24 months of this Agreement or such shorter period of notice as may be agreed in writing by the Company. | |
(b) | 6 months’ notice in writing, if after the first 24 months of this agreement and prior to 48 months of employment, or such shorter period of notice as may be agreed in writing by the Company. | |
(c) | 3 months’ notice in writing, if after the first 48 months of this agreement or such shorter period of notice as may be agreed in writing by the Company. |
22.3 | Company may pay in lieu |
The Company may satisfy the notice requirements in this clause by:
(a) | paying the Executive an amount equivalent to the Base Salary which he would have earned for the whole notice period; or | |
(b) | giving part of the notice in writing, and by paying the Executive an amount equivalent to the Base Salary he would have earned during the balance of that notice period. |
22.4 | Termination after notice given |
After either the Company or the Executive has given notice in accordance with clause 22.1, 22.2 or 22.3(b), the Company may at any time terminate the employment by paying the Executive an amount equivalent to the Base Salary which the Executive would have earned during the balance of the notice period.
22.5 | Employment during notice |
If notice is given to terminate the employment, then the Company may do all or any of the following:
(a) | direct the Executive not to perform the Duties, or any of them, for part or all of the notice period; |
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(b) | require the Executive to remain away from the Company’s premises; and | |
(c) | change the title of the Executive. |
22.6 | Termination by the Company without notice |
The Company may terminate the employment at any time by the Company giving notice of dismissal with immediate effect to the Executive as a result of:
(a) | misconduct of the Executive; | |
(b) | wilful neglect in the discharge of the Duties or his allocated responsibilities; | |
(c) | serious or persistent breach of the provisions of this Agreement; | |
(d) | the Executive being charged with a criminal offence or civil penalty order which in the reasonable opinion of the Board brings the Company or a Related Body Corporate into disrepute; | |
(e) | the Executive becoming bankrupt or insolvent or making an arrangement with his creditors generally; or | |
(f) | the Executive becoming ineligible to hold office as a director of a company. |
22.7 | Return of Property |
(a) | Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment (howsoever caused), the Executive will deliver immediately to the Company all Documents and property containing Confidential Information and Intellectual Property, and all other property belonging to the Company, which is in the Executive’s possession or under the Executive’s control. | |
(b) | The Company may require the Executive to provide a written declaration on oath that the Executive has complied with this sub-clause, and the Executive agrees that the Company may withhold any monies owing to the Executive unless and until the Executive complies with this request. |
22.8 | Set-off |
On termination of the Executive’s employment, the Company may deduct and retain any money owing by the Executive to the Company, from any amounts due by the Company to the Executive including for Remuneration or accrued leave entitlements to the extent permitted by law.
22.9 | No Prejudice to Rights |
The termination of the Executive’s employment does not prejudice any rights or remedies already accrued to either party under, or in respect of, any breach of this Agreement.
23. | Redundancy |
Should the Executive’s employment terminate for reasons of redundancy, the Executive will be entitled to redundancy pay in accordance with the applicable minimum redundancy entitlement contained within the National Employment Standards of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
24. | Resignation from Other Offices |
(a) | On termination of the Executive’s employment (howsoever caused) the Executive will forthwith resign, without claim for compensation, from any office (including that of director) that the Executive holds within, or on behalf of, the Company or a Related Body Corporate. |
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(b) | If the Executive fails to resign as required by sub-clause 24(a), he irrevocably authorises the Company to appoint another person in the Executive’s name and on the Executive’s behalf to execute all documents and to do all things necessary to give effect to those resignations. |
25. | Restraint of Trade |
25.1 | Definitions |
In this clause:
(a) | “Restraint Area” means Western Australia; | |
(b) | “Restraint Period” means 3 months following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (howsoever caused); and | |
(c) | “Business” means the business of the Company. |
25.2 | Restraint |
During the Restraint Period, the Executive must not, in the Restraint Area:
(a) | solicit or compete for the custom of, or accept business from, any person who was a customer of the Company at any time during the 6 months immediately preceding the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for a business that is the same or similar to the Business of the Company; | |
(b) | solicit or endeavour to obtain the services of any professional person (either directly or indirectly) who was an employee, consultant or contractor of the Company at any time during the 3 months immediately preceding the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company; or | |
(c) | engage in, be involved in or be associated with, or prepare to engage in, be involved in or be associated with, a business competing with the Business of the Company in the capacity of a principal, agent, director, employee, partner, majority shareholder or unit holder, joint venturer, trustee, beneficiary, contractor, advisor, consultant or in any other capacity. |
25.3 | Account |
The Company is beneficially entitled to any benefits which the Executive obtains as a result of breaching this clause and must account to the Company for those benefits.
25.4 | Acknowledgement |
Each of the covenants and restraints in this clause constitutes an independent covenant and restraint separate in all respects from each of the other covenants and restraints notwithstanding the manner in which they or any of them are linked together or are grouped grammatically, and the invalidity of any one or more covenant or restraint shall not invalidate the other covenants or restraints. The Executive acknowledges that the covenants in respect of restraint of trade contained in this clause are:
(a) | reasonable as to duration, type of activity and geographical area; |
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(b) | reasonable and necessary to protect the proprietary and commercial interests of the Company; | |
(c) | commensurate with the consideration the Executive will receive under this agreement; and | |
(d) | the Company is relying upon this acknowledgement in entering into this Agreement. |
25.5 | Evidence of Compliance |
The Company may require the Executive to provide a written declaration by the Executive on oath, or any evidence relevant in the circumstances, confirming to its satisfaction that he is not in breach of his obligations under this clause.
26. | Medical Tests |
(a) | The Company may require the Executive to submit to a medical examination or test by its choice of medical practitioners for the purpose of determining if: |
(i) | the conditions of clause Error! Reference source not found. and Error! Reference source not found. are satisfied; or | |
(ii) | for any other reason relevant to his employment with the Company. |
(b) | The Executive must authorise the examining medical practitioner to provide the Company with a report setting out the results of any examination or test, and to answer any questions the Company may put to them in relation to the examination, test or report. Once the medical practitioner has been so authorised, the Executive must not revoke or restrict that authority. |
27. | Insurance |
The Company agrees that the Executive will have the benefit of the Company’s directors’ and officers’ insurance, which insurance must:
(a) | apply to the Executive from the commencement of employment and thereafter continuously until the period expiring seven years after termination of employment; | |
(b) | apply to the Executive in connection with the employment; | |
(c) | apply to the Executive in connection with all positions the Employee holds on the Board; and | |
(d) | indemnify the Executive against all actual legal costs and all liabilities in connection with claims, demands, liabilities, judgments, orders and costs against the Executive. |
28. | Compliance |
(a) | The exercise of or compliance with any discretion, right or obligation pursuant to this Agreement are subject to: |
(i) | compliance with all applicable laws; | |
(ii) | compliance with the Constitution of the Company and, if applicable, the Listing Rules of the Australian Stock Exchange; and | |
(iii) | the approval of the shareholders of the Company where such approval is required. |
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(b) | If approval of the shareholders of the Company is required before a payment may be made to the Executive, then the Company must ensure that the approval of the shareholders is sought unless the Executive agrees otherwise. | |
(c) | If the aggregate of any amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement that are subject to section 200B of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Termination Benefit) would, at the time for payment, exceed the amount that is permitted pursuant to any applicable exemption from section 200B and shareholder approval is not obtained, then the Termination Benefit will be reduced to the greatest amount that may then be payable without shareholder approval and that reduced amount must be paid by the Company to the Executive. |
29. | General |
29.1 | Survival of Terms |
Any provisions of this Agreement which are expressed to operate after the termination of this Agreement will survive the termination of this Agreement (howsoever caused) and shall be without prejudice to any right of action already accrued to either party in respect of any breach of this Agreement by the other party.
29.2 | Proper Law and Jurisdiction |
This Agreement is governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Western Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Western Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia.
29.3 | Prior Agreements |
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and cancels all prior representations, warranties, agreements, contractual terms, covenants and guarantees.
29.4 | Release from prior arrangements |
The parties each release the other from all proceedings, claims, demands, costs and other liabilities of any nature in connection with the contractual arrangements applying between them prior to this Agreement.
29.5 | Waiver |
No waiver of any breach of any term of this Agreement will be effective unless that waiver is in writing, and no waiver of any breach will be, or be deemed to be, a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
29.6 | Severance |
If any terms or conditions of this Agreement are void, or become voidable or unenforceable, by reason of any statute or rule of law, then that term or condition shall be severed from this Agreement without affecting the enforceability of the remaining terms and conditions.
29.7 | Variation |
Except as provided in this Agreement, this Agreement may only be varied by agreement in writing.
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30. | Warranties |
30.1 | Warranties by the Executive |
The Executive warrants:
(a) | that the Executive has disclosed to the Company all information about any possible restrictions on the Executive from performing the Duties; | |
(b) | other than what the Executive has disclosed to the Company, that the Executive is not restricted from performing the Duties in connection with a restrictive covenant or other non-competition obligation owed to anyone, or a restriction imposed on the Executive concerning the use of any information or the intellectual property rights of anyone; | |
(c) | that the credentials and information provided by the Executive to the Company (or to the Company’s agent) in connection with the Executive’s qualifications and ability to perform the duties pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct; and | |
(d) | other than what the Executive has disclosed to the Company, that prior to accepting employment, the Executive has not suffered from an occupational disease in any trade, industry or process. |
30.2 | Warranties by Company |
The Company warrants that other than as disclosed in this Agreement:
(a) | it has obtained all approvals, including all necessary Board approvals required pursuant to this Agreement; and | |
(b) | no obligations interfere with the Company’s ability to enter into this Agreement. |
31. | Acknowledgement |
The Executive acknowledges that he has read and understands the conditions of employment detailed in this Agreement and accepts employment with the Company on those terms.
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Schedule 1 – Remuneration
FIXED REMUNERATION: | $ | 328,500 per annum | ||
Made up as: | ||||
Base Salary: | $ | 300,000 per annum | ||
Superannuation: | $ | 28,500 per annum (at 9.5% of base salary) |
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
FY2021
% Gross Revenue Target | $ Gross Revenue Target | % Increase to Base Salary (New Base Salary) | Cash
Bonus (% of New Base Salary) | |||||||||||
100 | % | $ | 5,000,000 | 25 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
105 | % | $ | 5,250,000 | 25 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
110 | % | $ | 5,500,000 | 25 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
115 | % | $ | 5,750,000 | 25 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
120 | % | $ | 6,000,000 | 25 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
125 | % | $ | 6,250,000 | 25 | % | 0 | % |
FY2022
% Gross Revenue Target | $ Gross Revenue Target | % Increase to Base Salary | Cash
Bonus (% of New Base Salary) | |||||||||||
100 | % | $ | 10,000,000 | 15 | % | 25 | % | |||||||
105 | % | $ | 10,500,000 | 15 | % | 30 | % | |||||||
110 | % | $ | 11,000,000 | 15 | % | 35 | % | |||||||
115 | % | $ | 11,500,000 | 15 | % | 40 | % | |||||||
120 | % | $ | 12,000,000 | 15 | % | 45 | % | |||||||
125 | % | $ | 12,500,000 | 15 | % | 50 | % |
FY2023
% Gross Revenue Target | $ Gross Revenue Target | % Increase to Base Salary | Cash
Bonus (% of New Base Salary) | |||||||||||
100 | % | $ | 20,000,000 | 15 | % | 25 | % | |||||||
105 | % | $ | 21,000,000 | 15 | % | 30 | % | |||||||
110 | % | $ | 22,000,000 | 15 | % | 35 | % | |||||||
115 | % | $ | 23,000,000 | 15 | % | 40 | % | |||||||
120 | % | $ | 24,000,000 | 15 | % | 45 | % | |||||||
125 | % | $ | 25,000,000 | 15 | % | 50 | % |
Note: In the event the Executive is terminated in accordance with clause 22.1 or 22.2, notwithstanding such termination, if Targets are ultimately met for the financial year during which the termination occurred, the Executive shall be entitled to receive a Cash Bonus that is prorated for the number of days the Executive was employed during that financial year.
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Schedule 2 - Duties and Position Description - includes Key Performance Indicators
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
● | Responsible for leading the development and execution of the Company’s long-term strategy with a view to creating shareholder value. |
● | The CEO’s leadership role also entails being ultimately responsible for all day-to-day management decisions and for implementing the Company’s long- and short-term plans. |
● | The CEO acts as a direct liaison between the Board and management of the Company and communicates to the Board on behalf of management. |
● | The CEO also communicates on behalf of the Company to shareholders, employees, Government authorities, other stakeholders and the public. |
POSITION SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:
● | Lead, in conjunction with the Board, the development of the Company’s strategy; |
● | Lead and oversee the implementation of the Company’s long- and short-term plans in accordance with its strategy; |
● | Ensure the Company is appropriately organised and staffed and to have the authority to hire and terminate staff as necessary to enable it to achieve the approved strategy; |
● | Ensure that expenditures of the Company are within the authorised annual budget of the Company; |
● | Identify merger and acquisition opportunities and direct implementation activities; |
● | Assess the principle risks of the Company and to ensure that these risks are being monitored and managed; |
● | Ensure effective internal controls and management information systems are in place; |
● | Ensure that the Company has appropriate systems to enable it to conduct its activities both lawfully and ethically; |
● | Ensure that the Company maintains high standards of corporate citizenship and social responsibility wherever it does business; |
● | Act as a liaison between management and the Board; |
● | Communicate effectively with shareholders, employees, Government authorities, other stakeholders and the public; |
● | Keep abreast of all material undertakings and activities of the Company and all material external factors affecting the Company and to ensure that processes and systems are in place to ensure that the CEO and management of the Company are adequately informed; |
● | Ensure that the Directors are properly informed and that sufficient information is provided to the Board to enable the Directors to form appropriate judgments; |
● | Ensure the integrity of all public disclosure by the Company; |
● | In concert with the Chair, to develop Board agendas; and |
● | To abide by specific internally established control systems and authorities, to lead by personal example and encourage all employees to conduct their activities in accordance with all applicable laws and the Company’s standards and policies. |
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Executed by the parties as an agreement.
Signed
on behalf and with the authority of Moboom Limited (ACN 136 737 767) |
|||
Melvin Tan | |||
Name of Authorised Company Signatory |
Signature | ||
CFO | |||
Office (Director, Secretary) or Position |
Signed
by Gavin Burnett
|
| ||
Signature |
In the presence of: | |
Witness Signature: | |
Witness Name: | |
Witness Address: |
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Exhibit 10.2
LOCAFY
Limited
ACN 136 737 767
(Company)
INCENTIVE PERFORMANCE RIGHTS PLAN
Table of Contents
1. | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION | 1 | |
1.1 | Definitions | 1 | |
1.2 | Interpretation | 5 | |
2. | PurposE | 6 | |
3. | COMMENCEMENT AND TERM | 7 | |
4. | OFFER OF PERFORMANCE RIGHTS | 7 | |
4.1 | Offer | 7 | |
4.2 | Offer Document | 7 | |
4.3 | Personal Offer | 7 | |
4.4 | Nominee | 7 | |
4.5 | Minimum Contents of Offer Document | 8 | |
4.6 | Number of Performance Rights | 8 | |
4.7 | No Consideration | 8 | |
4.8 | Vesting Conditions | 8 | |
4.9 | Share Restriction Period | 8 | |
4.10 | Deferred Taxation | 8 | |
4.11 | Quotation of Performance Rights | 8 | |
4.12 | Limit on Offers | 9 | |
5. | ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER | 9 | |
5.1 | Acceptance of Offer | 9 | |
5.2 | Board’s right to reject | 9 | |
5.3 | Participant Agrees to be Bound | 9 | |
5.4 | Lapse of Offer | 9 | |
6. | GRANT OF PERFORMANCE RIGHTS | 10 | |
6.1 | Grant of Performance Rights | 10 | |
6.2 | Approvals | 10 | |
6.3 | Restrictions on Transfers, Dealings and Hedging | 10 | |
7. | VESTING AND EXERCISE of Performance Rights | 10 | |
7.1 | Vesting Conditions | 10 | |
7.2 | Vesting Condition Exceptions | 11 | |
7.3 | Exercise on Vesting | 11 | |
7.4 | One or Several Parcels | 11 | |
8. | issue/TRANSFER of shares OR CASH PAYMENT | 12 | |
8.1 | Issue/transfer of Shares | 12 | |
8.2 | Cash Payment Facility | 12 | |
8.3 | Blackout Period, Takeover Restrictions and Insider Trading | 12 | |
8.4 | Withholding | 12 | |
8.5 | Rights attaching to Shares | 13 | |
8.6 | Share ranking | 13 | |
8.7 | Quotation on Nasdaq | 13 | |
8.8 | Sale of Shares | 13 | |
9. | Restriction on Dealing in Shares | 14 | |
9.1 | Restriction Period | 14 | |
9.2 | Waiver of Restriction Period | 14 | |
9.3 | No disposal of Restricted Shares | 14 | |
9.4 | Escrow | 14 | |
9.5 | Enforcement of Restriction Period | 14 | |
9.6 | Lapse of Restriction Period | 14 |
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LOCAFY Limited
INCENTIVE PERFORMANCE RIGHTS PLAN
The Directors are empowered to operate the Locafy Limited Incentive Performance Rights Plan (Plan) on the following terms and in accordance with the Listing Rules (where applicable).
1. | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | Definitions |
For the purposes of the Plan, the following words have the following meanings.
Application Form means the Application Form by which an Eligible Participant or Nominee (as applicable) applies for Performance Rights in response to an Offer for Performance Rights, in substantially the same form as set out in Schedule 2 or as otherwise approved by the Company from time to time.
ASIC means the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Associated Body Corporate means:
(a) | a related body corporate (as defined in the Corporations Act) of the Company; | |
(b) | a body corporate which has an entitlement to not less than 20% of the voting Shares of the Company; and | |
(c) | a body corporate in which the Company has an entitlement to not less than 20% of the voting shares. |
Blackout Period means a period when the Participant is prohibited from trading in the Company’s securities by the Company’s written policies.
Board means the board of Directors of the Company or committee appointed by the Board for the purposes of the Plan.
Business Day means those days other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the State and any other day which the Nasdaq shall declare and publish is not a business day.
Cash Payment means, in respect of a vested Performance Right, except as otherwise provided for in the Offer for that Performance Right, a cash amount equal to the current Market Value of a Share.
Cash Payment Facility has the meaning given to it in Rule 8.2.
Change of Control means:
(a) | a bona fide Takeover Bid is declared unconditional and the bidder has acquired a Relevant Interest in at least 50.1% of the Company’s issued Shares; | |
(b) | a court approves, under Section 411(4)(b) of the Corporations Act, a proposed compromise or arrangement for the purposes of, or in connection with, a scheme for the reconstruction of the Company or its amalgamation with any other company or companies; or |
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(c) | in any other case, a person obtains Voting Power in the Company which the Board (which for the avoidance of doubt will comprise those Directors immediately prior to the person acquiring that Voting Power) determines, acting in good faith and in accordance with their fiduciary duties, is sufficient to control the composition of the Board |
Class Order means ASIC Class Order 14/1000 as amended or replaced.
Closing Date means the date on which an Offer is stated to close.
Company means Locafy Limited (ACN 136 737 767).
Constitution means the constitution of the Company from time to time.
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Director means any person occupying the position of a director of any Group Company (including an alternate director or managing director appointed in accordance with the relevant constitution).
Dispose means, in relation to a Share or Performance Right:
(a) | sell, assign, buy-back, redeem, transfer, convey, grant an option over, grant or allow a Security Interest over; | |
(b) | enter into any swap arrangement, any derivative arrangements or other similar arrangement; or | |
(c) | otherwise directly or indirectly dispose of a legal, beneficial or economic interest in the Share or Performance Right, |
(and Disposal has a corresponding meaning).
Eligible Participant means:
(a) | a Director (whether executive or non-executive) of any Group Company; | |
(b) | a full or part time employee of any Group Company; | |
(c) | a casual employee or contractor of a Group Company (but, if the Class Order is being relied on, only to the extent permitted by the Class Order); or | |
(d) | a prospective participant, being a person to whom the Offer is made but who can only accept the Offer if an arrangement has been entered into that will result in the person becoming an Eligible Participant under Rules (a), (b) or (c) above, |
who is declared by the Board to be eligible to receive grants of Performance Rights under the Plan.
Expiry Date means, in respect of a Performance Right, the date on which the Performance Right lapses (if it has not already otherwise lapsed in accordance with the Plan).
Grant Date means, in relation to a Performance Right, the date on which the Performance Right is granted.
Group means the Company and each other Associated Body Corporate.
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Group Company means the Company or any Associated Body Corporate.
Holding Lock means a facility that prevents Shares from being deducted from or entered into a holding pursuant to a transfer or conversion.
Listing Rules means the listing rules of Nasdaq and any other rules of Nasdaq which apply while the Company is admitted to the Nasdaq, each rule as amended or replaced from time to time, except to the extent of any express written waiver by Nasdaq.
Market Value, in respect of a Share, means:
(a) | where the Company is not listed on Nasdaq, the more recent of: |
(i) | the most recent cash or cash equivalent price at which Shares were issued or sold for valuable consideration in a bona fide, arms’ length transaction (not being Shares issued under this Plan); and | |
(ii) | the market value of a Share as determined by the Company, acting reasonably, such valuation being no less than twelve (12) months old as at the date the Market Value is to be determined; or |
(b) | where the Company is listed on Nasdaq, the volume weighted average market price for Shares traded on Nasdaq over the 10 most recent trading days on which the Shares were traded prior to the day on which the Market Value is to be determined. |
Nasdaq means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.
Nominee means a nominee of an Eligible Participant that is one of the following:
(a) | an immediate family member of the Eligible Participant or (subject to Board approval) a trustee of an Eligible Participant’s family trust whose beneficiaries are limited to the Eligible Participant and/or the Eligible Participant’s immediate family members; | |
(b) | a company whose members comprise no persons other than the Eligible Participant or immediate family members of the participant; or | |
(c) | a corporate trustee of a self-managed superannuation fund (within the meaning of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993) where the Eligible Participant is a director of the trustee. |
Offer means an invitation to treat made to an Eligible Participant to be granted one or more Performance Rights under the Plan as set out in an Offer Document.
Offer Document means an offer document in substantially the same form as set out in Schedule 1 to this Plan, or such other form as approved by the Board from time to time consistent with the Corporations Act (and the Class Order to the extent it is being relied upon).
Participant means an Eligible Participant to whom Performance Rights have been granted under the Plan or, if Rule 4.4 applies, a Nominee of the Eligible Participant to whom Performance Rights have been granted under the Plan.
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Performance Right means a right to be issued or transferred into a Share (or paid a Cash Payment), upon and subject to the terms of these Rules and the terms of any applicable Offer.
Plan means the plan as set out in this document, subject to any amendments or additions made under Rule 14.
Redundancy means termination of the employment, office or engagement of a Relevant Person due to economic, technological, structural or other organisational change where:
(a) | no Group Company requires the duties and responsibilities carried out by the Relevant Person to be carried out by anyone; or | |
(b) | no Group Company requires the position held by the Relevant Person to be held by anyone. |
Relevant Interest has the meaning given in the Corporations Act.
Relevant Person means:
(a) | in respect of an Eligible Participant, that person; and | |
(b) | in respect of a Nominee of an Eligible Participant, that Eligible Participant. |
Restricted Shares means Shares issued on the exercise of a Performance Right granted under the Plan that the Board has determined are subject to a Restriction Period.
Restriction Period means the period during which a Share issued on the exercise of a Performance Right cannot be transferred or otherwise dealt with in accordance with Rule 9.
Retirement means where a Relevant Person intends to permanently cease all gainful employment in circumstances where the Relevant Person provides, in good faith, a written statutory declaration to the Board to that effect.
Round Lot has the meaning given to that term in the Listing Rules.
Rules means the rules of the Plan set out in this document.
Security Interest means an interest or power:
(a) | reserved in or over an interest in any asset including any retention of title; or | |
(b) | created or otherwise arising in or over any interest in any asset under a security agreement, a bill of sale, mortgage, charge, lien, pledge, trust or power, |
by way of, or having similar commercial effect to, security for the payment of a debt, any other monetary obligation or the performance of any other obligation, and includes, but is not limited to:
(c) | any agreement to grant or create any of the above; and | |
(d) | a security interest within the meaning of section 12 of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth). |
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Severe Financial Hardship means that the Relevant Person is unable to provide themselves, their family or other dependents with basic necessities such as food, accommodation and clothing, including as a result of family tragedy, financial misfortune, serious illness, impacts of natural disaster and other serious or difficult circumstances.
Share means a fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Company.
Shareholder means a holder of Shares.
Special Circumstances means:
(a) | a Relevant Person ceasing to be an Eligible Participant due to: |
(i) | death or Total or Permanent Disability of a Relevant Person; or | |
(ii) | Retirement or Redundancy of a Relevant Person; |
(b) | a Relevant Person suffering Severe Financial Hardship; | |
(c) | any other circumstance stated to constitute “Special Circumstances” in the terms of the relevant Offer made to and accepted by the Participant; or | |
(d) | any other circumstances determined by the Board at any time (whether before or after the Offer) and notified to the relevant Participant which circumstances may relate to the Participant, a class of Participant, including the Participant or particular circumstances or class of circumstances applying to the Participant. |
State means Western Australia.
Takeover Bid means a takeover bid (as defined in the Corporations Act) to acquire Shares.
Total and Permanent Disability means that the Relevant Person has, in the opinion of the Board, after considering such medical and other evidence as it sees fit, become incapacitated to such an extent as to render the Relevant Person unlikely ever to engage in any occupation with the Company or its Associated Bodies Corporate for which he or she is reasonably qualified by education, training or experience.
Vesting Condition means, in respect of a Performance Right, any condition set out in the Offer which must be satisfied (unless waived in accordance with the Plan) before that Performance Right can be exercised or any other restriction on exercise of that Performance Right specified in the Offer or in this Plan.
Voting Power has the meaning given to that term in Section 9 of the Corporations Act.
1.2 | Interpretation |
In this Plan unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) | headings are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this Plan; |
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(b) | any reference in the Plan to any enactment of the Listing Rules, as applicable, includes a reference to that enactment or those Listing Rules as from time to time amended, consolidated, re-enacted or replaced; | |
(c) | the singular includes the plural and vice versa; | |
(d) | any words denoting one gender include the other gender; | |
(e) | where any word or phrase is given a definite meaning in this Plan, any part of speech or other grammatical form of that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning; | |
(f) | a reference to: |
(i) | a person includes a natural person, partnership, joint venture, government agency, association, corporation or other body corporate; | |
(ii) | a document includes all amendments or supplements to that document; | |
(iii) | a Rule is a reference to a Rule of this Plan; | |
(iv) | a law includes a constitutional provision, treaty, decree, convention, statute, regulation, ordinance, by-law, judgment, rule of common law or equity and is a reference to that law as amended, consolidated or replaced; | |
(v) | an agreement other than this Plan includes an undertaking, or legally enforceable arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing; and | |
(vi) | a monetary amount is in Australian dollars; and |
(g) | when the day on which something must be done is not a Business Day, that thing must be done on the following Business Day. |
2. | PURPOSE |
The purpose of the Plan is to:
(a) | assist in the reward, retention and motivation of Eligible Participants; | |
(b) | link the reward of Eligible Participants to performance and the creation of Shareholder value; | |
(c) | align the interests of Eligible Participants more closely with the interests of Shareholders by providing an opportunity for Eligible Participants to receive Shares; | |
(d) | provide Eligible Participants with the opportunity to share in any future growth in value of the Company; and | |
(e) | provide greater incentive for Eligible Participants to focus on the Company’s longer term goals. |
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3. | COMMENCEMENT AND TERM |
(a) | This Plan will commence on the date determined by resolution of the Board and will continue until terminated by the Board. | |
(b) | The Board may terminate the Plan at any time by resolution. Termination shall not affect the rights or obligations of a Participant or the Company which have arisen under the Plan before the date of termination and the provisions of the Plan relating to a Participant’s Performance Rights shall survive termination of the Plan until fully satisfied and discharged. |
4. | OFFER OF PERFORMANCE RIGHTS |
4.1 | Offer |
(a) | The Board may, from time to time, in its absolute discretion, make a written invitation to any Eligible Participant (including an Eligible Participant who has previously received an Offer) to apply for Performance Rights, upon the terms set out in the Plan and upon such additional terms and conditions as the Board determines (Offer). | |
(b) | In exercising that discretion, the Board may have regard to the following (without limitation): |
(i) | the Eligible Participant’s length of service with the Group; | |
(ii) | the contribution made by the Eligible Participant to the Group; | |
(iii) | the potential contribution of the Eligible Participant to the Group; or | |
(iv) | any other matter the Board considers relevant. |
(c) | For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this document obliges the Company at any time to make an Offer, or further Offer, to any Eligible Participant. |
4.2 | Offer Document |
An Offer must be made using an Offer Document.
4.3 | Personal Offer |
Subject to Rule 4.4, an Offer is personal and is not assignable.
4.4 | Nominee |
(a) | Upon receipt of an Offer, an Eligible Participant may, by notice in writing to the Board, nominate a Nominee in whose favour the Eligible Participant wishes to renounce the Offer. | |
(b) | The Board may, in its discretion, resolve not to allow a renunciation of an Offer in favour of a Nominee without giving any reason for that decision. |
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4.5 | Minimum Contents of Offer Document |
An Offer Document must advise the Eligible Participant of the following minimum information regarding the Performance Rights:
(a) | the maximum number of Performance Rights that the Eligible Participant may apply for, or the formula for determining the number of Performance Rights that may be applied for; | |
(b) | the maximum number of Shares that the Participant is entitled to be issued or transferred on the exercise of each Performance Right or the formula for determining the maximum number of Shares; | |
(c) | any applicable Vesting Conditions; | |
(d) | any Restriction Period applied by this Plan or that the Board has resolved to apply to Shares issued on exercise of the Performance Rights; | |
(e) | when Performance Rights will expire (Expiry Date); | |
(f) | the date by which an Offer must be accepted (Closing Date); and | |
(g) | any other information required by law or the Listing Rules or considered by the Board to be relevant to the Performance Rights or the Shares to be issued on the exercise of the Performance Rights. |
4.6 | Number of Performance Rights |
(a) | Subject to Rule 4.12, the number of Performance Rights to be offered to an Eligible Participant from time to time will be determined by the Board in its discretion and in accordance with applicable law and the Listing Rules. | |
(b) | Each Performance Right will entitle the holder to be issued or transferred one Share (or to be paid a Cash Payment in lieu of the issue or transfer of one Share) unless the Plan or an applicable Offer otherwise provides. |
4.7 | No Consideration |
Performance Rights granted under the Plan will be issued for nil cash consideration.
4.8 | Vesting Conditions |
A Performance Right may be made subject to Vesting Conditions as determined by the Board in its discretion and as specified in the Offer for the Performance Right.
4.9 | Share Restriction Period |
A Share issued on exercise of a Performance Right may be subject to a Restriction Period as determined in accordance with Rule 9 of this Plan.
4.10 | Deferred Taxation |
Subdivision 83A-C of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 applies to the Plan except to the extent an Offer provides otherwise.
4.11 | Quotation of Performance Rights |
Performance Rights will not be quoted on Nasdaq, except to the extent provided for by this Plan or unless the Offer provides otherwise.
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4.12 | Limit on Offers |
Where the Company has relied or intends relying on the Class Order to make an Offer, the Company must have reasonable grounds to believe, when making an Offer, that the number of Shares to be received on exercise of Performance Rights offered under an Offer, when aggregated with the number of Shares issued or that may be issued as a result of offers made in reliance on the Class Order at any time during the previous 3 year period under an employee incentive scheme covered by the Class Order or an ASIC exempt arrangement of a similar kind to an employee incentive scheme, will not exceed 5% of the total number of Shares on issue at the date of the Offer.
5. | ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER |
5.1 | Acceptance of Offer |
An Eligible Participant (or permitted Nominee) may accept an Offer in whole or in part, by signing and returning an Application Form to the Company no later than the Closing Date.
5.2 | Board’s right to reject |
(a) | The Board may accept or reject any Application Form in its absolute discretion. | |
(b) | Before accepting or rejecting the Application Form, the Board may require the applicant to provide any information that the Board requests concerning the person’s entitlement to lodge an Application Form under this Plan. | |
(c) | The Board must promptly notify an applicant if an Application Form has been rejected, in whole or in part. |
5.3 | Participant Agrees to be Bound |
(a) | An Eligible Participant, by submitting an Application Form, agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Offer and the Application Form, the Plan and the Constitution of the Company, as amended from time to time. | |
(b) | If the Board resolves to allow a renunciation of an Offer in favour of a Nominee, the Eligible Participant will procure that the permitted Nominee accepts the Offer made to that Eligible Participant and that both the Eligible Participant and the Nominee agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Offer and Application Form, the Plan and the Constitution of the Company, as amended from time to time. |
5.4 | Lapse of Offer |
To the extent an Offer is not accepted in accordance with Rule 5.1, the Offer will lapse on the date following the Closing Date, unless the Board determines otherwise.
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6. | GRANT OF PERFORMANCE RIGHTS |
6.1 | Grant of Performance Rights |
(a) | Subject to Rule 6.2, once the Board has received and approved a duly signed and completed Application Form for Performance Rights, the Company must, provided the Eligible Participant to whom the Offer was made remains an Eligible Participant, promptly grant Performance Rights to the applicant, upon the terms set out in the Offer, the Application Form and the Plan and upon such additional terms and conditions as the Board determines. | |
(b) | The Company will, within a reasonable period after the Grant Date of the Performance Rights, issue the applicant with a certificate evidencing the grant of the Performance Rights. |
6.2 | Approvals |
The Company’s obligation to grant Performance Rights is conditional on:
(a) | the grant of the Performance Rights complying with all applicable legislation, the Listing Rules and the Constitution; and | |
(b) | all necessary approvals required under any applicable legislation and the Listing Rules being obtained prior to the grant of the Performance Rights. |
6.3 | Restrictions on Transfers, Dealings and Hedging |
(a) | Subject to the Listing Rules, as applicable, and except as otherwise provided for by an Offer, a Performance Right granted under the Plan is only transferable, assignable or able to be otherwise Disposed: |
(i) | in Special Circumstances with the consent of the Board (which may be withheld in its absolute discretion); or | |
(ii) | by force of law upon death to the Participant’s legal personal representative or upon bankruptcy to the Participant’s trustee in bankruptcy. |
(b) | A Participant must not enter into any arrangement for the purpose of hedging, or otherwise affecting their economic exposure, to their Performance Rights. | |
(c) | Where the Participant purports to transfer, assign, mortgage, charge or otherwise dispose or encumber a Performance Right, other than in accordance with Rule 6.3(a), or hedge a Performance Right contrary to Rule 6.3(b), the Performance Right immediately lapses. |
7. | VESTING AND EXERCISE of Performance Rights |
7.1 | Vesting Conditions |
(a) | Subject to Rules 7.1(b), 7.2 and 7.3, a Performance Right granted under the Plan will not vest and be exercisable unless the Vesting Conditions (if any) attaching to that Performance Right have been satisfied, as determined by the Board acting reasonably, and the Board has notified the Participant of that fact. |
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(b) | If at the time any Vesting Condition attaching to a Performance Right has been satisfied, the Performance Right granted under the Plan will not vest (unless approved by the Board) and are not exercisable, if the Participant: |
(i) | is subject to a performance management plan; | |
(ii) | has tendered their resignation or ceases to be engaged by the Company; or | |
(iii) | has had their employment agreement, contractor agreement or other such engagement agreement terminated by the Company (regardless of whether that termination is for cause, for convenience or by mutual agreement). |
(c) | The Board must notify a Participant in writing within 10 Business Days of becoming aware that any Vesting Condition attaching to a Performance Right has been satisfied. |
7.2 | Vesting Condition Exceptions |
Notwithstanding Rule 7.1, the Board may in its absolute discretion except in respect of Rule 7.2(b), where (unless an Offer provides otherwise) Vesting Conditions are deemed to be automatically waived, by written notice to a Participant, resolve to waive any of the Vesting Conditions applying to Performance Rights due to:
(a) | Special Circumstances arising in relation to an Eligible Participant; | |
(b) | a Change of Control occurring; or | |
(c) | the Company passing a resolution for voluntary winding up, or an order is made for the compulsory winding up of the Company, |
in which case Rule 7.3 applies.
7.3 | Exercise on Vesting |
A Participant (or their personal legal representative where applicable) may, subject to the terms of this Plan and any Offer, exercise any vested Performance Right at any time after the Board notifies that the Performance Right has vested and before it lapses by providing the Company with:
(a) | the certificate for the Performance Rights or, if the certificate for the Performance Rights has been lost, mutilated or destroyed, a declaration to that effect, accompanied by an indemnity in favour of the Company against any loss, costs or expenses which might be incurred by the Company as a consequence of its relying on the declaration that the certificate has been lost, mutilated or destroyed; and | |
(b) | a notice in the form of Schedule 3 addressed to the Company and signed by the Participant stating that the Participant exercises the Performance Rights and specifying the number of Performance Rights which are exercised. |
7.4 | One or Several Parcels |
Performance Rights may be exercised in one or more parcels of any size, provided that the number of Shares issued or transferred upon exercise of the number of Performance Rights in any parcel is not less than a Round Lot.
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8. | ISSUE/TRANSFER OF SHARES OR CASH PAYMENT |
8.1 | Issue/transfer of Shares |
If the items specified in Rule 7.3 are delivered in accordance with that Rule, and provided the Board has not determined that a Cash Payment applies, the Company will, subject to the Corporations Act, the Listing Rules, this Plan and any applicable Offer:
(a) | within 10 Business Days of satisfaction of Rule 7.3, issue or transfer to the Participant the Shares credited as being fully paid in respect of which the Performance Rights are exercised, together with any additional Shares an entitlement to which has arisen under Rule 12 in consequence of the exercise of the Performance Rights; |
(b) | despatch a share certificate or enter the Shares in the Participant’s uncertificated holding, as the case may be, upon the terms set out in the Offer, the Application Form and the Plan and upon such additional terms and conditions as the Board determines; and | |
(c) | cancel the certificate delivered pursuant to Rule 7.3 and, if any Performance Rights which have not lapsed remain unexercised, deliver to the Participant a replacement certificate reflecting the number of those Performance Rights which remain unexercised. |
8.2 | Cash Payment Facility |
(a) | Subject to the Corporations Act, the Listing Rules, this Plan and the terms of any Offer, where all Vesting Conditions in respect of a Performance Right have been satisfied or waived, the Board may, in its absolute discretion, within 10 Business Days of receipt of a valid notice of exercise for vested Performance Right, in lieu of issuing or transferring a Share to the Participant on exercise of the Performance Right under Rule 8.1, pay the Participant or his or her personal representative (as the case may be) a Cash Payment for the Performance Right exercised (which may be nil if the Cash Payment is a negative amount). | |
(b) | A vested Performance Right automatically lapses upon payment of a Cash Payment in respect of the vested Performance Right. |
8.3 | Blackout Period, Takeover Restrictions and Insider Trading |
If the issue or transfer of Shares on exercise of a Performance Right would otherwise fall within a Blackout Period, or breach the insider trading or takeover provisions of the Corporations Act, or the Listing Rules, the Company may delay the issue of the Shares until 10 Business Days following the expiration, as applicable, of the Blackout Period or the day on which the insider trading or takeover provisions or the Listing Rules, no longer prevent the issue or transfer of the Shares.
8.4 | Withholding |
If a Participant is liable for tax, duties or other amounts in respect of their Performance Rights, and the Company is liable to make a payment to the appropriate authorities on account of that liability, unless the Participant and the Company agree otherwise, the Company must either deduct from any Cash Payment due, or issue to the Participant and arrange (as the Participant’s attorney) for a nominee to sell on Nasdaq, such number of Shares which would otherwise be issued and allocated to the Participant so that the net proceeds of sale (after allowing for reasonable sale costs) equal the payment the Company is required to pay to the appropriate authorities. The Company is entitled to apply such net sale costs to pay to the appropriate authorities, with any excess sale proceeds to be remitted to the Participant.
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8.5 | Rights attaching to Shares |
A Participant will, from and including the issue date of Shares under this Plan, be the legal owner of the Shares issued in respect of them and will be entitled to dividends and to exercise voting rights attached to the Shares.
8.6 | Share ranking |
All Shares issued under the Plan will rank equally in all respects with the Shares of the same class for the time being on issue except as regards any rights attaching to such Shares by reference to a record date prior to the date of their issue.
8.7 | Quotation on Nasdaq |
(a) | If Shares of the same class as those issued under the Plan are quoted on Nasdaq, the Company will, subject to the Listing Rules, as applicable, apply to Nasdaq, as the case may be, for those Shares to be quoted on Nasdaq within the later of 10 Business Days after: |
(i) | the date the Shares are issued; and | |
(ii) | the date any Restriction Period that applies to the Shares ends. |
(b) | The Company will not apply for quotation of any Performance Rights on Nasdaq. |
8.8 | Sale of Shares |
(a) | Subject to Rules 8.8(d) and 9 and the Company’s Constitution, there will be no transfer restrictions on Shares issued or transferred under the Plan unless the sale, transfer or disposal by the Participant of the Shares issued or transferred to them on exercise of the Performance Rights (or any interest in them) would require the preparation of a disclosure document (as that term is defined in the Corporations Act). | |
(b) | If a disclosure document is required, the Participant agrees to enter into such arrangements with the Company as the Board considers appropriate to prevent the sale, transfer or disposal of the relevant Shares in a manner that would require a disclosure document to be prepared. | |
(c) | The Company will issue, where required to enable Shares issued on exercise of Performance Rights to be freely tradeable on Nasdaq (subject to any Restriction Period), a cleansing statement under Section 708A(5) of the Corporations Act at the time Shares are issued. Where a cleansing statement is required, but cannot be issued, the Company will lodge a prospectus in relation to the Shares with ASIC which complies with the requirements of the Corporations Act and allows the Shares to be freely tradeable on Nasdaq (subject to any Restriction Period). | |
(d) | A Participant must not sell, transfer or dispose of any Shares issued to them on exercise of the Performance Rights (or any interest in them) in contravention of the Corporations Act, including the insider trading and on-sale provisions. |
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9. | Restriction on Dealing in Shares |
9.1 | Restriction Period |
Subject to clause 9.4, the Board may, in its discretion, determine at any time up until exercise of Performance Rights, that a restriction period will apply to some or all of the Shares issued or transferred to a Participant on exercise of those Performance Rights (Restricted Shares), up to a maximum of seven (7) years from the Grant Date of the Performance Rights (Restriction Period).
9.2 | Waiver of Restriction Period |
Subject to Rule 9.4, the Board may, in its sole discretion, having regard to the circumstances at the time, waive a Restriction Period determined pursuant to Rule 9.1.
9.3 | No disposal of Restricted Shares |
A Participant must not dispose of or otherwise deal with any Shares issued to them under the Plan while they are Restricted Shares.
9.4 | Escrow |
Shares are deemed to be subject to a Restriction Period to the extent necessary to comply with any escrow restrictions imposed.
9.5 | Enforcement of Restriction Period |
(a) | The Company may implement any procedure it considers appropriate to restrict a Participant from dealing with any Shares for as long as those Shares are subject to a Restriction Period. | |
(b) | The Participant agrees to: |
(i) | execute a restriction agreement in relation to the Restricted Shares reflecting any Restriction Period applying to the Restricted Shares under the Plan or any escrow imposed; | |
(ii) | if required, the Company lodging the share certificates for the Shares (where issuer sponsored) with a bank or recognised trustee to hold until the expiry of any Restriction Period applying to the Shares or until the Shares are otherwise released from restrictions (at which time the Company shall arrange for the share certificates to be provided to the Participant); and | |
(iii) | if required, the application of a Holding Lock over Shares until any Restriction Period applying to the Shares under the Plan has expired (at which time the Company shall arrange for the Holding Lock to be removed). |
9.6 | Lapse of Restriction Period |
When a Share ceases to be a Restricted Share, all restrictions on disposing of or otherwise dealing or purporting to deal with that Share provided in or under these Rules will cease.
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10. | Lapse of Performance Rights |
10.1 | Lapsing of Performance Right |
A Performance Right will lapse upon the earlier to occur of:
(a) | an unauthorised dealing in, or hedging of, the Performance Right occurring, as governed by Rule 6.3(c); | |
(b) | a Vesting Condition in relation to the Performance Right is not satisfied by the due date, or becomes incapable of satisfaction, as determined by the Board acting reasonably, unless the Board exercises its discretion to waive the Vesting Condition and vest the Performance Right under Rule 7.2 (Vesting Condition Exceptions) or Rule 10.1(c)(ii) applies; |
(c) | in respect of an unvested Performance Right only, a Relevant Person ceases to be an Eligible Participant, unless the Board: | |||
(i) | exercises its discretion to vest the Performance Right under Rule 7.2 (Vesting Condition Exceptions); or | |||
(ii) | in its absolute discretion, resolves to allow the unvested Performance Rights to remain unvested after the Relevant Person ceases to be an Eligible Participant; | |||
(d) | in respect of a vested Performance Right only: | |||
(i) | a Relevant Person ceases to be an Eligible Participant and the Board, in its absolute discretion, resolves that the Performance Right granted in respect of that Relevant Person must: | |||
(A) | be exercised within one (1) month (or such later date as the Board determines) of the date the Relevant Person ceases to be an Eligible Participant and the Performance Right is not exercised within that period; or; | |||
(B) | be cancelled by the Company in consideration for a Cash Payment to the Participant, and a Cash Payment is made in respect of the vested Performance Right; or | |||
(ii) | upon payment of a Cash Payment in respect of the vested Option under Rule 8.2; | |||
(e) | the Board deems that a Performance Right lapses due to fraud, dishonesty or other improper behaviour of the holder/Eligible Participant under Rule 10.2 (Fraud and Related Matters); | |||
(f) | in respect of an unvested Performance Right, the Company undergoes a Change of Control or a winding up resolution or order is made, and the Performance Right does not vest in accordance with Rule 7.2 (Vesting Condition Exceptions); and | |||
(g) | the Expiry Date of the Performance Right. |
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10.2 | Fraud and Related Matters | |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, where a Relevant Person: | ||
(a) | in the opinion of the Board, acts fraudulently or dishonestly, is grossly negligent, demonstrates serious and wilful misconduct, or causes a material adverse effect on the reputation of the Company; | |
(b) | has his or her employment or office terminated due to serious or wilful misconduct or otherwise for cause without notice; | |
(c) | deals with or disposes of Performance Rights or Restricted Shares contrary to the provisions of this Plan or any applicable Offer; or | |
(d) | becomes ineligible to hold his or her office due to Part 2D.6 of the Corporations Act, | |
the Board may, by written notice to the Participant, deem any unvested, or vested but unexercised, Performance Rights of the Participant to have lapsed, or require the Participant to pay back any Cash Payment paid to the Participant, which is deemed to be a debt due and payable by the Participant on demand, or require the Participant to do all such things necessary to cancel any Shares issued on exercise of the Participant’s Performance Rights. |
11. | ExCHANGE DUE TO CHANGE OF CONTROL |
If a company (Acquiring Company) obtains control of the Company as a result of a Change of Control and both the Company, the Acquiring Company and the Participant agree, a Participant may, in respect of any vested Performance Rights that are exercised, be provided with shares of the Acquiring Company, or its parent, in lieu of Shares, on substantially the same terms and subject to substantially the same conditions as the Shares, but with appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares subject to the Performance Rights. |
12. | PArticipation rights AND reORGANISATION | ||
12.1 | Participation Rights | ||
(a) | There are no participation rights or entitlements inherent in the Performance Rights and Participants will not be entitled to participate in new issues of capital offered to Shareholders during the currency of the Performance Rights without exercising the Performance Right. | ||
(b) | A Performance Right does not confer the right to a change in the number of underlying Shares over which the Performance Right can be exercised. | ||
(c) | A Participant who is not a Shareholder is not entitled to: | ||
(i) | notice of, or to vote or attend at, a meeting of the Shareholders of the Company; or | ||
(ii) | receive any dividends declared by the Company, | ||
unless and until any Performance Right is exercised and the Participant holds Shares that provide the right to notice and dividends. |
12.2 | Adjustment for Reorganisation |
If, at any time, the issued capital of the Company is reorganised (including consolidation, subdivision, reduction or return), all rights of a Participant are to be changed in a manner consistent with the Corporations Act and the Listing Rules (if applicable) at the time of the reorganisation. |
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12.3 | Notice of Adjustments |
Whenever the number of Shares to be issued on the exercise of a Performance Right is adjusted pursuant to these Rules, the Company will give notice of the adjustment to the Participant and Nasdaq, as applicable, together with calculations on which the adjustment is based. | |
12.4 | Cumulative Adjustments |
Effect will be given to Rule 12.3 in such manner that the effect of the successive applications of them is cumulative, with the intention being that the adjustments they progressively effect will reflect previous adjustments. |
13. | OVERRIDING RESTRICTIONS ON ISSUE AND EXERCISE | |
Notwithstanding the Rules or the terms of any Performance Right, no Performance Right may be offered, granted or exercised and no Share may be issued under the Plan if to do so: | ||
(a) | would contravene the Corporations Act, the Listing Rules or any other applicable law; or | |
(b) | would contravene the local laws or customs of an Eligible Participant’s country of residence or in the opinion of the Board would require actions to comply with those local laws or customs which are, in the absolute discretion of the Board, impractical. |
14. | amendments | |
14.1 | Power to amend Plan | |
Subject to Rule 14.2, the Corporations Act and the Listing Rules: | ||
(a) | the Board may, at any time, by resolution amend or add to all or any of the provisions of the Plan, an Offer or the terms or conditions of any Performance Right granted under the Plan; and | |
(b) | any amendment may be given such retrospective effect as is specified in the written instrument or resolution by which the amendment is made. | |
14.2 | Adjustment to Performance Right Terms | |
No adjustment or variation of the terms of a Performance Right will be made without the consent of the Participant who holds the relevant Performance Right if such adjustment or variation would have a materially prejudicial effect upon the Participant (in respect of his or her outstanding Performance Rights), other than an adjustment or variation introduced primarily: | ||
(a) | for the purpose of complying with or conforming to present or future State, Territory or Commonwealth legislation governing or regulating the maintenance or operation of the Plan or like plans; | |
(b) | to correct any manifest error or mistake; | |
(c) | to enable a member of the Group to comply with the Corporations Act, the Listing Rules, applicable foreign law, or a requirement, policy or practice of the ASIC or other foreign or Australian regulatory body; or |
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(d) | to take into consideration possible adverse taxation implications in respect of the Plan, including changes to applicable taxation legislation or the interpretation of that legislation by a court of competent jurisdiction or any rulings from taxation authorities administering such legislation. |
14.3 | Notice of amendment | ||
As soon as reasonably practicable after making any amendment under Rule 14.1, the Board will give notice in writing of that amendment to any Participant affected by the amendment. | |||
15. | Trust | ||
(a) | The Board may, at any time, establish a trust for the sole purpose of acquiring and holding Shares in respect of which a Participant may exercise, or has exercised, vested Performance Rights, including for the purpose of enforcing the disposal restrictions and appoint a trustee to act as trustee of the trust. | ||
(b) | The trustee will hold the Shares as trustee for and on behalf of a Participant as beneficial owner upon the terms of the trust. | ||
(c) | The Board may at any time amend all or any of the provisions of this Plan to effect the establishment of a trust and the appointment of a trustee as detailed in this Rule. | ||
(d) | Securities held by or for this Plan must only be voted on a resolution under the Listing Rules if and to the extent that: | ||
(i) | they are held for the benefit of a nominated Participant; | ||
(ii) | the nominated Participant is not excluded from voting on the resolution under the Listing Rules; and | ||
(iii) | the nominated Participant has directed how the securities are to be voted. |
16. | miscellaneous | ||
16.1 | Rights and obligations of Participant | ||
(a) | The rights and obligations of an Eligible Participant under the terms of their office, employment or contract with a Group Company are not affected by their participating in the Plan. This Plan will not form part of, and is not incorporated into, any contract of any Eligible Participant (whether or not they are an employee of a Group Company). | ||
(b) | No Participant will have any rights to compensation or damages in consequence of: | ||
(i) | the termination, for any reason, of the office, employment or other contract with a Group Company of the Participant (or, where the Participant is a Nominee of the Eligible Participant, that Eligible Participant) where those rights arise, or may arise, as a result of the Participant ceasing to have rights under the Plan as a result of such termination; or | ||
(ii) | the lapsing of Performance Rights in accordance with this Plan. |
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(c) | Nothing in this Plan, participation in the Plan or the terms of any Performance Right: | ||
(i) | affects the rights of any Group Company to terminate the employment, engagement or office of an Eligible Participant or a Participant (as the case may be); | ||
(ii) | affects the rights and obligations of any Eligible Participant or Participant under the terms of their employment, engagement or office with any Group Company; | ||
(iii) | confers any legal or equitable right on an Eligible Participant or a Participant whatsoever to take action against any Group Company in respect of their employment, engagement or office; | ||
(iv) | confers on an Eligible Participant or a Participant any rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of their employment, engagement or office by any Group Company for any reason whatsoever including ceasing to have rights under the Plan as a result of such termination; or | ||
(v) | confers any responsibility or liability on any Group Company or its directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents in respect of any taxation liabilities of the Eligible Participant or Participant. | ||
(d) | If a Vesting Condition attached to a Performance Right requires a Participant to remain an employee of a Group Company, then the Participant will be treated as having ceased to be an employee of a Group Company at such time the Participant’s employer ceases to be a Group Company. | ||
(e) | A Participant who is granted an approved leave of absence and who exercises their right to return to work under any applicable award, enterprise agreement, other agreement, statute or regulation before the exercise of a Performance Right under the Plan will be treated for those purposes as not having ceased to be such an employee. | ||
16.2 | Power of the Board | ||
(a) | The Plan is administered by the Board which has power to: | ||
(i) | determine appropriate procedures for administration of the Plan consistent with this Plan; and | ||
(ii) | delegate to any one or more persons, for such period and on such conditions as it may determine, the exercise of any of its powers or discretions arising under the Plan. | ||
(b) | Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Plan, the Board has absolute and unfettered discretion to act, or refrain from acting, under or in connection with the Plan or any Performance Rights under the Plan and in the exercise of any power or discretion under the Plan. |
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16.3 | Dispute or disagreement |
In the event of any dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of the Plan, or as to any question or right arising from or related to the Plan or to any Performance Rights granted under it, the decision of the Board is final and binding. |
16.4 | ASIC relief | |
(a) | Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, every covenant or other provisions set out in an exemption or modification granted from time to time by ASIC in respect of the Plan pursuant to its power to exempt and modify the Corporations Act and required to be included in the Plan in order for that exemption or modification to have full effect, is deemed to be contained in the Plan. | |
(b) | To the extent that any covenant or other provision deemed by this Rule to be contained in the Plan is inconsistent with any other provision in the Plan, the deemed covenant or other provision shall prevail. | |
16.5 | Non-residents of Australia | |
(a) | The Board may adopt additional rules of the Plan applicable in any jurisdiction outside Australia under which rights offered under the Plan may be subject to additional or modified terms, having regard to any securities, exchange control or taxation laws or regulations or similar factors which may apply to the Participant or to any Group Company in relation to the rights. Any additional rule must conform to the basic principles of the Plan. | |
(b) | When a Performance Right is granted under the Plan to a person who is not a resident of Australia the provisions of the Plan apply subject to such alterations or additions as the Board determines having regard to any securities, exchange control or taxation laws or regulation or similar factors which may apply to the Participant or to any Group Company in relation to the Performance Right. |
16.6 | Communication | ||
(a) | Any notice or other communication under or in connection with the Plan may be given by personal delivery or by sending the same by post or facsimile or other electronic means: | ||
(i) | in the case of a company, to its registered office; | ||
(ii) | in the case of an individual, to the individual’s last notified address; or | ||
(iii) | where a Participant is a Director or employee of a Group Company, either to the Participant’s last known address or to the address of the place of business at which the Participant performs the whole or substantially the whole of the duties of the Participant’s office of employment. | ||
(b) | Where a notice or other communication is given by post, it is deemed to have been received 48 hours after it was put into the post properly addressed and stamped. Where a notice or other communication is given by facsimile, it is deemed to have been received on completion of transmission. Where a notice is given by electronic transmission, the notice is taken to have been received at the time the electronic transmission is sent unless the sender receives a message that the electronic message has not been delivered. |
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(c) | Despite Rule 16.6(b) if any communication is received, or taken to be received under Rule 16.6(b), after 5.00pm in the place of receipt or on a non-Business Day, it is taken to be received at 9.00am on the next Business Day and take effect from that time unless a later time is specified. |
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(b) | providing information to trustees of any employee benefit trust, registrars, brokers or third party administrators of the Plan; | |
(c) | providing information to future purchasers of the Company or the business in which the Participant works; and | |
(d) | transferring information about the Participant to a country or territory outside Australia. |
16.11 | Error in Allocation | ||
If any Performance Rights are provided under this Plan in error or by mistake to a person (Mistaken Recipient) who is not the intended recipient, the Mistaken Recipient shall have no right or interest, and shall be taken never to have had any right or interest, in those Performance Rights and those Performance Rights will immediately lapse. |
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Schedule 1 – performance rights plan – OFFER DOCUMENT
[insert date]
[Name and address of Eligible Participant]
Dear [insert]
LOCAFY LIMITED – PERFORMANCE RIGHTS PLAN
The board of directors of Locafy Limited (ACN 136 737 767) (Company) is pleased to make an invitation to you to apply for Performance Rights under its Performance Rights Plan (Plan) on the terms of this offer letter (Offer). Terms used in this Offer have the same meaning as used in the Plan.
The Company is pleased to advise you of the following: | ||
(a) | this Offer is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a copy of which is attached to this Offer; | |
(b) | subject to the following, the Company is willing to offer you the following Performance Rights under the Plan with the following Expiry Date and subject to the following Vesting Conditions: | |
(i) | [insert details of Performance Rights, Expiry Date and Vesting Conditions]; | |
(c) | on exercise of your vested Performance Right you (or your Nominee) will be entitled to receive, at the absolute discretion of the Board, either: | |
(ii) | Shares; or | |
(iii) | a Cash Payment; | |
(d) | the grant of the Performance Rights is subject to the terms of the Plan, including the Company obtaining any necessary Shareholder approvals and you remaining an Eligible Participant at the time the Performance Rights are to be granted and (subject to a number of exceptions), exercised and converted into Shares; | |
(e) | the Performance Rights under the Plan will be granted to you for [nil] cash consideration; | |
(f) | Shares issued on exercise of the Performance Rights [will be subject to the following Restriction Periods/will not be subject to any Restriction Periods]: | |
(i) | [insert]; | |
(ii) | [insert]; and | |
(iii) | [insert]. | |
(g) | this Offer remains open for acceptance by you until 5pm (in the State) on [insert date] (Closing Date) at which time the Offer will close and lapse; |
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(h) | you may apply for the Performance Right by filling out Application Form below and returning to the Company Secretary before the Closing Date. In accordance with Rule 5.2 of the Plan, the Board may, in its absolute discretion, reject your Application Form and not grant the Performance Rights; |
(i) | you may apply for the Performance Right to be registered in your name, or in a Nominee’s name. Examples of acceptable Nominees are set out in the Plan. Please discuss this with the Company Secretary if you have any queries; |
(j) | unless the Plan provides otherwise, the Shares to which you are entitled on exercise of the Performance Right will be issued to you as soon as practicable after the exercise date as will any Cash Payment; |
(k) | Performance Rights are only transferrable in special circumstances as set out in the Plan; |
(l) | If listed, the Company will apply for the Shares to be quoted in accordance with the Listing Rules within 10 Business Days of the later of the date the Shares are issued and the date any Restriction Period that applies to the Shares ends. The Shares may be subject to restrictions on disposal in accordance with the Plan in which case the Company will impose a Holding Lock with the Company’s share registry and the Shares will not be able to be traded until the Holding Lock is lifted by the Company; |
(m) | the Company will issue, where required to enable Shares issued on exercise of Performance Rights to be freely tradeable on Nasdaq (subject to any Restriction Period), a cleansing statement under Section 708A(5) of the Corporations Act at the time Shares are issued. Where a cleansing statement is required, but cannot be issued, the Company will have a prospectus available in relation to the Shares which complies with the requirements of the Corporations Act; |
(n) | the Company undertakes that, during the period commencing on the date of this Offer and expiring on the Closing Date, it will, within a reasonable period of you so requesting, make available to you the current market price of the underlying Shares to which the Performance Rights relate; |
(o) | the current market price of the underlying Shares to which the Performance Rights relate can be found on the Company’s website at www.locafy.com; |
(p) | Subdivision 83A-C of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997¸ which enables tax deferral on Performance Rights, [will/will not] apply (subject to the conditions in that Act) to Performance Rights granted to you under this Offer; and |
(q) | you must not sell, transfer or dispose of any Shares issued to you on the exercise of Performance Rights where to do so would contravene the insider trading or on-sale provisions of the Corporations Act. |
You should be aware that the business, assets and operations of the Company are subject to certain risk factors that have the potential to influence the operating and financial performance of the Company in the future. These risks can impact on the value of an investment in the securities of the Company, including Performance Rights offered under the Plan, and Shares issued on exercise of the Performance Rights.
Any advice given by the Company in relation to the Performance Rights, or underlying Shares offered under the Plan, does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs (including financial or taxation issues).
This Offer and all other documents provided to you at the time of this Offer contain general advice only and you should consider obtaining your own financial product advice from an independent person who is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to give such advice. You are advised to seek independent professional advice regarding the Australian tax consequences of the grant of Performance Rights and the acquiring and disposing of any Shares that are issued on exercise of Performance Rights under the Plan according to your own particular circumstances.
Please confirm your (or your Nominee’s) acceptance of the Offer set out in this letter by completing the Application Form below and returning it to the Company by no later than [insert].
Yours faithfully
[insert name]
Director
For and on behalf of
Locafy Limited
Encl.
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Schedule 2 – performance rights plan Application Form
Locafy Limited (ACN 136 737 767) (Company) has invited you (or your Nominee), by an invitation dated [insert] (Offer), to apply for the grant under its Performance Rights Plan (Plan) of certain Performance Rights.
The entity below hereby applies for the Performance Rights under the terms of the Offer, this Application Form and the Plan.
Full Name: |
ACN (if applicable) |
Address: |
Ph: | Email: |
Tax file number(s) or exemption: |
In applying for the grant of Performance Rights under the Offer, the entity below acknowledges and agrees: | |
(a) | that, in accordance with Rule 5.2 of the Plan, the Board may, in its absolute discretion, reject this Application Form and not grant the Performance Rights; |
(b) | to be entered on the register of performance rights holders of the Company as the holder of the Performance Rights applied for, and any Shares issued on the exercise of the Performance Rights; |
(c) | to be bound by the terms of the Constitution of the Company; |
(d) | to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan; |
(e) | to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Offer; |
(f) | a copy of the full terms of the Plan has been provided to it; |
(g) | that, by completing this Application Form, it agrees to appoint the Company Secretary as its attorney to complete and execute any documents and do all acts on its behalf which may be convenient or necessary for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Plan and the Offer; |
(h) | that any tax liability arising from the Company accepting its application for Performance Rights under the Plan or the issue or transfer of Shares or the making of a Cash Payment on exercise of the Performance Rights is its responsibility and not that of the Company; and |
(i) | to the extent required by the terms of the Plan and the Listing Rules, to enter into any necessary restriction agreement in relation to any Shares provided on the exercise of the Performance Rights and to the placing of a Holding Lock on those Shares. |
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Where an individual
SIGNED by [INSERT NAME OF | ) | |
INDIVIDUAL] in the presence of: | ) | |
Signature of witness | Signature | |
Name of witness |
Where an Australian company
EXECUTED by [INSERT COMPANY NAME] | ) | |
ACN [INSERT ACN] | ) | |
in accordance with section 127 of the | ) | |
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth): | ) | |
Signature of director | Signature of director/company secretary* | |
Name of director | Name of director/company secretary* |
*please delete as applicable
26 |
SCHEDULE 3 – Notice of exercise of PERFORMANCE RIGHTS
To: | The Directors |
Locafy Limited |
I/We _______________________________ of _______________________________________ _________________________________ being registered holder(s) of performance rights as set out on the certificate annexed to this notice, hereby exercise _________________ of the abovementioned performance rights.
I/ We authorise and direct the Company, except to the extent a Cash Payment is made, to register me/us as the holder(s) of the Shares to be allotted to me/us and I/we agree to accept such Shares subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Company.
Dated: | ||
Signature of Holder(s) |
Note:
1. | Each holder must sign. |
2. | An application by a company must be executed in accordance with section 127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and, if signing for a company as a sole director/secretary – ensure “sole director/secretary” is written beside the signature. |
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Exhibit 10.5
Executive Agreement
Moboom Limited (ACN 136 737 767)
Company
Melvin Tan
Executive
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Contents
1. | Interpretation | 1 |
2. | Term | 3 |
3. | Duties | 3 |
4. | Location | 4 |
5. | Hours and Days of Work | 4 |
6. | Reporting and Supervision | 4 |
7. | Performance Review | 4 |
8. | Policies | 4 |
9. | Exclusive Service | 4 |
10. | External Directorships | 5 |
11. | Remuneration | 5 |
12. | Superannuation | 5 |
13. | Expenses | 6 |
14. | Annual Leave | 6 |
15. | Long Service Leave | 6 |
16. | Personal Leave | 6 |
17. | Other leave | 6 |
18. | Public Holidays | 6 |
19. | Confidentiality | 7 |
20. | Intellectual Property | 7 |
21. | Suspension | 8 |
22. | Termination | 8 |
23. | Redundancy | 10 |
24. | Resignation from Other Offices | 10 |
25. | Restraint of Trade | 11 |
26. | Medical Tests | 12 |
27. | Insurance | 12 |
28. | Compliance | 12 |
29. | General | 13 |
30. | Warranties | 14 |
31. | Acknowledgement | 14 |
Schedule 1 - Remuneration | 15 | |
Schedule 2 - Duties and Position Description - includes Key Performance Indicators | 16 |
ii |
Executive Agreement
Date | 1 January 2020 |
Parties | Moboom Limited ACN 136 737 767 of 246A Churchill Road, Subiaco WA 6008 (the Company). |
Melvin Tan of 4 St Vincents Avenue, Wembley WA 6014 (the Executive). |
Recitals
A. | The Executive has been performing the role of Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 7 May 2012. |
B. | The Company and the Executive have agreed to enter into a new employment agreement on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. |
1. | Interpretation |
1.1 | Interpretations |
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; | |
(b) | words importing any gender include every gender; | |
(c) | where a particular word or a phrase is given a particular meaning in this Agreement, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings; | |
(d) | words importing persons include natural persons, partnerships, trusts, associations, and bodies corporate; | |
(e) | clause or sub-clause headings do not affect the interpretation or construction of this Agreement; | |
(f) | references to recitals, parts, clauses, or paragraphs by letter or number are references to recitals, parts, clauses, or paragraphs in this Agreement; and | |
(g) | a reference to any statute includes a reference to that statute as amended, modified or replaced and includes orders, ordinances, regulations, rules and by-laws under or pursuant to that statute. |
1.2 | Definitions |
In this Agreement:
“Agreement” means this employment agreement signed on 23 December 2019.
“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors as constituted from time to time.
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“Complying Superannuation Fund” has the meaning given in the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).
“Confidential Information” means any and all information which at any time is in the knowledge, possession or control of:
(a) | the Company; or | |
(b) | any subsidiary or employee or agent of the Company, |
relating to the business, operations or affairs of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, including, but not limited to, information relating to:
(c) | Intellectual Property; | |
(d) | technical details of work undertaken by the Company; | |
(e) | details of contracts, projects or work being undertaken by or involving the Company; | |
(f) | details of the Company’s internal management practices and procedures; | |
(g) | details of the Company’s finances; | |
(h) | details of products developed by the Company; and | |
(i) | details of the Company’s marketing strategies, customer information and sales databases, but does not include information which is lawfully in the public domain otherwise than as a result of a breach of this Agreement. |
“Documents” means software (including source code and object code versions), manuals, drawings, diagrams, graphs, charts, projections, specifications, estimates, records, accounts, plans, formulae, designs, processes, supplier lists, price lists, customer lists, market research information, correspondence, letters and papers of every description, including all copies of and extracts from any of the same.
“Duties” means the duties described in clause 3 of this Agreement.
“Intellectual Property” means
(a) | the various rights and property conferred by statute, common law and equity in and in relation to patents of any kind, inventions, utility models, designs, copyright, trademarks, trade names, business names, corporate names, logos and get up, circuit layouts, know-how, trade secrets and confidential information and the right to have trade secrets and confidential information kept confidential and all other intellectual property rights as defined by Article 2 of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Convention of July 1967; |
and includes
(b) | all applications for registration, extension, renewal or otherwise in respect of the rights and property referred to in paragraph (a) of this definition; and | |
(c) | all rights of action in respect of the rights or property referred to in paragraph (a) of this definition. |
“Policies” means the Company’s policies, guidelines and rules as amended or discontinued from time to time and includes any new policies, guidelines and rules the Company implements.
2 |
“Related Body Corporate” has the meaning set out in section 50 of the Corporations Act (Cth) 2001.
“Remuneration” means the amount described in Schedule 1.
“Salary” means the amount described as “Salary” in Schedule 1.
2. | Term |
The Executive’s employment will continue on an ongoing basis, unless terminated earlier in accordance with clause 22 of this Agreement.
3. | Duties |
3.1 | At all times, the Executive will: |
(a) | carry out the Duties listed in Schedule 2 of this Agreement and any other Duties the Company may, from time to time require; | |
(b) | discharge any responsibility the Company may allocate to him; | |
(c) | devote the whole of his time, attention and skill, during normal business hours and at such other times as reasonably necessary, to performing the Duties and to discharging all of his allocated responsibilities; | |
(d) | perform the Duties and discharge the allocated responsibilities, in a diligent, faithful and prudent manner; | |
(e) | behave, at all times, including outside work time, in a manner that is not inconsistent with: |
(i) | the protection and promotion of the Company’s business and good name; | |
(ii) | the performance of the Duties; or | |
(iii) | discharging the allocated responsibilities; and |
(f) | notify the Company of any information directly or indirectly relating to any business opportunity relevant to the Company as soon as practicable after becoming aware of such information. |
3.2 | Without limiting the Executive’s Duties, during the employment the Executive must not: |
(a) | act in conflict with the Company’s best interests; | |
(b) | on discovery, allow a conflict between the Executive’s interests and the interests of the Company to continue; or | |
(c) | compete, or prepare to compete, with the Company; | |
(d) | in performing the Duties, accept any financial or other benefit except from the Company; | |
(e) | use internet, email or voicemail at the Company’s workplace for excessive personal use or to view or distribute offensive or illegal material; and | |
(f) | unlawfully discriminate, bully or sexually harass another person. |
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4. | Location |
The Executive will be located at the Company’s office at 246A Churchill Avenue, Subiaco WA 6008. The Executive may be required to be located at any other locations that are agreed to by the parties (except that the Executive’s agreement is not required if a new location is in the Perth region). The Executive may be required to undertake domestic and international travel from time to time as required to fulfil his responsibilities.
5. | Hours and Days of Work |
The Executive’s hours of work are 38 hours per week plus reasonable additional hours that are necessary for the Executive to perform the Duties and to discharge his allocated responsibilities with the required attention and skill.
6. | Reporting and Supervision |
The Executive will report to the Managing Director of the Company.
7. | Performance Review |
(a) | The Managing Director and Remuneration Committee will formally review the Executive’s performance each year. | |
(b) | The Executive’s performance will be measured against the Key Performance Indicators set out in Schedule 2, as updated from time to time. | |
(c) | The Managing Director shall inform the Executive of any concerns the Company has with his performance or conduct as soon as reasonable in the circumstances. |
8. | Policies |
(a) | The Company must make available to the Executive all Policies with which the Executive must comply with. | |
(b) | The Company may establish, amend, replace or delete any Policies at its sole discretion from time to time. | |
(c) | The Company must ensure that the Executive is informed about any amendments to the Policies or about any new or discontinued Policies. | |
(d) | The Executive agrees to comply with all Policies except that, if there is any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and those Policies, then the provisions of this Agreement will prevail over the Policies to the extent of the inconsistency. | |
(e) | The parties acknowledge that the Policies do not form part of the Executive’s contract of employment with the Company. |
9. | Exclusive Service |
The Executive must not, without the Board’s prior written consent, in any capacity, either during or outside of work time, be engaged or concerned or have any other interest for financial advantage that:
(a) | competes with, conflicts with, or detracts from the business of the Company or the business of a Related Body Corporate; or |
4 |
(b) | interferes with: |
(i) | the proper performance of the Duties; or | |
(ii) | the proper discharge of the Executive’s allocated responsibilities. |
10. | External Directorships |
(a) | Subject to clause (b), the Executive warrants that the Executive will not be a board member of any entity other than the Company or a Related Body Corporate without written consent of the Board. | |
(b) | Where directed by the Board, the Executive may be the Company’s nominee on the board of entities other than the Company or a Related Body Corporate. | |
(c) | Apart from discretionary trusts and private superannuation funds, the Executive must not accept a directorship or similar positions with any entity other than the Company or a Related Body Corporate, without written consent of the Board. |
11. | Remuneration |
(a) | The Company shall pay the Executive the Remuneration set out in Schedule 1. | |
(b) | The Executive will be paid monthly into an account nominated by the Executive. | |
(c) | Subject to this Agreement, the Remuneration, benefits and any other entitlements provided or referred to in this Agreement are the entire consideration payable to the Executive and are compensation for all time worked to fulfil his obligations under this Agreement regardless of the number, distribution and timing of the hours of work. |
12. | Superannuation |
12.1 | Company Contributions |
(a) | The Company will make the superannuation contributions described in Schedule 1 on behalf of the Executive and to the Executive’s account with a Complying Superannuation Fund. The superannuation contributions form part of the Executive’s Remuneration. | |
(b) | As at the date of this Agreement, the superannuation contributions described in Schedule 1 are in accordance with the contributions required by the Company to avoid a tax penalty or charge, pursuant to the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth). | |
(c) | The Company will increase the amount of superannuation contributions as a component of the Executive’s Remuneration if necessary at any time to avoid a tax penalty or charge, pursuant to the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) but this obligation does not require the Company to increase the Executive’s total Remuneration. |
12.2 | Executive May Make Contributions |
The Executive may from time to time request in writing that the Company deduct a sum of money from the Salary and remit it as the Executive’s contributions to the trustees of a Complying Superannuation Fund nominated by the Executive to the extent permitted by law.
5 |
13. | Expenses |
Subject to the production of documentary evidence sufficient to satisfy the Board of their authenticity and reasonableness, the Company will reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses he incurs in performing the Duties and in discharging his responsibilities including:
(a) | travel costs including fares, accommodation and meals; | |
(b) | mobile telephone charges; | |
(c) | mobile device and laptop; | |
(d) | membership of relevant professional organisations and associations as approved by the Board; | |
(e) | professional development or training activities; and | |
(f) | any other expenses properly incurred provided for in the Policies. |
14. | Annual Leave |
The Executive is entitled to 4 weeks’ paid annual leave per annum in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). If the Executive’s employment is terminated, then the Executive will be entitled to payment for any accumulated unused annual leave.
15. | Long Service Leave |
The Executive is entitled to long service leave in accordance with and subject to the Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA).
16. | Personal Leave |
(a) | The Executive is entitled to 10 days’ paid personal leave per annum in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Such personal leave is available if the Executive: |
(i) | is unable to attend work due to illness (sick leave); or | |
(ii) | is required to provide care or support to an immediate family member or other member of the Executive’s household due to their illness or unexpected emergency (carer’s leave). |
(b) | Unused personal leave is not paid out on the termination of employment. |
17. | Other leave |
The Executive is entitled to other forms of leave, including parental leave, compassionate leave, and community services leave, in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 (Cth).
18. | Public Holidays |
The Executive in entitled to Public Holidays in accordance with and subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
6 |
19. | Confidentiality |
19.1 | The Executive’s Acknowledgment |
The Executive acknowledges that:
(a) | during his employment with the Company, the Executive will acquire Confidential Information; and | |
(b) | because of the importance to the Company of the Confidential Information, the Company wishes to protect the Confidential Information during the Executive’s employment and after the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company; and | |
(c) | the Confidential Information has been and will be acquired by the Company at the Company’s initiative and expense; and | |
(d) | the Company has expended and will expend effort and money in establishing and maintaining employee skills and the Confidential Information. |
19.2 | The Executive’s Obligations |
The Executive agrees that at all times during and after the termination of his employment, he will:
(a) | keep the Confidential Information confidential; and | |
(b) | not use it for any purpose other than for the purpose of discharging his obligations to the Company under this Agreement. |
19.3 | Confidentiality of Terms of Agreement |
The Company and the Executive must not disclose any of the provisions of this Agreement except:
(a) | to comply with any applicable law, or any requirement of any regulatory body (including any relevant stock exchange); | |
(b) | to the extent necessary for either party to meet their obligations under this Agreement; | |
(c) | to enforce its rights or to defend any claim or action under this Agreement; | |
(d) | to a professional adviser, financial adviser, banker, financier or auditor if that person is obliged to keep the information confidential; or | |
(e) | if the information has come into the public domain through no fault of that party. |
20. | Intellectual Property |
(a) | The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company is the exclusive owner of all rights, titles and interests in the Documents created by him and all Intellectual Property in anything the Executive creates: | |
(b) | within the scope of his employment; or | |
(c) | using the Company’s facilities, resources or Confidential Information, notwithstanding that the creation of such Documents or Intellectual Property: |
(i) | is not within the scope of the Duties or functions; |
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(ii) | is done by the Executive in his own time; or | |
(iii) | involved only partial use of the Company’s facilities, resources or Confidential Information; and |
(d) | for any of the Company’s customers or in relation to any of the Company’s contracts or projects, or for any purpose related to the Company’s business notwithstanding that the creation of such Documents or Intellectual Property: |
(i) | is not within the scope of the Duties; | |
(ii) | is done by the Executive in his own time; and | |
(iii) | does not involve the use of the Company’s facilities or resources. |
(e) | The Executive will, at the Company’s request, do all things necessary to evidence or convey to the Company, ownership of all Intellectual Property relating to anything he creates including, but without limitation to the foregoing, all assistance necessary or desirable to assist the Company to obtain registration of any rights in respect of the Intellectual Property. The Company must pay the Executive’s reasonable expenses associated with complying with this sub-clause. | |
(f) | The Executive hereby waives, to the fullest extent permissible by law, all moral rights the Executive may have in any copyright works or films made in the course of the Executive’s employment. Pursuant to sections 195AW(4) and 195AWA(4) of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), the Executive hereby consents and acknowledges that the Company may do all or any acts or omissions (whether occurring before or after this consent is given) in relation to all copyright works or films made by him, in the course of his employment. |
21. | Suspension |
The Company may suspend the Executive with full pay for up to 3 months while it investigates any concerns that it has in relation to his performance or conduct.
22. | Termination |
22.1 | Termination by the Company |
Subject to clauses 22.3, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment:
(a) | Within the first 24 months of this Agreement by: |
(i) | giving 12 months’ notice in writing; or | |
(ii) | giving to the Executive 6 months’ notice in writing if, by reason of the illness, injury or incapacity of the Executive: |
A. | the Executive is unable to perform the Duties for a total of 13 weeks in any 52 consecutive weeks; or | |
B. | the Executive becomes permanently incapable of performing the Duties. |
(b) | After the first 24 months of this Agreement and prior to 48 months of employment by: |
(i) | giving 6 months’ notice in writing; or |
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(ii) | giving to the Executive 4 months’ notice in writing if, by reason of the illness, injury or incapacity of the Executive: |
A. | the Executive is unable to perform the Duties for a total of 13 weeks in any 52 consecutive weeks; or | |
B. | the Executive becomes permanently incapable of performing the Duties. |
(c) | After the first 48 months of this Agreement by: |
(i) | giving 3 months’ notice in writing; or | |
(ii) | giving to the Executive 2 months’ notice in writing if, by reason of the illness, injury or incapacity of the Executive: |
A. | the Executive is unable to perform the Duties for a total of 13 weeks in any 52 consecutive weeks; or |
the Executive becomes permanently incapable of performing the Duties.
22.2 | Termination by the Executive |
The Executive may terminate his employment by giving:
(a) | 12 months’ notice in writing, if within the first 24 months of this Agreement or such shorter period of notice as may be agreed in writing by the Company. | |
(b) | 6 months’ notice in writing, if after the first 24 months of this agreement and prior to 48 months of employment, or such shorter period of notice as may be agreed in writing by the Company. | |
(c) | 3 months’ notice in writing, if after the first 48 months of this agreement or such shorter period of notice as may be agreed in writing by the Company. |
22.3 | Company may pay in lieu |
The Company may satisfy the notice requirements in this clause by:
(a) | paying the Executive an amount equivalent to the Base Salary which he would have earned for the whole notice period; or | |
(b) | giving part of the notice in writing, and by paying the Executive an amount equivalent to the Base Salary he would have earned during the balance of that notice period. |
22.4 | Termination after notice given |
After either the Company or the Executive has given notice in accordance with clause 22.1, 22.2 or 22.3(b), the Company may at any time terminate the employment by paying the Executive an amount equivalent to the Base Salary which the Executive would have earned during the balance of the notice period.
22.5 | Employment during notice |
If notice is given to terminate the employment, then the Company may do all or any of the following:
(a) | direct the Executive not to perform the Duties, or any of them, for part or all of the notice period; |
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(b) | require the Executive to remain away from the Company’s premises; and | |
(c) | change the title of the Executive. |
22.6 | Termination by the Company without notice |
The Company may terminate the employment at any time by the Company giving notice of dismissal with immediate effect to the Executive as a result of:
(a) | misconduct of the Executive; | |
(b) | wilful neglect in the discharge of the Duties or his allocated responsibilities; | |
(c) | serious or persistent breach of the provisions of this Agreement; | |
(d) | the Executive being charged with a criminal offence or civil penalty order which in the reasonable opinion of the Board brings the Company or a Related Body Corporate into disrepute; | |
(e) | the Executive becoming bankrupt or insolvent or making an arrangement with his creditors generally; or | |
(f) | the Executive becoming ineligible to hold office as a director of a company. |
22.7 | Return of Property |
(a) | Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment (howsoever caused), the Executive will deliver immediately to the Company all Documents and property containing Confidential Information and Intellectual Property, and all other property belonging to the Company, which is in the Executive’s possession or under the Executive’s control. | |
(b) | The Company may require the Executive to provide a written declaration on oath that the Executive has complied with this sub-clause, and the Executive agrees that the Company may withhold any monies owing to the Executive unless and until the Executive complies with this request. |
22.8 | Set-off |
On termination of the Executive’s employment, the Company may deduct and retain any money owing by the Executive to the Company, from any amounts due by the Company to the Executive including for Remuneration or accrued leave entitlements to the extent permitted by law.
22.9 | No Prejudice to Rights |
The termination of the Executive’s employment does not prejudice any rights or remedies already accrued to either party under, or in respect of, any breach of this Agreement.
23. | Redundancy |
Should the Executive’s employment terminate for reasons of redundancy, the Executive will be entitled to redundancy pay in accordance with the applicable minimum redundancy entitlement contained within the National Employment Standards of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
24. | Resignation from Other Offices |
(a) | On termination of the Executive’s employment (howsoever caused) the Executive will forthwith resign, without claim for compensation, from any office (including that of director) that the Executive holds within, or on behalf of, the Company or a Related Body Corporate. |
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(b) | If the Executive fails to resign as required by sub-clause 24(a), he irrevocably authorises the Company to appoint another person in the Executive’s name and on the Executive’s behalf to execute all documents and to do all things necessary to give effect to those resignations. |
25. | Restraint of Trade |
25.1 | Definitions |
In this clause:
(a) | “Restraint Area” means Western Australia; | |
(b) | “Restraint Period” means 3 months following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (howsoever caused); and | |
(c) | “Business” means the business of the Company. |
25.2 | Restraint |
During the Restraint Period, the Executive must not, in the Restraint Area:
(a) | solicit or compete for the custom of, or accept business from, any person who was a customer of the Company at any time during the 6 months immediately preceding the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for a business that is the same or similar to the Business of the Company; | |
(b) | solicit or endeavour to obtain the services of any professional person (either directly or indirectly) who was an employee, consultant or contractor of the Company at any time during the 3 months immediately preceding the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company; or | |
(c) | engage in, be involved in or be associated with, or prepare to engage in, be involved in or be associated with, a business competing with the Business of the Company in the capacity of a principal, agent, director, employee, partner, majority shareholder or unit holder, joint venturer, trustee, beneficiary, contractor, advisor, consultant or in any other capacity. |
25.3 | Account |
The Company is beneficially entitled to any benefits which the Executive obtains as a result of breaching this clause and must account to the Company for those benefits.
25.4 | Acknowledgement |
Each of the covenants and restraints in this clause constitutes an independent covenant and restraint separate in all respects from each of the other covenants and restraints notwithstanding the manner in which they or any of them are linked together or are grouped grammatically, and the invalidity of any one or more covenant or restraint shall not invalidate the other covenants or restraints. The Executive acknowledges that the covenants in respect of restraint of trade contained in this clause are:
(a) | reasonable as to duration, type of activity and geographical area; |
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(b) | reasonable and necessary to protect the proprietary and commercial interests of the Company; | |
(c) | commensurate with the consideration the Executive will receive under this agreement; and | |
(d) | the Company is relying upon this acknowledgement in entering into this Agreement. |
25.5 | Evidence of Compliance |
The Company may require the Executive to provide a written declaration by the Executive on oath, or any evidence relevant in the circumstances, confirming to its satisfaction that he is not in breach of his obligations under this clause.
26. | Medical Tests |
(a) | The Company may require the Executive to submit to a medical examination or test by its choice of medical practitioners for the purpose of determining if: |
(i) | the conditions of clause Error! Reference source not found. and Error! Reference source not found. are satisfied; or | |
(ii) | for any other reason relevant to his employment with the Company. |
(b) | The Executive must authorise the examining medical practitioner to provide the Company with a report setting out the results of any examination or test, and to answer any questions the Company may put to them in relation to the examination, test or report. Once the medical practitioner has been so authorised, the Executive must not revoke or restrict that authority. |
27. | Insurance |
The Company agrees that the Executive will have the benefit of the Company’s directors’ and officers’ insurance, which insurance must:
(a) | apply to the Executive from the commencement of employment and thereafter continuously until the period expiring seven years after termination of employment; | |
(b) | apply to the Executive in connection with the employment; | |
(c) | apply to the Executive in connection with all positions the Employee holds on the Board; and | |
(d) | indemnify the Executive against all actual legal costs and all liabilities in connection with claims, demands, liabilities, judgments, orders and costs against the Executive. |
28. | Compliance |
(a) | The exercise of or compliance with any discretion, right or obligation pursuant to this Agreement are subject to: |
(i) | compliance with all applicable laws; | |
(ii) | compliance with the Constitution of the Company and, if applicable, the Listing Rules of the Australian Stock Exchange; and | |
(iii) | the approval of the shareholders of the Company where such approval is required. |
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(b) | If approval of the shareholders of the Company is required before a payment may be made to the Executive, then the Company must ensure that the approval of the shareholders is sought unless the Executive agrees otherwise. | |
(c) | If the aggregate of any amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement that are subject to section 200B of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Termination Benefit) would, at the time for payment, exceed the amount that is permitted pursuant to any applicable exemption from section 200B and shareholder approval is not obtained, then the Termination Benefit will be reduced to the greatest amount that may then be payable without shareholder approval and that reduced amount must be paid by the Company to the Executive. |
29. | General |
29.1 | Survival of Terms |
Any provisions of this Agreement which are expressed to operate after the termination of this Agreement will survive the termination of this Agreement (howsoever caused) and shall be without prejudice to any right of action already accrued to either party in respect of any breach of this Agreement by the other party.
29.2 | Proper Law and Jurisdiction |
This Agreement is governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Western Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Western Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia.
29.3 | Prior Agreements |
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and cancels all prior representations, warranties, agreements, contractual terms, covenants and guarantees.
29.4 | Release from prior arrangements |
The parties each release the other from all proceedings, claims, demands, costs and other liabilities of any nature in connection with the contractual arrangements applying between them prior to this Agreement.
29.5 | Waiver |
No waiver of any breach of any term of this Agreement will be effective unless that waiver is in writing, and no waiver of any breach will be, or be deemed to be, a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
29.6 | Severance |
If any terms or conditions of this Agreement are void, or become voidable or unenforceable, by reason of any statute or rule of law, then that term or condition shall be severed from this Agreement without affecting the enforceability of the remaining terms and conditions.
29.7 | Variation |
Except as provided in this Agreement, this Agreement may only be varied by agreement in writing.
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30. | Warranties |
30.1 | Warranties by the Executive |
The Executive warrants:
(a) | that the Executive has disclosed to the Company all information about any possible restrictions on the Executive from performing the Duties; | |
(b) | other than what the Executive has disclosed to the Company, that the Executive is not restricted from performing the Duties in connection with a restrictive covenant or other non-competition obligation owed to anyone, or a restriction imposed on the Executive concerning the use of any information or the intellectual property rights of anyone; | |
(c) | that the credentials and information provided by the Executive to the Company (or to the Company’s agent) in connection with the Executive’s qualifications and ability to perform the duties pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct; and | |
(d) | other than what the Executive has disclosed to the Company, that prior to accepting employment, the Executive has not suffered from an occupational disease in any trade, industry or process. |
30.2 | Warranties by Company |
The Company warrants that other than as disclosed in this Agreement:
(a) | it has obtained all approvals, including all necessary Board approvals required pursuant to this Agreement; and | |
(b) | no obligations interfere with the Company’s ability to enter into this Agreement. |
31. | Acknowledgement |
The Executive acknowledges that he has read and understands the conditions of employment detailed in this Agreement and accepts employment with the Company on those terms.
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Schedule 1 – Remuneration
FIXED REMUNERATION: | $ | 219,000 per annum | ||
Made up as: | ||||
Base Salary: | $ | 200,000 per annum | ||
Superannuation: | $ | 19,000 per annum (at 9.5% of base salary) |
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
FY2021
% Gross Revenue Target | $ Gross Revenue Target | % Increase to Base Salary (New Base Salary) | Cash
Bonus (% of New Base Salary) | |||||||||||
100 | % | $ | 5,000,000 | 10 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
105 | % | $ | 5,250,000 | 10 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
110 | % | $ | 5,500,000 | 10 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
115 | % | $ | 5,750,000 | 10 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
120 | % | $ | 6,000,000 | 10 | % | 0 | % | |||||||
125 | % | $ | 6,250,000 | 10 | % | 0 | % |
FY2022
% Gross Revenue Target | $ Gross Revenue Target | % Increase to Base Salary | Cash
Bonus (% of New Base Salary) | |||||||||||
100 | % | $ | 10,000,000 | 15 | % | 25 | % | |||||||
105 | % | $ | 10,500,000 | 15 | % | 30 | % | |||||||
110 | % | $ | 11,000,000 | 15 | % | 35 | % | |||||||
115 | % | $ | 11,500,000 | 15 | % | 40 | % | |||||||
120 | % | $ | 12,000,000 | 15 | % | 45 | % | |||||||
125 | % | $ | 12,500,000 | 15 | % | 50 | % |
FY2023
% Gross Revenue Target | $ Gross Revenue Target | % Increase to Base Salary | Cash
Bonus (% of New Base Salary) | |||||||||||
100 | % | $ | 20,000,000 | 15 | % | 25 | % | |||||||
105 | % | $ | 21,000,000 | 15 | % | 30 | % | |||||||
110 | % | $ | 22,000,000 | 15 | % | 35 | % | |||||||
115 | % | $ | 23,000,000 | 15 | % | 40 | % | |||||||
120 | % | $ | 24,000,000 | 15 | % | 45 | % | |||||||
125 | % | $ | 25,000,000 | 15 | % | 50 | % |
Note: In the event the Executive is terminated in accordance with clause 22.1 or 22.2, notwithstanding such termination, if Targets are ultimately met for the financial year during which the termination occurred, the Executive shall be entitled to receive a Cash Bonus that is prorated for the number of days the Executive was employed during that financial year.
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Schedule 2 - Duties and Position Description - includes Key Performance Indicators
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
● | Safeguard the integrity of financial outcomes of the Company; |
● | Lead, plan and manage the financial strategy of the Company to maximise overall profitability; |
● | Manage the full range of financial and business services including: accounting, taxation, audit, external reporting, treasury and administrative functions of the Company; |
● | Design, implement and monitor processes and procedures to ensure efficiencies within the corporate structure; and |
● | Participate in and provide support to the Company’s Board and Executive team. |
POSITION SPECIFIC AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Planning of Financial Operations
● | Proactively and creatively determine the most appropriate approach for serving the Company’s financial needs; |
● | Lead the planning of the Company’s financial activities including budgeting, reporting, forecasting, performance measurement, compliance/audit, business planning, systems planning and implementation and economic evaluation; |
● | Review financial performance and make commentary on corrective action to improve performance where required; and |
● | Regularly review financial management systems to ensure the most appropriate technological support for financial management practices. |
Financial Advising and Reporting
● | Provide the Board, Audit Committee and Executive with high level strategic advice and reports in relation to commercial matters including profit and loss outcomes, balance sheet management, cash flow management, debt performance, taxation and major capital investment evaluation; |
● | Oversee the development and implementation of up-to-date financial accounting and reporting systems; |
● | Ensure that financial reports are based on a sound system of risk management and internal controls; and |
● | Enhance management understanding of financial issues by assisting them to link financial and operational information for decision-making purposes. |
Organisational Strategic Planning
● | Assist the MD in the Company’s strategic planning processes including the development, implementation and reporting of business/strategic plans; and |
● | Develop in conjunction with the Board and Executive Team, appropriate Company key performance indicators that link both quantitative and qualitative indicators to the outcomes of the organisation. |
Corporations Law, Listing Rules, Financial and Taxation Compliance
● | Ensure obligations under Corporations Act, Listing Rules, Taxation Legislation and Australian Accounting Standards are met; |
● | Review financial reports to ensure that the information is endorsed as to its completeness, reliability and accuracy; |
● | Ensure the Company achieves its statutory compliance obligations in respect of financial reporting and disclosure; and |
● | Understand the implications of changes to statutory financial and taxation requirements to the Company, communicate this effectively to the Managing Director and Board and implements necessary Company policies to comply with change. |
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Economic Evaluation
● | Direct the economic and financial evaluation of new business and capital investment initiatives in conjunction with the Executive Team; and |
● | Ensure the Managing Director, Board and Executive Team are provided with appropriate information and analysis to enable informed decisions on capital investments to be made. |
Institutional and Stakeholder Relations
● | Involvement in investor and broker presentations are required; and |
● | Maintain effective and productive networks for the benefit of the Company. |
Leadership and People Management
● | Promote a culture whereby all staff and service providers work collaboratively to achieve Moboom’s corporate objectives; |
● | Proactive, supportive and effective management of resources; |
● | Timely completion of performance appraisals and setting of KPIs; and |
● | Inspire the team to achieve goals and performance objectives and drive team engagement. |
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Executed by the parties as an agreement.
Signed
on behalf and with the authority of Moboom Limited (ACN 136 737 767) |
|||
Gavin Burnett | |||
Name of Authorised Company Signatory |
Signature | ||
CEO | |||
Office (Director, Secretary) or Position |
Signed
by Melvin Tan
|
| ||
Signature |
In the presence of: | |
Witness Signature: | |
Witness Name: | |
Witness Address: |
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Exhibit 10.6
Locafy Limited
and
Computershare Inc. and
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively, as
Warrant Agent
Warrant Agency Agreement
Dated as of March [ ], 2022
WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT
WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT, dated as of March [ ], 2022 (“Agreement”), among Locafy Limited, a corporation incorporated under the laws of Australia (the “Company”), Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Computershare”) and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. a federally chartered trust company (collectively, with Computershare, the “Warrant Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, pursuant to an offering by the Company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of an aggregate of [ ] units (each a “Unit” and collectively, the “Units”), with each Unit consisting of one share of the Company’s ordinary shares, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) and one warrant to purchase one ordinary share (each a “Warrant” and collectively, the “Warrants”), pursuant to an effective registration statement, as amended, on Form F-1 (File No. 333-262442) (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), the Company wishes to issue the Warrants in book-entry form entitling the respective holders of the Warrants (the “Holders”, which term shall include a Holder’s transferees, successors and assigns and “Holder” shall include, if the Warrants are held in “street name,” a Participant (as defined below) or a designee appointed by such Participant) to purchase an aggregate of up to [ ] Ordinary Shares (including up to [ ] Warrants subject to an option to purchase additional Ordinary Shares and/or Warrants granted to the underwriters by the Company described in the Registration Statement) upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the “Offering”);
WHEREAS, the Ordinary Shares and Warrants to be issued in connection with the Offering shall be immediately separable and will be issued separately, but will be purchased together in the Offering; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing so to act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, exercise and replacement of the Warrants and, in the Warrant Agent’s capacity as the Company’s transfer agent, the delivery of the Warrant Shares (as defined below).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York are generally are open for use by customers on such day.
(b) “Close of Business” on any given date means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day it means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(c) “Person” means an individual, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency or other entity.
(d) “Warrant Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1, issued to a holder, representing Warrants to acquire such number of Warrant Shares as is indicated therein, and shall include a certificate for a Global Warrant or a Definitive Warrant.
(e) “Warrant Shares” means the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
All other capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Warrant Certificate.
Section 2. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms or conditions hereof (and no implied terms and conditions hereof), and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Warrant Agents as it may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or desirable upon ten (10) calendar days’ prior written notice to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for the acts or omissions of, any such co-Warrant Agent. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-Warrant Agents, the respective duties of the Warrant Agent and any co-Warrant Agent shall be as the Company shall reasonably determine, provided that such duties and determination are consistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
Section 3. Global Warrants.
(a) The Warrants shall be issuable in book-entry form (the “Global Warrants”). All of the Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more Global Warrants deposited with the Warrant Agent and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), or as otherwise directed by the Depositary. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by (i) the Depositary or its nominee for each Global Warrant or (ii) institutions that have accounts with the Depositary (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”).
(b) If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each Global Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent in writing to deliver to each Holder a Warrant Certificate.
(c) A Holder has the right to elect at any time or from time to time a Warrant Exchange (as defined below) pursuant to a Warrant Certificate Request Notice (as defined below). Upon written notice by a Holder to the Warrant Agent for the exchange of some or all of such Holder’s Global Warrants for a separate certificate evidencing the same number of Warrants (such separate certificate, a “Definitive Warrant”) , which request shall be in the form attached hereto as Annex A (a “Warrant Certificate Request Notice” and the date of delivery of such Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Holder, the “Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date” and the deemed surrender upon delivery by the Holder of a number of Global Warrants for the same number of Warrants evidenced by a Definitive Warrant, a “Warrant Exchange”), the Warrant Agent shall promptly effect the Warrant Exchange and shall promptly issue and deliver, at the expense of the Company, to the Holder a Definitive Warrant for such number of Warrants in the name set forth in the Warrant Certificate Request Notice. Such Definitive Warrant shall be dated the original issue date of the Warrants and shall be manually executed by an authorized signatory of the Company. In connection with a Warrant Exchange, the Company agrees to deliver, or to direct the Warrant Agent to deliver, the Definitive Warrant to the Holder within five (5) Business Days of the Warrant Certificate Request Notice pursuant to the delivery instructions in the Warrant Certificate Request Notice (“Warrant Certificate Delivery Date”). If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Definitive Warrant subject to the Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Warrant Certificate Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares evidenced by such Definitive Warrant (based on the VWAP (as defined in the Warrant) of the Ordinary Shares on the Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date), $5.00 per Business Day (increasing to $10.00 per Business Day on the fifth Business Day after such liquidated damages begin to accrue) for each Business Day after such Warrant Certificate Delivery Date until such Definitive Warrant is delivered or, prior to delivery of such Definitive Warrant, the Holder rescinds such Warrant Exchange. In no event shall the Warrant Agent be liable for the Company’s failure to deliver the Definitive Warrant by the Warrant Certificate Delivery Date. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon the date of delivery of the Warrant Certificate Request Notice, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of the Definitive Warrant and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Definitive Warrant shall be deemed for all purposes to contain all of the terms and conditions of the Warrants evidenced by such Definitive Warrant and the terms of this Agreement, other than Section 3(c), shall not apply to the Warrants evidenced by a Definitive Warrant. In the event a beneficial owner requests a Warrant Exchange, upon issuance of the paper Definitive Warrant, the Company shall act as warrant agent and the terms of the paper Definitive Warrant so issued shall exclusively govern in respect thereof. For purposes of clarity, the Company and the Warrant Agent acknowledge and agree that, with respect to: (i) the Definitive Warrants, the terms of the Warrant Certificate for the Definitive Warrant shall set forth all the terms of the Definitive Warrants; and (ii) the Global Warrants, the terms of the Warrant Certificate for the Global Warrant and the terms of this Agreement shall set forth all the terms of the Global Warrants; provided that, in the event of any conflict between the Warrant Certificate and this Agreement, the Warrant Certificate shall control; and provided, further, that all provisions with respect to the rights, duties, protections and liability of the Warrant Agent shall be determined and interpreted solely by the provisions of this Agreement. For purposes of Regulation SHO, a holder whose interest in a Warrant is a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant, shall be deemed to have exercised its interest in such Warrant upon instructing its broker that is a Participant to exercise its interest in such Warrant, except that, if the date of exercise is a date when the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such Warrant Shares at the open of business on the next succeeding date on which the stock transfer books are open.
Section 4. Form of Warrant. The Warrants, together with the form of election to purchase Ordinary Shares (the “Exercise Notice”) and the form of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof, whether a Definitive Warrant or a Global Warrant, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 hereto.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Warrants shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Warrants (other than Definitive Warrants issued pursuant to a Warrant Exchange, which shall not require a countersignature of the Warrant Agent) shall be countersigned by the Warrant Agent either manually or by facsimile signature and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed a Warrant shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Warrant Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Warrant, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Warrant Agent, issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Warrant had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Warrant may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Warrant, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Warrant, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
The Warrant Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at one of its offices, or at the office of one of its agents, books for registration and transfer of the Warrant Certificates issued hereunder, other than the Warrants evidenced by any Definitive Warrant. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective Holders of the Warrant Certificates, the number of warrants evidenced on the face of each of such Warrant Certificate and the date of each of such Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent will create a special account for the issuance of Warrant Certificates. For purposes of clarity, the Warrant Agent shall not be required to keep a book for registration and transfer of Definitive Warrants.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Warrant Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Warrant Certificates. With respect to the Global Warrants, subject to the provisions of the Warrant Certificate and the last sentence of this first paragraph of Section 6 of this Agreement and subject to applicable law, rules or regulations, or any “stop transfer” instructions the Company may give to the Warrant Agent, at any time after the closing date of the Offering, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Termination Date, any Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates or Global Warrant or Global Warrants may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates or Global Warrant or Global Warrants, entitling the Holder to purchase a like number of Ordinary Shares as the Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates or Global Warrant or Global Warrants surrendered then entitled such Holder to purchase. Any Holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Warrant Certificate or Global Warrant shall make such request in writing delivered to the Warrant Agent, and shall surrender the Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates, together with the form of assignment and certificate duly executed and properly completed and such other documentation that the Company or the Warrant Agent may reasonably request, to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose, provided that no such surrender is applicable to the Holder of a Definitive Warrant. Any requested transfer of Global Warrants shall be accompanied by reasonable evidence of authority of the party making such request that may be required by the Warrant Agent. Thereupon the Warrant Agent shall, subject to the last sentence of this first paragraph of Section 6 of this Agreement, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto any Warrant Certificate or Global Warrant, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company and the Warrant Agent may require payment from the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement or any Warrant that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until the Warrant Agent is reasonably satisfied that all such payments have been made.
Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Warrant Certificate, which evidence shall include an affidavit of loss, or in the case of mutilated certificates, the certificate or portion thereof remaining, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity in customary form and amount, and reimbursement to the Warrant Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Warrant Agent and cancellation of the Warrant Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor to the Warrant Agent for delivery to the Holder in lieu of the Warrant Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated; provided, however, that this Section 6(b) shall not apply to a Definitive Warrant which shall be governed by the terms of the Warrant Certificate.
Section 7. Exercise of Warrants; Exercise Price; Termination Date.
(a) The Warrants shall be exercisable commencing on the Initial Exercise Date. The Warrants shall cease to be exercisable and shall terminate and become void, and all rights thereunder and under this Agreement shall cease, at or prior to the Close of Business on the Termination Date. Subject to the foregoing and to Section 7(b) below, the Holder of a Warrant may exercise the Warrant in whole or in part upon providing the items required by Section 7(c) below to the Warrant Agent at the principal office of the Warrant Agent or to the office of one of its agents as may be designated by the Warrant Agent from time to time. In the case of the Holder of a Global Warrant, the Holder shall deliver the executed Exercise Notice and payment of the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Warrant. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, a holder whose interest in a Global Warrant is a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant held in book-entry form through the Depositary (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect exercises by delivering to the Depositary (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that are required by the Depositary (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable).
(b) Upon receipt of an Exercise Notice for a cashless exercise pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Warrant (each, a “Cashless Exercise”), the Company will promptly calculate and transmit to the Warrant Agent the number of Warrant Shares issuable in connection with such Cashless Exercise and deliver a copy of the Exercise Notice to the Warrant Agent, which shall issue such number of Warrant Shares in connection with such Cashless Exercise.
(c) Upon the Warrant Agent’s receipt of the appropriate instruction form for exercise complying with the procedures to effect exercise of Global Warrants that are required by the Depositary, at or prior to the Close of Business on the Termination Date, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Warrant, for the shares to be purchased (other than in the case of a Cashless Exercise), an amount equal to any applicable tax, governmental charge or expense reimbursement referred to in Section 6 by wire transfer, payable to the order of the Warrant Agent, the Company shall cause the Warrant Agent (or the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares) to deliver the Warrant Shares underlying such Warrant to be delivered to or upon the order of the Holder of such Warrant, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such Holder, no later than the Warrant Share Delivery Date. If the Company is then a participant in the DWAC system of the Depositary and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by Holder or (B) the Warrant is being exercised via Cashless Exercise, then the Warrant Shares shall be transmitted by the Warrant Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s broker with the Depositary through its DWAC system. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company becomes obligated to pay any amounts to any Holders pursuant to Section 2(d)(i), 2(d)(iv) or 2(d)(v) of the Warrant, such obligation shall be solely that of the Company and not that of the Warrant Agent. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, except in the case of a Cashless Exercise, if any Holder fails to duly deliver payment to the Warrant Agent of an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Warrant Shares to be purchased upon exercise of such Holder’s Warrant as set forth in Section 7(a) hereof by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company will not be obligated to cause the Warrant Agent (or the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares) to deliver any such Warrant Shares (via DWAC or otherwise) until following receipt of such payment, and the applicable Warrant Share Delivery Date shall be deemed extended by one day for each day (or part thereof) until such payment is delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for warrant exercises under this Agreement within 5 Business Days from receipt by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company.
(d) The Company acknowledges that all funds received by Computershare under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by Computershare in the performance of services (the “Funds”) shall be held by Computershare as agent for the Company and deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by Computershare in its name as agent for the Company. Until paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Computershare will hold the Funds through such accounts in: deposit accounts of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by Standard and Poor’s Corporation (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.). Computershare shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit made by Computershare in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party. Computershare may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits. Computershare shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Company, any Holder or any other Person. Holders of Warrants that are in book entry or electronic form through DTC (or any successor depositary) shall not be required to deliver an ink-original Exercise Notice or medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Exercise Notice.
(e) In case the Holder of any Warrant Certificate exercises fewer than all Warrants evidenced thereby and surrenders such Warrant Certificate in connection with such partial exercise, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrant Shares equivalent to the number of Warrant Shares remaining unexercised may be issued by the Company, and upon written instruction, countersigned by the Warrant Agent and delivered to the Holder of such Warrant Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns in accordance with Section 2(d)(ii) of the Warrant, subject to the provisions of Section 6 hereof; provided, however, that this Section 7(e) shall not apply to a Definitive Certificate, which shall be governed by the terms of the Warrant Certificate.
(f) Cost Basis Information.
(i) In the event of a cash exercise of the Warrants, the Company hereby instructs the Warrant Agent to record cost basis for newly issued Warrant Shares to be equal to the Exercise Price.
(ii) In the event of a cashless exercise, the Company shall provide cost basis for Warrant Shares issued pursuant to a cashless exercise at the time that the Company confirms the number of Warrant Shares issuable in connection with the cashless exercise to the Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Warrant Certificates. All Warrant Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Warrant Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Warrant Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Warrant Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Warrant Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Warrant Agent shall deliver all canceled Warrant Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Warrant Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company, subject to any applicable law, rule or regulation requiring the Warrant Agent to retain such canceled certificates.
Section 9. Certain Representations; Availability of Ordinary Shares or Cash.
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Warrant Agent, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, and the Warrants have been duly authorized, executed and issued by the Company and, assuming due authentication thereof by the Warrant Agent pursuant hereto and payment therefor by the Holders as provided in the Registration Statement, constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits thereof; in each case except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) As of the date hereof and prior to the Offering, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of an unlimited number of Ordinary Shares, of which 18,598,414 Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding. The Company has all necessary authorization to issue the maximum number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, inclusive of any Warrants the Underwriter may acquire upon exercise of its option to purchase additional Ordinary Shares and/or Warrants described in the Registration Statement. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there are no other outstanding obligations, warrants, options or other rights to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any class of capital stock of the Company.
(c) The Company has all necessary authorization to issue the maximum number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, inclusive of any Warrants the Underwriter may acquire upon exercise of its option to purchase additional Ordinary Shares and/or Warrants described in the Registration Statement.
(d) The Warrant Agent will create a special account for the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of Warrants.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Warrant Certificates or the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or governmental charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Warrant Certificates or the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares in a name other than that of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing Warrants surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any Warrants until any such tax or governmental charge shall have been paid (any such tax or governmental charge being payable by the Holder of such Warrant Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction that no such tax or governmental charge is due. The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement or any Warrant that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until the Warrant Agent is reasonably satisfied that all such payments have been made.
(f) The Company shall provide to the Warrant Agent one or more opinion(s) of counsel prior to the Effective Time, which opinion shall state (i) that the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are, as applicable, registered, or subject to a valid exemption from registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) the Warrant Shares, when issued and paid for upon the exercise of the Warrants as contemplated by the Warrants, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Section 10. Record Date of the Ordinary Shares. Upon delivery of an Exercise Notice, the applicable Holder shall be deemed to have become the holder of record for the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) of the Warrants.
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Ordinary Shares or Number of the Company Warrants. The Exercise Price, the number of shares covered by each Warrant and the number of Warrants outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 3 of the Warrant. In the event that at any time, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 3 of the Warrant, the Holder of any Warrant thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Ordinary Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares contained in Section 3 of the Warrant. All Warrants originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price pursuant to the Warrant shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Warrants, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under any Section of this Agreement to determine whether an event leading to an adjustment described in Section 11 or Section 12 of this Agreement has occurred or to calculate any of the adjustments set forth herein.
Section 12. Certification of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Ordinary Shares. Whenever the Exercise Price or the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant is adjusted as provided in Section 11 or 13 of this Agreement, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate to the Warrant Agent and each transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares setting forth the Exercise Price of each Warrant as so adjusted, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly deliver to the Warrant Agent and with each transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) instruct the Warrant Agent to send a brief summary thereof to each Holder of a Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall be fully protected in relying on such certificate and on any adjustment or statement contained therein and shall have no duty or liability with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment or any such event unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not issue fractions of Warrants or distribute a Global Warrant or Warrant Certificates that evidence fractional Warrants. Whenever any fractional Warrant would otherwise be required to be issued or distributed, the actual issuance or distribution shall reflect a rounding of such fraction down to the nearest whole Warrant.
(b) The Company shall not issue fractions of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of Warrants or distribute stock certificates that evidence fractional Ordinary Shares. Whenever any fraction of an Ordinary Share would otherwise be required to be issued or distributed, the actual issuance or distribution in respect thereof shall be made in accordance with Section 2(d)(v) of the Warrant.
Section 14. Conditions of the Warrant Agent’s Obligations. The Warrant Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following to all of which the Company agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the Holders from time to time of the Warrant shall be subject:
(a) | Compensation and Indemnification. The Company agrees promptly to pay the Warrant Agent the compensation detailed on the fee schedule agreed between the Company and the Warrant Agent for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder) by the Warrant Agent in connection with the services rendered hereunder by the Warrant Agent. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel) that may be paid, incurred or suffered by it, or which it may become subject, without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Warrant Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by the Warrant Agent in connection with the execution, acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly, or enforcing its rights hereunder (to the extent not included in the first sentence of this Section 14(a)). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any liability of the Warrant Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Company to the Warrant Agent during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Warrant Agent is being sought. |
(b) | Agent for the Company. In acting under this Agreement and in connection with the Warrants, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the holders or beneficial owners of Warrants. | |
(c) | Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to it, which may include counsel for the Company, and the written advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in the absence of bad faith and in accordance with the advice of such counsel. | |
(d) | Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon any Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper parties. | |
(e) | Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, and its Affiliates, officers, directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, Warrants or the Ordinary Shares with the same rights that it or they would have if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of holders of Warrants or other securities or obligations of the Company as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from acting as trustee under any indenture to which the Company is a party. | |
(f) | No Liability for Interest. Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the Warrant Agent shall have no liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrant Certificates. | |
(g) | No Liability for Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall have no liability with respect to any invalidity of this Agreement or any of the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent’s countersignature thereon). | |
(h) | No Responsibility for Representations. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any of the recitals or representations herein or in the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent’s countersignature thereon), all of which are made solely by the Company. | |
(i) | No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform only such duties as are herein and in the Warrants specifically set forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement or the Warrants against the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its reasonable opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any of the Warrants authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Company in the performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the Warrants or in the case of the receipt of any written demand from a Holder of a Warrant Certificate with respect to such default, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law. | |
(j) | No Special Damages. Warrant Agent shall be liable for any consequential, indirect, punitive, special or incidental damages under any provisions of this Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, punitive, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if Warrant Agent has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages. | |
(k) | Medallion Guarantee. The Warrant Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon (a) any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing; or (b) any law, act, regulation or any interpretation of the same even though such law, act, or regulation may thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or repealed. |
(l) | Ambiguity. In the event the Warrant Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Warrant Agent hereunder, the Warrant Agent, may, in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action, and, so long as it promptly notifies the Company as well as the Person who provided any of the foregoing of such ambiguity, shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to Company, the holder of any Warrant or any other Person for refraining from taking such action, unless the Warrant Agent receives written instructions signed by the Company which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of Warrant Agent. | |
(m) | Survival. The rights and obligations of the parties set forth in this Section 14 and Section 16 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of the Warrants, the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Warrant Agent. |
Section 15. Purchase or Consolidation or Change of Name of Warrant Agent. Any Person into which the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent shall be party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent, shall be the successor to the Warrant Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Warrant Agent under the provisions of Section 17 of this Agreement. In case at the time such successor Warrant Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Warrants shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Warrant Agent and deliver such Warrants so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Warrants shall not have been countersigned, any successor Warrant Agent may countersign such Warrants either in the name of the predecessor Warrant Agent or in the name of the successor Warrant Agent; and in all such cases such Warrants shall have the full force provided in the Warrants and in this Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Warrant Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Warrants shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Warrants so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Warrants shall not have been countersigned, the Warrant Agent may countersign such Warrants either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Warrants shall have the full force provided in the Warrants and in this Agreement.
Section 16. Duties of Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company, by its acceptance hereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Warrant Agent may consult with legal counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Warrant Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in the absence of bad faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company; and such certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or suffered in the absence of bad faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) Subject to the limitation set forth in Section 14 of this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final, non appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).
(d) The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Warrants (except its countersignature thereof) by the Company or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Warrant Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Warrant Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible for the adjustment of the Exercise Price or the making of any change in the number of Ordinary Shares required under the provisions of Section 11 or 13 or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such change or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment or change (except with respect to the exercise of Warrants evidenced by Warrant Certificates after actual notice of any adjustment of the Exercise Price); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares will, when issued, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) Each party hereto agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the other party hereto for the carrying out or performing by any party of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to expend or risk its own funds or to take any action that it believes would expose or subject it to expense or liability or to a risk of incurring expense or liability, unless it has been furnished with assurances of repayment or indemnity satisfactory to it.
(h) The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable and shall be indemnified and held harmless for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of bad faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer, provided Warrant Agent carries out such instructions without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final, non appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).
(i) The Warrant Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Warrant Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Warrants or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Warrant Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(j) The Warrant Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorney or agents, and the Warrant Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorney or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
Section 17. Change of Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30 days’ notice in writing sent to the Company and, if such transfer agent is different than the Warrant Agent or an Affiliate, to each transfer agent of the Ordinary Shares. In the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Warrant Agent terminates, the Warrant Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice thereunder. The Company may remove the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent upon 30 days’ notice in writing, sent to the Warrant Agent or successor Warrant Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Ordinary Shares, and to the Holders of the Warrant Certificates. If the Warrant Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Warrant Agent or by the Holder of a Warrant Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the Holder of any Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Warrant Agent. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a Person (other than a natural person) organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of a state thereof, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise shareholder services powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Warrant Agent a combined capital and surplus (together with its Affiliates) of at least $50,000,000. After appointment, the successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Warrant Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Warrant Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Warrant Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose but such predecessor Warrant Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure (without prompt reimbursement by the Company) or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Warrant Agent and each transfer agent of the Ordinary Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the Holders of the Warrant Certificates. However, failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 17, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent or the appointment of the successor Warrant Agent, as the case may be.
Section 18. Issuance of New Warrants. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrants to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue a new Global Warrant or Warrant Certificates, if any, evidencing Warrants in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price per share and the number or kind or class of shares of stock or other securities or property purchasable under the Global Warrant or Warrant Certificates, if any, made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 19. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made (i) by the Warrant Agent or by the Holder of any Warrant Certificate to or on the Company, (ii) subject to the provisions of Section 17, by the Company or by the Holder of any Warrant Certificate to or on the Warrant Agent or (iii) by the Company or the Warrant Agent to the Holder of any Warrant Certificate, shall be deemed given (a) on the date delivered, if delivered personally, (b) on the first Business Day following the deposit thereof with Federal Express or another recognized overnight courier, if sent by Federal Express or another recognized overnight courier, (c) on the fourth Business Day following the mailing thereof with postage prepaid, if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), and (d) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or email attachment at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day and (e) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or email attachment on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day (provided, however, that email notice shall not constitute effective notice to the Warrant Agent unless receipt is confirmed in writing by the Warrant Agent, or, if no such confirmation is provided by the Warrant Agent, such email is followed by notice sent by overnight courier service to be delivered on the next Business Day following such email), in each case to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) | If to the Company, to: |
Locafy Limited
246A Churchill Avenue
Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia
Email: melvin.tan@locafy.com
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
(b) | If to the Warrant Agent, to: |
Computershare Inc.
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
1462 South 4th Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Attention: George Kalogrides
(c) If to the Holder of any Warrant Certificate, to the address of such Holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. Any notice required to be delivered by the Company to the Holder of any Warrant may be given by the Warrant Agent on behalf of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, where this Agreement provides for notice of any event to a Holder of any Warrant Certificate, for a Global Warrant, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the procedures of the Depositary or its designee.
For any notice delivered by email to be deemed given or made, such notice must be followed by notice sent by overnight courier service to be delivered on the next business day following such email, unless the recipient of such email has acknowledged via return email receipt of such email.
Section 20. Supplements and Amendments.
(a) The Company and the Warrant Agent may from time to time modify, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any Holders of Warrant Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with regard to matters or questions arising hereunder which the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Warrants Certificates in any material respect.
(b) In addition to the foregoing, with the consent of Holders of Warrants entitled, upon exercise thereof, to receive not less than a majority of the Ordinary Shares issuable thereunder, the Company and the Warrant Agent may supplement, amend or modify this Agreement for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates; provided, however, that no modification of the terms (including but not limited to the adjustments described in Section 11 of this Agreement) upon which the Warrants are exercisable or reducing the percentage required for consent to modification of this Agreement may be made without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding warrant certificate affected thereby. As a condition precedent to the Warrant Agent’s execution of any supplement, amendment or modification, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate from a duly authorized officer of the Company that states that the proposed amendment complies with the terms of this Section 20 of this Agreement. The Warrant Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any supplement, amendment or modification that affects the Warrant Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities.
Section 21. Successors. All covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 22. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any Person other than the Company, the Holders of Warrants and the Warrant Agent any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders of the Warrant Certificates.
Section 23. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Warrant issued hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Section 24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.
Section 25. Captions. The captions of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
Section 26. Information. The Company agrees to promptly provide to the Holders of the Warrants any information it provides to all holders of the Ordinary Shares, except to the extent any such information is publicly available on the EDGAR system (or any successor thereof) of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 27. Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, pandemics, epidemics, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, or civil unrest, it being understood that the Warrant Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the transfer agency industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 28. Further Assurances. The Company shall perform, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Warrant Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 29. Confidentiality. The Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public warrant holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement including the fees for services to be provided by the Warrant Agent hereunder shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions).
(Signature Page Follows)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
LOCAFY LIMITED | |||
By: | |||
Name: | Melvin Tan | ||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. and | |||
COMPUTERSHARE INC., collectively as Warrant Agent | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Warrant Agency Agreement]
Annex A: Form of Warrant Certificate Request Notice
WARRANT CERTIFICATE REQUEST NOTICE
To: Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and Computershare Inc., as Warrant Agent for Locafy Limited (the “Company”)
The undersigned Holder of Ordinary Share Purchase Warrants (“Warrants”) in the form of Global Warrants issued by the Company hereby elects to receive a Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants held by the Holder as specified below:
1. | Name of Holder of Warrants in form of Global Warrants: _____________________________ |
2. | Name of Holder in Warrant Certificate (if different from name of Holder of Warrants in form of Global Warrants): ________________________________ |
3. | Number of Warrants in name of Holder in form of Global Warrants: ___________________ |
4. | Number of Warrants for which Warrant Certificate shall be issued: __________________ |
5. | Number of Warrants in name of Holder in form of Global Warrants after issuance of Warrant Certificate, if any: ___________ |
6. | Warrant Certificate shall be delivered to the following address: |
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that, in connection with this Warrant Exchange and the issuance of the Warrant Certificate, the Holder is deemed to have surrendered the number of Warrants in form of Global Warrants in the name of the Holder equal to the number of Warrants evidenced by the Warrant Certificate.
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity: ____________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: ______________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ________________________________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: _________________________________________________
Date: _______________________________________________________________
A-1 |
Exhibit 1: Form of Warrant
Exhibit 21.1
Subsidiaries of Registrant
Name of Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Incorporation | |
Moboom USA Inc. | Delaware |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our report dated November 10, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Locafy Limited contained in the Registration Statement on Form F-1/A. We consent to the use of the aforementioned report in the Registration Statement and prospectus and to the use of our name as it appears under “Experts.”
/s/ GRANT THORNTON AUDIT PTY LTD
Perth, Australia
March 7, 2022
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
F-1
…………..
(Form Type)
Locafy Limited
……………………………………………………..…
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
Security Type | Security Class Title | Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule | Amount Registered | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit | Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2)(3) | Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee | Carry Forward Form Type | Carry Forward File Number | Carry Forward Initial effective date | Filing Fee Previously Paid In Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Newly Registered Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees
to Be Paid | Equity | Units, each consisting of one ordinary share, no par value, and one Warrant | 457 | (o) | $ | 11,500,000 | $92.70 per $1,000,000 | $ | 1,066.06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Ordinary Shares, no par value, included in the Units | 457 | (i) | - | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Warrants included in the Units | 457 | (i) | - | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees to be Paid | Equity | Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants | 457 | (o) | $ | 10,000,000 | $92.70 per $1,000,000 | $ | 927.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees to be Paid | Equity | Representative’s Warrants | 457 | (g) | - | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees to be Paid | Equity | Ordinary Shares underlying the Representative’s Warrants(6) | 457 | (g) | $ | 862,500 | $92.70 per $1,000,000 | $ | 79.95 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees
Previously Paid | Equity | - | 457 | (o) | $ | 10,000,000 | $92.70 per $1,000,000 | $ | 927.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Offering Amounts | $ | 22,362,500 | $ | 2,073.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fees Previously Paid | $ | 927.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fee Offsets | $ | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Fee Due | $ | 1,146.00 |
(1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), based on an estimate of the proposed maximum offering price. |
(2) | Pursuant to Rule 416, the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of additional securities as may be issuable to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
(3) | Includes the aggregate offering price of additional ordinary shares and/or warrants to purchase ordinary shares that may be acquired by the underwriters to cover the option to purchase additional securities, if any. |
(4) | No additional registration fee is payable pursuant to Rule 457(i) under the Securities Act. |
(5) | No additional registration fee is payable pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act. |
(6) | Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act. Represents warrants to purchase a number of ordinary shares up to 6.0% of the aggregate number of ordinary shares sold in this offering. We have calculated the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the ordinary shares underlying the representative’s warrants assuming that such warrants are exercisable at a price per ordinary share equal to 125% of the initial public offering price per Unit. |