As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2021
Registration No. 333-257197
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1
to
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Applied uv, inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 3648 | 84-4373308 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
150 N. Macquesten Parkway
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
(914) 665-6100
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Keyoumars Saeed
Chief Executive Officer
Applied UV, Inc.
150 N. Macquesten Parkway
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
(914) 665-6100
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Ross D. Carmel, Esq. | |
Jeffrey P. Wofford, Esq. | Michael F. Nertney, Esq. |
Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP | Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP |
55 West 39th Street, 18th Floor | 1345 Avenue of the Americas |
New York, New York 10018 | New York, New York 10105 |
Telephone: (212) 658-0458 | Telephone: (212) 370-1300 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer ☒ | Smaller reporting company ☒ |
Emerging growth company ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each
Class of Securities to be Registered |
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of
Registration Fee (2)(3) |
||||||
10.5% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share | $ | 20,700,000 | $ | 2,260 |
(1) | Includes up to $2,700,000 of 10.5% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock to be sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares at the public offering price less the underwriter’s discount. |
(2) | Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) based on the proposed maximum aggregate offering price. |
(3) Previously paid.
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 Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Amendment No. 1 (“Amendment No. 1”) to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-257197) of Applied UV, Inc. (“Registration Statement”) is being filed to change the estimate of certain expenses described in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement and to file certain exhibits. Accordingly, this Amendment No. 1 consists only of the facing page, this explanatory note, Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement, Item 16(a) of Part II of the Registration Statement, the signature page to the Registration Statement and the filed exhibits. The remainder of the Registration Statement is unchanged and has therefore been omitted.
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Part II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table indicates the expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this registration statement, other than the underwriter’s discount and commissions and expenses, all of which will be paid by us. All amounts are estimated except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA filing.
Amount | ||||
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee | $ | 2,260 | ||
FINRA filing fee | $ | 650 | ||
NASDAQ listing fee | $ | 50,000 | ||
Accountants’ fees and expenses | $ | 2,500 | ||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 135,000 | ||
Printing and engraving expenses | $ | 2,000 | ||
Miscellaneous | $ | 7,590 | ||
Total expenses | $ | 200,000 |
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Exhibits: Reference is made to the Exhibit Index following the signature pages hereto, which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated into this Item.
(b) Financial Statement Schedules: All schedules are omitted because the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements and the related notes.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
*Filed herewith.
All other exhibits previously filed or incorporated by reference.
4 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Mount Vernon, State of New York on the 25th day of June, 2021.
APPLIED UV, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Keyoumars Saeed | |
Keyoumars Saeed | ||
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Exhibit 3.8
Delaware
The First State
I, JEFFREY W. BULLOCK, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF “APPLIED UV, INC.”, FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF JUNE, A.D. 2021, AT 3:48 O`CLOCK P.M.
7297699 8100 SR# 20212503629 |
Authentication: 203492168 Date: 06-21-21 |
1 |
State of Delaware | ||
Secretary of State | ||
Division of Corporation | ||
Delivered 03:48 PM 06/17/2021 | ||
FILED 03:48 PM 06/17/2021 | ||
SR 20212482689 - File Number 7297699 |
STATE OF DELAWARE
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK, SETTING FORTH THE POWERS,
PREFERENCES, RIGHTS, QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS AND
RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK
OF
APPLIED UV, INC.
(Pursuant to Sections 15l(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)
Applied UV, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation") does hereby certify:
FIRST: The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended confers upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors") the authority to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series and to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix or alter the designations, powers and preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
SECOND: On March 21, 2019,the Board of Directors duly adopted a resolution creating a series ofpreferred stock having the designation as the Series A Preferred Stock and the number of shares and the powers, preferences and rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof. That resolution was embodied in Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock, Setting Forth The Powers, Preferences, Rights, Qualifications, Limitations And Restrictions Of Such Series Of Preferred Stock of said corporation as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 13, 2019 (SR20196498935; File No. 7297699) (the "Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation").
THIRD: That the Board of Directors of Applied UV, Inc., by unanimous written consent, duly adopted resolutions to amend Section l of the Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designations to read in its entirety as follows:
"Section I. Designation and Number. Of such 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock authorized, 10,000 shares are designated "Series X Super Voting Preferred Stock.""
FOURTH: That the Amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 15l (g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said corporation has caused this certificate to be signed on June I7, 2021.
By: /s/ Max Munn | ||
Name: Max Munn | ||
Title: President |
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Exhibit 3.9
APPLIED UV, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
OF
10.5% SERIES A CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law
Applied UV, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) pursuant to the authority of the Board of Directors as required by Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), provides for a class of its authorized stock known as preferred stock, comprised of 1,000,000 shares, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), issuable from time to time in one or more series;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is authorized by the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation to fix the dividend rights, dividend rate, voting rights, conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting any such series;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to this authority granted to and vested in the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby adopts this Certificate of Designations, Rights and Preferences (the “Certificate of Designations”) for the purpose of creating a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation classified and designated as 10.5% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative rights, powers and preferences, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock as follows:
1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated as “10.5% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock” and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 828,000 shares. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series A Preferred Stock. Such number of shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law stating that such increase or reduction, as the case may be, has been so authorized. The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock.
2. No Maturity, Sinking Fund, Mandatory Redemption. The Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund for the payment of the redemption price or mandatory redemption, and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless the Corporation decides to redeem or otherwise repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock. The Corporation is not required to set aside funds to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock.
3. Ranking. The Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock will rank: (i) senior to all classes or series of our common stock and to all other equity securities issued by us expressly designated as ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock; (ii) on parity with any future class or series of our equity securities expressly designated as ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock; (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by us with terms specifically providing that those equity securities rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up; and; and (iv) effectively junior to all our existing and future indebtedness (including indebtedness convertible into our common stock or preferred stock) and to the indebtedness and other liabilities of (as well as any preferred equity interests held by others in) our existing or future subsidiaries.
4. Dividends.
(a) Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock as to dividend rights, holders of shares of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at the annual rate of 10.5% on $25.00 liquidation preference per share of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative from and including the first date on which any shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock are issued (the “Original Issue Date”), or, if later, the most recent Dividend Payment Date (as defined below) to which dividends have been paid in full (or declared and the corresponding Dividend Record Date (as defined below) for determining stockholders entitled to payment thereof has passed), and shall be payable monthly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing on August 15, 2021; provided, however, that if any Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day (as defined below), then the dividend which would otherwise have been payable on such Dividend Payment Date may be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if paid on such Dividend Payment Date, and no interest or additional dividends or other sums shall accrue on the amount so payable from such Dividend Payment Date to such next succeeding Business Day; provided, further, that no dividends shall accrue on any share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period (as defined below) having a Dividend Record Date (as defined below) before the date such share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock was issued. The amount of any dividend payable on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for any period greater or less than a full Dividend Period shall be prorated and computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stockholder records of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable Dividend Record Date. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, each holder of an outstanding share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive a dividend with respect to any Dividend Record Date equal to the dividend paid with respect to each other share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock that is outstanding on such date. “Dividend Record Date” shall mean the date designated by the Board of Directors for the payment of dividends that is not more than 30 or fewer than 10 days prior to the applicable Dividend Payment Date. “Dividend Payment Date” shall mean the 15th calendar day of each month commencing on August 15, 2021. “Dividend Period” shall mean the respective periods commencing on the fifteenth day of each month of each year and ending on and including the day preceding the fifteenth day of the next succeeding Dividend Period (other than the initial Dividend Period, which shall commence on the Original Issue Date and end on but exclude August 15, 2021, and other than the Dividend Period during which any shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall be redeemed pursuant to Section 6 or Section 7 hereof, which shall end on and include the day preceding the redemption date with respect to the shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock being redeemed). The Corporation shall reserve and set aside in a segregated account sufficient net proceeds from the offering of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock an amount in cash sufficient to pay the dividend payments on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for the first twelve consecutive months following the Original Issue Date.
The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a federal legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, dividends on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall accrue whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends, and whether or not such dividends are authorized or declared.
(c) Except as provided in Section 4(d) or 4(f) below, no dividends shall be declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment, and no other distribution of cash or other property may be declared and made, directly or indirectly, on or with respect to any shares of Common Stock or shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to dividends, on parity with or junior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for any period, nor shall any shares of Common Stock or any other shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on parity with or junior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration, nor shall any funds be paid or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of such shares, and no other distribution of cash or other property may be made, directly or indirectly, on or with respect thereto by the Corporation, unless full cumulative dividends on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods shall have been or contemporaneously are (i) declared and paid or (ii) declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for such payment, except (x) by conversion into or exchange for shares of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, junior to the Series A Preferred Stock; (y) for the redemption of shares of the Corporation’s capital stock pursuant to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to the restrictions upon ownership and transfer of the Corporation’s capital stock; and (z) for a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any other stock that ranks on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(d) Except as provided in Section 4(f) below, when dividends are not paid in full (or declared and a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock and the shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock and each such other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include the redemption or repurchase of shares of any such class or series) shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock and such other class or series of capital stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock and such other class or series of capital stock (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends on such other class or series of capital stock for prior Dividend Periods if such other class or series of capital stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
(e) Holders of shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares of capital stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock as provided herein. Any dividend payment made on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividends due with respect to such shares which remain payable. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock will accrue as of the Dividend Payment Date on which they first become payable.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4 or Sections 6 or 7 and regardless of whether dividends are paid in full (or declared and a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) on the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock or the shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock for any or all Dividend Periods, the Corporation shall not be prohibited or limited from (i) paying dividends on any shares of stock of the Corporation in shares of Common Stock or in shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution and winding up, (ii) converting or exchanging any shares of stock of the Corporation for shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution and winding up, or (iii) purchasing or acquiring shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock.
(g) “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York, are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
5. Liquidation Preference.
(a) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, before any distribution or payment shall be made to holders of shares of Common Stock or any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to rights upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, junior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation legally available for distribution to its stockholders, after payment of or provision for the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to rights upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, senior to the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not authorized or declared) up to the date of payment. In the event that, upon such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the available assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay the full amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on parity with the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock and each such other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to rights upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on parity with the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled. Written notice of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given not fewer than 30 or more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. The consolidation, merger or conversion of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, trust or entity, or the voluntary sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(b) In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation), by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise, is permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law, amounts that would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of holders of shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall not be added to the Corporation’s total liabilities.
6. Redemption.
(a) Subject to Section 7(a) below, the Corporation, at its option, upon notice in accordance with Section 6(d), may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash, as follows: (i) on and after July [*], 2022 but prior to July [*], 2023, at a redemption price of $30.00 per share, (ii) on and after July [*], 2023 but prior to July [*], 2024, at a redemption price of $28.00 per share, (iii) on and after July [*], 2024 but prior to July [*], 2025, at a redemption price of $27.00 per share, (iv) after July [*], 2025 but prior to July [*], 2026, at a redemption price of $26.00 per share and (v) after July [*], 2026, at a redemption price of $25.00, in each case, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not authorized or declared) thereon up to but not including the date fixed for redemption, without interest, to the extent the Corporation has funds legally available therefor (the “Optional Redemption Right”) .
(b) If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 6(a), the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be redeemed pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by lot as determined by the Corporation. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender such Series A Preferred Stock at the place, or in accordance with the book-entry procedures, designated in such notice and shall be entitled to the redemption price per share set forth in Section 6(a) and any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon such redemption following such surrender. If (i) notice of redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock has been given (in the case of a redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock), (ii) the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption, and (iii) irrevocable instructions have been given to pay the redemption price and all accrued and unpaid dividends, then from and after the redemption date, dividends shall cease to accrue on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the holders of such shares shall terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon such redemption, without interest. So long as full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock and any class or series of parity Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods shall have been or contemporaneously are (i) declared and paid, or (ii) declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, nothing herein shall prevent or restrict the Corporation’s right or ability to purchase, from time to time, either at a public or a private sale, all or any part of the Series A Preferred Stock or its common stock at such price or prices as the Corporation may determine, subject to the provisions of applicable law, including the repurchase of shares of Series A Preferred Stock or its common stock in open-market transactions duly authorized by the Board of Directors.
(c) Except as provided in Section 4(f) above, unless full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods shall have been or contemporaneously are (i) declared and paid in cash, or (ii) declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof in cash is set apart for payment, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed pursuant to the Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right (defined below) unless all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed, and the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series A Preferred Stock or any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, junior to the Series A Preferred Stock); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase of Series A Preferred Stock, or any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation or Sections 6 and 10 of this Certificate of Designation or any comparable provision of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to any class or series of capital stock hereinafter classified and designated, or the purchase or acquisition of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
(d) Notice of redemption pursuant to the Redemption Right will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, not fewer than 30 or more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation. No failure to give or defect in such notice shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom such notice was defective or not given. In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series A Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, each such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the redemption price; (iii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed (and, if fewer than all the shares are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iv) the place or places where the certificates, if any, representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (v) procedures for surrendering noncertificated shares of Series A Preferred Stock for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on the date prior to such redemption date; and (vii) that payment of the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid dividends will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Series A Preferred Stock. If fewer than all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed. From and after the date set for redemption, unless the Corporation shall default in the payment of the redemption price: (i) all dividends on the shares designated for redemption in the notice will cease to accumulate; (ii) all rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, except the right to receive the redemption price thereof (including all accumulated and unpaid dividends up to the date prior to the Redemption Date), will cease and terminate; (iii) the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will not thereafter be transferred (except with the consent of the Corporation) on the transfer agent’s books; and (iv) the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.
(e) If a redemption date falls after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business of such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date, and each holder of Series A Preferred Stock that surrenders its shares on such redemption date will be entitled to the dividends accruing after the end of the Dividend Period to which such Dividend Payment Date relates up to but excluding the redemption date(f) All shares of the Series A Preferred Stock redeemed or repurchased pursuant to this Section 5, or otherwise acquired in any other manner by the Corporation, shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series or class.
(f) If any redemption date is not a Business Day, then the redemption price and accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption may be paid on the next Business Day and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accumulate on the amount payable for the period from and after that redemption date to that next Business Day.
(g) Subject to applicable law, the Corporation may purchase shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock in the open market, by tender or by private agreement. Any shares of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock that the Corporation acquires may be retired and re-classified as authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to class or series, and may thereafter be reissued as any class or series of Preferred Stock.
7. Special Optional Redemption by the Corporation.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Delisting Event or Change of Control (each as defined below), the Corporation will have the option upon written notice mailed by the Corporation, postage pre-paid, no fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date and addressed to the holders of record of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation, to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 90 days after the first date on which such Delisting Event occurred or within 120 days after the first date on which the Change of Control occurred, as applicable, for cash at $25.00 per share plus, subject to Section 7(d), accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date (“Special Optional Redemption Right”). No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given. If, on or prior to the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date (each as defined below), as applicable, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of redemption with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock (whether pursuant to the Redemption Right or the Special Optional Redemption Right), the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not have the conversion right described below in Section 9. A “Delisting Event” occurs when, after the original issuance of Series A Preferred Stock, both (i) the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are no longer listed on Nasdaq, the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE AMER”), or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to Nasdaq, the NYSE or the NYSE AMER, and (ii) the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), but any Series A Preferred Stock is still outstanding.
A “Change of Control” is when, after the original issuance of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, each of the following have occurred and are continuing:
(i) the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act , of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of stock of the Corporation entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of the Corporation’s directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and
(ii) following the closing of any transaction referred to in (i) above, neither the Corporation nor the acquiring or surviving entity (or, if in connection with such transaction holders of Common Stock receive Alternative Form Consideration consisting of common equity securities of another entity, such other entity) has a class of common securities (or American depositary receipts representing such securities) listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), or the NYSE American, LLC (the “NYSE AMER”), or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to NASDAQ, the NYSE or the NYSE AMER.
“Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
(b) In addition to any information required by law or by the applicable rules of any exchange upon which the Series A Preferred Stock may be listed or admitted to trading, such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the redemption price; (iii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iv) the place or places where the certificates, if any, representing shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (v) procedures for surrendering noncertificated shares of Series A Preferred Stock for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the date prior to the redemption date; (vii) that payment of the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid dividends will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Series A Preferred Stock; (viii) that the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are being redeemed pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right in connection with the occurrence of a Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, and a brief description of the transaction or transactions constituting such Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable; and (ix) that holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to which the notice relates will not be able to tender such shares of Series A Preferred Stock for conversion in connection with the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, and each share of Series A Preferred Stock tendered for conversion that is selected, prior to the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, for redemption will be redeemed on the related redemption date instead of converted on the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable. If fewer than all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender such Series A Preferred Stock at the place, or in accordance with the book-entry procedures, designated in such notice and shall be entitled to the redemption price of $25.00 per share and any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon such redemption following such surrender.
If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be redeemed pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by lot as determined by the Corporation.
(c) If (i) the Corporation has given a notice of redemption pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right, (ii) the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the Corporation in trust for the benefit of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption, and (iii) irrevocable instructions have been given to pay the redemption price and all accrued and unpaid dividends, then from and after the redemption date, dividends shall cease to accrue on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the holders of such shares shall terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon such redemption, without interest. So long as full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods shall have been or contemporaneously are (i) declared and paid, or (ii) declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, nothing herein shall prevent or restrict the Corporation’s right or ability to purchase, from time to time, either at a public or a private sale, all or any part of the Series A Preferred Stock at such price or prices as the Corporation may determine, subject to the provisions of applicable law, including the repurchase of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in open-market transactions duly authorized by the Board of Directors.
(d) If a redemption date falls after a Dividend Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business of such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date, and each holder of Series A Preferred Stock that surrenders its shares on such redemption date will be entitled to the dividends accruing after the end of the Dividend Period to which such Dividend Payment Date relates up to but excluding the redemption date. Except as provided herein, the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on Series A Preferred Stock for which a notice of redemption has been given.
(e) All shares of the Series A Preferred Stock redeemed or repurchased pursuant to this Section 7, or otherwise acquired in any other manner by the Corporation, shall be retired and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series or class.
(f) All shares of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock redeemed or repurchased pursuant to this Section 7, or otherwise acquired in any other manner by the Corporation, shall be retired and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series or class.
8. Voting Rights.
(a) The Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights, except as set forth in this Section 8.
(b) Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for twelve or more consecutive or non-consecutive monthly periods (a “Preferred Dividend Default”), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of all other classes or series of preferred stock of the Corporation ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred, including the Series A Preferred Stock, and are exercisable (“Parity Preferred”) and with which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together as a single class voting together as a single class, shall be entitled to vote for the election of a total of two additional directors to serve on the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Preferred Directors”) until all dividends accumulated and unpaid on such Series A Preferred for all past Dividend Periods shall have been fully paid. At such time as the holders of Series A Preferred Stock become entitled to vote in the election of Preferred Directors, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting of the Parity Preferred to elect such Preferred Directors and thereafter number of directors serving on the Board of Directors will be increased automatically by such number of Preferred Directors who, when added to the number of existing directors, would constitute a majority of the Board of Directors (unless the number of directors has previously been so increased pursuant to the terms of any class or series of Parity Preferred). For the purposes of determining whether a Preferred Dividend Default has occurred or is continuing, a dividend in respect of Series A Preferred Stock shall be considered timely made if made within two Business Days after the applicable Dividend Payment Date if at the time of such late payment date there shall not be any prior quarterly Dividend Periods in respect of which full dividends were not timely made at the applicable Dividend Payment Date.
(c) A Preferred Director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of Preferred Directors and shall serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies, subject to Section 8(e) or such Preferred Director’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. The election of Preferred Directors will take place at (i) either (A) a special meeting called in accordance with Section 8(b) above or (B) a special meeting called in accordance with Section 8(d) below if the request is received more than 90 days before the date fixed for the Corporation’s next annual or special meeting of stockholders or (C) the next annual or special meeting of stockholders if the request is received within 90 days of the date fixed for the Corporation’s next annual or special meeting of stockholders, and (ii) at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders, or special meeting at which Preferred Directors are to be elected, until the right of holders of Series A Preferred Stock to elect Preferred Directors shall have terminated as specified in Section 8(e).
(d) At any time when holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote in the election of Preferred Directors, the Secretary of the Corporation shall, unless the request is received more than 90 days before the date fixed for the Corporation’s next annual or special meeting of stockholders, call or cause to be called, upon written request of holders of record of at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Parity Preferred with which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together as a single class in the election of Preferred Directors, call a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing Preferred Directors by mailing or causing to be mailed to the stockholders entitled to vote a notice of such special meeting to be held not fewer than ten or more than 45 days after the date such notice is given. The record date for determining holders of the Series A Preferred Stock entitled to notice of and to vote at such special meeting will be the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the day on which such notice is mailed. The holder or holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Parity Preferred with which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together as a single class in the election of Preferred Directors, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the election of the Preferred Directors except as otherwise required by law. Notice of all meetings of stockholders at which holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote in the election of Preferred Directors will be given to such holders at their addresses as they appear in the Corporation’s stock transfer records. At any such meeting or adjournment thereof, in the absence of a quorum, subject to the provisions of any applicable law, the affirmative vote of a majority of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and Parity Preferred with which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together as a single class in the election of Preferred Directors present in person or by proxy, voting together as a single class, shall be sufficient to adjourn the meeting for the election of the Preferred Directors, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. If a Preferred Dividend Default shall terminate after the notice of a special meeting for the purpose of electing Preferred Directors has been given but before such special meeting has been held, the Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such termination, mail or cause to be mailed notice of such termination to holders of the Series A Preferred Stock that would have been entitled to vote at such special meeting.
(e) If and when all accumulated dividends on such Series А Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods shall have been fully paid, the right of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock to elect such additional Preferred Directors shall immediately cease (subject to revesting in the event of each and every Preferred Dividend Default), and, unless there are outstanding shares of Parity Preferred upon which like voting remain exercisable, the term of office of each Preferred Director so elected shall terminate and the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be reduced accordingly. If the rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock to elect Preferred Directors have terminated in accordance with this Section 8(e) after any record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote in the election of such Preferred Directors but before the closing of the polls in such election, holders of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding as of such record date shall not be entitled to vote in such election of Preferred Directors. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by the vote of, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Parity Preferred then entitled to vote together as a single class in the election of Preferred Directors (voting together as a single class). So long as a Preferred Dividend Default shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Director may be filled by written consent of the Preferred Directors or sole Preferred Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of Preferred Directors. Each of the Preferred Directors shall be entitled to one vote on any matter before the Corporation’s board of directors.
(f) So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each other class or series of Parity Preferred with which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together as a single class on such matter (voting together as a single class), given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting, will be required to: (i) authorize, create or issue, or increase the number of authorized or issued number of shares of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation (collectively, “Senior Capital Stock”) or reclassify any authorized shares of capital stock of the Corporation into Senior Capital Stock, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any Senior Capital Stock; or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, including the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of its assets or otherwise (an “Event”), so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock; provided however, with respect to the occurrence of any Event, so long as the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of such Event, the Corporation may not be the surviving entity and the surviving entity may not be a corporation, the occurrence of such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of Series A Preferred Stock, and in such case such holders shall not have any voting rights with respect to the occurrence of any Event. In addition, if the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock receive the greater of the full trading price of the Series A Preferred Stock on the date of an Event or the $25.00 liquidation preference per share of the Series A Preferred Stock plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon pursuant to the occurrence of any Event, then such holders shall not have any voting rights with respect to such Event. If any Event would materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Stock disproportionately relative to other classes or series of Parity Preferred with which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together as a single class on such Event, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, will also be required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote with respect to (A) any increase in the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Corporation, (B) any increase in the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock or the creation or issuance of any other class or series of capital stock or (C) any increase in the number of authorized shares of any other class or series of capital stock; provided that, in each case referred to in clause (A), (B) or (C) above, such capital stock ranks on parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. Except as set forth herein, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights with respect to, and the consent of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be required for, the taking of any corporate action, including an Event, regardless of the effect that such corporate action or Event may have upon the powers, preferences, voting power or other rights or privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock.
(g) The foregoing voting provisions of this Section 8 shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice pursuant to this Certificate of Designation, and sufficient funds, in cash, shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(h) In any matter in which the Series A Preferred Stock may vote together as a single class with holders of all other classes or series of parity preferred stock (as expressly provided herein), each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote per $25.00 of liquidation preference.
9. Conversion. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation, except as provided in this Section 9.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, each holder of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right, unless, on or prior to the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right, to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder (the “Delisting Event Conversion Right” or “Change of Control Conversion Right,” as applicable) on the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, into a number of shares of Common Stock (or equivalent value of alternative consideration) per share of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted (the “Common Stock Conversion Consideration”) equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of (x) the $25.00 liquidation preference per share of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted plus (y) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable (unless the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, is after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividends will be included in such sum) by (ii) the Common Stock Price (as defined herein) and (B) $[*] (the “Share Cap”), subject to the immediately succeeding paragraph.
The Share Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any stock splits (including those effected pursuant to a distribution of the Common Stock), subdivisions or combinations (in each case, a “Share Split”) with respect to the Common Stock as follows: the adjusted Share Cap as the result of a Share Split shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that is equivalent to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Share Cap in effect immediately prior to such Share Split by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after giving effect to such Share Split and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Share Split.
In the case of a Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, pursuant to which shares of Common Stock shall be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (the “Alternative Form Consideration”), a holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversion of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock the kind and amount of Alternative Form Consideration which such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, had such holder held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Common Stock Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable (the “Alternative Conversion Consideration”; and the Common Stock Conversion Consideration or the Alternative Conversion Consideration, as may be applicable to a Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, shall be referred to herein as the “Conversion Consideration”).
In the event that holders of Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, the Conversion Consideration will be deemed to be the kind and amount of consideration actually received by holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock that were voted in such an election (if electing between two types of consideration) or holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock that were voted in such an election (if electing between more than two types of consideration), as the case may be (based on the weighted average of elections), and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of Common Stock are subject, including, without limitation, pro rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable.
The “Delisting Event Conversion Date” or “Change of Control Conversion Date”, as applicable, shall be a Business Day set forth in the notice of Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, provided in accordance with Section 8(c) below that is no less than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which the Corporation provides such notice pursuant to Section 8(c).
The “Common Stock Price” shall be (i) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of Common Stock is solely cash, the amount of cash consideration per share of Common Stock or (ii) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by holders of Common Stock is other than solely cash (x) the average of the closing sale prices per share of Common Stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the Change of Control as reported on the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then traded, or (y) the average of the last quoted bid prices for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group, Inc. or similar organization for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the Change of Control, if the Common Stock is not then listed for trading on a U.S. securities exchange.
The “Common Stock Price” for any Delisting Event will be the average of the closing price per share of our common stock on the 10 consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the Delisting Event.
(b) No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon the conversion of Series A Preferred Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable in respect of the aggregate number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock of any holder that are converted, that holder shall be entitled to receive the cash value of such fractional shares based on the Common Stock Price. If more than one share of Series A Preferred Stock is surrendered for conversion at one time by or for the same holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock so surrendered.
(c) Within 15 days following the occurrence of a Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, a notice of occurrence of the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable, describing the resulting Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right, as applicable, shall be delivered to the holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock at their addresses as they appear on the Corporation’s stock transfer records and notice shall be provided to the Corporation’s transfer agent. No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the conversion of any share of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given. Each notice shall state: (i) the events constituting the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable; (ii) the date of the Delisting Event or Change of Control, as applicable; (iii) the last date on which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock may exercise their Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right, as applicable; (iv) the method and period for calculating the Common Stock Price; (v) the Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable; (vi) that if, on or prior to the Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of the Series A Preferred Stock, the holder will not be able to convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock designated for redemption and such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed on the related redemption date, even if they have already been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right; (vii) if applicable, the type and amount of Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per share of Series A Preferred Stock; (viii) the name and address of the paying agent and the conversion agent; (ix) the procedures that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock must follow to exercise the Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right, as applicable; and (x) the last date on which holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may withdraw shares surrendered for conversion and the procedures that such holders must follow to effect such a withdrawal..
(d) The Corporation shall issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones & Corporation, Inc., Business Wire, PR Newswire or Bloomberg Business News (or, if such organizations are not in existence at the time of issuance of such press release, such other news or press organization as is reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public), or post notice on the Corporation’s website, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first Business Day following any date on which the Corporation provides notice pursuant to Section 8(c) above to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
(e) In order to exercise the Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right, as applicable, a holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be required to deliver, on or before the close of business on the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, the certificates (if any) representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, duly endorsed for transfer, together with a written conversion notice completed, to the Corporation’s transfer agent. Such notice shall state: (i) the relevant Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted; and (iii) that the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be converted pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Certificate of Designation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are held in global form, such notice shall comply with applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Corporation (“DTC”).
(f) Holders of Series A Preferred Stock may withdraw any notice of exercise of a Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right (in whole or in part), as applicable, by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Corporation’s transfer agent prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable. The notice of withdrawal must state: (i) the number of withdrawn shares of Series A Preferred Stock; (ii) if certificated shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been issued, the certificate numbers of the shares of withdrawn Series A Preferred Stock; and (iii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, which remain subject to the conversion notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are held in global form, the notice of withdrawal shall comply with applicable procedures of DTC.
(g) Shares of Series A Preferred Stock as to which the Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right, as applicable, has been properly exercised and for which the conversion notice has not been properly withdrawn shall be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration in accordance with the Delisting Event Conversion Right or Change of Control Conversion Right, as applicable, on the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, unless, on or prior to the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, whether pursuant to its Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right. If the Corporation elects to redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock that would otherwise be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration on a Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable, such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be so converted and the holders of such shares shall be entitled to receive on the applicable redemption date $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the redemption date.
(h) The Corporation shall deliver the applicable Conversion Consideration no later than the third Business Day following the Delisting Event Conversion Date or Change of Control Conversion Date, as applicable.
(i) The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation or any other entity, except as otherwise provided herein.
10. Record Holders. The Corporation and its transfer agent may deem and treat the record holder of any Series A Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor its transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
11. No Preemptive Rights. No holders of the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock will, as holders of Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for Common Stock or any other security of the Corporation.
12. Record Holders. The Corporation and the transfer agent for the Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor the transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
13. Exclusion of Other Rights. The Series A Preferred Stock shall not have any preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption other than expressly set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and this Certificate of Designation.
14. Headings of Subdivisions. The headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.
15. Severability of Provisions. If any preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth in this Certificate of Designation are invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, all other preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of Series A Preferred Stock set forth in this Certificate of Designation which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable provision thereof shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect and no preferences or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock herein set forth shall be deemed dependent upon any other provision thereof unless so expressed therein.
[Signature on Following Page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed in its name and on its behalf on this ______ day of July, 2021.
Applied UV, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Keyoumars Saeed | ||
Chief Executive Officer | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
June 25, 2021
Board of Directors
Applied
UV, Inc.
150 N. Macquesten Parkway
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
RE: 10.5% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Applied UV, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on June 21, 2021 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in connection with the offering of 720,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s 10.5% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), excluding 108,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock sold to cover over-allotments, if any (the “Over-allotment Option”), upon the closing of the public offering pursuant to which the Registration Statement relates (together, the Shares and the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock covered by the Over-allotment Option are referred to herein as the “Securities”).
The Securities are to be sold by the Company pursuant to definitive underwriting agreements approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, by and between the Company and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. and EF Hutton, a division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (the “Underwriting Agreement”). This opinion is being furnished to you in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and may be relied upon by all purchasers of the Securities in the offering described in the Prospectus (as defined below).
You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the Registration Statement. For purposes of rendering that opinion, we have examined: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the form of Underwriting Agreement; (iii) the Company’s current Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as well as the Certificate of Designation relating to the Series A Preferred Stock (as amended, the “Charter”) and Bylaws, each of which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (v) the records of the corporate actions of the Company relating to the Registration Statement and the authorization for issuance and sale of the Securities, and matters in connection therewith; and (vi) the Company’s stock ledgers. We have reviewed such other matters and made such other inquiries as we have deemed necessary to render the opinions expressed herein. For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that each document submitted to us is accurate and complete, that each such document that is an original is authentic, that each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, the conformity to the original or final versions of the documents submitted to us as copies or drafts, including, without limitation, the Charter and that all signatures on each such document are genuine.
In rendering our opinion below, we have also assumed that: (i) the Company will have sufficient authorized and unissued shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the time of the initial closing of the public offering and at the time of the exercise of the Over-allotment Option; (ii) each Underwriting Agreement, as executed, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each of the parties thereto (other than the Company), enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms; (iii) the issuance of the Securities will be duly noted in the Company’s stock ledger upon their issuance; (iv) the Company will receive consideration for the Securities offered and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (whether upon the initial issuance or the exercise of the Over-allotment Option) at least equal to the par value of such share of the Series A Preferred Stock and in the amount required by the Underwriting Agreement; and (v) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the Underwriting Agreement, the Registration Statement and the authorization for issuance and sale of the Securities, and matters in connection therewith, have not been revoked, rescinded or amended as of the date hereof and are in full force and effect. We have not verified any of those assumptions.
Our opinions set forth below are limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, provided that the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement that is declared effective by the Commission (the “Prospectus”), required by applicable law have been delivered and filed as required by such laws, it is our opinion that:
1. The Shares are duly authorized for issuance by the Company and, when issued and paid for as described in the Registration Statement and the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. The shares of the Series A Preferred Stock subject to the Over-allotment Option have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor as described in the Registration Statement and the Underwriting Agreement, upon the exercise of the Over-allotment Option in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following additional assumptions:
(i) The Registration Statement and any amendment thereto (including any post-effective amendment) has become effective under the Securities Act, and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated, suspended or rescinded;
(ii) All Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement will be issued and sold (a) in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations and solely in the manner provided in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and (b) only upon payment of the consideration fixed therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement.
We assume no obligation to update or supplement any of our opinions to reflect any changes of law or fact that may occur. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm in the related Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving our consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP | |
Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP |
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Exhibit 1.1
______ SHARES OF
10.5% SERIES A CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK
OF
APPLIED UV, INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
________ __, 2021
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. |
As the Representative of the |
Several underwriters, if any, named in Schedule I hereto |
640 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor |
New York, New York 10019 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Applied UV, Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of Delaware (collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, including, without limitation, all entities disclosed or described in the Registration Statement as being subsidiaries or affiliates of Applied UV, Inc., 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 Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. is acting as representative to the several Underwriters (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 Shares as soon as the Representative deems it advisable to do so. The Public Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus.
It is further understood that you will act as the Representative for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Closing Shares and, if any, the Option Shares in accordance with this Agreement.
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ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, (a) capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Certificate of Designation (as defined herein) and (b) 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.
“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.
“Certificate of Designation” means the Certificate of Designation to be filed prior to the Closing by the Company with the Secretary of State of Delaware in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Closing Shares 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 Shares, 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 Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a).
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“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Company Auditor” means Adeptus Partners LLC, with offices located at 733 Route 35 N, Suite A, Ocean, New Jersey 07712.
“Company Counsel” means Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP, with offices located at 55 West 39th Street, 18th floor, New York, New York 10018.
“Effective Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f).
“EGS” means Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, with offices located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105.
“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.
“Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock, options, restricted stock units or other equity awards to employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to any stock or option plan or other equity award plan duly adopted for such purpose by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Company, (b) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock 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, (c) shares of Common Stock or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued in return for services rendered to the Company, provided that such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith within 90 days following the Closing Date, provided that the aggregate number of shares and/or warrant shares underlying any warrants issued pursuant to this subsection (c) shall not exceed 10,000 shares and/or warrant shares, and (d) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith within 60 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 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
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“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(i).
“Indebtedness” means (a) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (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 $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP.
“Liens” means a lien, charge, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.
“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).
“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.
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“Option Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).
“Over-Allotment 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.
“Preferred Stock” means up to _____ shares of the Company’s 10.5% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the Certificate of Designation.
“Preferred Stock Agency Agreement” means the addendum to the Company’s Certificate of Appointment of VStock Transfer, LLC as Transfer Agent, and Registrar and Paying Agent Agreement with the Transfer Agent, pursuant to which the Transfer Agent agrees to act as transfer agent and paying agent for the Preferred Stock.
“Preliminary Prospectus” means, if any, any preliminary prospectus relating to the Public Shares included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b).
“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 included in the Registration Statement.
“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 Shares” means, collectively, the Closing Shares and, if any, the Option Shares.
“Registration Statement” means, collectively, the various parts of the registration statement prepared by the Company on Form S-1 (File No. 333-257197) with respect to the Public Shares, each 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 or incorporated by reference into such registration statement, and includes any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).
“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
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“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” means any registration statement prepared by the Company registering additional Public Shares, which was filed with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof and became automatically effective pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.
“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(i).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Share Purchase Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b).
“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.
“Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.
“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 the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Certificate of Designation, the Preferred Stock Agency Agreement, and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
“Transfer Agent” means VStock Transfer, LLC and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
“Underwriter’s 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.
“Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
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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 _______ shares of Preferred Stock and each Underwriter agrees to purchase, severally and not jointly, at the Closing, the number of shares of Preferred Stock (the “Closing Shares”) set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereof;
(b) The aggregate purchase price for the Closing Shares shall equal the amount set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriter’s Closing Purchase Price”). The purchase price for one Closing Share shall be $______ per Closing Share (the “Share Purchase Price”); and
(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 Shares and the Company shall deliver the other items required pursuant to Section 2.3 deliverable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.3 and 2.4, the Closing shall occur at the offices of EGS (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) or such other location as the Company and Representative shall mutually agree. The Public Shares are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (the “Offering”).
2.2 Over-Allotment Option.
(a)For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Closing Shares, the Representative is hereby granted an option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase, in the aggregate, up to ______ shares of Preferred Stock (the “Option Shares”) at the Share Purchase Price.
(b) In connection with an exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, 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 (the aggregate purchase price to be paid on an Option Closing Date, the “Option Closing Purchase Price”).
(c) The Over-Allotment 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 Shares within forty-five (45) days after the Execution Date. An Underwriter will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option by the Representative. The Over-Allotment 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 to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Shares (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 EGS 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 Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, each Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-Allotment 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 specified in such notice. The Representative may cancel the Over-Allotment Option at any time prior to the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option by written notice to the Company.
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2.3 Deliveries. The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Underwriter (if applicable) 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, a legal opinion of Company Counsel addressed to the Underwriters, including, without limitation, a negative assurance letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto and as to the Closing Date and as to each Option Closing Date, if any, a bring-down opinion from Company Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative;
(iii) At the Closing Date, the Preferred Stock Agency Agreement duly executed by the parties thereto;
(iv) At the Closing Date, evidence of the filing and acceptance of the Certificate of Designation from the Secretary of State of Delaware;
(v) 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;
(vi) On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, the duly executed and delivered Officer’s Certificate, substantially in the form required by Exhibit E attached hereto; and
(vii) On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, the duly executed and delivered Secretary’s Certificate, substantially in the form required by Exhibit F attached hereto.
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2.4 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 2.3 of this Agreement;
(iv) on the Closing Date, the Company shall have changed the name of its Series A Super Voting Preferred Stock to Series X Super Voting Preferred Stock;
(v) on the Closing Date, the Company shall have established a segregated account that will be funded, on the Closing Date, from the proceeds of the Offering sufficient to pre-fund dividend payments on the Preferred Stock for the first twelve consecutive months;
(vi) 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;
(vii) by the Execution Date, if required by FINRA, 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;
(viii) the Closing Shares and the Option Shares have been approved for listing on the Trading Market; and
(ix) prior to and on each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any: (i) 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; (ii) 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 or state 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; (iii) 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 (iv) the Registration Statement and 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.
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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 SEC Reports. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable. 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.
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(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 it is a party and to file the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware 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, the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, 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 stockholders 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 duly executed by the Representative and 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 filing of the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the issuance and sale of the Public Shares, 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 and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company represents that all rights pursuant to the April 2, 2020 agreement with Network 1 Financial Services, Inc. have been terminated and that there are no outstanding rights of first negotiation, rights of first refusal, rights of participation, market standstills or “tail” rights with respect to the Company.
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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, 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 filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) application(s) to each applicable Trading Market for the listing of the shares of Preferred Stock for trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby, and (iv) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).
(f) Registration Statement. The Company has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, including any related Prospectus or Prospectuses, for the registration of the Public Shares 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 _______ __, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, if any, which were filed under the Exchange Act, on or before the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference in this Agreement to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Prospectus, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included,” “described,” “referenced,” “set forth” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information, if any, that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, as the case may be. 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. For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company will not, without the prior consent of the Representative, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
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(g) Issuance of Securities. The Public Shares are 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 holder of the Public Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The Public Shares 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 Public Shares as been duly and validly taken. The Public Shares conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
(h) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the SEC Reports. Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. 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 set forth in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Public Shares will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock 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. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares were 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 stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Public Shares. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.
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(i) SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the Prospectus, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all information and footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the SEC Reports 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, the Prospectus Supplement or the SEC Reports or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. 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, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the SEC Reports, 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 (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to 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 Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a material 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, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
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(j) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock, (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans and (vi) no officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Public Shares contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least 1 Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made. Unless otherwise disclosed in an SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money other than in the ordinary course of business; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.
(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, 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 Public Shares or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty in the past ten years. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
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(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 U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(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 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, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (each, a “Material Permit”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written 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, local and all foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects.
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(o) Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all real property and all personal property that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) 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 (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP, and the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are, to the Company’s knowledge, held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, except where failure to be in compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Intellectual Property. To their knowledge, the Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to 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 SEC Reports, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person except as could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(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 SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from, any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.
(s) Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material aspects 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 as may be applicable to a “smaller reporting company.” The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and the Subsidiaries have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and the Subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
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(t) Certain Fees. Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, 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 stockholders 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) with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents 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. 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.
(u) Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Public Shares 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.
(v) Registration Rights. No Person has any right to cause the Company or any Subsidiary to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(w) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Preferred Stock is 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 Preferred Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not received notice from any Trading Market on which the Preferred Stock is listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. 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 Preferred Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees of the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.
(x) Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and the Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable as a result of the Underwriters and the Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents.
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(y) Disclosure; 10b-5. The Registration Statement (and any further documents to be filed with the Commission) contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, if any, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange 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 Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, each as of its respective date, comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations. Each of the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, as amended or supplemented, did not and will not contain as of the date thereof any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The SEC Reports, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations, and none of such documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (with respect to the SEC Reports incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement), in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. To the knowledge of the Company, 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. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any underwriter information provided for use in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. 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 Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits or schedules to the Registration Statement, which have not been described or filed as required. The press releases disseminated by the Company during the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement taken as a whole do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made and when made, not misleading.
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(z) No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Public Shares to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.
(aa) 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 net proceeds from the sale of the Public Shares 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 SEC Reports sets 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.
(bb) Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the Company or any Subsidiary has no knowledge of any basis for any such claim. 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” means all federal, state, 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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(cc) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company has knowledge)which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of FCPA. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the FCPA.
(dd) Accountants. To the knowledge and belief of the Company, the Company Auditor (i) is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) shall express its opinion with respect to the financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. The Company Auditor has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
(ee) Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company's knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department.
(ff) 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 Representative’s request.
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(gg) 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.
(hh) Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.
(ii) 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 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 become inaccurate and incorrect.
(jj) FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge, 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 EGS if it learns that any officer, director or owner of 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member firm.
(kk) Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or EGS shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
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(ll) Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 captioned “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.” 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. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as “independent” as defined under the rules of the Trading Market.
(mm) Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands, or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all permits licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where in each clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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), the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, 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 Public Shares other than the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement, and copies of the documents incorporated by reference therein. 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 Federal 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 and 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 Public Shares in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Shares 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 a period of three years from the Execution Date, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the registration of the Preferred Stock under the Exchange Act. The Company will not deregister the Preferred Stock under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
(d) Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Public Shares that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 of the rules and regulations 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 of the Securities Act, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
4.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act such number of copies of each Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
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4.4 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Underwriters. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus until nine (9) months from the Execution Date, and will notify the Underwriters 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 Public Shares 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 or 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.
4.5 Expenses of the Offering.
(a)General Expenses Related to 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 Public Shares to be sold in the Offering (including the Option Shares) with the Commission; (b) all FINRA Public Offering Filing System fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (c) all fees and expenses relating to the listing of such Closing Shares and Option Shares on the Trading Market and such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Representative together determine; (d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of such Public Shares 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; (e) 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, Prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final Prospectuses as the Representative may reasonably deem necessary; (f) the costs and expenses of the Company’s public relations firm; (g) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering the Public Shares; (h) fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent for the Public Shares (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company and the fees and expenses pursuant to the Preferred Stock Agency Agreement); (i) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; (j) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (k) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives; (l) the Underwriters’ costs of mailing prospectuses to prospective investors; and (m) the costs associated with advertising the Offering in the national editions of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times after the Closing Date. 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.
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(b) Expenses of the Representative. The Company further agrees that, in addition to the fees and expenses payable pursuant to Section 4.5(a), on the Closing Date it will (i) reimburse the Representative for its reasonable and accountable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Representative related to the Offering in an amount up to $105,000 in the aggregate, and (ii) pay the Representative a management fee in cash equal to 2.0% of the gross proceeds raised in the Offering, each of which shall be paid by deduction from the gross proceeds of the Offering contemplated herein.
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.
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, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Public Shares.
4.9 Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (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 existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
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4.10 Accountants. The Company shall continue to retain a nationally recognized independent certified public accounting firm for a period of at least three years after the Execution Date. The Underwriters acknowledge that the Company Auditor, and that after the Execution Date Mazars USA LLP is acceptable to the Underwriters.
4.11 FINRA. 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.
4.12 No Fiduciary Duties. The parties acknowledge and agree that their respective rights and obligations are 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 parties acknowledge 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 shares and the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose, or account to the Company for, any of such additional financial interests. The parties hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the parties may have against the other with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.
4.13 Board Composition and Board Designations. The Company shall ensure that: (i) 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 for smaller reporting companies and with the listing requirements of the Trading Market and (ii) if applicable, 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.
4.14 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. At the request of the Representative, by 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof, 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 such Underwriter, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, conditioned 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 the Representative’s prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the first business day following the 45th day following the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.
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4.15 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 Public Shares 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 Public Shares could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Public Shares.
4.16 Reservation of Preferred Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Preferred Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue Option Shares pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option.
4.17 Listing of Shares. The Company hereby agrees to use reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing or quotation of the Common Stock on the Trading Market on which it is currently listed, and concurrently with the Closing, the Company shall apply to list or quote all of the Public Shares on such Trading Market and promptly secure the listing of all of the Public Shares on such Trading Market. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other Trading Market, it will then include in such application all of the Public Shares, and will take such other action as is necessary to cause all of the Public Shares to be listed or quoted on such other Trading Market as promptly as possible. The Company will then take all action reasonably necessary to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on a Trading Market and will comply in all material respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of the Trading Market. The Company agrees to maintain the eligibility of the Common Stock 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.
4.18 Subsequent Equity Sales.
(a)From the date hereof until the ninety (90) day anniversary of the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall offer, pledge, issue, sell, contract to sell, purchase, contract to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly (i) any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents; or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or (iii) file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the offering of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents.
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(b) From the date hereof until the one (1) year anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (or a combination of units thereof) involving a Variable Rate Transaction. “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company (i) issues or sells any debt or equity securities that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive, additional shares of Common Stock either (A) at a conversion price, exercise price or exchange rate or other price that is based upon, and/or varies with, the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity securities or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock or (ii) enters into, or effects a transaction under, any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit or an at-the-market offering or similar facility, whereby the Company may issue securities at a future determined price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the ninety (90) day anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company shall be permitted to enter into an “at-the-market” offering facility (an “ATM”) with the Representative; provided further that there is no restriction on the Company entering into an ATM on and after the six (6) month anniversary of July 1, 2021. Any Underwriter shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.
(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.18 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance, except that no Variable Rate Transaction shall be an Exempt Issuance.
4.19 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.
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4.20 Testing-the-Waters Communication. Neither the Company nor the Representative have engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with entities that are (or the Company or the Representative, as applicable, reasonably believes are) qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are (or the Company or the Representative, as applicable, reasonably believes are) accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act. The Company has not authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule II hereto.
4.21 Other Securities. So long as any Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary thereof shall redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any securities that rank junior in priority to the Preferred Stock. So long as any Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary thereof shall directly or indirectly pay or declare any dividend or make any distribution upon (other than dividends due and paid in the ordinary course on preferred stock of the Company at such times when the Company is in compliance with its payment and other obligations under the Certificate of Designation), nor shall any distribution be made in respect of, any securities that rank junior in priority to the Preferred Stock as long as any dividends due on the Preferred Stock remain unpaid, nor shall any monies be set aside for or applied to the purchase or redemption (through a sinking fund or otherwise) of any securities that rank junior in priority to the Preferred Stock or securities pari passu with the Preferred Stock.
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 Shares or Option Shares, 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 Shares or Option Shares, 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 Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of Closing Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Closing Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Closing Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Closing Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of Closing Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Closing Shares or Option Shares, 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 Shares (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective 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 Public Shares, 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 Public Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state 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. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, if any, 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 Shares 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 Shares 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, based upon an opinion of their respective counsel, 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.
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 Public Shares 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 under the Securities Act 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 under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may 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 Public Shares 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.
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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 reasonable 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 that materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets, 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 reasonable opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Public Shares, 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 Representative’s reasonable judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Public Shares or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Public Shares.
(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 EGS up to $ 25,000 (provided, however, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement).
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(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 Prospectus Supplement, 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, dated March 15, 2021 (the “Engagement Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Representative, shall continue to be effective and the terms therein, including, without limitation, Section 4(b) and Section 5 with respect to any future offerings, shall continue to survive and be enforceable by the Representative 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 date 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 date 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.
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.
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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. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. 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 state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, State of New York, 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, suit 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 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, suit 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 Public Shares.
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.
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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.
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 shares of Preferred Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Preferred Stock 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 Pages Follow)
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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,
APPLIED UV, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
Address for Notice:
150 N. Macquesten Parkway
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Copy to:
Ross D. Carmel, Esq.
Jeffrey P. Wofford, Esq.
Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP
55 West 39th Street, 18th Floor
New York New York 10018
Accepted on the date first above written.
LADENBURG THALMANN & CO. INC.
As the Representative of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
By: Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
By:
Name: Nicholas Stergis
Title: Managing Director
Address for Notice:
640 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attn: General Counsel
Copy to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
E-mail: mnertney@egsllp.com
Attention: Michael Nertney
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SCHEDULE I
Schedule of Underwriters
Underwriters | Closing Shares | Closing Purchase Price |
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. | $ | |
Total | $ |
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SCHEDULE II
Written Testing-the-Waters Communication
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