UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 25, 2022

 

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

File No. 333-253073

 

90-0471969

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

  

125 Park Avenue, 25th Floor New York, NY

 

10017

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 (Zip Code)

 

(212) 921-2100

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ☒ 

  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

  

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On February 25, 2022, Charge Enterprises, Inc. (sometimes referred to herein as “we,” “us,” “our” or similar terms) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with an investment vehicle managed by an affiliate of Island Capital Group LLC (the “Investor”), pursuant to which we issued 3,856,000 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”).

 

The securities sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement are issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The Investor represented that it is an accredited investor and that it is acquiring the Series C Preferred Stock for investment purposes and not with a view to any distribution of such securities in violation of the United States federal securities laws. Neither this Current Report on Form 8-K, nor any Exhibit attached hereto, is an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein.

 

Reference to Transaction Documents

 

The following descriptions of the Purchase Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation (as defined herein), the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) dated February 25, 2022, and the Amendment, Consent and Waiver dated February 25, 2022 (the “Amendment, Consent and Waiver”), and the transactions contemplated thereby, do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Amendment, Consent and Waiver (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), copies of which are filed as Exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Transaction Documents were made only for purposes of such agreements and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Transaction Documents, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties. Accordingly, the Transaction Documents are incorporated herein by reference only to provide information regarding the terms of the Transaction Documents, and not to provide any other factual information regarding us or our business, and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures in our periodic reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

The Purchase Agreement

 

On February 25, 2022, we entered into and consummated the Purchase Agreement to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $10,845,000 from the Investor to provide us with additional working capital by the issuance and sale of 3,856,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock with a stated value of $3.125 per share (the “Stated Value”) for an aggregate Stated Value of $12,050,000.

 

In addition to representations, warranties and covenants typical for transactions similar to those contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, we have granted to the Investor the right to participate in any offer and sale we conduct until February 25, 2025 of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), including securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or debt securities.  The Investor shall have the right to participate in up to 25% of any such future financing on the same terms, conditions and price provided for in such financing.

 

 
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The Series C Preferred Stock

 

A Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations (the “Certificate of Designation”), designating 2,370,370 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock setting forth the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock created thereby, was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 20, 2021.

 

On February 25, 2022, we filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock with the Delaware Secretary of State (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation”), to, among other things, increase the number of authorized shares of Series C Preferred Stock to 6,226,370 shares.  There has been no increase in the authorized shares of our aggregate capital stock effected by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation.

 

The following is a summary of the material terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation and the Series C Preferred Stock, including the material changes to the Certificate of Designation effected by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation:

 

Liquidation Preference

 

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders of the Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a liquidation distribution (the “Liquidation Preference”) per share equal to the Stated Value of $3.125 per share, plus all accrued but unpaid dividends.  The Liquidation Preference is senior in liquidation rights to the holders of our Common Stock.  The Stated Value is subject to adjustment as described in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation.

 

Dividends

 

Holders of our Series C Preferred Stock will receive a monthly dividend at a fixed annual rate of 6.00% of the Liquidation Preference, or $0.1875 per share of Series C Preferred Stock per year, payable, at our option, in cash or in shares of our Common Stock valued at the conversion price.

 

Voting

 

Except as otherwise provided in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation or as otherwise required by law, holders of the Series C Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights, however, we shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of all the then outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock:

 

 

·

alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series C Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation,

 

·

amend our Certificate of Incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that materially adversely affects any rights of any holder of Series C Preferred Stock, or

 

·

enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

 
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Optional Conversion

 

Each share of Series C Preferred Stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into such number of shares of our Common Stock equal to the Stated Value divided by the conversion price of $3.125 per share.  Therefore, each share of Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into one share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation.  The holder may convert Series C Preferred Stock at any time after the Common Stock issuable upon conversion are freely transferable under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or other comparable law, including pursuant to a resale Securities Act registration statement.  The holder is prohibited from converting the Series C Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock if, as a result of such conversion, the holder, together with its affiliates, would own more than 9.99% of the total number of shares of our Common Stock then issued and outstanding (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”).  The holder may reset the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to a higher or lower number upon providing written notice to us.  Such notice will be effective 61 days after delivery to us.

 

Forced Conversion

 

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation modified the Certificate of Designation so that, in the event the closing price of the Common Stock exceeds $6.25, subject to adjustment, for at least five consecutive trading days, we may, within ten trading days’ notice, cause each holder to convert all or part of such holder’s Series C Preferred Stock plus all accrued but unpaid dividends for shares of Common Stock.  However, we may not effect such forced conversion unless there is an effective Securities Act registration statement covering the Common Stock issuable upon conversion or such Common Stock is eligible for resale under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

Optional Redemption

 

On ten trading days’ notice to the holders, we may redeem for cash the Series C Preferred Stock in whole or, from time to time, in part at our option, at the sum of $3.125 per share of Series C Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment, plus accrued but unpaid dividends.  Holders may elect to convert the Series C Preferred Stock to Common Stock during such notice period.

 

Three Year Redemption

 

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation modified the Certificate of Designation so that on the third anniversary of the issuance of Series C Preferred Stock to a holder, we shall, subject to ten days’ prior notice from such holder, convert all of such holder’s Series C Preferred Stock into our Common Stock, or at our option redeem such Series C Preferred Stock for cash, in the aggregate redemption amount of $3.125 per share of Series C Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment, plus accrued but unpaid dividends, plus additional cash consideration in order for the holder to achieve a 20% IRR (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation) (the “Three Year Redemption Amount”).

 

Furthermore, any such holder who has not so elected to have its Series C Preferred Stock redeemed or converted on such third anniversary may, at any time thereafter, elect to cause us to redeem or convert, at our option, for the Post-Three Year Redemption Amount (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation).

 

If we elect to convert the Series C Preferred Stock to Common Stock, the conversion price is based on the lower of the conversion price then in effect or the volume weighted average price of our Common Stock for the prior 44-day trading period, provided, however, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion may not exceed $3.125 per share of Series C Preferred Stock then outstanding divided by $1.00. 

 

 
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The Registration Rights Agreement

 

The Registration Rights Agreement was executed in connection with the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock to the Investor requiring us to file no later than August 24, 2022, and cause to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as possible thereafter, a resale Securities Act registration statement for the offer and resale of the Common Stock underlying the Series C Preferred Stock.  If we fail to have it filed by such date, or if we fail to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until all of such shares of Common Stock have been sold or are otherwise able to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any volume or manner of sale restrictions, then we will be obligated to pay liquidated damages to the holders of such securities of $75,000, in addition to any other rights such holders may have, upon the occurrence of any such event and on each monthly anniversary thereafter until the event is cured. The Registration Rights Agreement also contains mutual indemnifications by us and the holders of registrable securities thereunder, which we believe are customary for transactions of this type.

 

The Amendment, Consent and Waiver

 

We are party with various investors in certain investment agreements and instruments pursuant to which such investors are entitled to rights and privileges.  To effect the transactions contemplated by the capital raise described above, we obtained, pursuant to that certain Amendment, Consent and Waiver dated February 25, 2022 (the “Amendment, Consent and Waiver”), certain amendments, consents and waivers, including:

 

 

·

consent for amending and restating the Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation;

 

·

amendment to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2021, to require the filing date for registration of certain securities issued under such financing not later than May 15, 2022;

 

·

waiver through May 15, 2022 of penalties pursuant to that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 19, 2021 since we have not yet filed or have had declared effective a registration statement for the resale of certain securities issued under such financing; and

 

·

grant to the purchasers of Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 17, 2021, the right to participate in any offer and sale we conduct of our Common Stock, including securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or debt securities on or before February 25, 2025. Such purchasers shall be entitled to participate in their pro rata portion of up to 25% in any such future financing on the same terms, conditions and price provided for in such financing.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 2.03.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 3.02.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 3.03.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 5.03.

 

 
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Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On March 3, 2022, we issued a press release regarding the transactions described above under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.  A copy of this press release is included as an Exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information, including the press release, furnished under this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing by us under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.

 

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events or our future performance.  Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “continues”, “forecasts”, “projects”, “predicts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “targets” or “believes”, or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.  All forward-looking statements, including those herein, are qualified by this cautionary statement.

 

Although we believe that the expectations expressed in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include our business plans and strategies, our future business development, market acceptance of electric vehicles, our ability to generate profits and positive cash flow, changes in government regulations and government incentives, subsidies, or other favorable government policies, and other risks discussed in our filings with the SEC.  Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking statements.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K speak only as of the date hereof or as of the date or dates specified in such statements.  For more information on us, investors are encouraged to review our public filings on OTC Market at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CRGE/overview.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

 

 
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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No. 

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock filed on February 25, 2022

 

 

 

10.1*

 

Securities Purchase Agreement dated February 25, 2022 by and between Charge Enterprises, Inc. and the investor signatory thereto

 

 

 

10.2*

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated February 25, 2022 by and between Charge Enterprises, Inc. and the investor signatory thereto

 

 

 

10.3

 

Amendment, Consent and Waiver by and between Charge Enterprises, Inc. and the signatories thereto dated February 25, 2022

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release dated March 3, 2022

 

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

________________ 

* Schedules omitted pursuant to item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request, provided, however, that the registrant may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act, as amended, for any schedule or exhibit so furnished.

 

 
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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

    
Dated: March 3, 2022By:/s/ LEAH SCHWELLER

 

Leah Schweller 
  Chief Financial Officer 
    

 

 

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EXHIBIT 3.1

 

State of Delaware

Secretary of State

Division of Corporations

Delivered 12:52 PM 02/25/2022

FILED 12:52 PM 02/25/2022

SR 20220723044 – File Number 3785962

  

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCE AND RIGHTS OF

SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 242 OF THE

DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

The undersigned, Andrew Fox, does hereby certify that:

 

1.  He is the Chief Executive Officer of Charge Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”). 

    

2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 2,370,370 shares have been designated as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”), and 2,370,370 shares of such Series C Preferred Stock have been issued. 

    

3. The Series C Certificate of Designations of the Corporation filed on December 20, 2021 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference (the “Amended and Restated Series C Certificate of Designations”). 

    

4. The Amended and Restated Series C Certificate of Designations was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 and 242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. 

    

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation this 25th day of February, 2022.

  

 

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

       
By: /s/Andrew Fox

 

Name:

Andrew Fox  
  Title: CEO  
       

 

 
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EXHIBIT A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES,

RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

OF

SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 141 OF THE

DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

The undersigned, Andrew Fox, does hereby certify that:

 

WHEREAS, the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation provides for a class of its authorized stock known as preferred stock, consisting of 10,000,000 shares, par value $0.0001 per share, issuable from time to time in one or more series;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is authorized 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 series and the designation thereof, of any of them; and

 

 WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors, pursuant to its authority as aforesaid, to fix the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to a series of the preferred stock, which shall consist of up to 6,226,370 shares of the preferred stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue, as follows:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issuance of a series of preferred stock for cash or exchange of other securities, rights or property and does hereby fix and determine the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to such series of preferred stock as follows:

 

 
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TERMS OF PREFERRED STOCK

 

Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through  one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

Alternate Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

 

Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Change of Control Transaction” means the occurrence after the date hereof of any of (a) an acquisition after the date hereof by an individual or legal entity or “group” (as described in Rule 13d‑5(b)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act) of effective control (whether through legal or beneficial ownership of capital stock of the Corporation, by contract or otherwise) of in excess of 33% of the voting securities of the Corporation (other than by means of conversion or exercise of Preferred Stock and the Securities issued together with the Preferred Stock), (b) the Corporation merges into or consolidates with any other Person, or any Person merges into or consolidates with the Corporation and, after giving effect to such transaction, the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction own less than 50% of the aggregate voting power of the Corporation or the successor entity of such transaction, (c) the Corporation sells or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another Person and the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction own less than 50% of the aggregate voting power of the acquiring entity immediately after the transaction, (d) a replacement at one time or within a one year period of more than one‑half of the members of the Board of Directors which is not approved by a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board of Directors on the Original Issue Date (or by those individuals who are serving as members of the Board of Directors on any date whose nomination to the Board of Directors was approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are members on the Original Issue Date), or (e) the execution by the Corporation of an agreement to which the Corporation is a party or by which it is bound, providing for any of the events set forth in clauses (a) through (d) above.

 

Closing Price” means on any particular date (a) the last reported closing bid price per share of Common Stock on such date on the Trading Market (as reported by Bloomberg L.P. at 4:15 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if there is no such price on such date, then the closing bid price on the Trading Market on the date nearest preceding such date (as reported by Bloomberg L.P. at 4:15 p.m. (New York City time)), (c)if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading Market and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “pink sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) if the shares of Common Stock are not then publicly traded the fair market value as of such date of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the shares then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Corporation, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Corporation.

  

 
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Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and stock of any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants 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.

  

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Conversion Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Dividend Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

Dividend Period” means a period of time from and including the preceding Dividend Payment Date (other than the initial Dividend Period, which shall commence on and include the Original Issue Date), to but excluding the next Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period.

 

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as in effect from time to time after the Original Issue Date.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Floor Price” shall mean $1.00.

 

Forced Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

 
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Forced Conversion Amount” means the sum of (a) 100% of the aggregate Stated Value then outstanding, (b) accrued but unpaid dividends and (c) all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock.

 

Forced Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

Forced Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

Forced Conversion Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

Forced Conversion Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

  

Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

  

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Holder” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.

 

Holding Period Expiration Date” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6(a).

 

IRR” means the interest rate received for an investment consisting of payments (negative values) and income (positive values) that occur at regular intervals.

 

Junior Securities” means the Common Stock and all other Common Stock Equivalents of the Corporation which are subordinate to the Preferred Stock in dividend rights or liquidation preference.

 

Lien” means a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.

 

Liquidation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

 

Mandatory Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

Mandatory Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

New York Courts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(d).

 

Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

 
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Optional Redemption Amount” means the sum of (a) 100% of the aggregate Stated Value then outstanding, (b) accrued but unpaid dividends and (c) all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock.

 

Optional Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

Optional Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

Optional Redemption Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

Original Issue Date” means the date of the first issuance of any shares of the Preferred Stock to a Holder regardless of the number of transfers of any particular shares of Preferred Stock and regardless of the number of certificates which may be issued to evidence such Preferred Stock.

   

Parity Securities” means any class or series of capital stock established after the Original Issue Date with terms expressly providing that such class or series ranks on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and liquidation preference.

 

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.

 

Post-Three Year Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).

 

Post-Three Year Redemption Amount” means the sum of (a) 100% of the aggregate Stated Value then outstanding, (b) accrued but unpaid dividends, (c) additional cash consideration in order for the Holders to achieve a 20% IRR and (d) all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock.

 

Post-Three Year Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).

 

Post-Three Year Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).

 

Post-Three Year Redemption Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).

 

Post-Three Year Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).

 

Post-Three Year Redemption Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d).

 

Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

 

Redemption Date” shall mean the earlier of the (i) Forced Conversion Date, (ii) Optional Redemption Date or (iii) Three Year Redemption Date.

  

 
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Redemption Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(e).

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Share Delivery Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

Stated Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

  

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (a) the accounts of which would be consolidated with and into those of the applicable Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, (b) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (c) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of membership, partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof and, for this purpose, a Person or Persons owns a majority ownership interest in such a business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of such business entity’s gains or losses or shall be or control any managing director or general partner of such business entity (other than a corporation).

 

Successor Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

Three Year Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c).

 

Three Year Redemption Amount” means the sum of (a) 100% of the aggregate Stated Value then outstanding, (b) accrued but unpaid dividends (c) additional cash consideration in order for the Holders to achieve a 20% IRR and (d) all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock.

 

Three Year Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c).

 

Three Year Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c).

 

Three Year Redemption Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c).

  

 
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Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for business.

 

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 MKT, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange, OTCQB, OTCQX or Pink Open Market (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

Transfer Agent” means Manhattan Transfer Registrar Co., the current transfer agent of the Corporation and any successor transfer agent of the Corporation.

 

Section 2. Designation, Amount and Par Value. The series of preferred stock shall be designated as its Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares so designated shall be up to 6,226,370 (which shall not be subject to increase without the written consent of all of the holders of the Preferred Stock (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”)). Each share of Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share and a stated value equal to $3.125 (the “Stated Value”).

   

Section 3. Dividends.

 

a)  Dividends in Cash or in Kind. Holders shall be entitled to receive, and the Corporation shall pay, cumulative dividends at the rate per share (as a percentage of the Stated Value per share) of 6% per annum, payable monthly, beginning on the first day of the first month after the Original Issue Date and on each Conversion Date (with respect only to Preferred Stock being converted) (each such date, a “Dividend Payment Date”) (if any Dividend Payment Date is not a Trading Day, the applicable payment shall be due on the next succeeding Trading Day)in cash, or at the Corporation’s option, in duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth in this Section 3(a), or a combination thereof (the dollar amount to be paid in shares of Common Stock, the “Dividend Share Amount”). The Holders shall have the same rights and remedies with respect to the delivery of any such shares as if such shares were being issued pursuant to Section 6.Not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on each Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation shall make the applicable payment to the Holders (i) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts designated by the Holders, for any portion of such dividend to be paid in cash, or (ii) by delivery of shares of Common Stock for any portion of such dividend to be paid in shares of Common Stock.

 

b)  Corporation’s Ability to Pay Dividends in Cash or Kind. If at any time the Corporation has the right to pay dividends in cash or shares of Common Stock, the Corporation must provide the Holders with at least 5 Trading Days’ notice of its election to pay a regularly scheduled dividend in shares of Common Stock (the Corporation may indicate in such notice that the election contained in such notice shall continue for later periods until revised by a subsequent notice).

 

 
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c) Dividend Calculations. Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year, consisting of twelve 30 calendar day periods, and shall accrue daily commencing on the Original Issue Date, and shall be deemed to accrue from such date whether or not earned or declared and whether or not there are profits, surplus or other funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends. Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall accumulate in each Dividend Period from and including the preceding Dividend Payment Date (other than the initial dividend on the Preferred Stock, which shall commence on and include the Original Issue Date), to but excluding the next Dividend Payment Date.Payment of dividends in shares of Common Stock shall otherwise occur pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) herein and, solely for purposes of the payment of dividends in shares, the Dividend Payment Date shall be deemed the Conversion Date. Except as otherwise provided herein, if at any time the Corporation pays dividends partially in cash and partially in shares, then such payment shall be distributed ratably among the Holders based upon the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by each Holder on such Dividend Payment Date.

 

Section 4. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or as otherwise required by law, the Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights. As long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the Holders of all the then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Preferred Stock or alter or amend this Certificate of Designation, (b) amend its articles of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that materially adversely affects any rights of the Holder, or (c) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Section 5. Liquidation. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “Liquidation”), the Holders shall be entitled to receive out of the assets, whether capital or surplus, of the Corporation, an amount equal to the Stated Value, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon and any other fees then due and owing thereon under this Certificate of Designation, for each share of Preferred Stock before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Junior Securities, and if the assets of the Corporation shall be insufficient to pay in full such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the Holders shall be ratably distributed among the Holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. A Fundamental Transaction or Change of Control Transaction shall be deemed a Liquidation.

 

 
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Section 6Conversion

 

a) Conversions at Option of Holder. Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at any time and from time to time beginning on the date on which all applicable holding periods or other similar restrictions on the transfer of the Preferred Stock by the Holders expire pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other applicable law or regulation (the “Holding Period Expiration Date”) and until a Redemption Date, at the option of the Holder thereof, into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the Stated Value of such share of Preferred Stock by the Conversion Price. Holders shall effect conversions by providing the Corporation with the form of conversion notice attached hereto as Annex A (a “Notice of Conversion”). Each Notice of Conversion shall specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to the conversion at issue, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned subsequent to the conversion at issue and the date on which such conversion is to be effected, which date may not be prior to the date the applicable Holder delivers by email such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation (such date, the “Conversion Date”). If no Conversion Date is specified in a Notice of Conversion, the Conversion Date shall be the date that such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation is deemed delivered hereunder. No ink-original Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Conversion form be required. The calculations and entries set forth in the Notice of Conversion shall control in the absence of manifest or mathematical error. To effect conversions of shares of Preferred Stock, a Holder shall not be required to surrender the certificate(s) representing the shares of Preferred Stock to the Corporation unless all of the shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby are so converted, in which case such Holder shall deliver the certificate representing such shares of Preferred Stock promptly following the Conversion Date at issue. Shares of Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock or redeemed in accordance with the terms hereof shall be canceled and shall not be reissued.

 

b) Conversion Price. The conversion price for the Preferred Stock shall equal $3.125, subject to adjustment herein (the “Conversion Price”).

 

c) Mechanics of Conversion

 

i) Delivery of Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. Not later than five (5) Trading Days after each Conversion Date (the “Share Delivery Date”), the Corporation shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the converting Holder (A) the number of Conversion Shares being acquired upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock and (B) a bank check in the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends (if the Corporation has elected or is required to pay accrued dividends in cash).

 

ii) Failure to Deliver Conversion Shares. If, in the case of any Notice of Conversion, such Conversion Shares are not delivered to or as directed by the applicable Holder by the Share Delivery Date, the Holder shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Corporation at any time on or before its receipt of such Conversion Shares, to rescind such Conversion, in which event the Corporation shall promptly return to the Holder any original Preferred Stock certificate delivered to the Corporation and the Holder shall promptly return to the Corporation the Conversion Shares issued to such Holder pursuant to the rescinded Conversion Notice.

 

 
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iii) Obligation Absolute. The Corporation’s obligation to issue and deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by a Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by such Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Corporation or any violation or alleged violation of law by such Holder or any other person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Corporation to such Holder in connection with the issuance of such Conversion Shares; provided, however, that such delivery shall not operate as a waiver by the Corporation of any such action that the Corporation may have against such Holder.

  

iv)  Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock for the sole purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and payment of dividends on the Preferred Stock, each as herein provided, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holder (and the other holders of the Preferred Stock), not less than such aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock as shall be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 7) upon the conversion or redemption of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens and other encumbrances.

 

v)  Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to receive upon such conversion, the Corporation shall at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Conversion Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

vi) Transfer Taxes and Expenses. The issuance of Conversion Shares on conversion of this Preferred Stock shall be made without charge to any Holder for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of such Conversion Shares, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such Conversion Shares upon conversion in a name other than that of the Holders of such shares of Preferred Stock and the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver such Conversion Shares unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid. The Corporation shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Conversion and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Conversion Shares.

 

vii) Status as a Shareholder. Upon each Conversion Date, (A) the shares of Preferred Stock being converted shall be deemed converted into shares of Common Stock and (B) the Holder’s rights as a holder of such converted Preferred Stock shall cease and terminate, excepting only the right to receive such shares of Common Stock and to any remedies provided herein or otherwise available at law or in equity to such Holder because of a failure of the Corporation to comply with the terms of this Certificate of Designation.

 

 
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d)  Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Preferred Stock, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Preferred Stock, to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Notice of Conversion, such Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates, and any Persons acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below).For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted Stated Value of Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Corporation subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, the Preferred Stock or the Warrants) beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 6(d), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 6(d) applies, the determination of whether the Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of how many shares of Preferred Stock are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the shares of Preferred Stock may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and how many shares of the Preferred Stock are convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder will be deemed to represent to the Corporation each time it delivers a Notice of Conversion that such Notice of Conversion has not violated the restrictions set forth in this paragraph and the Corporation shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 6(d), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) the Corporation’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by the Corporation or (iii) a more recent written notice by the Corporation or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Corporation shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Corporation, including the Preferred Stock, by such Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock held by the applicable Holder. A Holder, upon notice to the Corporation, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 6(d) applicable to its Preferred Stock provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Preferred Stock held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 6(d) shall continue to apply. Any such increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Corporation and shall only apply to such Holder and no other Holder. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 6(d) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained herein or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of Preferred Stock.

 

 
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Section 7. Certain Adjustments.

 

a)  Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Corporation, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions payable in shares of Common Stock on shares of Common Stock or any other Common Stock Equivalents (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Corporation upon conversion of, or payment of a dividend on, this Preferred Stock), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the Common Stock, any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, then the Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) outstanding immediately before such event, and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re‑classification.

 

 
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b)  Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding, (i) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another Person, (ii) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Corporation or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent conversion of this Preferred Stock, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Conversion Share that would have been issuable upon such conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Corporation, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Preferred Stock is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Corporation or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall file a new Certificate of Designation with the same terms and conditions and issue to the Holders new preferred stock consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holders’ right to convert such preferred stock into Alternate Consideration. The Corporation shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Corporation is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation in accordance with the provisions of this Section pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the holder of this Preferred Stock, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Preferred Stock a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Preferred Stock which is convertible for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon conversion of this Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Preferred Stock) prior to such Fundamental Transaction. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Corporation” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Corporation and shall assume all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Corporation herein.

 

 
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c)  Calculations. All calculations under this Section 7 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 7, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) issued and outstanding.

 

d) Notice to the Holders; Adjustment to Conversion Price. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 7, the Corporation shall promptly deliver to each Holder by email a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

Section 8Forced Conversion, Optional Redemption and Three Year Redemption.

 

a)   Forced Conversion. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if after the Original Issue Date (i) the Closing Price exceeds 200% of the then effective Conversion Price for a period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days (the “Forced Conversion Threshold Date”), the Corporation may, upon ten (10) Trading Days prior written Notice, deliver a written notice to all Holders (a “Forced Conversion Notice” and the date such notice is delivered to all Holders, the “Forced Conversion Notice Date”) to cause each Holder to convert all or part of such Holder’s Preferred Stock (as specified in such Forced Conversion Notice) plus all accrued but unpaid dividends thereon and all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the Preferred Stock (a “Forced Conversion”), it being agreed that the “Conversion Date” for purposes hereunder shall be deemed to occur on the third Trading Day following the Forced Conversion Notice Date (such third Trading Day, the “Forced Conversion Date”).If the Holders receive no such Forced Conversion Notice from the Corporation as of such tenth (10th) Trading Day, the Corporation’s right to effect a Forced Conversion pursuant to this Section 8(a) shall be suspended until such time that the Closing Price again exceeds 200% of the then-effective Conversion Price for a period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days following such prior Forced Conversion Threshold Date. Any Forced Conversion Notices shall be applied ratably to all of the Holders based on each Holder’s initial purchases of Preferred Stock hereunder, provided that any voluntary conversions by a Holder shall be applied against such Holder’s prorata allocation, thereby decreasing the aggregate amount forcibly converted hereunder if less than all shares of the Preferred Stock are forcibly converted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be permitted to effect a Forced Conversion pursuant to this Section 8(a) at any time when there is not an effective registration statement filed with the Commission to cover the sale of Conversion Shares or if such Conversion Shares cannot otherwise be sold pursuant to Rule 144.

 

 
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b) Optional Redemption at Election of Corporation. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8, at any time after the Original Issue Date, the Corporation may deliver a notice to the Holders (an “Optional Redemption Notice” and the date such notice is deemed delivered hereunder, the “Optional Redemption Notice Date”) of its irrevocable election to redeem some or all of the then outstanding Preferred Stock, for cash in an amount equal to the Optional Redemption Amount on the 10th Trading Day following the Optional Redemption Notice Date (such date, the “Optional Redemption Date” and such redemption, the “Optional Redemption”).The Optional Redemption Amount is payable in full on the Optional Redemption Date. The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will honor all Notices of Conversion tendered from the time of delivery of the Optional Redemption Notice through the date the Optional Redemption Amount is paid in full.

 

c) Three Year Redemption. On the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date (the “Three Year Redemption Date”), the Corporation shall, upon 10 days’ notice from the Holder prior to the Three Year Redemption Date, redeem all of the then outstanding Preferred Stock, for an amount in cash or shares of Common Stock issued at the Three Year Redemption Price equal to the Three Year Redemption Amount (such redemption, the “Three Year Redemption”). 90 days before the Three Year Redemption Date, the Corporation shall inform the Holder whether it intends to redeem the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock in cash or shares of Common Stock at the Three Year Redemption Price. The payment of cash pursuant to a Three Year Redemption shall be made by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Three Year Redemption Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts designated by the Holders. The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will honor all Conversion Notices tendered up until the Three Year Redemption Date and the Three Year Redemption Amount is paid in full. Following Three Year Redemption Date, unless the Corporation defaults in providing funds sufficient for the Redemption as provided in this Section 8, all dividends on such shares of Preferred Stock shall cease to accumulate and all rights of Holders with respect to such shares of Preferred Stock shall cease, except the right to receive the Three Year Redemption Amount and to any remedies provided herein or otherwise available at law or in equity to such Holder because of a failure of the Corporation to comply with the terms of this Certificate of Designation, and such shares of Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon a Three Year Redemption (the “Three Year Redemption Shares”) shall be calculated by dividing the Stated Value by the lower of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect or (ii) the VWAP of the Common Stock for the 44-day trading period immediately preceding the Three Year Redemption Date (the “Three Year Redemption Price”), provided, however, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon a Three Year Redemption shall not exceed the Stated Value for the Preferred Stock then outstanding on the Three Year Redemption Date divided by the Floor Price.

 

 
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d)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Holder does not elect for the Corporation to redeem such Holder’s outstanding shares of Preferred Stock on the Three Year Redemption Date pursuant to Section 8(c), then, at any time after the Three Year Redemption Date and until all of such Holder’s Preferred Stock is redeemed or converted in full by the Corporation, a Holder may deliver a notice to the Corporation (a “Post-Three Year Redemption Notice” and the date such Post-Three Year Redemption Notice is deemed delivered hereunder, the “Post-Three Year Redemption Notice Date”) of its irrevocable election to cause the Corporation to deliver the Post-Three Year Redemption Amount to such Holder (either in cash or shares of Common Stock issued at the Post-Three Year Redemption Price (as defined below)) (such redemption the “Post-Three Year Redemption”). If redeemed for cash, the Post-Three Year Redemption Amount is payable in full by the Corporation to such Holder within ten (10) Trading Days following the Post-Three Year Redemption Notice Date (such date the “Post-Three Year Redemption Date”). If redeemed for shares of Common Stock, the Corporation shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to such Holder no later than the Post-Three Year Redemption Date (a) the Post-Three Year Redemption Shares (as defined below) and (b) a bank check in the amount of any amount in cash otherwise due to such Holder. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon a Post-Three Year Redemption (the “Post-Three Year Redemption Shares”) shall be calculated by dividing the Stated Value by the lower of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect or (ii) the VWAP of the Common Stock for the 44-day trading period immediately preceding the Post-Three Year Redemption Date (the “Post-Three Year Redemption Price), provided, however, that the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon a Post-Three Year Redemption shall not exceed the Stated Value for the Preferred Stock then outstanding on the Post-Three Year Redemption Date divided by the Floor Price. Five (5)Trading Days before the Post-Three Year Redemption Date, the Corporation shall inform the Holder whether it intends to redeem the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock in cash or shares of Common Stock at the Three Year Redemption Price. The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will honor all Post-Three Year Redemption Notices tendered by a Holder from the Post-Three Year Redemption Notice Date through the Post-Three Year Redemption Date.

 

e)  Default. In the event that any portion of the Optional Redemption Amount or Three Year Redemption Amount has not been paid by the Corporation on the applicable Redemption Date or the Post-Three Year Redemption Amount has not been paid by the Corporation on the Post-Three Year Redemption Date (a “Redemption Default”), interest on such amounts outstanding shall accrue thereon until such amount is paid in full at a rate equal to 14% per annum. In the event of a Redemption Default and until such Redemption Default has been cured by payment of all amounts outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative consent of the Holders of all the then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, declare or pay dividends or distributions on any Junior Securities or Parity Securities (other than a dividend or distribution payable solely in Junior Securities or Parity Securities). Nothing contained in this Certificate of Designation shall be deemed to limit any rights, powers or remedies of the Holders permitted by law.

 

f)  Redemption of Other Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Certificate of Designation, in the event of a Redemption Default and until such Redemption Default has been cured by payment of all amounts outstanding, the Corporation may not, without the affirmative consent of the Holders of all the then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, (1) any Parity Securities, except pursuant to (i) a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all Holders of Preferred Stock and Parity Securities, (ii) an exchange for or conversion or reclassification into other Parity Securities or Junior Securities or (iii) use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of Parity Securities or Junior Securities, or (2) any Common Stock and any other Junior Securities, except pursuant to an exchange for or conversion or reclassification into other Junior Securities or with proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of Junior Securities.

 

 
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Section 9. Miscellaneous.

 

a) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by electronic mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation, at the address set forth below, or such other address as the Corporation may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders delivered in accordance with this Section. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by electronic mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, or if no such address appears on the books of the Corporation, at the principal place of business of such Holder. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via electronic mail prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via electronic mail on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.

 

Address for notices to Corporation:

 

Charge Enterprises, Inc.

125 Park Avenue, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017

E-mail: a@charge.us

Attention: Andrew Fox

 

b) Absolute Obligation. Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this Certificate of Designation shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay liquidated damages, accrued dividends, accrued interest and redemption amounts, as applicable, on the shares of Preferred Stock at the time, place, and rate, and in the amounts and coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

c) Lost or Mutilated Preferred Stock Certificate. If a Holder’s Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated certificate, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, a new certificate for the shares of Preferred Stock so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such certificate, and of the ownership hereof reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation.

 

 
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d) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Certificate of Designation shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan (the “New York Courts”).Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such New York Courts, or such New York Courts are improper or 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 Certificate of Designation 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 applicable law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Certificate of Designation or the transactions contemplated hereby. If any party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Certificate of Designation, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

e)  Waiver. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder of a breach of any provision of this Certificate of Designation shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Certificate of Designation or a waiver by any other Holders. The failure of the Corporation or a Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Certificate of Designation on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party (or any other Holder) of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Certificate of Designation on any other occasion. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder must be in writing.

 

 
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f) Severability. If any provision of this Certificate of Designation is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Certificate of Designation shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any Person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other Persons and circumstances. If it shall be found that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder violates the applicable law governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law.

 

g) Next Business Day. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

h) Headings. The headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Certificate of Designation and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

i) Status of Converted or Redeemed Preferred Stock. If any shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted, redeemed or reacquired by the Corporation, such shares shall resume the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and shall no longer be designated as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

*********************

 

 
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RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Chairman, the president or any vice-president, and the secretary or any assistant secretary, of the Corporation be and they hereby are authorized and directed to prepare and file this Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations in accordance with the foregoing resolution and the provisions of Delaware law.

 

 
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ANNEX A

 

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

(To be Executed by the Registered Holder in order to Convert Shares of Preferred Stock)

 

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock indicated below into shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Charge Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares of Common Stock are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates and opinions as may be required by the Corporation. No fee will be charged to the Holders for any conversion, except for any such transfer taxes.

 

Conversion calculations:

 

Date to Effect Conversion: _____________________________________________ 

 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to Conversion: _______________

 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted: ________________________

 

Stated Value of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted: ____________________

 

Number of shares of Common Stock to be Issued: ___________________________

 

Applicable Conversion Price:____________________________________________

 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock subsequent to Conversion: ________________

 

Address for Delivery: ______________________

or

DWAC Instructions:

Broker no: _________

Account no: ___________

 

 

 

[HOLDER]

 

By:___________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

 
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EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of February 25, 2022, by and among Charge Enterprises Inc., a Delaware corporation (and together with all of its current and future, direct and/or indirect, wholly owned and/or partially owned Subsidiaries, collectively, the “Company”), and the Purchaser identified on the signature page hereto (including its successors and assigns, the “Purchaser”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. The Company and the Purchaser are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (as defined below), and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.

 

B. The Purchaser, wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell at closing, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, the Securities (as defined herein), all in the amounts and for the price set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agrees as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Defined Terms. In addition to terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement or in any supplement, amendment or exhibit hereto, when used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a) “Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, including, among others, executive officers, directors, large stockholders, subsidiaries, parent entities and sister companies.

 

(b) “Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

(c) “BW” means B W Electrical Services LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company.

  

(d) “BW Acquisition” means the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding units of BW pursuant to the terms of that certain unit purchase agreement, dated December 22, 2021, by and between the members of BW and the Company.

 

 
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(e)  “Closing Date” means the Trading Day on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to the parties’ obligations hereunder have been satisfied or waived, including (i) the Purchaser’s obligations to pay the Purchase Price, and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Securities.

 

(f)  “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.

 

(g) “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, rights, options, warrants 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.

 

(h) “Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.

 

(i)  “Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in the Preferred Designation.

 

(j)  “Conversion Shares” means all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any portion of the Preferred Stock (including, at the Purchaser’s election pursuant to the conditions set forth in the Preferred Designation, accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to a Redemption), but solely to the extent and subject to any conditions set forth in the Preferred Designation.

 

(k)  “COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions thereof or any other epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks.

 

(l) “COVID-19 Action” means an inaction or action by the Company, including the establishment of any policy, procedure or protocol, in response to COVID-19 or any COVID-19 Measures (i) that is consistent with the past practice of the Company in response to COVID-19 prior to the date of this Agreement (but only to the extent in compliance with applicable Law), or (ii) that would, given the totality of the circumstances under which the Company acted or did not act, be unreasonable for Purchaser to withhold, condition or delay consent with respect to such action or inaction (whether or not Purchaser has a consent right with respect thereto).

 

 
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(m) “COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other Law, Governmental Order, Action, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Authority in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

 

(n) “Dollar(s)” and “$” means lawful money of the United States.

 

(o) “Effective Date” means the date that the initial Registration Statement filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the Commission.

 

(p) “EV Depot” means collectively, EV Holdings Group, LLC.

 

(q)  “EV Depot Acquisition” means the acquisition of EV Depot pursuant to the terms of that certain agreement and plan of merger, dated January 14, 2022, by and between EV Depot and the Company.

 

(r) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(s)  “Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock or options to employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to the approval of 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 issued hereunder and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement; provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with stock splits or combinations) or to extend the term of such securities, and (c) securities issued as consideration 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, and provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equityholders 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; provided, however, an Exempt Issuance shall not include any transaction in which the Company is issuing securities for the purpose of raising capital (including in connection with funding an acquisition or strategic transaction) or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.

 

 
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(t) “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

 

(u) “Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or the Purchaser under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all capital lease obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under acceptance, letter of credit, surety bond or similar facilities, (g) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any capital stock of such Person, (h) all obligations for any earn-out consideration, (i) the liquidation value of preferred capital stock of such Person, (j) all guarantee obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (i) above, (k) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (i) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien on property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation and all obligations of such Person in respect of hedge agreements; and (l) all Contingent Obligations in respect to indebtedness or obligations of any Person of the kind referred to in clauses (a)-(k) above. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include, without duplication, the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

(v) “IRR” means the interest rate received for an investment consisting of payments (negative values) and income (positive values) that occur at regular intervals.

 

(w) “Liens” or “liens” means a lien, mortgage, charge pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction, or other clouds on title.

  

(x) “Liabilities” means all direct or indirect liabilities, Indebtedness and obligations of any kind of Company to the Purchaser, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether now existing or hereafter arising (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, primary or secondary, joint or several, whether existing or arising through discount, overdraft, purchase, direct loan, participation, operation of law, or otherwise, including, but not limited to, pursuant to this Agreement and/or any of the other Transaction Documents, the principal, any letter of credit, any standby letter of credit, and/or outside attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees or charges relating to the preparation of the Transaction Documents and the enforcement of the Purchaser’s rights, remedies and powers under this Agreement and/or the other Transaction Documents.

 

 
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(y) “Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, property, operations, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company, (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, (c) the rights or remedies of the Purchaser hereunder or thereunder, or (d) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under any Transaction Document. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, nothing herein shall prevent the Company from taking or failing to take any COVID-19 Actions and (x) no such COVID-19 Actions shall be deemed to violate or breach this Agreement in any way or be deemed a Material Adverse Effect, (y) all such COVID-19 Actions shall be deemed to constitute an action taken in the ordinary course of business and (z) no such COVID-19 Actions shall serve as a basis for Purchaser to terminate this Agreement or assert that any of the conditions to the applicable Closing contained herein have not been satisfied.

 

(z) “Permitted Indebtedness” means (a) the indebtedness of the Company outstanding as of the date of this Agreement as set forth on Schedule 3.1(n) hereto, (b) lease obligations and purchase money indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of capital assets and lease obligations with respect to newly acquired or leased assets in the ordinary course of business, and lease obligations incurred outside the ordinary course of business shall be limited to a cumulative maximum of $2,500,000, (c) any indebtedness issued by the Company to any SBA-approved lender or SBA-approved financial institution up to a cumulative maximum of $2,500,000, (d) any indebtedness issued by BW and EV Depot or their subsidiaries upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the BW Acquisition and the EV Depot Acquisition, provided such indebtedness is non-recourse to the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than BW and EV Depot), (e) existing indebtedness of BW in the aggregate principal amount of $8,000,000 comprised of a) a maximum of $3,000,000 shall be a secured line of credit and b) $5,000,000 which shall be used for bonding purposes offset by an equal amount of cash which shall be held in an account at all times, and (f) additional bank debt to be obtained by EV Depot for up to an aggregate principal amount up to $3,000,000.

 

(aa) “Permitted Lien” means the individual and collective reference to the following: (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Company) have been established in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens imposed by law which were incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, statutory landlords’ Liens, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, and which (x) do not individually or in the aggregate materially detract from the value of such property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries or (y) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of preventing for the foreseeable future the forfeiture or sale of the property or asset subject to such Lien; (c) Liens incurred in connection with Permitted Indebtedness thereunder; (d) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations; (e) Deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business; (f) any Liens in favor of the Purchaser; and (g) Liens securing Indebtedness of the type described in clauses (e) and (f) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness.

 

 
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(bb) “Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, entity, party or government (whether national, federal, state, county, city, municipal or otherwise including, without limitation, any instrumentality, division, agency, body or department thereof).

 

(cc) “Preferred Designation” means that certain amended and restated certificate of designation of rights and preferences relating to the Preferred Stock to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on or before closing, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

(dd) “Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series C convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, convertible in whole or in part, at the holder’s option, into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $3.125 per share.

 

(ee) “Principal Market” means the principal Trading Market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

 

(ff) “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.

 

(gg) “Purchase Price” shall have the meaning as set forth on Schedule 1 next to the heading “Purchase Price,” in United States Dollars.

 

(hh) “Redemption” means the redemption rights granted to Purchaser to put any unconverted shares of Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, on the three (3)-year anniversary of the Closing Date to the Company at Stated Value plus additional cash consideration in order for the Purchaser to achieve a 20% IRR, and such IRR calculation shall not include the Preferred Stock’s dividend payments of 6% per annum.

 

(ii) “Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Purchaser as hereinafter amended and/or supplemented altogether with all exhibits, schedules and annexes to such Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

(jj) “Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale of the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock held by Purchaser and funds affiliated with Arena Investors LP, or any of their permitted transferees or assigns, as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(kk) “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

 
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(ll) “SEC” or “Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(mm) “Securities” means the Preferred Stock purchased pursuant to this Agreement and all Underlying Shares and any securities of the Company issued to the Purchaser in replacement, substitution and/or in connection with any exchange, conversion, exercise and/or any other transaction involving all or any of such securities of the Company.

 

(nn) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(oo) “Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock).

  

(pp) “SMRH” means Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, with offices located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 39th Floor, New York, New York 10112.

 

(qq) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. All of the Company’s Subsidiaries are set forth on Schedule 3.1(a) hereto.

 

(rr) “Stated Value” means the price per share of Preferred Stock paid by the Purchaser hereunder.

 

(ss) “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.

 

(tt)  “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 MKT, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange, any market or quotation service of the OTC Markets Group or the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

(uu) “Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement the Preferred Designation and such other documents, instruments, certificates, supplements, amendments, exhibits and schedules required and/or attached pursuant to this Agreement and/or any of the above documents, and/or any other document and/or instrument related to the above agreements, documents and/or instruments, and the transactions hereunder and/or thereunder and/or any other agreement, documents or instruments required or contemplated hereunder or thereunder, whether now existing or at any time hereafter arising.

 

 
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(vv) “Transfer Agent” means Manhattan Transfer Registrar Co. the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 38B Sheep Pasture Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 and a phone number of 631-928-7655, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

 

(ww) “Underlying Shares” means all Conversion Shares.

 

(xx) “VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchaser of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.

 

(a) Use of Defined Terms. Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Transaction Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(b) Accounting Terms. As used herein and in the other Transaction Documents, and any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms relating to the Company not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP (provided that all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts referred to herein shall be made without giving effect to (i) any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company at “fair value”, as defined therein, and (ii) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof).

 

(c) Construction. The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section, schedule and exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

 

 
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ARTICLE 2

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1 Closing. On the Closing Date, time being of the essence, subject to the occurrence of other conditions set forth in Section 2.3 and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase, the Securities in such amounts as indicated on Schedule 1 hereto. The Purchaser shall deliver to the Company, via wire transfer, immediately available funds equal to the Purchase Price, and the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser the Preferred Stock on the Closing Date, and the Company and the Purchaser shall deliver the other items set forth in Section 2.2 deliverable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.3, the Closing shall occur at the offices of SMRH or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree.

 

2.2 Deliveries.

 

(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser the following:

 

(i) this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

 

(ii) shares of Preferred Stock registered in the name of the Purchaser in an uncertificated form on the Company’s books and records, as set forth on Schedule 1;

 

(iii) a certificate, in the form acceptable to the Purchaser and its counsel, executed by the secretary of the Company dated as of the Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions as adopted by the Company’s board of directors relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in a form acceptable to the Purchaser, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation or other similar organizational document of the Company (including the Preferred Designation), and (iii) the Bylaws or other similar organizational document of the Company, each as in effect at the Closing;

 

(iv) a certificate, duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, confirming compliance with Section 2.3(a)(i) and (ii) below and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the Purchaser and its counsel in the form acceptable to the Purchaser;

 

(v) an opinion of counsel to the Company; and

 

(vi) such other documents, instruments, opinions or certificates relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Purchaser or its counsel may reasonably request.

 

 
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(b) On or prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:

 

(i) this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by the Purchaser; and

 

(ii) the Purchase Price subject to the closing by wire transfer.

 

2.3 Conditions to Purchase the Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser will at the Closing purchase from the Company the Securities in the amounts and for the Purchase Price as set forth on Schedule 1 provided the following:

 

(a) The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i) the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) when made and on the date of the Closing of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Purchaser required to be performed at or prior to the date of the Closing shall have been performed;

 

(iii) the delivery by the Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement;

 

(iv) there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof; and

 

(v) no statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

(b) The obligations of the Purchaser hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i) the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) when made and on the date of the Closing of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects;

 

 
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(iii) the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement;

 

(iv) there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof;

 

(v) the Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory and third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the entry into the Transaction Documents and the sale of the Securities;

 

(vi) the Company shall have filed the Preferred Designation with Delaware; and

 

(vii) no statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

2.4 Purchase Price and Payment of the Purchase Price for the Securities. The Purchase Price for the Securities to be purchased by the Purchaser at the Closing shall be as set forth on Schedule 1 and shall be paid at the Closing by the Purchaser by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company in accordance with the Company’s written wiring instructions, against delivery of the Securities.

 

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; OTHER ITEMS

 

3.1 Representation and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, which Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed a part hereof and shall qualify any representation or otherwise made herein to the extent of the disclosure contained in the corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedules (but in no event shall qualify any indemnity obligation of the Company hereunder), the Company (which for purposes of this Section 3.1 means the Company and all of its Subsidiaries) represents and warrants to the Purchaser that on the Closing Date (unless as of a specific date set forth below):

 

(a) Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company and the locations thereof are set forth on Schedule 3.1(a). 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 or other interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. Schedule 3.1(a) sets forth, as of the Closing Date, the jurisdiction of organization and the location of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ executive offices and other places of business.

 

 
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(b) Organization, Etc. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of their respective organization and are duly qualified and in good standing or has applied for qualification as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction where, because of the nature of its activities or properties, such qualification is required except where the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) Authorization: No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby by the Company, including, but not limited to, the sale and issuance of the Securities for the Purchase Price, the reservation for issuance of the Underlying Shares required to be reserved pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Stock, and the issuance of the Underlying Shares from which the Preferred Stock is convertible (i) are within the Company’s corporate powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary action by or on behalf of the Company (and/or its stockholders to the extent required by law), (iii) have received all necessary and/or required governmental, regulatory and other approvals and consents (if any shall be required), (iv) do not and shall not contravene or conflict in any material respect with any provision of, or require any consents under (1) any law, rule, regulation or ordinance, (2) the Company’s organizational documents; and/or (3) 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, and (v) other than the Liens granted to the Purchaser pursuant to the Transaction Documents, do not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien and/or encumbrance on any of the Company’s properties or revenues pursuant to any law, rule, regulation or ordinance or otherwise.

 

(d) Validity and Binding Nature. The Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

 

(e) Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (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, (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made therefor in accordance with GAAP and the payment of which is not delinquent, and (iii) Permitted Liens. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

 

 
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(f) 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 securities, corporate law, 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.

 

(g) Taxes. 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 provision 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 officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim.

 

(h) Licenses and Permits. The Company possesses all certificates, authorizations, consents, approvals, orders, licenses and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities (collectively, the “Permits”), necessary to conduct its business as now conducted. All of such Permits are valid and in full force and effect. There is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation that individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to lead to the revocation, modification, termination, suspension or any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit.

 

(i) Investment Company. The Company is not (i) an “investment company” or a company “controlled”, whether directly or indirectly, by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; or (ii) engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).

 

 
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(j) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Company is not (i) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar incorporation or organizational documents or (ii) in violation or default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”). The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, (w) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, (x) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance (other than Permitted Liens) upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments, (y) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company, or (z) result in any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets, properties or operations, except in the case of this clause (z) for such conflicts, violations, breaches or defaults which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness that is material to the operations or financial results of the Company (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company.

 

(k) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or other person acting on behalf of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a material violation by such person of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in material compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

(l) Rule 506(d) Bad Actor Disqualification Representations and Covenants.

 

(i) No Disqualification Events. Neither the Company, nor any of its predecessors, affiliates, any manager, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering, any beneficial owner (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity as of the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date (each, a “Company Covered Person” and, together, “Company Covered Persons”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine (A) the identity of each person that is a Company Covered Person; and (B) whether any Company Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e) as set forth on Schedule 3.1(l).

 

 
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(ii) Other Covered Persons. The Company is not aware of any person (other than any Company Covered Person) who has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration in connection with the purchase and sale of the Preferred Stock who is subject to a Disqualification Event (each, an “Other Covered Person”).

 

(iii) Reasonable Notification Procedures. With respect to each Company Covered Person, the Company has established procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the Company receives notice from each such Company Covered Person of (A) any Disqualification Event relating to that Company Covered Person, and (B) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to that Company Covered Person; in each case occurring up to and including the Closing Date.

 

(iv) Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Purchaser immediately in writing upon becoming aware of (A) any Disqualification Event relating to any Company Covered Person and (B) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Company Covered Person and/or Other Covered Person.

  

(m) Accuracy of Information, etc. No statement or information contained in this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other document, certificate or statement furnished to the Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company in writing for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or the other Transaction Documents contained, as of the date such statement, information, document or certificate was made or furnished, as the case may be, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, taken as a whole, not materially misleading. There is no fact known to the Company that would reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company that has not been expressly disclosed herein, in the other Transaction Documents, or in any other documents, certificates and written statements furnished to the Purchaser for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents.

 

 
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(n) Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder: (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. Schedule 3.1(n) 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. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

(o) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth on the financial statements included in Schedule 3.1(x), 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.

 

(p) Intellectual Property. The Company has, or has 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 as described on Schedule 3.1(p) that are material to the conduct of its business (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). The Company has not received a notice (written or otherwise) that any material Intellectual Property Right has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned. The Company has not received, since the Balance Sheet Date, 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 would not have or 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 has taken commercially reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of its intellectual property.

 

 
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(q) USA Patriot Act. The Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (ii) the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law on October 26, 2001) (the “Act”). No part of the proceeds of the Preferred Stock will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

(r) Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, joint venture employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary is currently, or in the past 5 years, has been subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”).

 

(s) 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 filings required pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and the declaration of effectiveness by the SEC of the Registration Statement, (ii) the notice and/or application(s) to each applicable Trading Market for the issuance and sale of the Securities and the listing of the Conversion Shares for trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby, and (iii) the filing of Form D with the Commission and such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

 

(t) Authorization; Enforcement. All corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and stockholders necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the performance of all obligations of the Company under the Transaction Documents and have been taken on or prior to the date hereof. Each of the Transaction Documents has been duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by general equitable principles regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, (iii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iv) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

 
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(u) Valid Issuance of Securities. The Preferred Stock have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens and all restrictions on transfer other than those expressly imposed by the federal securities laws and vest in the Purchaser full and sole title and power to the Preferred Stock purchased hereby by the Purchaser, free and clear of all Liens, and restrictions on transfer other than those imposed by the federal securities laws. All Conversion Shares, when issued pursuant to conversion of the Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Preferred Designation, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will be free and clear of all Liens and vest in the holder full and sole title and power to such securities. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized unissued Common Stock, the Required Minimum (as defined in the Preferred Designation), which Required Minimum shall be continuously determined by the Company to ensure that the Required Minimum is in reserve with the Transfer Agent at all times.

  

(v) Offering. The offer and sale of the Preferred Stock, when issued pursuant to this Agreement, as contemplated by this Agreement, are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and the qualification or registration requirements of state securities laws or other applicable blue sky laws. Neither the Company nor any authorized agent acting on its behalf will take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such exemptions.

 

(w) Capitalization and Voting Rights. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth on Schedule 3.1(w), which Schedule 3.1(w) shall also include the number of shares of Common Stock owned beneficially, and of record, by Affiliates of the Company as of the date hereof. The authorized capital stock of the Company and all securities of the Company issued and outstanding are set forth on Schedule 3.1(w) as of the dates reflected therein. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and other securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(w), 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 on Schedule 3.1(w), there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company is obligated to register the sale of any of the Company’s securities under the Securities Act. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(w), no shares of Common Stock and/or other securities of the Company are entitled to preemptive rights and there are no outstanding debt securities and no contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of the capital stock and/or other securities of the Company or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company other than those issued or granted in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive and/or compensatory plans or arrangements. Except for customary transfer restrictions contained in agreements entered into by the Company to sell restricted securities and/or as set forth on Schedule 3.1(w), the Company is not a party to, and it has no knowledge of, any agreement restricting the voting or transfer of any shares of the capital stock and/or other securities of the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(w), the offer and sale of all capital stock, convertible or exchangeable securities, rights, warrants, options and/or any other securities of the Company, when any such securities of the Company were issued, complied in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and no current and/or prior holder of any securities of the Company has any right of rescission or damages or any “put” or similar right with respect thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(w), there are no securities or instruments of the Company containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance and/or sale of the Securities and/or the consummation of the transactions described herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents.

 

 
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(x) Shell Company Status; Financial Statements. The Company has been an issuer subject to Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act. The unaudited financial statements of the Company as of September 30, 2021 is included in Schedule 3.1(x) hereto. The financial statements of the Company included on Schedule 3.1(x) have been prepared in accordance with 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 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 to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. For purposes of this Section 3.1, September 30, 2021 is referred to as the “Balance Sheet Date”.

 

(y) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the Balance Sheet Date: (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the Company, (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 (if the Company is an issuer required to file periodic reports under the Exchange Act), (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 and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans. Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 3.1(y), 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, 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.

 

(z) Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(z), 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 Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor 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. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.

 

 
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(aa) Disclosure. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that constitutes material, non-public information. The Company understands that the Purchaser may rely on the Transaction Documents, the information included therein, including, but not limited to, the foregoing representation in purchasing the Securities. All of the disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser in the Transaction Documents regarding, among other matters relating to the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents, is true and correct in all material respects as of the date made and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser does not make nor has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents other than those specifically set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.

 

(bb) No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, 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 the issuance and/or sale of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings of securities by the Company for purposes of (i) the Securities Act that would require the registration of any such Securities and/or any other securities of the Company under the Securities Act, or that would invalidate the exemptions from registration relied upon by the Company, or (ii) any stockholder-approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed, eligible for quotation and/or designated.

 

(cc) Insurance. The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the business in which it is engaged; the Company has not been refused any coverage sought or applied for; and the Company does not have 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.

 

 
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(dd) Regulation M Compliance. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

 

(ee) Registration Rights. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(ee), no Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiaries.

 

(ff) 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. Except for employees of BW, 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.

 

(gg) Dilutive Effect. The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Underlying Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, pursuant to the terms thereof, will increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that its obligations to issue Underlying Shares pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Designation in accordance with this Agreement, the Preferred Stock is absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that any such issuances may have on the percentage ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.

 

(hh) Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provisions under the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation that are or could become applicable to the Purchaser as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or the other Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Purchaser’s ownership of the Securities. The Company has not adopted a stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company.

 

 
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(ii) Manipulation of Price. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result, or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

 

(jj) DTC Eligible. The Common Stock is DTC (as defined below) eligible and DTC has not placed a “freeze” or a “chill” on the Common Stock and the Company has no reason to believe that DTC has any intention to make the Common Stock not DTC eligible, or place a “freeze” or “chill” on the Common Stock. No federal or state regulatory authority has indicated that it will prohibit the listing of the Company’s securities based upon its prior business in the cannabis or cannabis-related markets nor will the Purchaser be prohibited from depositing, clearing or settling the Securities, including through the DTC or otherwise, on account of the Company’s prior business in the cannabis or cannabis-related markets.

 

(kk) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. The Common Stock is eligible for quotation on the Principal Market and the Company has no reason to believe that the Principal Market has any intention of delisting or no longer quoting the Common Stock from the Principal Market. The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market. All Underlying Shares have been approved, if so required, for listing or quotation on the Trading Market, subject only to notice of issuance.

 

(ll) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Person acting on its behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

 
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(mm) Acknowledgment Regarding the Purchaser’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that the Purchaser is not (i) an officer or director of the Company, (ii) an Affiliate of the Company or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the shares of Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act). The Company further acknowledges that the Purchaser is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by the Purchaser or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to the Purchaser’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to the Purchaser that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.

 

(nn) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company and an unconsolidated or other off-balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings and is not so disclosed.

 

(oo) Certain Fees. No brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company or any Subsidiaries 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. The Purchaser shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

(pp) Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption; Sanctions.

 

(i) Neither the Company nor, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any director or officer of any of them is an individual or entity currently, or has not in the past 5 years been, subject to any Sanctions or is on any Sanctions List.

 

(ii)  Each of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and, to the knowledge of the Company, agents and any other person or entity acting on behalf of the Company, has complied with the Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws, in each case as applicable to them, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or any arbitrator or any governmental agency, authority or body involving the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or their respective directors or officers and, to the knowledge of the Company, the employees, agents, or representatives of each of them, is pending or threatened with respect to Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

 
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(iii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor their respective directors or officers, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, the employees or agents of any of them has:

 

(a) used any corporate funds (nor will it use any proceeds from the Preferred Stock) for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or unlawful expense relating to political activity;

 

(b) taken any action in furtherance of an unlawful offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or (anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for public office) or made any other bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment or kickback intended to improperly influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and

 

(c) used any proceeds from the Preferred Stock in furtherance of any such unlawful payment or violation of Sanctions or Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(iv) The Company and each Subsidiary will promote and ensure compliance with Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws in all jurisdictions where they operate and with the representations and warranties contained herein.

 

(v) As used in this Section 3.1(pp) (and in Section 4.7 hereof):

 

(a) “Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws” means money laundering and anti- corruption statutes of all jurisdictions (including, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the OECD Convention on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, and any similar national or local law or regulation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere where the Company and each other Subsidiary conducts business), the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency or any such jurisdiction.

 

(b) “Sanctions” means any laws or regulations or restrictive measures relating to economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by a Sanctions Authority.

 

(c) “Sanctions Authority” means (i) the United Nations Security Council; (ii) the United States government; (iii) the European Union; (iv) the United Kingdom government; (v) the respective governmental institutions and agencies of any of the foregoing, including without limitation, OFAC, the United States Department of State and Department of Commerce, and Her Majesty’s Treasury; and (vi) any other governmental institution or agency with responsibility for imposing, administering or enforcing Sanctions with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries (together, “Sanctions Authorities”).

 

(d) “Sanctions List” means the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by OFAC, the Denied Persons List maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets maintained by Her Majesty’s Treasury, or any other list issued or maintained by any Sanctions Authority of persons subject to Sanctions (including investment or related restrictions), each as amended, supplemented or substituted from time to time.

 

 
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(qq) Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, (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.

 

3.2 Representation and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:

  

(a) Organization; Authority. The Purchaser is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of the Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by the Purchaser, and when delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against it 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.

 

 
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(b) Own Account. The Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, has no present intention of distributing any of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law (this representation and warranty not limiting the Purchaser’s right to sell the Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws). The Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.

 

(c) Purchaser Status. At the time the Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.

 

(d) Experience of Purchaser. The Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

 

(e) General Solicitation. The Purchaser is not, to the Purchaser’s knowledge, purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement.

 

(f) Access to Information. The Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review the Transaction Documents (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and its financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment.

 

(g) Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. The Purchaser has not directly or indirectly, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with the Purchaser, executed any purchases or sales, including Short Sales, of the securities of the Company during the period commencing as of the time that the Purchaser first received a term sheet (written or oral) from the Company or any other Person representing the Company setting forth the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereunder and ending immediately prior to the execution hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Purchaser is a multi-managed investment vehicle, whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of the Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of the Purchaser’s assets, the representation set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Securities covered by this Agreement. Other than to other Persons party to this Agreement or to the Purchaser’s representatives, including, without limitation, its officers, directors, partners, legal and other advisors, employees, agents and Affiliates, the Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction).

 

 
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The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in this Section 3.2 shall not modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby.

 

ARTICLE 4

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

4.1 Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a) The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an Affiliate of the Purchaser or in connection with a pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(b), the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of the Purchaser under this Agreement.

 

(b) The Purchaser agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required by this Section 4.1, of a legend on any of the Securities in the following form:

 

NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION/EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

 
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The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser may from time to time pledge pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement with a registered broker-dealer or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities to a financial institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and who agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, if required under the terms of such arrangement, the Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured Securities to the pledgees or secured parties. Such a pledge or transfer would not be subject to approval of the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel of the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection therewith. Further, no notice shall be required of such pledge. At the Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Securities, including, if the Securities are then registered for resale on a registration statement, the preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities Act to appropriately amend the list of selling stockholders thereunder.

 

(c) Certificates evidencing the Underlying Shares (if applicable) shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) hereof): (i) when they have been sold while a registration statement (including the Registration Statement) covering the resale of such security is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) following any sale of such Underlying Shares pursuant to Rule 144, (iii) if such Underlying Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144 and a sale or transfer will be taking place prior to the Company’s next periodic report becomes due under the Exchange Act or (iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission). The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the Transfer Agent promptly after the Effective Date or at such time as such legend is no longer required under this Section 4.1(c) if required by the Transfer Agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder, or if requested by the Purchaser, subject to the Purchaser providing standard documentation requested by counsel in order to issue such opinion. If any portion of the Preferred Stock is converted at a time when there is an effective registration statement to cover any sale of the Underlying Shares, or if such Underlying Shares have been sold under Rule 144 and the Company is then in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144, or if the Underlying Shares may be sold under Rule 144 without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 as to such Underlying Shares and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions provided the conditions of Rule 144(i)(2) have been satisfied and a sale of such shares will be taking place prior to the Company’s next annual or quarterly report becoming due under its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act or if such legend is not otherwise required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) then such Underlying Shares shall be issued free of all legends. The Company agrees that following the Effective Date or at such time as such legend is no longer required under this Section 4.1(c), it will, no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) following the delivery by the Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent of certificate(s) representing the Underlying Shares, as applicable, issued with a restrictive legend (such date, the “Legend Removal Date”), deliver or cause to be delivered to the Purchaser a certificate representing such shares that is free from all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 4. Certificates for Underlying Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchaser by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the DTC as directed by the Purchaser. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of a certificate representing the Underlying Shares, as applicable, issued with a restrictive legend.

 

 
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(d) In addition to the Purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company shall pay to the Purchaser, in cash, the greater of (i) as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Underlying Shares (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date such Securities are submitted to the Transfer Agent) delivered for removal of the restrictive legend and subject to Section 4.1(c), $5 per Trading Day (increasing to $10 per Trading Day five (5) Trading Days after such damages have begun to accrue) for each Trading Day after the Legend Removal Date until such certificate is delivered without a legend and (ii) if the Company fails to (x) issue and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Purchaser by the Legend Removal Date a certificate representing the Securities so delivered to the Company by the Purchaser that is free from all restrictive and other legends or (y) if after the Legend Removal Date the Purchaser purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Purchaser of all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock, or a sale of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock that the Purchaser anticipated receiving from the Company without any restrictive legend, then, an amount equal to the excess of the Purchaser’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) (the “Buy-In Price”) over the product of (A) such number of Conversion Shares, as applicable, that the Company was required to deliver to the Purchaser by the Legend Removal Date multiplied by (B) the lowest closing sale price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the delivery by the Purchaser to the Company of the applicable Underlying Shares and ending on the date of such delivery and payment under this clause (ii).

 

4.2 Furnishing of Information. Beginning on the Closing Date, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the Pink Basic Disclosure Guidelines which set forth the disclosure obligations that make up the “Alternative Reporting Standard” for OTC Pink companies as such obligations are published by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. If after the date hereof the Company becomes subject to the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act and as long as the Purchaser owns Securities, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. As long as the Purchaser owns Securities, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Purchaser and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for the Purchaser to sell the Securities, including without limitation, under Rule 144. In addition, the Company shall file with Commission current “Form 10 information”, as defined in Rule 144(i)(3), as soon as practicable after the date the Company becomes subject to the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act, reflecting its status as an entity that is no longer an issuer described in Rule 144(i)(1)(i). The Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Securities without registration under the Securities Act, including without limitation, within the requirements of the exemption provided by Rule 144.

 

 
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4.3 Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities or that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require shareholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

 

4.4 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including the Transaction Documents as exhibits thereto, with the Commission within the time required by the Exchange Act. From and after the filing of the Form 8-K, the Company represents to the Purchaser that it shall have publicly disclosed all material, non-public information delivered to any of the Purchaser by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. In addition, effective upon the filing of such Form 8-K, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates on the one hand, and any of the Purchaser or any of their Affiliates on the other hand, shall terminate. The Company and Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing any press releases or public disclosures with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor Purchaser shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public disclosure without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release or public disclosure of Purchaser, or without the prior consent of Purchaser, with respect to any press release or public disclosure of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, (a) use the name of Purchaser or any of its affiliates (or any other derivative name of Purchaser or its affiliates) in any press releases or other public disclosures (including in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or Trading Market), offering documents, sales materials, brochures or similar publicity or promotional materials, or for promotional purposes, whether orally or in writing, except (a) as required by federal securities law in connection with the filing of final Transaction Documents with the Commission including SEC Guidance as defined by the Registration Rights Agreement, and (b) to the extent such disclosure is required by law or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide Purchaser with prior notice of such disclosure permitted under this clause (b).

 

 
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4.5 Shareholder Rights Plan. No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, with the consent of the Company, any other Person, that the Purchaser 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 the Purchaser could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Securities under the Transaction Documents.

 

4.6 Non-Public Information. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, which shall be disclosed pursuant to Section 4.4, the Company covenants and agrees that neither it, nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide the Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that constitutes, or the Company reasonably believes constitutes, material non-public information, unless prior thereto the Purchaser shall have consented to the receipt of such information and agreed with the Company to keep such information confidential. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. To the extent that the Company delivers any material, non-public information to the Purchaser without the Purchaser’s consent, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Purchaser shall not have any duty of confidentiality to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates, or a duty to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates not to trade on the basis of, such material, non-public information, provided that the Purchaser shall remain subject to applicable law. To the extent that any notice provided pursuant to any Transaction Document constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K or if not subject to the reporting requirements under the Commission, file a press release. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.

 

4.7 Use of Proceeds. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth on Schedule 4.7 attached hereto, the Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder for working capital purposes and shall not use such proceeds in violation of FCPA, OFAC regulations or Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

 
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4.8 Indemnification of Purchaser. Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.8, the Company will indemnify and hold the Purchaser and its respective directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls the Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling persons (each, a “Purchaser Party”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, as incurred, arising out of or relating to (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement filed by the Company, any prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Purchaser Party furnished in writing to the Company by such Purchaser Party expressly for use therein, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder in connection therewith. If any action shall be brought against any Purchaser Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, such Purchaser Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing, and the Company shall have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser Party. Any Purchaser Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Purchaser Party except to the extent that (x) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Company in writing, (y) the Company has failed after a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and to employ counsel or (z) in such action there is, in the reasonable opinion of counsel, a material conflict on any material issue between the position of the Company and the position of such Purchaser Party, in which case the Company shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one such separate counsel. The Company will not be liable to any Purchaser Party under this Agreement (1) for any settlement by a Purchaser Party effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (2) to the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is attributable to any Purchaser Party’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Purchaser Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents. The indemnification required by this Section 4.8 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or are incurred. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any cause of action or similar right of any Purchaser Party against the Company or others and any liabilities the Company may be subject to pursuant to law.

 

4.9 Reservation of Common 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 Common Stock equal to the Required Minimum (as defined in the Preferred Designation) for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue the Underlying Shares and any other shares that may be issuable pursuant to the Preferred Stock. If, on any date, the number of authorized but unissued (and otherwise unreserved) shares of Common Stock is less than the Required Minimum on such date, then the Board of Directors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to amend the Company’s certificate or articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to at least the Required Minimum at such time, as soon as possible and in any event not later than the 75th day after such date

 

 
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4.10 Listing of Common Stock. 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 Underlying Shares on such Trading Market and promptly secure the listing of all of the Underlying Shares on such Trading Market. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other Trading Market (including in accordance with Section 4.23), it will then include in such application all of the Underlying Shares, and will take such other action as is necessary to cause all of the Underlying 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 such Trading Market and will comply in all 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 DTC or another established clearing corporation, including, without limitation, by timely payment of fees to DTC or such other established clearing corporation in connection with such electronic transfer.

  

4.11 Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. The Purchaser covenants that neither it nor any Affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any purchases or sales, including Short Sales of any of the Company’s securities during the period commencing with the execution of this Agreement and ending at such time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.4. The Purchaser covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.4, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of this transaction and the information included in the Disclosure Schedules. Notwithstanding the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) no Purchaser makes any representation, warranty or covenant hereby that it will not engage in effecting transactions in any securities of the Company after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced, (ii) no Purchaser shall be restricted or prohibited from effecting any transactions in any securities of the Company in accordance with applicable securities laws from and after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.4, (iii) the Purchaser has not been asked by the Company to agree, nor has the Purchaser agreed, to desist from purchasing or selling Securities which have been issued under the terms of this Agreement, the Preferred Designation or any other Transaction Document, or “derivative” securities based on securities issued by the Company or to hold the Securities for any specified term, (iv) the Purchaser shall not be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm’s length counter-party in any “derivative” transaction, (v) the Purchaser may engage in hedging activities, other than Short Sales at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, and (vi) no Purchaser shall have any duty of confidentiality or duty not to trade in the securities of the Company to the Company or its Subsidiaries after the issuance of the initial press release. Except as contemplated above, Company acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging activities do not constitute a breach of any of the Transaction Documents.

 

 
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4.12 Conversion Procedures. The form of Notice of Conversion in the Preferred Designation sets forth the totality of the procedures required of the Purchaser in order to convert the Preferred Stock. No additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of the Purchaser to convert the Preferred Stock. Without limiting the preceding sentences, no ink-original Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Conversion form be required in order to covert the Preferred Stock. The Company shall honor conversions of the Preferred Stock and shall deliver the Underlying Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Transaction Documents.

 

4.13 Form D; Blue Sky Filings. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities with the Commission as required under Regulation D, and with the applicable securities regulators in the states in which the Securities were sold, and to provide copies thereof, promptly upon request of the Purchaser. The Company shall take such further action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Securities for, sale to the Purchaser at the Closing under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States, and shall provide evidence of such actions promptly upon request of the Purchaser.

 

4.14 Preservation of Corporate Existence. So long as the Preferred Stock remains outstanding, the Company shall preserve and maintain its corporate existence, rights, privileges and franchises in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and qualify and remain qualified, as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary in view of its business or operations and where the failure to qualify or remain qualified would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.15 DTC Program. At all times that the Securities are outstanding, the Company will employ as the transfer agent for the Common Stock and Conversion Shares a participant in the DTC Automated Securities Transfer Program and cause the Common Stock to be transferable pursuant to such program.

 

4.16 Participation in Future Financing.

 

(a) From the date hereof until February 25, 2025, upon any issuance by the Company of Indebtedness, Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents for cash consideration or a combination thereof (a “Subsequent Financing”), Purchaser (when aggregated with its Affiliates) (a “Participation Right Purchaser”) shall have the right to participate in up to an amount of the Subsequent Financing equal to 25% of the Subsequent Financing (the “Participation Maximum”) on the same terms, conditions and price provided for in the Subsequent Financing.

 

 
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(b) At least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the closing of the Subsequent Financing, the Company shall deliver to each Participation Right Purchaser a written notice of its intention to effect a Subsequent Financing (“Pre-Notice”), which Pre-Notice shall ask such Participation Right Purchaser if it wants to review the details of such financing (such additional notice, a “Subsequent Financing Notice”). Upon the request of a Participation Right Purchaser, and only upon a request by such Participation Right Purchaser, for a Subsequent Financing Notice, the Company shall promptly, but no later than one (1) Trading Day after such request, deliver a Subsequent Financing Notice to such Participation Right Purchaser. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Subsequent Financing is an “overnight” registered offering (“RDO”), there shall be no Pre-Notice required to be delivered to the Participation Right Purchaser; provided that the Subsequent Financing is delivered between the time period of 4:00 pm (New York City time) and 6:00 pm (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Trading Day of the expected announcement of the Subsequent Financing (or, if the Trading Day of the expected announcement of the Subsequent Financing is the first Trading Day following a holiday or a weekend (including a holiday weekend), between the time period of 4:00 pm (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately prior to such holiday or weekend and 2:00 pm (New York City time) on the day immediately prior to the Trading Day of the expected announcement of the Subsequent Financing). The Subsequent Financing Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed terms of such Subsequent Financing, the amount of proceeds intended to be raised thereunder and the Person or Persons through or with whom such Subsequent Financing is proposed to be effected and shall include a term sheet or similar document relating thereto as an attachment.

 

(c) Any Participation Right Purchaser desiring to participate in such Subsequent Financing must provide written notice to the Company by not later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth (10th) Trading Day after such Participation Right Purchaser has received the Pre-Notice that such Participation Right Purchaser is willing to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the amount of such Participation Right Purchaser’s participation, and representing and warranting that such Participation Right Purchaser has such funds ready, willing, and available for investment on the terms set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. If the Company receives no such notice from a Participation Right Purchaser as of such tenth (10th) Trading Day, such Participation Right Purchaser shall be deemed to have notified the Company that it does not elect to participate. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of an RDO, any Participation Right Purchaser desiring to participate in such Subsequent Financing must provide written notice to the Company by 6:30 am (New York City time) on the Trading Day following the date on which the Subsequent Financing Notice is delivered to such Participation Right Purchaser (the “Notice Termination Time”) that such Participation Right Purchaser is willing to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the amount of such Participation Right Purchaser’s participation, and representing and warranting that such Participation Right Purchaser has such funds ready, willing, and available for investment on the terms set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. If the Company receives no such notice from a Participation Right Purchaser as of such Notice Termination Time, such Participation Right Purchaser shall be deemed to have notified the Company that it does not elect to participate in such Subsequent Financing.

 

 
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(d) If by 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth (10th) Trading Day after all of the Participation Right Purchasers have received the Pre-Notice, notifications by the Participation Right Purchasers of their willingness to participate in the Subsequent Financing (or to cause their designees to participate) is, in the aggregate, less than the total amount of the Subsequent Financing, then the Company may effect the remaining portion of such Subsequent Financing on the terms and with the Persons set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. Notwithstanding anything hereinto to the contrary, in the event of an RDO, if, by the Notice Termination Time, notifications by the Participation Right Purchasers of their willingness to participate in the Subsequent Financing (or to cause their designees to participate) is, in the aggregate, less than the total amount of the Subsequent Financing, then the Company may effect the remaining portion of such Subsequent Financing on the terms and with the Persons set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice.

 

(e) If by 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth (10th) Trading Day after all of the Participation Right Purchasers have received the Pre-Notice, the Company receives responses to a Subsequent Financing Notice from Participation Right Purchasers seeking to purchase more than the aggregate amount of the Participation Maximum, the Participation Right Purchasers shall, in their discretion, determine their pro rata participation in such Subsequent Financing in an amount up to the Participation Maximum. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of an RDO, if, by the Notice Termination Time, the Company receives responses to a Subsequent Financing Notice from Participation Right Purchasers seeking to purchase more than the aggregate amount of the Participation Maximum, the Participation Right Purchasers shall, in their discretion, determine their pro rata participation in such Subsequent Financing in an amount up to the Participation Maximum.

 

(f) The Company must provide the Participation Right Purchasers with Subsequent Financing Notices, and the Participation Right Purchasers will again have the right of participation set forth above in this Section 4.16, if such Subsequent Financings subject to any prior Subsequent Financing Notice is not consummated for any reason on the terms set forth in such Subsequent Financing Notice within thirty (30) Trading Days after the date of any prior Subsequent Financing Notice; provided in the event of an RDO such period shall be two (2) Trading Days.

 

(g) The Company and each Participation Right Purchaser agree that if any Participation Right Purchaser elects to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the transaction documents related to the Subsequent Financing shall not include any term or provision that, directly or indirectly, will, or is intended to, exclude one or more of the Participation Right Purchasers from participating in a Subsequent Financing, including, but not limited to, provisions whereby such Participation Right Purchaser shall be required to agree to any restrictions on trading as to any of the Securities purchased hereunder or be required to consent to any amendment to or termination of, or grant any waiver, release or the like under or in connection with, this Agreement, without the prior written consent of such Participation Right Purchaser.

 

 
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(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.16 and unless otherwise agreed to by such Participation Right Purchaser, the Company shall either confirm in writing to such Participation Right Purchaser that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the securities in the Subsequent Financing, in either case in such a manner such that such Participation Right Purchaser will not be in possession of any material, non-public information, by the tenth (10th) Business Day following delivery of the Subsequent Financing Notice. If by such tenth (10th) Business Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Participation Right Purchaser, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Participation Right Purchaser shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, in the case of an RDO the Company shall be required to comply with the aforementioned obligations on or before 9:30 am (New York City time) on the second (2nd) Trading Day following date of delivery of the Subsequent Financing Notice. If by 9:30 am (New York City time) on such second (2nd) Trading Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Participation Right Purchaser, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Participation Right Purchaser shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.16 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance.

 

4.17 Transfer Agent Instructions. The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to the Transfer Agent in a form acceptable to the Purchaser (the “Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions”) to issue certificates or credit shares via DWAC or otherwise to the applicable balance accounts at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registered in the name of the Purchaser or its respective nominee(s), for the Underlying Shares in such amounts as specified from time to time by the Purchaser to the Company upon conversion of the Preferred Stock. The Company represents and warrants that no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to in this Section will be given by the Company to its Transfer Agent with respect to the Securities, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company, as applicable, to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves Conversion Shares sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or in compliance with Rule 144, the transfer agent shall issue such shares to such Buyer, assignee or transferee (as the case may be) without any restrictive legend in accordance with Section 4.1. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to Purchaser. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section, that Purchaser shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall cause its counsel to issue the legal opinion referred to in the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions to the Company’s transfer agent from and after the Applicable Date. Any fees (with respect to the transfer agent, counsel to the Company or otherwise) associated with the issuance of such opinion or the removal of any legends on any of the Securities shall be borne by the Company. “Applicable Date” means the first date on which all of the Underlying Shares are eligible to be resold by the Purchaser pursuant to Rule 144 or an effective registration statement is in effect.

 

 
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4.18 Public Information. At any time during the period commencing from the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date and ending at such time that all of the Securities, may be sold without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) and otherwise without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144, if the Company shall fail for any reason to satisfy the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c) (a “Public Information Failure”) then, in addition to the Purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company shall pay to the Purchaser, in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the Securities, an amount in cash equal to one-half percent (0.5%) of the aggregate Purchase Price of the Purchaser’s Securities on the day of a Public Information Failure and on every thirtieth (30th) day (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) thereafter until the earlier of (a) the date such Public Information Failure is cured and (b) such time that such public information is no longer required for the Purchaser to transfer the Underlying Shares pursuant to Rule 144. The payments to which the Purchaser shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 4.18 are referred to herein as “Public Information Failure Payments.” Public Information Failure Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (i) the last day of the calendar month during which such Public Information Failure Payments are incurred and (ii) the third (3rd) Business Day after the event or failure giving rise to the Public Information Failure Payments is cured. If an Event (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) is occurring at the time of a Public Information Failure, and the Company is (x) then obligated to pay, and (y) timely pays the Purchaser partial liquidated damages under Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement for the period occurring simultaneous with the applicable Public Information Failure (such payments, the “Simultaneous Registration Rights Partial Liquidated Damages”) and (z) has timely paid the Purchaser all previously accrued partial liquidated damages under Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company may deduct the amounts paid in connection with such Simultaneous Registration Rights Partial Liquidated Damages from such Public Information Failure Payments due for such simultaneous Public Information Failure. In the event the Company fails to make Public Information Failure Payments in a timely manner, such Public Information Failure Payments shall bear interest at the rate of 1.5% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Nothing herein shall limit such Purchaser’s right to pursue actual damages for the Public Information Failure, and the Purchaser shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief.

 

4.19 OTC Markets; National Securities Exchange.

 

(a) The Company shall take all necessary and appropriate actions to continue to quote its shares of Common Stock on the OTCQB or OTCQX.

 

(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Company meets the qualitative and quantitative listing standards for listing on a national securities exchange, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to take all necessary and appropriate actions to list its shares of Common Stock for trading on such national securities exchange.

 

 
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ARTICLE 5

MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1 Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly set forth below and in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the reasonable, documented fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company and any exercise notice delivered by the Purchaser), stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities to the Purchaser.

 

5.2 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and 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.

 

5.3 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 email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature page attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day, (b) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature page attached hereto on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, (c) the second (2nd) Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto.

 

5.4 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 Purchaser or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought. 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. Any amendment effected in accordance with accordance with this Section 5.4 shall be binding upon the Purchaser and holder of Securities and the Company.

 

 
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5.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Purchaser then holding the outstanding Preferred Stock (other than by merger). Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities in compliance with the Transaction Documents, provided that such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the provisions of the Transaction Documents that apply to the “Purchaser,” and provided further that (i) such transferee is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) such transferee is not a direct competitor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

5.6 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

 

5.7 Governing Law; Exclusive Jurisdiction. 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 for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Action or Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such Action or Proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such Proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Action or Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If any party shall commence an Action or Proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company elsewhere in this Agreement, the prevailing party in such Action or Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the non-prevailing party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Action or Proceeding.

 

5.8 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities at Closing.

 

 
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5.9 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 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 “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

5.10 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, as long as the essential terms and conditions of the Preferred Stock for each party remain valid, binding, and enforceable. The parties 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.

 

5.11 Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) any of the other Transaction Documents, whenever the Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then the Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights; provided, however, that, in the case of a rescission of a conversion of the Preferred Stock, the Purchaser shall be required to return any shares of Common Stock subject to any such rescinded conversion or exercise notice concurrently with the return to the Purchaser of the aggregate exercise price paid to the Company for such shares.

 

5.12 Replacement of Securities. If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof (in the case of mutilation), or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction. The applicant for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs (including customary indemnity) associated with the issuance of such replacement Securities.

 

5.13 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any Action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

 
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5.14 Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to the Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or the Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

5.15 Usury. To the extent it may lawfully do so, the Company hereby agrees not to insist upon or plead or in any manner whatsoever claim, and will resist any and all efforts to be compelled to take the benefit or advantage of, usury laws wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, in connection with any Action or Proceeding that may be brought by the Purchaser in order to enforce any right or remedy under any Transaction Document. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, it is expressly agreed and provided that the total liability of the Company under the Transaction Documents for payments in the nature of interest shall not exceed the maximum lawful rate authorized under applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”), and, without limiting the foregoing, in no event shall any rate of interest or default interest, or both of them, when aggregated with any other sums in the nature of interest that the Company may be obligated to pay under the Transaction Documents exceed such Maximum Rate. It is agreed that if the maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law and applicable to the Transaction Documents is increased or decreased by statute or any official governmental action subsequent to the date hereof, the new maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law will be the Maximum Rate applicable to the Transaction Documents from the effective date thereof forward, unless such application is precluded by applicable law. If under any circumstances whatsoever, interest in excess of the Maximum Rate is paid by the Company to the Purchaser with respect to indebtedness evidenced by the Transaction Documents, such excess shall be applied by the Purchaser to the unpaid principal balance of any such indebtedness or be refunded to the Company, the manner of handling such excess to be at the Purchaser’s election.

 

5.16 Liquidated Damages. The Company’s obligations to pay any partial liquidated damages or other amounts owing under the Transaction Documents is a continuing obligation of the Company and shall not terminate until all unpaid partial liquidated damages and other amounts have been paid notwithstanding the fact that the instrument or security pursuant to which such partial liquidated damages or other amounts are due and payable shall have been canceled.

 

 
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5.17 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.

 

5.18 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.

 

5.19    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.

 

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

 
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Execution Version

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

      Address for Notice:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Andrew Fox    

125 Park Avenue, 25th Floor

 

Name:

Andrew Fox

 

 

New York, NY 10017

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer    

Email: a@charge.us

 

 

     

 

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

 

 

 

 

 

30 Rockefeller Plaza, 39th Floor

 

 

 

 

 

New York, NY 10112

 

 

 

 

 

Attn: Richard A. Friedman and Stephen A. Cohen

 

 

 

 

 

Email: rafriedman@sheppardmullin.com, scohen@sheppardmullin.com

 

 

 

 

 

 [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 

SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

 

 
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PURCHASER SIGNATURE PAGES TO CRGE SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

Name of Purchaser:

 ICG Charge Me LLC      

 

 

 

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser:

 /s/ Matthew J. Stern

 

 

 

 

Name of Authorized Signatory:

 Matthew J. Stern     

 

 

 

 

Title of Authorized Signatory:

 Managing Director     

 

 

 

 

Email Address of Authorized Signatory:

mstern@islecap.com   

 

 

 

 

Address for Notice to Purchaser:

 717 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022  

 

 

 

 

FEIN Number:

 87-4563861 

 

 

 
-45-

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Preferred Designation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
-46-

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 
-47-

 

 

Schedule 1

 

Purchase Price; Securities Purchased

 

 

 

 

Aggregate Stated Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (Rounded) of Preferred Stock

 

Name of

 

 

 

 

 being

 

Purchaser

 

Purchase Price 

 

 

 Purchased

 

ICG Charge Me LLC

 

$ 10,845,000.00

 

 

$ 12,050,000.00

 

 

 
-48-

 

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

Execution Version

  

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 25, 2022, between Charge Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the purchaser signatory hereto (the “Purchaser”).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Company and the Purchaser (the “Purchase Agreement”).

 

The Company and the Purchaser hereby agrees as follows:

 

1.  Definitions.

 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

 

Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d).

 

Event Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d).

 

Filing Date” means, (a)with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 180th calendar day following the date hereof, and (b) with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 2(c) or Section 3(c), the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities.

 

Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities. The initial Holder is the Purchaser. For the avoidance of doubt, no fund affiliated with Arena Investors LP, nor any of their permitted transferees or assigns, shall be deemed to be a Holder pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

Initial Registration Statement” means the initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

 
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Plan of Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

Registrable Securities” means, as of any date of determination, (a) all Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (assuming on such date the Preferred Stock is converted in full without regard to any conversion limitations therein), (b) any additional shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the Preferred Designation (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion set forth in the Preferred Designation) and (c) any securities issued or then issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution,recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing; provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (and the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of any, or file another, Registration Statement hereunder with respect thereto) for so long as (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities is declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of by the Holder in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Securities have been previously sold in accordance with Rule 144, or (iii) such securities become eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without current public information pursuant to Rule 144, and the conditions of Rule 144(i)(2) have been met, as set forth in a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the Transfer Agent and the affected Holders (assuming that such securities and any securities issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of which, or as a dividend upon which, such securities were issued or are issuable, were at no time held by any Affiliate of the Company, as reasonably determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel to the Company.

 

Registration Statement” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder pursuant to Section 2(a) and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(c) or Section 3(c), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to any such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in any such registration statement.

 

 “Rule 415” means Rule 415 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 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.

 

Selling Stockholder Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance of the Commission staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

2.  Shelf Registration.

 

(a)  On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities that are not then registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Each Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering and shall contain (unless otherwise directed by at least 85% in interest of the Holders) substantially the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A and substantially the “Selling Stockholder” section attached hereto as Annex B; provided, however, that no Holder shall be required to be named as an “underwriter” without such Holder’s express prior written consent. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause a Registration Statement filed under this Agreement (including, without limitation, under Section 3(c)) to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (i) have been sold, thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144, or (ii) may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144, and the conditions of Rule 144(i)(2) have been met, as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Transfer Agent and the affected Holders (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Company shall telephonically request effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on a Trading Day. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders by e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement by the next Trading Day that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission, which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of such Registration Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the Trading Day five (5) days after the effective date of such Registration Statement, file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule 424.Failure to so notify the Holder within two (2) Trading Days of such notification of effectiveness or failure to file a final Prospectus as foresaid shall be deemed an Event under Section 2(d).

 

 
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(b) Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in Section 2(a), if the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly inform each of the Holders thereof and use its reasonable best efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement as required by the Commission, covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering, subject to the provisions of Section 2(d) with respect to the payment of liquidated damages; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment, the Company shall be obligated to use diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09.

 

(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and subject to the payment of liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(d), if the Commission or any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater portion of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced as follows:

 

(i) First, the Company shall reduce or eliminate any securities to be included other than Registrable Securities; provided,however the Holder acknowledges that the Company has granted registration rights to funds affiliated with Arena Investors LP on or prior to the date hereof and which will be included on any Registration Statement and as a result any such securities, excluding any Preferred Stock as indicated in subsection (b) below held by such funds, will not be eliminated from any such filing; and

 

(ii) Second, the Company shall reduce Registrable Securities represented by Preferred Stock (including the shares of Preferred Stock issued to funds affiliated with Arena Investors LP on or prior to the date hereof) on a pro rata basis.

 

In the event of a cutback hereunder, the Company shall give the Holder at least five (5) Trading Days prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Holder’s allotment. In the event the Company amends the Initial Registration Statement in accordance with the foregoing, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended.

 

 
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(d)  If: (i) the Initial Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files the Initial Registration Statement without affording the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(a) herein, the Company shall be deemed to have not satisfied this clause (i)); (ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration of a Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review; (iii) after the effective date of a Registration Statement, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, or the Holders are otherwise not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities, for more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of fifteen (15) calendar days (which need not be consecutive calendar days) during any 12-month period; or (iv) the Company shall fail for any reason to satisfy the current public information requirement under Rule 144 or the requirements of Rule 144(i)(2) as to the applicable Registrable Securities (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event”, and for purposes of clauses (i) and (iv), the date on which such Event occurs, and for purpose of clause (ii) the date on which such five (5) Trading Day period is exceeded, and for purpose of clause (iii) the date on which such ten (10) or fifteen (15) calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as “Event Date”), then, in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to the Holders an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, their pro rata portion of $75,000, on the Event Date and on every thirtieth (30th) day (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) thereafter. The foregoing liquidated damages shall not apply if the Registrable Securities may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 at the time the Event occurs; provided that the Company shall also be in compliance with the requirements of Rule 144(i)(2) and the current public information requirement under Rule 144 to the extent required. If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.

 

(e)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the Company be permitted to name any Holder or affiliate of a Holder as any Underwriter without the prior written consent of such Holder.

 

 
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3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

 

(a) Not less than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object in good faith;provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than five (5) Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a Registration Statement or one (1) Trading Day after the Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling Stockholder Questionnaire”) on a date that is not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth (4th) Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in accordance with this Section.

 

(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement (provided that, the Company shall excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and (iv) comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

 

(c)  If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file, as soon as reasonably practicable, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than the number of such Registrable Securities.

 

 
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(d)  Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed, (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement, and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provided, however, in no event shall any such notice contain any information which would constitute material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order stopping or suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

 

 
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(f) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission; provided, that any such item which is available on the EDGAR system (or successor thereto) need not be furnished in physical form.

 

(g) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving of any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).

 

(h)  Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, or from time to time as requested by the Holder, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

 

(i) If requested by a Holder, cooperate with such Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holder may request.

 

(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(d), as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its shareholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(j) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages otherwise required pursuant to Section 2(d), for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12-month period.

 

 
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(k) Otherwise use reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the Securities Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, promptly inform the Holders in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Holders are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder.

 

(l) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the natural persons thereof that have voting and dispositive control over the shares. During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such information within three Trading Days of the Company’s request, any liquidated damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the Company.

 

4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with, this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent registered public accountants) (A) with respect to filings made with the Commission, (B) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (C) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (vii) reasonable and reasonably-documented fees and disbursements, not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate, of one counsel for the Purchaser. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions of any Holder or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.

 

 
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5. Indemnification.

 

(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, members, partners, agents, and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, members, shareholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to (1) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (2) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated, defective or otherwise unavailable Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated, defective or otherwise unavailable for use by such Holder and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d).The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified person and shall survive the transfer of any Registrable Securities by any of the Holders in accordance with Section 6(h).

 

 
-10-

 

 

(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based solely upon: any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such information relates to such Holder’s information provided in the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or the proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of a selling Holder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 5 and the amount of any damages such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission) received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have materially and adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

 

 
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An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless:(1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding, or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party).The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) not to be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys’ or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

 

 
-12-

 

 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a Holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 5 and the amount of any damages such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.

 

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

 

6. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each Holder agrees that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall not assert or shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b) No Piggyback on Registrations; Prohibition on Filing Other Registration Statements. Neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in any Registration Statements other than the Registrable Securities or any securities held by funds affiliated with Arena Investors LP which have been issued on or prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)  Discontinued Disposition. By its acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d)(iii) through (vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges that any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2(d).

 

 
-13-

 

 

(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the Company’s stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall deliver to each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(e) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 (without volume restrictions or current public information requirements) promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement that is available for resales or other dispositions by such Holder.

 

(e)  Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of 50.1% or more of the then outstanding Registrable Securities purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (for purposes of clarification, this includes any Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of any Security);provided that, if any amendment, modification or waiver disproportionately and adversely impacts a Holder (or group of Holders), the consent of such disproportionately impacted Holder (or group of Holders) shall be required. If a Registration Statement does not register all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a waiver or amendment done in compliance with the previous sentence, then the number of Registrable Securities to be registered for each Holder shall be reduced pro rata among all Holders and each Holder shall have the right to designate which of its Registrable Securities shall be omitted from such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of a Holder or some Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given only by such Holder or Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 6(f). No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

(f)  Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign (except by merger) its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under Section 5.5 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

 
-14-

 

 

(h)  No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(h), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.

 

(i) Execution and Counterparts. 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 the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered 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 “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

(j)  Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

(k)  Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.

 

(l)  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.

 

(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

********************

 

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

  CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.
       
By: /s/Andrew Fox

 

Name:

Andrew Fox  
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer  
       

 

  

[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]

 

 
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[SIGNATURE PAGE OF PURCHASER TO CRGE RRA]

 

Name of Purchaser: ICG Charge Me LLC                                                                

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser: /s/ Matthew J. Stern

 

Name of Authorized Signatory: Matthew J. Stern                                                    

 

Title of Authorized Signatory: Managing Director                                                   

 

 
-17-

 

 

Annex A

 

Plan of Distribution

 

Each Selling Stockholder (the “Selling Shareholders”) of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on the principal Trading Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

 

·

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker‑dealer solicits purchasers;

 

 

 

 

·

block trades in which the broker‑dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

 

 

 

·

purchases by a broker‑dealer as principal and resale by the broker‑dealer for its account;

 

 

 

 

·

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

 

 

 

·

privately negotiated transactions;

 

 

 

 

·

settlement of short sales;

 

 

 

 

·

in transactions through broker‑dealers that agree with the Selling Shareholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

 

 

 

·

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

 

 

 

·

a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

 

 

 

·

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Shareholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker‑dealers engaged by the Selling Shareholders may arrange for other brokers‑dealers to participate in sales.Broker‑dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Shareholders (or, if any broker‑dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

 

 
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In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the Selling Shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Shareholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

The Selling Shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.

 

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the Selling Shareholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Shareholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the common stock by the Selling Shareholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Shareholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

 
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Annex B

 

SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

 

The common stock being offered by the selling shareholders are those issuable to the selling shareholders, upon conversion of the Preferred Stock. We are registering the shares of common stock in order to permit the selling shareholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the Preferred Stock, the selling shareholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.

 

The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by each of the selling shareholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of the shares of Preferred Stock, as of ________, 2022, assuming conversion of the Preferred Stock held by the selling shareholders on that date, without regard to any limitations on exercises.

 

The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling shareholders.

 

In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the selling shareholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, determined as if the outstanding Preferred Stock were converted in full as of the trading day immediately preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC, subject to adjustment as provided in the registration right agreement, without regard to any limitations on the conversion of the Preferred Stock. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Under the terms of the Preferred Designation, a selling shareholder may not exercise the Preferred Stock and/or exercise the Warrants to the extent such exercise would cause such selling shareholder, together with its affiliates and attribution parties, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would exceed 9.99% of our then outstanding common stock following such conversion or exercise, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock which have not been converted. The number of shares in the second column does not reflect this limitation. The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See "Plan of Distribution."

 

Name of Selling Shareholder

 

Number of shares of

Common Stock Owned

Prior to Offering

 

Maximum Number of

shares of Common Stock

to be Sold Pursuant to this

Prospectus 

 

Number of shares of

Common Stock Owned

After Offering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Annex C

 

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire

 

The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the “Registrable Securities”) of Charge Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) to which this document is annexed. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

NOTICE

 

The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling Stockholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned by it in the Registration Statement.

 

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:

 

 
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QUESTIONNAIRE

 

1. Name.

 

 

(a)

Full Legal Name of Selling Stockholder:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities are held:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by this Questionnaire):

 

 

 

 

2. Address for Notices to Selling Stockholder:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:                                                                                                                                      

 

Email:                                                                                                                                             

 

Contact Person:                                                                                                                              

 

 

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3. Broker-Dealer Status:

 

 

(a)

Are you a broker-dealer? Yes ☐     No ☐

 

 

 

 

(b)

If “yes” to Section 3(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the Company? Yes ☐     No ☐

 

 

 

 

Note: If “no” to Section 3(b), the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

 

 

 

(c) 

Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer? Yes ☐     No ☐

 

 

 

 

(d)

If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you purchased the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities? Yes ☐ No ☐

 

 

 

 

Note: If “no” to Section 3(d), the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

4. Beneficial Ownership of Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Stockholder.

 

Except as set forth below in this Item 4, the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the securities issuable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

 

(a)

Type and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholder:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
-3-

 

 

5. Relationships with the Company:

 

Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

 

 State any exceptions here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any material inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective; provided, that the undersigned shall not be required to notify the Company of any changes to the number of securities held or owned by the undersigned or its affiliates.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to the Company that it is familiar with and understands Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and agrees to abide by the provisions of Regulation M during any time Regulation M applies to the undersigned via the Registrable Securities. By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 5 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

Date: _________________

 

Beneficial Owner:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:  

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

PLEASE EMAIL A .PDF COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE TO:

 

 
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Schedule 6(h)

 

 

  

 
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EXHIBIT 10.3

 

AMENDMENT, CONSENT AND WAIVER

 

This AMENDMENT, CONSENT AND WAIVER (this “Consent”) is made and entered into as of February 25, 2022 by and among Charge Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the purchasers signatory to the Purchase Agreements (as defined below) (each a, “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2020 (as amended and in effect from time to time, including any replacement agreement therefor, the “May 2020 Purchase Agreement”), among the Company and the May 2020 Purchasers, the May 2020 Purchasers have extended credit to the Company as evidenced by certain Original Issue Discount Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000.00 issued by the Company to the May 2020 Purchasers (together with any notes issued in exchange therefor or replacement thereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “May 2020 Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2020 (as amended and in effect from time to time, including any replacement agreement therefor, the “November 2020 Purchase Agreement”), among the Company and the November 2020 Purchasers, the November 2020 Purchasers have extended credit to the Company as evidenced by certain Original Issue Discount Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $3,888,889.00 issued by the Company to the November 2020 Purchasers (together with any notes issued in exchange therefor or replacement thereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “November 2020 Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2021 (as amended and in effect from time to time, including any replacement agreement therefor, the “May 2021 Purchase Agreement”), among the Company and the Purchasers, the Purchasers have extended credit to the Company as evidenced by certain Original Issue Discount Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes and certain Original Issue Discount Senior Secured Non-convertible Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amounts of $5,610,000 and $11,032,609, respectively, issued by the Company to the Purchasers (together with any notes issued in exchange therefor or replacement thereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “May 2021 Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2021 (as amended and in effect from time to time, including any replacement agreement therefor, the “December 2021 Purchase Agreement” and together with the May 2020 Securities Purchase Agreement, the November 2020 Securities Purchase Agreement and May 2021 Securities Purchase Agreement, the “Purchase Agreements”), among the Company and the Purchasers, the Purchasers have extended credit to the Company as evidenced by certain Senior Secured Non-convertible Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $14,814,814.67 issued by the Company to the Purchasers (together with any notes issued in exchange therefor or replacement thereof or any additional investment made by the Purchasers and as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “December 2021 Senior Notes” and together with the May 2020 Senior Notes, the November 2020 Senior Notes and May 2021 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes”);

 

 
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WHEREAS, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2021 (as amended and in effect from time to time, including any replacement agreement therefor, the “May 2021 Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company and the Purchasers, the Company agreed to register the securities issued to (or issuable upon conversion or exercise) the Purchasers pursuant to the May 2021 Purchase Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2021 (as amended and in effect from time to time, including any replacement agreement therefor, the “December 2021 Registration Rights Agreement,” and together with the May 2021 Registration Rights Agreement, the “Registration Rights Agreements”), among the Company and the Purchasers, the Company agreed to register the securities issued to (or issuable upon conversion or exercise) the Purchasers pursuant to the May 2021 Purchase Agreement and the December 2021 Purchase Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating entering into an agreement with certain investors pursuant to which the Company would issue additional shares of its series C preferred stock on the same terms and conditions as what was sold to the December 2021 Investors (the “Additional Financing”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers desire to confirm the Purchasers’ approval and consent to the Company of the following: (i) the Company’s proposed filing of the amended and restated certificate of designation for the Company’s series C preferred stock, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, to allow for the consummation of the Additional Financing (the “Series C Amendment”), (ii) the waiver under any restrictive covenant included in the Senior Notes for any restrictions on payment of dividends to any investor who participates in the Additional Financing (“Dividend Waiver”), (iii) the waiver of providing any non-public information in accordance with Section 4.6 of the Purchase Agreements related to the Additional Financing (the “Information Waiver”), (iv) the amendment to the definition of “Filing Date” as set forth in the December 2021 Registration Rights Agreement, (v) the amendment to Section 4.19 of the May 2020 Purchase Agreement and Section 4.20 of the November 2020 Purchase Agreement, the May 2021 Purchase Agreement and the December 2021 Purchase Agreement, (vi) the waiver of their respective rights under the Registration Rights Agreements to receive any payment of penalties which shall be due and payable through May 15, 2022 as a result of: (a) the failure to file a Registration Statement under the May 2021 Registration Statement by the Filing Date and (b) the failure to have the Initial Registration Statement declared effective under the May 2021 Registration Statement by the six month anniversary of the date of the May 2021 Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Registration Penalty Waiver”), (vii) the waiver under any restrictive covenant included in the Senior Notes and the consent in accordance with Section 6(b) of the Registration Rights Agreements to include the securities issued in the Additional Financing on the Registration Statement to be filed in accordance with such Registration Rights Agreements or to file any other registration statement that is required under any registration rights agreement to be entered into in connection with the Additional Financing (the “ Additional Registrable Securities Consent”);(viii) the waiver of any restriction, covenant or other obligation of the Company in the Purchase Agreements or any other transaction document entered into between the parties to obtain the consent of the Purchasers to enter into the Additional Financing, provided, however, that is a limited waiver and shall not impact any rights or remedies that the Purchasers have under the Transaction Documents, all of which are fully reserved herein (the “Financing Waiver”); (ix) the addition of new Section 4.27 to the December 2021 Purchase Agreement; and (x) a covenant regarding future issuances of equity securities by the Company.

 

 
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions; Transaction Documents. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Purchase Agreements and Registration Rights Agreements. This Consent shall constitute a Transaction Document for all purposes of the Purchase Agreements and the other Transaction Documents.

 

2. Confirmation of Consent; Waiver. The Purchasers hereby confirm their consent to Company for the Series C Amendment, the Dividend Waiver, the Information Waiver, the Additional Registrable Securities Consent, the Registration Penalty Waiver and the Financing Waiver.

 

3.  Amendment to Registration Rights Agreements. The following definition in Section 1 of the December 2021 Registration Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

Filing Date” means, (a) with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 180th calendar day following the date hereof, and (b) with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 2(c) or Section 3(c), the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities.”

  

 
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4. Amendment to Section 4.19 of the Purchase Agreements. Section 4.20 of the May 2020 Purchase Agreement and Section 4.19 of the November 2020 Purchase Agreement, the May 2021 Purchase Agreement and the December 2021 Purchase Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

  

Public Information. At any time during the period commencing from the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date and ending at such time that all of the Securities, may be sold without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) and otherwise without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144, if the Company shall fail for any reason to satisfy the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c) (a “Public Information Failure”) then, in addition to the Purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company shall pay to the Purchaser, in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the Securities, an amount in cash equal to one-half percent (0.5%) of the aggregate Purchase Price of the Purchaser’s Securities on the day of a Public Information Failure and on every thirtieth (30th) day (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) thereafter until the earlier of (a) the date such Public Information Failure is cured and (b) such time that such public information is no longer required for the Purchaser to transfer the Underlying Shares pursuant to Rule 144. The payments to which the Purchaser shall be entitled pursuant to this Section are referred to herein as “Public Information Failure Payments.” Public Information Failure Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (i) the last day of the calendar month during which such Public Information Failure Payments are incurred and (ii) the third (3rd) Business Day after the event or failure giving rise to the Public Information Failure Payments is cured. If an Event (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) is occurring at the time of a Public Information Failure, and the Company is (x) then obligated to pay, and (y) timely pays the Purchaser partial liquidated damages under Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement for the period occurring simultaneous with the applicable Public Information Failure (such payments, the “Simultaneous Registration Rights Partial Liquidated Damages”) and (z) has timely paid the Purchaser all previously accrued partial liquidated damages under Section 2(d) of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company may deduct the amounts paid in connection with such Simultaneous Registration Rights Partial Liquidated Damages from such Public Information Failure Payments due for such simultaneous Public Information Failure. In the event the Company fails to make Public Information Failure Payments in a timely manner, such Public Information Failure Payments shall bear interest at the rate of 1.5% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Nothing herein shall limit such Purchaser’s right to pursue actual damages for the Public Information Failure, and the Purchaser shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief.”

 

5. Addition of Section 4.27 to the December 2021 Purchase Agreement. The December 2021 Purchase Agreement is hereby amended and restated to add the following new Section 4.27:

 

“Participation in Future Financing.

  

(a) From the date hereof until February 25, 2025, upon any issuance by the Company of Indebtedness, Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents for cash consideration or a combination thereof (a “Subsequent Financing”), Purchaser (“Participation Right Purchaser”) shall have the right to participate in up to an amount of the Subsequent Financing equal to 25% of the Subsequent Financing (the “Participation Maximum”) on the same terms, conditions and price provided for in the Subsequent Financing.

  

 
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(b) At least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the closing of the Subsequent Financing, the Company shall deliver to each Participation Right Purchaser a written notice of its intention to effect a Subsequent Financing (“Pre-Notice”), which Pre-Notice shall ask such Participation Right Purchaser if it wants to review the details of such financing (such additional notice, a “Subsequent Financing Notice”). Upon the request of a Participation Right Purchaser, and only upon a request by such Participation Right Purchaser, for a Subsequent Financing Notice, the Company shall promptly, but no later than one (1) Trading Day after such request, deliver a Subsequent Financing Notice to such Participation Right Purchaser. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Subsequent Financing is an “overnight” registered offering (“RDO”), there shall be no Pre-Notice required to be delivered to the Participation Right Purchaser; provided that the Subsequent Financing is delivered between the time period of 4:00 pm (New York City time) and 6:00 pm (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Trading Day of the expected announcement of the Subsequent Financing (or, if the Trading Day of the expected announcement of the Subsequent Financing is the first Trading Day following a holiday or a weekend (including a holiday weekend), between the time period of 4:00 pm (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately prior to such holiday or weekend and 2:00 pm (New York City time) on the day immediately prior to the Trading Day of the expected announcement of the Subsequent Financing). The Subsequent Financing Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed terms of such Subsequent Financing, the amount of proceeds intended to be raised thereunder and the Person or Persons through or with whom such Subsequent Financing is proposed to be effected and shall include a term sheet or similar document relating thereto as an attachment.

 

(c) Any Participation Right Purchaser desiring to participate in such Subsequent Financing must provide written notice to the Company by not later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth (10th) Trading Day after such Participation Right Purchaser has received the Pre-Notice that such Participation Right Purchaser is willing to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the amount of such Participation Right Purchaser’s participation, and representing and warranting that such Participation Right Purchaser has such funds ready, willing, and available for investment on the terms set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. If the Company receives no such notice from a Participation Right Purchaser as of such tenth (10th) Trading Day, such Participation Right Purchaser shall be deemed to have notified the Company that it does not elect to participate. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of an RDO, any Participation Right Purchaser desiring to participate in such Subsequent Financing must provide written notice to the Company by 6:30 am (New York City time) on the Trading Day following the date on which the Subsequent Financing Notice is delivered to such Participation Right Purchaser (the “Notice Termination Time”) that such Participation Right Purchaser is willing to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the amount of such Participation Right Purchaser’s participation, and representing and warranting that such Participation Right Purchaser has such funds ready, willing, and available for investment on the terms set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. If the Company receives no such notice from a Participation Right Purchaser as of such Notice Termination Time, such Participation Right Purchaser shall be deemed to have notified the Company that it does not elect to participate in such Subsequent Financing.

 

 
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(d) If by 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth (10th) Trading Day after all of the Participation Right Purchasers have received the Pre-Notice, notifications by the Participation Right Purchasers of their willingness to participate in the Subsequent Financing (or to cause their designees to participate) is, in the aggregate, less than the total amount of the Subsequent Financing, then the Company may effect the remaining portion of such Subsequent Financing on the terms and with the Persons set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. Notwithstanding anything hereinto to the contrary, in the event of an RDO, if, by the Notice Termination Time, notifications by the Participation Right Purchasers of their willingness to participate in the Subsequent Financing (or to cause their designees to participate) is, in the aggregate, less than the total amount of the Subsequent Financing, then the Company may effect the remaining portion of such Subsequent Financing on the terms and with the Persons set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice.

 

(e) If by 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth (10th) Trading Day after all of the Participation Right Purchasers have received the Pre-Notice, the Company receives responses to a Subsequent Financing Notice from Participation Right Purchasers seeking to purchase more than the aggregate amount of the Participation Maximum, the Participation Right Purchasers shall, in their discretion, determine their pro rata participation in such Subsequent Financing in an amount up to the Participation Maximum. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of an RDO, if, by the Notice Termination Time, the Company receives responses to a Subsequent Financing Notice from Participation Right Purchasers seeking to purchase more than the aggregate amount of the Participation Maximum, the Participation Right Purchasers shall, in their discretion, determine their pro rata participation in such Subsequent Financing in an amount up to the Participation Maximum.

  

(f) The Company must provide the Participation Right Purchasers with Subsequent Financing Notices, and the Participation Right Purchasers will again have the right of participation set forth above in this Section 4.27, if such Subsequent Financings subject to any prior Subsequent Financing Notice is not consummated for any reason on the terms set forth in such Subsequent Financing Notice within thirty (30) Trading Days after the date of any prior Subsequent Financing Notice; provided in the event of an RDO such period shall be two (2) Trading Days.

 

(g) The Company and each Participation Right Purchaser agree that if any Participation Right Purchaser elects to participate in the Subsequent Financing, the transaction documents related to the Subsequent Financing shall not include any term or provision that, directly or indirectly, will, or is intended to, exclude one or more of the Participation Right Purchasers from participating in a Subsequent Financing, including, but not limited to, provisions whereby such Participation Right Purchaser shall be required to agree to any restrictions on trading as to any of the Securities purchased hereunder or be required to consent to any amendment to or termination of, or grant any waiver, release or the like under or in connection with, this Agreement, without the prior written consent of such Participation Right Purchaser.

 

 
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(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.27 and unless otherwise agreed to by such Participation Right Purchaser, the Company shall either confirm in writing to such Participation Right Purchaser that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the securities in the Subsequent Financing, in either case in such a manner such that such Participation Right Purchaser will not be in possession of any material, non-public information, by the tenth (10th) Business Day following delivery of the Subsequent Financing Notice. If by such tenth (10th) Business Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Participation Right Purchaser, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Participation Right Purchaser shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, in the case of an RDO the Company shall be required to comply with the aforementioned obligations on or before 9:30 am (New York City time) on the second (2nd) Trading Day following date of delivery of the Subsequent Financing Notice. If by 9:30 am (New York City time) on such second (2nd) Trading Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Subsequent Financing has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Participation Right Purchaser, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Participation Right Purchaser shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

  

(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.27 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance.”

 

6. The Company hereby represents and warrants that other than the Securities Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement and Amended and Restated Designation of Rights and Preferences of the Series C Preferred Stock, there are no other agreements (including but not limited to side letters or similar arrangements) between the Company and the investors (including affiliates of the investors) participating in the Additional Financing.

 

7. The Company covenants and agrees that while the Series C Preferred Stock remains outstanding it will not authorize or issue a class of equity security that ranks senior to the Series C Preferred Stock with regard to dividends or liquidation preference without the prior written consent of the Purchasers.

 

8. Conditions to Effectiveness of Consent. This Consent shall become effective upon receipt by the Company and the Purchasers of counterpart signatures to this Consent duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchasers.

 

 
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9.  No Implied Consent or Waiver. Except as expressly set forth in this Consent, this Consent shall not, by implication or otherwise, limit, impair, constitute a waiver of or otherwise affect any rights or remedies of the Purchasers under the Purchase Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreements or the other Transaction Documents, or alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, obligations or covenants contained in the Purchase Agreements, Registration Rights Agreements or the other Transaction Documents, all of which shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing in this Consent shall be construed to imply any willingness on the part of the Purchasers to agree to or grant any similar or future amendment, consent or waiver of any of the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

 

10. Counterparts. This Consent may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Consent by e-mail (e.g., “pdf” or “tiff”) or fax transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Consent.

 

11. Governing Law. THIS CONSENT SHALL BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PREPARED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Consent to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

CHARGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

     
By: /s/ Andrew Fox

Name:

Andrew Fox  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  
     

 

 

MT. WHITNEY SECURITIES, LLC

ARENA ORIGINATION CO., LLC

 

ARENA SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, LP

 

ARENA SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERS I, LP

 

ARENA STRUCTURED PRIVATE INVESTMENTS LLC

 

as Purchasers

 

     
By:  /s/ Lawrence Cutler

Name:

Lawrence Cutler  
Title Authorized Signatory  
     

   

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

Charge Enterprises Secures Preferred Equity Financing from

Island Capital Group LLC

 

New York, NY (March 3, 2022) – Charge Enterprises, Inc. (OTC PINK:CRGE) (“Charge” or the “Company”), a company consisting of a portfolio of global businesses with the vision of connecting people everywhere with communications and electric-vehicle charging (“EV”) infrastructure, today announced it has entered into a preferred stock financing transaction with a subsidiary of Island Capital Group LLC (“Island Capital”), a merchant bank with synergistic investing and advisory platforms specializing in real estate and real estate related transactions.

 

“When you look at the overall 5G wireless and EV infrastructure market, there are very few companies enabling industry participants in the same manner that Charge does. Their unique value proposition offers infrastructure solutions that are needed today and that can power the EV market through its next few decades’ trajectory,” said Andrew L. Farkas, Managing Member, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Island Capital. “We are excited to be an investor in Charge and look forward to a successful relationship.”

 

Charge’s strategy is to integrate high-quality assets with growing recurring revenue streams across its core competencies of building infrastructure for 5G wireless networks and EV charging installation solutions. Its goal is to be the trusted global infrastructure partner at the cross-over of wireless and electrical infrastructure.

 

“When Andrew Farkas, who founded Insignia Financial Group, Inc. (which ultimately was merged into what is now CBRE Group), approached Charge with respect to a possible strategic relationship, we were thrilled to walk them through our strategy and vision,” said Charge’s Chairman and CEO Andrew Fox. “We are very excited to work with Island Capital Group and to expand our relationship with them.”

 

Through this preferred equity financing with Island Capital, Charge has raised gross proceeds of approximately $10.8 million through approximately $12 million of face value preferred equity financing from an investment vehicle controlled by Island Capital. Proceeds of the financing will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The financing is in the form of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, which pays a monthly dividend of 6%, or $0.1875 per share per year, payable in cash or in shares of Charge Common Stock at the Company’s option, and is convertible into Common Stock at $3.125 per share.

 

 

 

 

The securities offered and sold by Charge in the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. Charge has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC covering the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the Series C Preferred Stock issued in the private placement. Any resale of Charge’s securities under such resale registration statement will be made only by means of a prospectus.

 

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

 

About Island Capital

 

Island Capital Group LLC is a merchant bank headquartered in New York City with synergistic Investing and Advisory platforms specializing in real estate transactions. The company provides turnaround, restructuring, capital raising and other advisory services, with over 30 years of expertise in creating value across more than $250 billion of complex distressed transactions. Island Capital is comprised of a diverse platform of commercial real estate services, from fund management to financial advisory and consulting. The platform includes C-III Capital Partners LLC, NAI Global, Island Global Yachting and The Planning & Zoning Resource Company LLC. The company is led by Andrew Farkas as Chairman and CEO and is headquartered in New York, NY. For more information about Island Capital, please visit www.islandcapital.com.

 

About Charge Enterprises, Inc.

 

Our Telecommunications Division

 

Our Telecommunications division (“Telecommunications”) has provided termination of both voice and data to Carriers and Mobile Network Operators (MNO’s) globally for over two decades and we will selectively add profitable products and services to this long-established business.

 

Our Infrastructure Division

 

Our Infrastructure division (“Infrastructure”) has a primary focus on two fast growing sectors: electric vehicle (“EV”) charging, and Telecommunications Network 5G, including cell tower, small cell, and in-building applications. Solutions for these two sectors include: Design and Engineering, Equipment specification and sourcing, Installation, Data & software solutions, and Service and Maintenance.

 

Our Investment Division

 

Our Investment division (“Investment”) focuses on opportunities related to our global portfolio to expand our vision’s impact. We aim to invest in opportunities that would complement our two operating divisions in addition to marketable securities, including money markets funds and other listed securities. Our Investment division provides services aimed at offsetting the overall cost of capital.

 

 

 

 

We offer our Investment services through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Charge Investments (“CI”).

 

To learn more about Charge, visit Charge Enterprises.

 

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events or Charge’s future performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “continues”, “forecasts”, “projects”, “predicts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “targets” or “believes”, or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. All forward-looking statements, including those herein, are qualified by this cautionary statement.

 

Although Charge believes that the expectations expressed in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the business plans and strategies of Charge, Charge’s future business development, market acceptance of electric vehicles, Charge’s ability to generate profits and positive cash flow, changes in government regulations and government incentives, subsidies, or other favorable government policies, and other risks discussed in Charge’s filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release or as of the date or dates specified in such statements. For more information on Charge, investors are encouraged to review Charge’s public filings on OTC Market at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CRGE/overview. Charge disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

 

Media Contact:

 

Steve Keyes (248) 952-7022

Steve.keyes@centigrade.com

 

Investor Relations:

Carolyn Capaccio, CFA (212) 838-3777

Ccapaccio@lhai.com