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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): September 15, 2022

 

AEYE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-39699   37-1827430
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation)        

 

One Park Place, Suite 200, Dublin, California   94568
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (925) 400-4366

 

   
(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 obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨       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:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share LIDR The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants to receive one share of Common Stock LIDRW The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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 September 15, 2022, AEye, Inc. (“AEye” or the “Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) to finance an aggregate principal amount of up to $21,000,000 with a certain institutional investor (the “Purchaser”).

At the first closing under the Purchase Agreement, which occurred on September 15, 2022, the Company issued to the Purchaser (i) a senior unsecured convertible promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $10,500,000 for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000 (the “Note”) and (ii) a warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase up to 1,750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”). At the second closing under the Purchase Agreement, which will occur upon certain conditions being satisfied, the Company may, at its option, issue to the Purchaser (i) an additional Note in the aggregate principal amount of $10,500,000 for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000 and (ii) an additional Warrant to purchase up to 1,750,000 shares of the Common Stock.

The Note, subject to an original issue discount of four and seventy-six hundredths percent (4.76%), has a term of eighteen months and accrues interest at the rate of 5.0% per annum. The Note is convertible into the Common Stock, at a per share conversion price equal to $2.50, subject to adjustments noted in the Note (the “Conversion Price”). Pursuant to the Note, commencing on the date that is 90 days from the date of the first closing, and on the first trading day of each month thereafter (each, an “Installment Date”) until the Note is fully redeemed, the Company is generally obligated to pay the holder of the Note an amount equal to the sum of (A) the lesser of (x) one-fifteenth of the initial principal amount under the Note and (y) the principal amount then outstanding under the Note as of such Installment Date, (B) any amounts accelerated pursuant to the terms of the Note and (C) the sum of any accrued and unpaid interest and late fees, if any, as of such Installment Date (the “Installment Amount”). The Company, if certain equity conditions are satisfied, may elect to pay all or part of the Installment Amount in shares of Common Stock based on a conversion price equal to the lower of (i) the Conversion Price and (ii) 95% of the lowest VWAP (as defined in the Note) in the five (5) trading days immediately prior to the applicable conversion date. If the Company fails to satisfy certain equity conditions or at the election of the Company, the Company may redeem the Installment Amount in cash with a premium of five percent (5%).

The Warrant has an initial exercise price of $3.50, a 40% premium to the Conversion Price, and is exercisable for four years following issuance. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Warrant, if (x) the VWAP (as defined in the Warrant) of the Common Stock exceeds $4.00 for ten consecutive trading days (the “Forced Exercise Measuring Period”), (y) the average daily trading volume of the Common Stock on each trading day during the Forced Exercise Measuring Period exceeds $5,000,000 and (z) there is an effective registration statement permitting the resale of the Common Stock underlying the Warrant, the Company has the right, within three trading days following such Forced Exercise Measuring Period, at its option, to require the holder of the Warrant to exercise all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Warrant.

The Company has agreed to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) the resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note as well as the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 15, 2022, by and between the Company and the Purchaser (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

The Note contains certain covenants, events of default and triggering events, respectively, which would require repayment of the obligations outstanding pursuant to the Note.

The Purchaser has provided a covenant not to enter into or effect, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, any short sales of the Common Stock or hedging transaction which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock.

The Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement, Note and Warrant contain customary representations, warranties, conditions, and indemnification obligations of the parties.

   

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement, Note and Warrant are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in such agreements were made only for purposes of such agreements and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreements and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.

 

This current report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any Note, Warrant or shares of Common Stock in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

 

Item 3.02.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information contained above in Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

 

The securities referred to in this Current Report on Form 8-K are being issued and sold by the Company to the Purchaser in reliance upon the exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

Item 9.01.Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

(d)       Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number Description

 

4.1Form of Senior Unsecured Convertible Promissory Note to be issued by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement.
4.2Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant to be issued by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10.1*Securities Purchase Agreement by and among AEye, Inc. and the purchaser named in the signature pages thereto, dated September 15, 2022.

 

10.2Registration Rights Agreement by and among AEye, Inc. and the party named in the signature pages thereto, dated September 15, 2022.

 

104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL).

 

* Schedules, exhibits and similar supporting attachments to this exhibit are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. We agree to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the SEC upon request.

 

   

 

SIGNATURES

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.

    AEye, Inc.
     
Dated: September 16, 2022    
    By: /s/ Andrew S. Hughes
      Andrew S. Hughes
      Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

   

 

 

THE ISSUE AND SALE OF THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION 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. THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”). PURSUANT TO TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1), ANDREW HUGHES, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY WILL, BEGINNING TEN DAYS AFTER THE ISSUANCE DATE OF THIS NOTE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE HOLDER UPON REQUEST THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1)(i). ANDREW HUGHES MAY BE REACHED AT TELEPHONE NUMBER (925) 400 – 4366. 

 

Original Issue Date: September 15, 2022

Original Principal Amount: $

Purchase Price: $

 

SENIOR UNSECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

DUE March 15, 2024

 

THIS SENIOR UNSECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE is one of a series of duly authorized and validly issued Senior Unsecured Convertible Notes of AEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at One Park Place, Suite 200, Dublin, California 94568 designated as its Senior Unsecured Convertible Note due March 15, 2024 (this note, the “Note” and, collectively with the other notes of such series, the “Notes”).

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company promises to pay to ______or its registered assigns (the “Holder”), or shall have paid pursuant to the terms hereunder, the principal sum of $______ on March 15, 2024 (the “Maturity Date”) or such earlier date as this Note is required or permitted to be repaid as provided hereunder, and to pay interest to the Holder on the aggregate unconverted and then outstanding principal amount of this Note in accordance with the provisions hereof. This Note is subject to the following additional provisions:

 

Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, in addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Note, (a) capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement and (b) the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Acceleration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iv).

 

Acceleration Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iv).

 

Acceleration Conversion Price” means, with respect to any given Acceleration Date, the lower of (i) the Installment Conversion Price for such Current Installment Date related to such Acceleration Date and (ii) the greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) 95% of the lowest VWAP during the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day that is immediately prior to the applicable Acceleration Date. All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or other similar transaction during any such measuring period.

 

Acceleration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iv).

 

  1 

 

 

Acceleration Floor Amount” means an amount in cash, to be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to wire instructions delivered to the Company by the Holder in writing, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the higher of (I) the highest price that the Common Stock trades at on the Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Acceleration Date with respect to such Acceleration and (II) the applicable Acceleration Conversion Price of such Acceleration Date and (B) the difference obtained by subtracting (I) the number of shares of Common Stock delivered (or to be delivered) to the Holder on the applicable Share Delivery Date with respect to such Acceleration from (II) the quotient obtain by dividing (x) the applicable Acceleration Amount that the Holder has elected to be the subject of the applicable Acceleration, by (y) the applicable Acceleration Conversion Price of such Acceleration Date without giving effect to clause (x) of such definition.

 

Alternate Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

Bankruptcy Event” means any of the following events: (a) the Company or any significant Subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) thereof commences a case or other proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction relating to the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof, (b) there is commenced against the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof any such case or proceeding that is not dismissed within sixty (60) days after commencement, (c) the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered, (d) the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof suffers any appointment of any custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property that is not discharged or stayed within sixty (60) calendar days after such appointment, (e) the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (f) the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof calls a meeting of its creditors with a view to arranging a composition, adjustment or restructuring of its debts, (g) the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof admits in writing that it is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, (h) the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof, by any act or failure to act, expressly indicates its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of the foregoing or takes any corporate or other action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.

  

Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(c).

 

Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the Federal Bank of New York is closed.

 

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 Company, by contract or otherwise) of in excess of 50% of the voting securities of the Company (other than by means of conversion or exercise of the Notes and the Securities issued together with the Notes), (b) the Company merges into or consolidates with any other Person, or any Person merges into or consolidates with the Company and, after giving effect to such transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own less than 66% of the aggregate voting power of the Company or the successor entity of such transaction, (c) the Company (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole) sells or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another Person and the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own less than 66% of the aggregate voting power of the acquiring entity immediately after the transaction, (d) a replacement at one time or within a three 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 date hereof), or (e) the execution by the Company of an agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, providing for any of the events set forth in clauses (a) through (d) above.

 

  2 

 

 

Conversion Amount” means the sum of (A) the portion of the principal of this Note to be converted, redeemed or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being made, (B) accrued and unpaid interest with respect to such principal of this Note, (C) the Make-Whole Amount, if any, (D) accrued and unpaid Late Fees with respect to such principal of this Note, Make-Whole Amount and interest, and (E) any other unpaid amounts pursuant to the Transaction Documents, if any.

 

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

Conversion Floor Price Condition” means that the relevant Acceleration Conversion Price or Installment Conversion Price, as applicable, is less than the Floor Price.

 

Conversion Installment Floor Amount” means an amount in cash, to be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to wire instructions delivered to the Company by the Holder in writing, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the higher of (I) the highest price that the Common Stock trades at on the Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Share Delivery Date and (II) the applicable Installment Conversion Price and (B) the difference obtained by subtracting (I) the number of shares of Common Stock delivered (or to be delivered) to the Holder on the applicable Share Delivery Date with respect to such Installment Conversion from (II) the quotient obtain by dividing (x) the applicable Installment Amount subject to such Installment Conversion, by (y) the applicable Installment Conversion Price.

 

Conversion Price” means, as of any Conversion Date or other date of determination, $2.50, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

Conversion Schedule” means the Conversion Schedule in the form of Schedule 1 attached hereto.

 

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

 

Current Acceleration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iv).

 

Current Installment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iv).

 

Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Equity Conditions” means, during the period in question, (a) the Company shall have duly honored all conversions and redemptions scheduled to occur or occurring by virtue of one or more Conversion Notices of the Holder, if any, (b) the Company shall have paid all amounts owing to the Holder in respect of this Note, (c)(i) there is an effective Registration Statement pursuant to which the Holder is permitted to utilize the prospectus thereunder to resell all of the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents (and the Company believes, in good faith, that such effectiveness will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future) or (ii) all of the Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents (and shares issuable in lieu of cash payments of interest) may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements as determined by the counsel to the Company as set forth in a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Transfer Agent and the Holder, (d) the Common Stock is trading on the Principal Market and all of the shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents are listed or quoted for trading on such Principal Market (and the Company believes, in good faith, that trading of the Common Stock on the Principal Market will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future), (e) there is a sufficient number of authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved shares of Common Stock for the issuance of all of the shares then issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents, (f) there is no existing Event of Default and no existing event which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, would constitute an Event of Default, (g) the issuance of the shares in question (or, in the case of a Company Optional Redemption or Installment Redemption, the shares issuable upon conversion in full of the Company Optional Redemption Amount or Installment Redemption Amount) to the Holder would not violate the limitations set forth in Section 3(d) herein, (h) there is no pending or proposed Fundamental Transaction or Change of Control Transaction that would be required to be disclosed under a current report on Form 8-K and has not been publicly disclosed,

 

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(i) the Holder is not in possession of any information provided by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their officers, directors, employees, agents or Affiliates, that constitutes, or may constitute, material non-public information, (j) the Company has timely filed (subject to any applicable grace period) all of its SEC Reports during the time period in question, (k) the daily VWAP of the Common Stock exceeds 110% of the Floor Price on the Principal Trading Market during each Trading Day for the twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the applicable date in question and (l) the average daily trading volume of the Common Stock on the Principal Trading Market during each Trading Day for the twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the applicable date in question exceeds $500,000.

 

Equity Conditions Failure” means that on any day during the period commencing twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the applicable Installment Notice Date through the later of the applicable Installment Date and the date on which the applicable shares of Common Stock are actually delivered to the Holder, the Equity Conditions have not been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder).

 

Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

Exchange Cap Allocation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(d)(i).

 

Exempt Issuance” shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Floor Price” means $0.30 (or such lower amount as permitted, from time to time, by the Principal Trading Market), subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar events.

 

Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

Installment Amount”means the sum of (A) (i) with respect to any Installment Date other than the Maturity Date, the lesser of (x) $700,000 and (y) the principal amount then outstanding under this Note as of such Installment Date, and (ii) with respect to the Installment Date that is the Maturity Date, the principal amount then outstanding under this Note as of such Installment Date (in each case, as any such Installment Amount may be reduced pursuant to the terms of this Note, whether upon conversion or redemption), (B) any Acceleration Amount accelerated pursuant to Section 6(b)(iv) and included in such Installment Amount in accordance therewith and (C) in each case of clauses (A) and (B) above, the sum of any accrued and unpaid interest as of such Installment Date under this Note, if any, and accrued and unpaid Late Fees, if any, under this Note as of such Installment Date. In the event the Holder shall sell or otherwise transfer any portion of this Note, the transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the each unpaid Installment Amount hereunder.

 

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

 

Installment Conversion Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

 

Installment Conversion Price” shall mean the lower of (i) the Conversion Price and (ii) 95% of the lowest VWAP in the five (5) Trading Days immediately prior to each Conversion Date.

 

Installment Date” means (i) with respect to the first (1st) Installment Redemption, December 14, 2022, and (ii) with respect to all Installment Redemptions subsequent to the first Installment Redemption, the first (1st) Trading Day of each month commencing on January 1, 2023, and terminating upon the full redemption of this Note.

 

Installment Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

 

Installment Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

 

Installment Notice Due Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

 

  4 

 

 

Installment Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iv).

 

Installment Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

 

Installment Redemption Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(i).

 

Installment Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b)(iii).

 

Interest Conversion Price” shall mean the lesser of (x) the Conversion Price and (y) 95% of the lowest VWAP during the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day that is immediately prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date.

 

Interest Conversion Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

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

 

Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Interest Share Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

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

 

Make-Whole Amount” means, as of any given date and as applicable, in connection with any conversion, redemption or other repayment hereunder, an amount equal to the amount of additional interest that would accrue under this Note at the interest rate then in effect assuming for calculation purposes that the principal of this Note as of the First Closing Date remained outstanding through and including the Maturity Date.

 

Mandatory Default Amount” means the sum of (a) the greater of (i) the outstanding principal amount of this Note, plus all accrued and unpaid interest hereon, divided by the lesser of (i) the Conversion Price, or (ii) 85% of the average of the three lowest VWAPs during the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day that is immediately prior to the applicable date the Mandatory Default Amount is either (A) demanded (if demand or notice is required to create an Event of Default) or otherwise due or (B) paid in full, whichever has a lower Conversion Price, multiplied by the highest closing price for the Common Stock on the Trading Market during the period beginning on the date of first occurrence of the Event of Default and ending on the date the Mandatory Default Amount is paid in full, or (ii) 130% of the sum of the outstanding principal amount of this Note, plus accrued and unpaid interest hereon, and (b) all other amounts, costs and expenses due in respect of this Note.

 

New York Courts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10(d).

 

Note Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

 

Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 

Optional Redemption” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Optional Redemption Amount” means the sum of (A) 105% of the outstanding principal amount of the Note to be redeemed and (B) 100% of the sum of (i) accrued but unpaid interest on such outstanding principal amount of the Note to be redeemed, (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any, and (iii) accrued and unpaid Late Fees with respect to such principal of this Note, Make-Whole Amount and interest and other amounts due in respect of the Note, if any.

 

Optional Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i).

 

  5 

 

 

Optional Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i).

 

Optional Redemption Notice Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i).

 

Optional Redemption Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i).

 

Original Issue Date” means the date of the first issuance of the Notes, regardless of any transfers of any Note and regardless of the number of instruments which may be issued to evidence such Notes.

 

Purchase Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2022 among the Company and the original Holders, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of the Purchase Agreement, among the Company and the original Holders, in the form of Exhibit B attached to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale of the Underlying Shares by each Holder as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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 4(b)(ii).

 

Subsequent Financing” means any issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than an Exempt Issuance of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents for cash consideration, indebtedness or a combination of units thereof from the date hereof until this Note is no longer outstanding.

 

Successor Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the Principal Trading Market is open for trading.

 

Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock will, in accordance with the terms hereof, be listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American; the Nasdaq Capital Market; the Nasdaq Global Market; the Nasdaq Global Select Market; or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

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 4:00 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 on The Pink Open Market (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 Purchasers 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.

 

Section 2. Interest.

 

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a) Payment of Interest in Cash or Common Stock. The Company shall pay interest to the Holder on the aggregate unconverted and then outstanding principal amount of this Note at the rate of five percent (5%) per annum, payable on (i) each Installment Date (as to that principal amount of the applicable Installment Amount), (ii) each Acceleration Date (as to that principal amount of the applicable Installment Amount), (iii) each Optional Redemption Date (as to that principal amount of the applicable Optional Redemption Amount), (iv) each Conversion Date (as to that principal amount then being converted), and (v) the Maturity Date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) (if any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the applicable payment shall be due on the next succeeding Business Day), in cash or, at the Company’s option, in duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock at the Interest Conversion Price (the dollar amount to be paid in shares, the “Interest Share Amount”) or a combination thereof; providedhowever, that payment in shares of Common Stock may only occur if (i) all of the Equity Conditions have been met (unless waived by Holders owning a majority in Original Principal Amount of the Notes in writing) during the ten (10) Trading Days immediately prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date (the “Interest Notice Period”) and through and including the date such shares of Common Stock are actually issued to the Holder (ii) the Company shall have given the Holder notice in accordance with the notice requirements set forth below in Section 2(b) and (iii) as to such Interest Payment Date, prior to such Interest Notice Period (but not more than five (5) Trading Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Notice Period), the Company shall have delivered to the Holder’s account with The Depository Trust Company a number of shares of Common Stock to be applied against such Interest Share Amount equal to the quotient of (x) the applicable Interest Share Amount divided by (y) the Interest Conversion Price assuming for such purposes that the Interest Payment Date is the Trading Day immediately prior to the commencement of the Interest Notice Period (the “Interest Conversion Shares”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2(a): (i) if the Company elects to pay any interest in Interest Conversion Shares and the Floor Price is greater than the lesser of the (a) then Conversion Price and (b) the Interest Conversion Price, then (ii) the amount of Interest Conversion Shares to be issued to the Holder will be at the Holder’s option and (ii) in addition to the payment of an Interest Share Amount in Interest Conversion Shares (which issuance shall be at the Floor Price) (in the event that the Holder permits such issuance albeit subparagraph (k) of the definition of Equity Conditions not being satisfied), the Company shall pay to the Holder cash as a true-up (the “Cash Interest True-Up Amount”). The Cash Interest True-Up Amount shall be determined by the product of (i) the difference between (y) the Floor Price and (z) 95% of the lowest VWAP during the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day that is immediately prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date (subject to adjustment for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar event affecting the Common Stock during such five (5) Trading Day period), multiplied by (ii) the applicable number of Interest Conversion Shares. The Company and Holder agree to adjust the foregoing formula, in good-faith, in the event that the formula does not represent the intent of the Cash Interest True-Up Amount. The intent of the Cash Interest True-Up Amount is to compensate the Holder for its loss in value due to the condition that an Interest Share Amount cannot be converted into shares of Common Stock at the Interest Conversion Price less than the Floor Price. Any such adjustment must be approved by the Holder.

 

b) Company’s Election to Pay Interest in Cash or Common Stock. Subject to the terms and conditions herein, the decision whether to pay interest hereunder in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof shall be at the sole discretion of the Company. Prior to the commencement of any Interest Notice Period, the Company shall deliver to the Holder a written notice of its election to pay interest hereunder on the applicable Interest Payment Date either in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof and the Interest Share Amount as to the applicable Interest Payment Date, provided that the Company may indicate in such notice that the election contained in such notice shall apply to future Interest Payment Dates until revised by a subsequent notice. During any Interest Notice Period, the Company’s election (whether specific to an Interest Payment Date or continuous) shall be irrevocable as to such Interest Payment Date. Subject to the aforementioned conditions, failure to timely deliver such written notice to the Holder shall be deemed an election by the Company to pay the interest on such Interest Payment Date in cash. At any time the Company delivers a notice to the Holder of its election to pay the interest in shares of Common Stock, the Company shall timely file a prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424 disclosing such election, if required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Holder on an Interest Payment Date shall be reduced by the number of Interest Conversion Shares previously issued to the Holder in connection with such Interest Payment Date.

 

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c) Interest Calculations. Interest 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 until payment in full of the outstanding principal, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts which may become due hereunder, has been made. Payment of interest in shares of Common Stock (other than the Interest Conversion Shares issued prior to an Interest Notice Period) shall otherwise occur pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii) herein and, solely for purposes of the payment of interest in shares, the Interest Payment Date shall be deemed the Conversion Date. Interest shall cease to accrue with respect to any principal amount converted, provided that, the Company actually delivers the Conversion Shares within the time period required by Section 4(b)(ii) herein. Interest hereunder will be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered on the records of the Company regarding registration and transfers of this Note (the “Note Register”). Except as otherwise provided herein, if at any time the Company pays interest partially in cash and partially in shares of Common Stock to the holders of the Notes, then such payment of cash shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the then-outstanding Notes based on their (or their predecessor’s) initial purchases of Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

d) Late Fee. All overdue accrued and unpaid interest to be paid hereunder shall entail a late fee at an interest rate equal to the lower of ten percent (10%) per annum or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law (the “Late Fees”) which shall accrue daily from the date such interest is due hereunder through and including the date of actual payment in full. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if, on any Interest Payment Date the Company has elected to pay accrued interest in the form of Common Stock but the Company is not permitted to pay accrued interest in Common Stock because it fails to satisfy the conditions for payment in Common Stock set forth in Section 2(a) herein (and such conditions are not waived by the Holder), then the Company, in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 2 shall deliver, within three (3) Trading Days of each applicable Interest Payment Date, an amount in cash equal to the interest due plus the Late Fees. If any Interest Conversion Shares are issued to the Holder in connection with an Interest Payment Date and are not applied against an Interest Share Amount, then the Holder shall promptly return such excess shares to the Company.

 

e) Prepayment. Except as otherwise set forth in this Note, the Company may not prepay any portion of the principal amount of this Note, accrued and unpaid interest, accrued and unpaid Late Fees or the Make-Whole Amount without the prior written consent of the Holder.

 

Section 3. Registration of Transfers and Exchanges.

 

a) Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable for an equal aggregate principal amount of Notes of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. No service charge will be payable for such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

b) Investment Representations. This Note has been issued subject to certain investment representations of the original Holder set forth in the Purchase Agreement and may be transferred or exchanged only in compliance with the Purchase Agreement and applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations.

 

c) Reliance on Note Register. Prior to due presentment for transfer to the Company of this Note, the Company and any agent of the Company may treat the Person in whose name this Note is duly registered on the Note Register as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment as herein provided and for all other purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 4. Conversion.

 

a) Voluntary Conversion. At any time after the Original Issue Date until this Note is no longer outstanding, this Note shall be convertible, in whole or in part, into shares of Common Stock at the option of the Holder, at any time and from time to time (subject to the conversion limitations set forth in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) hereof). The Holder shall effect conversions by delivering to the Company a Notice of Conversion, the form of which is attached hereto as Annex A (each, a “Notice of Conversion”), specifying therein the Conversion Amount to be converted and the date on which such conversion shall be effected (such date, the “Conversion Date”).

 

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If no Conversion Date is specified in a Notice of Conversion, the Conversion Date shall be the date that such Notice of Conversion 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. To effect conversions hereunder, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Company unless the entire principal amount of this Note, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, accrued and unpaid Late Fees and the Make-Whole Amount, if any, has been so converted in which case the Holder shall surrender this Note as promptly as is reasonably practicable after such conversion without delaying the Company’s obligation to deliver the shares on the Share Delivery Date. Conversions hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding principal amount of this Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the applicable conversion. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the Conversion Amount(s) converted and the date of such conversion(s). The Company may deliver an objection to any Notice of Conversion within one (1) Business Day of delivery of such Notice of Conversion. In the event of any dispute or discrepancy, the records of the Holder shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error. The Holder, and any assignee by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following conversion of a portion of this Note, the unpaid and unconverted principal amount of this Note may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof. 

 

b) Mechanics of Conversion.

 

i. Conversion Shares Issuable Upon Conversion of Principal Amount. The number of Conversion Shares issuable upon a conversion hereunder shall be determined by the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Conversion Amount to be converted by (y) the Conversion Price.

 

ii. Delivery of Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. Not later than the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) after each Conversion Date (the “Share Delivery Date”), the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Holder (A) the Conversion Shares which, on or after the earlier of (i) the six (6) month anniversary of the Original Issue Date; provided that on the Share Delivery Date the Company has satisfied the current public information requirements under Rule 144 and the Conversion Shares may be resold without any volume or manner-of-sale restrictions under Rule 144 or (ii) the Effective Date, shall be free of restrictive legends and trading restrictions (other than those which may then be required by the Purchase Agreement) representing the number of Conversion Shares being acquired upon the conversion of this Note (including, if the Company has given continuous notice pursuant to Section 2(b) for payment of interest in shares of Common Stock at least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the date on which the Notice of Conversion is delivered to the Company, shares of Common Stock representing the payment of accrued interest otherwise determined pursuant to Section 2(a) but assuming that the Interest Notice Period is the ten (10) Trading Days period immediately prior to the date on which the Notice of Conversion is delivered to the Company and excluding for such issuance the condition that the Company deliver Interest Conversion Shares as to such interest payment prior to the commencement of the Interest Notice Period) and (B) a wire transfer in immediately available funds in the amount of accrued and unpaid interest (if the Company has elected or is required to pay accrued interest in cash). On or after the earlier of (i) the six month anniversary of the Original Issue Date; provided that on the Share Delivery Date the Company has satisfied the current public information requirements under Rule 144 and the Conversion Shares may be resold without any volume or manner-of-sale restrictions under Rule 144 or (ii) the Effective Date, the Company shall deliver any Conversion Shares required to be delivered by the Company under this Section 4(b) electronically through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions. 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 the Notice of Conversion.

 

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iii. 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 Company at any time on or before its receipt of such Conversion Shares, to rescind such conversion, in which event the Company shall promptly return to the Holder any original Note delivered to the Company and the Holder shall promptly return to the Company the Conversion Shares issued to such Holder pursuant to the rescinded Notice of Conversion.

 

iv. Obligation Absolute. The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the 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 the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with the issuance of such Conversion Shares; providedhowever, that such delivery shall not operate as a waiver by the Company of any such action the Company may have against the Holder. In the event the Holder of this Note shall elect to convert any or all of the outstanding principal amount hereof, the Company may not refuse conversion based on any claim that the Holder or anyone associated or affiliated with the Holder has been engaged in any violation of law, agreement or for any other reason, unless an injunction from a court, on notice to Holder, restraining and or enjoining conversion of all or part of this Note shall have been sought and obtained, and the Company posts a surety bond for the benefit of the Holder in the amount of 150% of the outstanding principal amount of this Note, which is subject to the injunction, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of arbitration/litigation of the underlying dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to the Holder to the extent it obtains judgment. In the absence of such injunction, the Company shall issue Conversion Shares or, if applicable, cash, upon a properly noticed conversion. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue actual damages or declare an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8 hereof for the Company’s failure to deliver Conversion Shares within the period specified herein and the Holder shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief. The exercise of any such rights shall not prohibit the Holder from seeking to enforce damages pursuant to any other Section hereof or under applicable law.

 

v. Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Company 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 this Note and payment of interest on this Note, 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 Notes), not less than such aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock as shall (subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement) be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 5) upon the conversion of the then outstanding principal amount of this Note and payment of interest hereunder. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and, if the Registration Statement is then effective under the Securities Act, shall be registered for public resale in accordance with such Registration Statement (subject to such Holder’s compliance with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

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

 

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vii. Transfer Taxes and Expenses. The issuance of Conversion Shares on conversion of this Note shall be made without charge to the Holder hereof 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 Company 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 Holder of this Note so converted and the Company 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 Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid. The Company 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.

 

c) Holder’s Conversion Limitations. The Company shall not effect any conversion of this Note, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of this Note, to the extent that after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Notice of Conversion, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note 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 principal amount of this Note beneficially owned by the 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 Company subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, any other Notes or the Warrants) beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 4(c), 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 4(c) applies, the determination of whether this Note is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which principal amount of this Note is convertible shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Note may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates or Attribution Parties) and which principal amount of this Note is convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, the Holder will be deemed to represent to the Company 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 Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 4(c), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by the Company, or (iii) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Company’s transfer agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the 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 Company, including this Note, by the Holder or its Affiliates 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 this Note held by the Holder. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 4(c) 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 this Note.

 

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d) Compliance with Rules of Trading Market.

 

i. Exchange Cap. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company has not obtained Shareholder Approval, then the Company may not issue, upon conversion of this Note, a number of shares of Common Stock, which, when aggregated with any shares of Common Stock issued on or after the Original Issue Date and prior to such Conversion Date (i) in connection with the conversion of any Notes issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (ii) in connection with the exercise of any Warrants issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (iii) in connection with any warrants issued to any registered broker-dealer as a fee in connection with the issuance of the Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, would exceed the Exchange Cap. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to a portion of the Exchange Cap equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Purchaser’s original Subscription Amount by (y) the aggregate original Subscription Amount of all Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (with respect to each Purchaser, the “Exchange Cap Allocation”). In addition, each Purchaser may allocate its pro-rata portion of the Exchange Cap Allocation among Notes and Warrants held by it in its sole discretion. In the event that any Purchaser shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such Purchaser’s Notes or Warrants, the transferee shall be allocated a pro-rata portion of such Purchaser’s Exchange Cap Allocation with respect to such portion of such Notes or Warrants so transferred. Upon conversion and exercise in full of a holder’s Notes and Warrants, the difference (if any) between such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation and the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to such holder upon such holder’s conversion and exercise in full of such Notes and Warrants shall be allocated, to the respective Exchange Cap Allocations of the remaining holders of Notes and Warrants on a pro-rata basis in proportion to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes and Warrants then held by each such holder of Notes and Warrants. For avoidance of doubt, unless and until any required Shareholder Approval is obtained and effective, warrants issued to any registered broker-dealer as a fee in connection with the Securities issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement as described in clause (iii) above shall provide that such warrants shall not be allocated any portion of the Exchange Cap and shall be unexercisable unless and until such Shareholder Approval is obtained and effective.

 

ii. Shareholder Approval. In the event the Company is prohibited from issuing any shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(d) (an “Exchange Cap Share Failure” and such number of shares of Common Stock that is determined to be unavailable for issuance upon the conversion of this Note, the “Exchange Cap Excess Shares”), then the Company shall, at the first regularly scheduled annual meeting of its stockholders (for which no definitive proxy statement has been filed as of such Exchange Cap Share Failure) following the date of occurrence of such Exchange Cap Share Failure, but in no event later than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days thereafter, seek the Shareholder Approval; provided that, if the next regularly scheduled annual meeting is not within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from such Exchange Cap Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders as needed to seek the Shareholder Approval. In connection with such meeting and any subsequent stockholder meetings, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement in compliance with applicable Commission rules and regulations and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit the approval of its stockholders of the Shareholder Approval and to cause its Board of Directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. If, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts, the Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the first stockholder meeting, the Company shall cause an additional stockholder meeting to be held semi-annually thereafter to seek Shareholder Approval until the earlier of (i) the date such Shareholder Approval is obtained and (ii) the date on which none of the Notes and the Warrants are outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company is required to and fails to obtain Shareholder Approval, the Exchange Cap shall be applicable for all purposes of this Note.

 

 

Section 5. Certain Adjustments.

 

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a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Note 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 Common Stock Equivalents (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon conversion of, or payment of interest on, the Notes), (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 Company, 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 Company) 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 5 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.

  

b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 5(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (providedhowever, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

 

c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Note is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Note, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without regard to any limitations on conversion hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (providedhowever, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

 

d) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 5 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 5, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Company) issued and outstanding.

 

e) Notice to the Holder.

 

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i. Adjustment to Conversion Price. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 5, the Company shall deliver to each Holder within one (1) Trading Day a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

ii. Notice to Allow Conversion by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Note Register, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange, provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to convert this Note during the 20-day period commencing on the date of such notice through the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

 

f) Voluntary Adjustment by Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Principal Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Note, with the prior written consent of the Required Holders (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), reduce the then current Conversion Price of each of the Notes to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.

 

Section 6. Redemption; Installment Conversion.

 

a) Optional Redemption at Election of Company. Subject to the provisions of this Section 6(a), at any time after the applicable Closing Date, the Company may deliver a notice to the Holder (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 principal amount of this Note for cash in an amount equal to the applicable Optional Redemption Amount on the tenth (10th) Trading Day following the Optional Redemption Notice Date (such date, the “Optional Redemption Date”, such ten (10) Trading Day period, the “Optional Redemption Period” and such redemption, the “Optional Redemption”). The Optional Redemption Amount is payable in full on the Optional Redemption Date. The Company may only effect an Optional Redemption if there is no existing Event of Default and no existing event which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, would constitute an Event of Default during the period commencing on the Optional Redemption Notice Date through to the Optional Redemption Date and through and including the date payment of the Optional Redemption Amount is actually made in full. If this condition shall cease to be satisfied at any time during the Optional Redemption Period, then the Holder may elect to nullify the Optional Redemption Notice by notice to the Company within three (3) Trading Days after the first day on which such condition has not been met (provided that if, by a provision of the Transaction Documents, the Company is obligated to notify the Holder of the existence of such event, such notice period shall be extended to the third (3rd) Trading Day after proper notice from the Company), in which case the Optional Redemption Notice shall be null and void, ab initio.

 

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The Company 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 all amounts owing thereon are due and paid in full. The Company’s determination to pay an Optional Redemption in cash shall be applied ratably to all of the holders of the then outstanding Notes based on their (or their predecessor’s) initial purchases of Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The payment of cash pursuant to an Optional Redemption shall be payable on the Optional Redemption Date. If any portion of the payment pursuant to an Optional Redemption shall not be paid by the Company by the applicable due date, interest shall accrue thereon at an interest rate equal to 15% per annum until such amount is paid in full. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, if any portion of the Optional Redemption Amount remains unpaid after such date, the Holder may elect, by written notice to the Company given at any time thereafter, to invalidate such Optional Redemption, ab initio, and the Company shall have no further right to exercise such Optional Redemption.

 

b) Installment Conversion or Redemption.

 

i) General. On each applicable Installment Date, provided there has been no Equity Conditions Failure, the Company shall pay to the Holder of this Note the applicable Installment Amount due on such date by converting such Installment Amount in accordance with this Section 6(b) (an “Installment Conversion”); provided, however, that the Company may, at its option following notice to the Holder as set forth below, pay the Installment Amount by redeeming such Installment Amount in cash (a “Installment Redemption”) or by any combination of an Installment Conversion and an Installment Redemption so long as all of the outstanding applicable Installment Amount due on any Installment Date shall be converted and/or redeemed by the Company on the applicable Installment Date, subject to the provisions of this Section 6(b). On the date which is the sixth (6th) Trading Day prior to each Installment Date (each, an “Installment Notice Due Date”), the Company shall deliver written notice (each, an “Installment Notice” and the date all of the Holders receive such notice is referred to as the “Installment Notice Date”), to each Holder of Notes and such Installment Notice shall (i) either (A) confirm that the applicable Installment Amount of such Holder’s Note shall be converted in whole pursuant to an Installment Conversion or (B) (1) state that the Company elects to redeem for cash, or is required to redeem for cash in accordance with the provisions of the Notes, in whole or in part, the applicable Installment Amount pursuant to an Installment Redemption and (2) specify the portion of such Installment Amount which the Company elects or is required to redeem pursuant to an Installment Redemption (such amount to be redeemed in cash, the “Installment Redemption Amount”) and the portion of the applicable Installment Amount, if any, with respect to which the Company will, and is permitted to, effect an Installment Conversion (such amount of the applicable Installment Amount so specified to be so converted pursuant to this Section 6(b) is referred to herein as the “Installment Conversion Amount”), which amounts when added together, must at least equal the entire applicable Installment Amount and (ii) if the applicable Installment Amount is to be paid, in whole or in part, pursuant to an Installment Conversion, certify that there is not then an Equity Conditions Failure as of the applicable Installment Notice Date. Each Installment Notice shall be irrevocable. If the Company does not timely deliver an Installment Notice in accordance with this Section 6(b) with respect to a particular Installment Date, then the Company shall be deemed to have delivered an irrevocable Installment Notice confirming an Installment Conversion of the entire Installment Amount and shall be deemed to have certified that there is not then an Equity Conditions Failure in connection with such Installment Amount. Except as expressly provided in this Section 6(b), an Installment Notice shall apply to each outstanding Note and the Company shall convert and/or redeem the applicable Installment Amount of each outstanding Note pursuant to this Section 6(b) in the same ratio of cash and shares. The applicable Installment Conversion Amount (whether set forth in the applicable Installment Notice or by operation of this Section 6(b)) shall be converted in accordance with Section 6(b)(ii) and the applicable Installment Redemption Amount shall be redeemed in accordance with Section 6(b)(iii).

 

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ii) Mechanics of Installment Conversion. Subject to Section 4(c) and Section 4(d), if the Company delivers an Installment Notice or is deemed to have delivered an Installment Notice certifying that such Installment Amount is being paid, in whole or in part, in an Installment Conversion in accordance with Section 6(b)(i), then the Holder may, at any time thereafter within 30 calendar days, convert such Installment Conversion Amount at the Installment Conversion Price in accordance with the conversion procedures set forth in Section 4 hereunder (with “Installment Conversion Price” replacing “Conversion Price” for all purposes therein), mutatis mutandis; provided, however, that the Equity Conditions are satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder) on such Installment Date and an Installment Conversion is not otherwise prohibited under any other provision of this Note; provided further, that if a Conversion Floor Price Condition exists with respect to such Conversion Date, the Company shall also deliver to the Holder the Conversion Installment Floor Amount on the applicable Share Delivery Date. If the Company confirmed (or is deemed to have confirmed by operation of Section 6(b)(i)) the conversion of the applicable Installment Conversion Amount, in whole or in part, and there was no Equity Conditions Failure as of the applicable Installment Notice Date (or is deemed to have certified that the Equity Conditions in connection with any such conversion have been satisfied by operation of Section 6(b)(i)) but an Equity Conditions Failure occurred between the applicable Installment Notice Date and any time through the applicable Installment Date (the “Interim Installment Period”), the Company shall provide the Holder a subsequent notice to that effect. If there is an Equity Conditions Failure (which is not waived in writing by the Holder) during such Interim Installment Period or an Installment Conversion is not otherwise permitted under any other provision of this Note, then, at the option of the Holder designated in writing to the Company, the Company shall redeem all or any part designated by the Holder of the unconverted Installment Conversion Amount (such designated amount is referred to as the “Designated Redemption Amount”) and the Company shall pay to the Holder within two (2) days of such Installment Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount in cash equal to 105% of such Designated Redemption Amount. If the Company fails to redeem any Designated Redemption Amount by the second (2nd) day following the applicable Installment Date by payment of such amount by such date, then the Holder shall have the rights set forth in Section 8(b) as if the Company failed to pay the applicable Installment Redemption Price (as defined below) and all other rights under this Note (including, without limitation, such failure constituting an Event of Default described in Section 8(a)(i)). The Company shall pay any and all taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of any shares of Common Stock in any Installment Conversion hereunder. Each Installment Conversion Amount shall be applied first to the Installment Amount due on the Installment Date nearest to the Maturity Date.

iii) Mechanics of Installment Redemption. If the Company elects or is required to effect an Installment Redemption, in whole or in part, in accordance with Section 6(b)(i), then the Installment Redemption Amount, if any, shall be redeemed by the Company in cash on the applicable Installment Date by wire transfer to the Holder of immediately available funds in an amount equal to 105% of the applicable Installment Redemption Amount (the “Installment Redemption Price”). If the Company fails to redeem such Installment Redemption Amount on such Installment Date by payment of the Installment Redemption Price, then, at the option of the Holder designated in writing to the Company (any such designation shall be a “Notice of Conversion” for purposes of this Note), the Holder may require the Company to convert all or any part of the Installment Redemption Amount at the Installment Conversion Price (determined as of the date of such designation). Conversions required by this Section 6(b)(iii) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b)Error! Reference source not found.. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6(b)(iii), but subject to Section 4(c) and Section 4(d), until the Installment Redemption Price (together with any Late Fees thereon) is paid in full, the Installment Redemption Amount (together with any Late Fees thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 4. In the event the Holder elects to convert all or any portion of the Installment Redemption Amount prior to the applicable Installment Date as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Installment Redemption Amount so converted shall be deducted from the Installment Amounts relating to the applicable Installment Date(s) as set forth in the applicable Notice of Conversion.

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iv) Acceleration of Installment Amounts. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during the period commencing on an Installment Date (a “Current Installment Date”) and ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the next Installment Date (each, an “Installment Period”), at the option of the Holder, at one or more times, but not exceeding four (4) times during any calendar month (unless otherwise agreed to between the Holder and the Company), the Holder may convert other Installment Amounts (each, an “Acceleration”, and each such amount, an “Acceleration Amount”, and the Conversion Date of any such Acceleration, each an “Acceleration Date”), in whole or in part, at the Acceleration Conversion Price of such Acceleration Date in accordance with the conversion procedures set forth in Section 4 hereunder (with “Acceleration Conversion Price” replacing “Conversion Price” for all purposes therein), mutatis mutandis; provided, that if a Conversion Floor Price Condition exists with respect to such Acceleration Date, with each Acceleration the Company shall also deliver to the Holder the Acceleration Floor Amount on the applicable Share Delivery Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any given Installment Period, the Holder may not (unless otherwise agreed to between the Holder and the Company) elect to effect any Acceleration (a “Current Acceleration”) during such Installment Period if the sum of (x) the Acceleration Amounts with respect to Accelerations previously consummated by the Holder during the applicable Installment Period and (y) the Acceleration Amount of such Current Acceleration, collectively, exceeds four (4) times the Installment Amount with respect to such Current Installment Date. Each Acceleration Amount shall be applied first to the Installment Amount due on the Installment Date nearest to the Maturity Date.

c) Mandatory Redemption at Election of Holder. Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, if, at any time while this Note is outstanding, the Company shall carry out one or more Subsequent Financings in excess of $5,000,000 in gross proceeds each, the Holder shall have the right to require the Company to first use up to 30% of the gross proceeds of such Subsequent Financing (such dollar amount, the “Mandatory Redemption Proceeds”) to redeem all or a portion of this Note for an amount in cash (such amount, the “Mandatory Redemption Amount”) to equal to the sum of (A) 1.05 multiplied by the sum of the principal amount subject to the Mandatory Redemption and accrued but unpaid interest thereon and (B) 1.00 multiplied by the sum of the Make-Whole Amount, if any, and any other amounts, if any, then owing to the Holder in respect of this Note (a “Mandatory Redemption”). The Company shall deliver notice to the Holder of the Subsequent Financing at least five (5) Trading Days prior to the closing of the Subsequent Financing (“Pre-Notice”), which Pre-Notice shall ask such Purchaser if it wants to review the details of such financing (such additional notice, a “Mandatory Redemption Notice” and the date such Mandatory Redemption Notice is deemed delivered hereunder, the “Mandatory Redemption Notice Date”). If the Holder exercises its right herein to require a Mandatory Redemption by delivering written notice to the Company within five (5) Trading Days of the Mandatory Redemption Notice Date (“Mandatory Redemption Exercise Notice”), the Company shall effect the Mandatory Redemption and pay the Mandatory Redemption Amount to the Holder on or prior to the fifth (5th) Trading Day following the consummation of the Subsequent Financing (“Mandatory Redemption Date”). The Company’s payment of the Mandatory Redemption Proceeds shall be applied ratably to all of the holders of the then outstanding Notes which exercise the right to require a Mandatory Redemption on the basis of their (or their predecessor’s) initial purchases of Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 6(c) shall not apply with respect to an Exempt Issuance, except that no Variable Rate Transaction shall be an Exempt Issuance unless otherwise expressly stated in the Transaction Documents.

Section 7. Negative Covenants. As long as any portion of this Note remains outstanding, unless Holders of at least 50.1% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes shall have otherwise given prior written consent, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly (except to the extent permitted by the terms of the Purchase Agreement):

 

a) amend its charter documents, including, without limitation, its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, in any manner that materially and adversely affects any rights of the Holder;

 

b) repay, repurchase or offer to repay, repurchase or otherwise acquire more than a de minimis number of shares of its Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents other than as to (i) the Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares as permitted or required under the Transaction Documents and (ii) repurchases of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents of departing officers and directors of the Company, pursuant to any equity incentive approved by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors, provided that such repurchases shall not exceed an aggregate of $50,000 for all officers and directors during the term of this Note;

 

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c) repay, repurchase or offer to repay, repurchase or otherwise acquire any indebtedness (other than the Notes if on a pro-rata basis); provided, that the foregoing shall not limit the ability to make regular amortization payments pursuant to the terms of one or more credit facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financings or letters of credit, obtained by the Company in the ordinary course of business if at the time such payments, after giving effect to such payments, neither (i) an event constituting an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing nor (ii) an event that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

d) pay cash dividends or distributions on any equity securities of the Company; or

 

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

 

Section 8. Events of Default.

 

a) “Event of Default” means, wherever used herein, any of the following events (whatever the reason for such event and whether such event shall be voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

i)       any default in the payment of (A) the principal amount of any Note or (B) interest, Late Fees, Make-Whole Amount and other amounts owing to a Holder on any Note, as and when the same shall become due and payable (whether on a Conversion Date or the Maturity Date or by acceleration or otherwise) which default, solely in the case of an interest payment or other default under clause (B) above, is not cured within three (3) Trading Days;

 

ii)     the Company shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the Notes (other than a breach by the Company of its obligations to deliver shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon conversion, which breach is addressed in clause (x) below) or in any Transaction Document (other than a breach by the Company of its obligations to deliver shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon exercise of the Warrants, which breach is addressed in clause (x) below), which failure is not cured, if possible to cure, within the earlier to occur of (A) five (5) Trading Days after notice of such failure sent by the Holder or by any other Holder to the Company and (B) ten (10) Trading Days after the Company has become or should have become aware of such failure;

 

iii)    a default or event of default (subject to any grace or cure period provided in the applicable agreement, document or instrument) shall occur under (A) any of the Transaction Documents or (B) any other material agreement, lease, document or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is obligated (and not covered by clause (vi) below) with a cure period of ten (10) Trading Days of the date of the occurrence;

 

iv)    any representation or warranty made in this Note, any other Transaction Documents, any written statement pursuant hereto or thereto or any other report, financial statement or certificate made or delivered to the Holder or any other Holder shall be untrue or incorrect in any material respect as of the date when made or deemed made, which if curable, has not been cured within ten (10) Trading Days of date of the occurrence;

 

v)      the Company or any significant Subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) shall be subject to a Bankruptcy Event;

 

 

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vi)    the Company or any Subsidiary shall default on any of its obligations under any mortgage, credit agreement or other facility, indenture agreement, factoring agreement or other instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for borrowed money or money due under any long term leasing or factoring arrangement that (a) involves an obligation greater than $250,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, and (b) results in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable;

 

vii)   the Common Stock shall not be eligible for listing or quotation for trading on a Trading Market and shall not be eligible to resume listing or quotation for trading thereon within five Trading Days;

 

viii) the Initial Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall not have been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the 95th calendar day after the Closing Date or the Company does not meet the current public information requirements under Rule 144 in respect of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement);

 

ix)    if, during the Effectiveness Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), either (a) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement lapses for any reason or (b) the Holder shall not be permitted to resell Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Registration Statement for a period of more than twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days or sixty (60) non-consecutive Trading Days during any 365 day period; provided, however, that if in the written opinion of counsel to the Company, the Registration Statement would be required to be amended to include information concerning such pending transaction(s) or the parties thereto which information is not available or may not be publicly disclosed at the time, the Company shall be permitted an additional ten (10) consecutive Trading Days during any twelve (12) month period pursuant to this Section 8(a)(ix);

 

x)      the Company shall fail for any reason to deliver Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares to a Holder prior to the third (3rd) Trading Day after a Conversion Date pursuant to Section 4(b) or exercise date pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Warrants, or the Company shall provide at any time notice to the Holder, including by way of public announcement, of the Company’s intention to not honor requests for conversions of any Notes in accordance with the terms hereof or requests for exercise of any Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

xi)    any Person shall materially breach any agreement delivered to the initial Holders pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Purchase Agreement;

 

xii)   the electronic transfer by the Company of shares of Common Stock through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation is no longer available or is subject to a “chill” for a period of five Trading Days;

 

xiii) any monetary judgment, writ or similar final process shall be entered or filed against the Company, any subsidiary or any of their respective property or other assets for more than $250,000, and such judgment, writ or similar final process shall remain unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 45 calendar days;

 

xiv)the Company shall fail to maintain the Required Minimum;

 

xv)   the Company shall fail to timely make any filings required under the Exchange Act; or

 

xvi)following the occurrence of an Exchange Cap Share Failure, the Company fails to obtain Shareholder Approval at its first regularly scheduled meeting of its stockholders after such Exchange Cap Share Failure (which in no event shall be later than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after such Exchange Cap Share Failure).

 

 

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b) Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs, the outstanding principal amount of this Note, plus accrued but unpaid interest, Late Fees, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and other amounts owing in respect thereof through the date of acceleration, shall become, at the Holder’s election, immediately due and payable, at the Holder’s election in cash at the Mandatory Default Amount or in shares of Common Stock at the Mandatory Default Amount at a conversion price equal to 85% of the average of the three lowest VWAPs during the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day that is immediately prior to the applicable date the Mandatory Default Amount is demanded or otherwise due. Commencing five (5) days after the occurrence of any Event of Default that results in the eventual acceleration of this Note, the interest rate on this Note shall accrue at an interest rate equal to the lesser of 10% per annum or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law. Upon the payment in full of the Mandatory Default Amount, the Holder shall promptly surrender this Note to or as directed by the Company. In connection with such acceleration described herein, the Holder need not provide, and the Company hereby waives, any presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, and the Holder may immediately and without expiration of any grace period enforce any and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and all other remedies available to it under applicable law. Such acceleration may be rescinded and annulled by Holder at any time prior to payment hereunder and the Holder shall have all rights as a holder of the Note until such time, if any, as the Holder receives full payment pursuant to this Section 8(b). No such rescission or annulment shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 9. Fundamental Transaction.

 

a) Assumption. If, at any time while this Note is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of 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 fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Company, 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 Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than fifty percent (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 Note, 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 (without regard to any limitation in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) on the conversion of this Note), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Note is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) on the conversion of this Note). For purposes of any such conversion, the determination of the Conversion Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one (1) share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Conversion Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any conversion of this Note following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9(a) 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 Note,

 

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deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Note a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Note 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 Note (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with a conversion price which applies the conversion price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such conversion price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Note immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Note and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Notwithstanding the preceding, if it is a condition of the buyer, which condition the Holders of a majority in interest of the Original Principal Amount of the Notes have agreed to, that the Notes and/or Warrants not be assumed and must be converted in such Fundamental Transaction into the equity and/or cash paid in such Fundamental Transaction, then this Note and/or the Warrants may be cancelled upon payment in full therefor.

 

b) Notice of a Change of Control Transaction; Redemption Right. No sooner than twenty (20) Trading Days nor later than ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of a Change of Control Transaction (the “Change of Control Date”), but not prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control Transaction, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof via electronic mail and overnight courier to the Holder (a “Change of Control Notice”). At any time during the period beginning after the Holder’s receipt of a Change of Control Notice or the Holder becoming aware of a Change of Control Transaction if a Change of Control Notice is not delivered to the Holder in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence (as applicable) and ending on twenty (20) Trading Days after the later of (A) the date of consummation of such Change of Control Transaction or (B) the date of receipt of such Change of Control Notice or (C) the date of the announcement of such Change of Control Transaction, the Holder may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (“Change of Control Redemption Notice”) to the Company, which Change of Control Redemption Notice shall indicate the Conversion Amount the Holder is electing to redeem. The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 9 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the sum of (i) 105% of the outstanding principal amount of the Note to be redeemed and (ii) 100% of the sum of (A) accrued but unpaid interest on such outstanding principal amount of the Note to be redeemed, (B) the Make-Whole Amount, if any, and (C) accrued and unpaid Late Fees with respect to such principal of this Note, Make-Whole Amount and interest and other amounts due in respect of the Note, if any (the “Change of Control Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 9 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 and shall have priority to payments to stockholders in connection with such Change of Control Transaction. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 9(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9, but subject to Section 4(c) and Section 4(d), until the Change of Control Redemption Price (together with any Late Fees thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 9(b) (together with any Late Fees thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 4. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 9(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 9(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.

 

Section 10. Miscellaneous.

 

a) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holder hereunder, including, without limitation, any Notice of Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by email attachment, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at the address set forth above, email address, or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holder delivered in accordance with this Section 10(a).

 

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Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by email attachment, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the email address or address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company, or if no such email attachment or address appears on the books of the Company, at the principal place of business of such Holder, as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. 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 email attachment to the email address set forth on the signature pages attached hereto 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 email attachment to the email address set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (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.

 

b) Absolute Obligation. Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this Note shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and accrued interest, as applicable, on this Note at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. This Note is a direct debt obligation of the Company. This Note ranks pari passu with all other Notes now or hereafter issued under the terms set forth herein.

 

c) Lost or Mutilated Note. If this Note shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated Note, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed Note, a new Note for the principal amount of this Note so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such Note, and of the ownership hereof, reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

d) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Note 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 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 Note 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 Note or the transactions contemplated hereby. If any party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Note, 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) Amendments. Except as otherwise permitted herein and except for Section 4(d), which may not be amended, modified or waived by the parties hereto, the prior written consent of the Holder shall be required for any change, waiver or amendment to this Note.

 

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f) Waiver. Any waiver by the Company or the Holder of a breach of any provision of this Note 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 Note. The failure of the Company or the Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Note on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Note on any other occasion. Any waiver by the Company or the Holder must be in writing.

 

g) Severability. If any provision of this Note is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Note 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. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on this Note as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Note, and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefits or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Holder, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such as though no such law has been enacted.

 

h) Remedies, Characterizations, Other Obligations, Breaches and Injunctive Relief. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any such breach or any such threatened breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note.

 

i) 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.

 

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

 

k) Equitable Adjustment. Trading volume amounts, price/volume amounts, the amount of Warrants, the amount of shares of Common Stock identified in the Purchase Agreement, Conversion Price, exercise price, shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes and the Warrants, and similar figures in the Transaction Documents shall be equitably adjusted (but without duplication) to offset the effect of stock splits, similar events and as otherwise described in the Purchase Agreement, Notes and Warrants.

 

Section 11. Disclosure. Upon receipt or delivery by the Company of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company shall within two (2) Business Days after such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, nonpublic information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise.

 

  23 

 

 

In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to the Holder contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Holder shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

(Signature Page Follows)

 

 

 

 

 

  24 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date first above indicated.

 

AEYE, INC.

 

By:    
Name:    
Title    

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

  25 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

The undersigned hereby elects to convert principal under the Senior Unsecured Convertible Note due March 15, 2024 of AEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), into shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), of the Company 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 reasonably requested by the Company in accordance therewith. No fee will be charged to the holder for any conversion, except for such transfer taxes, if any.

 

By the delivery of this Notice of Conversion the undersigned represents and warrants to the Company that its ownership of the Common Stock does not exceed the amounts specified under Section 4 of this Note, as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

The undersigned agrees to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements under the applicable securities laws in connection with any transfer of the aforesaid shares of Common Stock.

 

Conversion calculations:  
  Date to Effect Conversion:
   
  Principal Amount of Note to be Converted:
   
  Payment of Interest in Common Stock __ yes __ no
  If yes, $_____ of Interest Accrued on Account of Conversion at Issue.
   
 

Installment Amount(s) to be reduced

(and corresponding Installment Date(s))

and amount of reduction: __________________________

   
  Signature:
   
  Name:
   
  Address for Delivery of Common Stock Certificates:
   
  Or
   
  DWAC Instructions:
    Broker No.: ____________________________
    Account No.: __________________________

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISEABLE 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 EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

 

AEYE, INC.

 

 

Warrant No.: ______

 

Date of Issuance: September 15, 2022 (“Issuance Date”)

 

THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, ______ or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the Issuance Date and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is the four-year anniversary of the Issuance Date (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from AEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to ______ shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock. The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).

 

Section 1.  Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated September 15, 2022, among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto.

 

Section 2.  Exercise.

 

a) Exercise of Warrant. Subject to the provisions of Section 2(e) herein, exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer of immediately available funds or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Business Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

 

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b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $3.50, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).

 

c) Cashless Exercise. From and after 95 days following the Issuance Date, at the time of exercise hereof, if there has been no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein has not been available for, the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder for twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days preceding such exercise, then this Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

 

  (A) = as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b)(68) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the Principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day;
     
  (B) = the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and

 

(X)

 

 =the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

 

If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the characteristics of the Warrants being exercised, and the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).

 

  “Bid Price” 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 bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (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 on The Pink Open Market (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 Purchasers 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.

 

Floor Price” means $0.30 (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement).

 

 2  

 

 

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 (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 Open Market (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 Purchasers 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.

 

d) Mechanics of Exercise.

 

i. Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system (or a successor system) and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) the Warrant Shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants), and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earliest of (i) two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, (ii) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Company and (iii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. 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 the Notice of Exercise. From the Issuance Date through and including the Expiration Date, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a transfer agent that participates in DWAC (or a successor system).

 

ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

 

iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise; provided, however, that the Holder shall be required to return any Warrant Shares subject to any such rescinded exercise notice concurrently with the return to Holder of the aggregate Exercise Price paid to the Company for such Warrant Shares and the restoration of Holder’s right to acquire such Warrant Shares pursuant to this Warrant (including, issuance of a replacement warrant certificate evidencing such restored right).

 

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iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.   

 

v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that, in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.

 

vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties.

 

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Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the 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 Company, including this Warrant, by the 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 exercise of this Warrant. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

 

f) Compliance with Rules of Trading Market.

 

i. Exchange Cap. If the Company has not obtained Shareholder Approval, then the Company may not issue upon exercise of this Warrant a number of shares of Common Stock, which, when aggregated with any shares of Common Stock issued (a) pursuant to the conversion of any Notes issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (b) upon prior exercise of this or any other Warrant issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (c) pursuant to any warrants issued to any registered broker-dealer as a fee in connection with the issuance of Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, would exceed the Exchange Cap. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to a portion of the Exchange Cap equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Purchaser’s original Subscription Amount by (y) the aggregate original Subscription Amount of all Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (with respect to each Purchaser, the “Exchange Cap Allocation”). In addition, each Purchaser may allocate its pro-rata portion of the Exchange Cap among Notes and Warrants held by it in its sole discretion. In the event that any Purchaser shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such Purchaser’s Notes or Warrants, the transferee shall be allocated a pro-rata portion of such Purchaser’s Exchange Cap Allocation with respect to such portion of such Notes or Warrants so transferred. Upon conversion and exercise in full of a holder’s Notes and Warrants, the difference (if any) between such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation and the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to such holder upon such holder’s conversion and exercise in full of such Notes and Warrants shall be allocated, to the respective Exchange Cap Allocations of the remaining holders of Notes and Warrants on a pro-rata basis in proportion to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes and Warrants then held by each such holder of Notes and Warrants. For avoidance of doubt, unless and until any required Shareholder Approval is obtained and effective, warrants issued to any registered broker-dealer as a fee in connection with the Securities issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement as described in clause (c) above shall provide that such warrants shall not be allocated any portion of the Exchange Cap and shall be unexercisable unless and until such Shareholder Approval is obtained and effective.

 

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ii. Shareholder Approval. In the event the Company is prohibited from issuing any shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 2(f)(i) (an “Exchange Cap Share Failure” and such number of shares of Common Stock that is determined to be unavailable for issuance upon the exercise of this Warrant, the “Exchange Cap Excess Shares”), then the Company shall, at the first regularly scheduled annual meeting of its stockholders (for which no definitive proxy statement has been filed as of such Exchange Cap Share Failure) following the date of occurrence of such Exchange Cap Share Failure, but in no event later than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days thereafter, seek the Shareholder Approval; provided that, if the next regularly scheduled annual meeting is not within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from such Exchange Cap Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders as needed to seek the Shareholder Approval. In connection with such meeting and any subsequent stockholder meetings, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement in compliance with applicable Commission rules and regulations and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit the approval of its stockholders of the Shareholder Approval and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. If, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts, the Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the first stockholder meeting, the Company shall cause an additional stockholder meeting to be held semi-annually thereafter to seek Shareholder Approval until the earlier of (i) the date such Shareholder Approval is obtained and (ii) the date on which none of the Notes and the Warrants are outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company is required to and fails to obtain Shareholder Approval, the Exchange Cap shall be applicable for all purposes of this Warrant.

 

g) Forced Exercise.

 

i. General. Subject to Section 2(e) and Section 2(f), if at any time after the Issuance Date (x) the VWAP of the Company’s Common Stock on the primary Trading Market exceeds $4.00 (the “Forced Exercise Minimum Price”) for ten (10) consecutive Trading Days (the “Forced Exercise Measuring Period”), (y) the average daily trading volume of the Common Stock on each Trading Day during the Forced Exercise Measuring Period exceeds $5,000,000 (collectively, the “Forced Exercise Conditions”) and (z) there is an effective registration statement permitting the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, the Company shall have the right, at its option, to require the Holder to exercise all, but not less than all, of the then-outstanding Warrants pursuant to this Section 2.

 

ii. Mechanics. The Company may exercise its right to require a Forced Exercise under this Section 2(g) within three (3) Trading Days following any Forced Exercise Measuring Period by delivering a written notice thereof, by electronic mail to all, but not less than all, of the holders of the Warrants (each, a “Forced Exercise Notice”, and the date thereof, each a “Forced Exercise Notice Date”). For purposes of Section 2(d) hereof, “Forced Exercise Notice” shall be deemed to replace “Notice of Exercise” for all purposes thereunder as if the Holder delivered a Notice of Exercise to the Company on the Forced Exercise Notice Date, mutatis mutandis. Each Forced Exercise Notice shall be irrevocable. Each Forced Exercise Notice shall (x) state that the Company is electing to effect a Forced Exercise on the second (2nd) Trading Day following the applicable Forced Exercise Notice Date (the “Forced Exercise Date”), (y) state the aggregate number of Warrant Shares to be exercised by the Holder and all of the holders of the Warrants on the Forced Exercise Date (subject to any adjustments thereto pursuant to Section 2 that may occur prior to the Forced Exercise Date), and (z) contain a certification from an officer or director of the Company that the Forced Exercise Conditions shall have been satisfied as of the Forced Exercise Notice Date.

 

iii. Pro Rata Exercise Requirement. If the Company elects to cause a Forced Exercise of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 2(g), then it must simultaneously take the same action in the same proportion with respect to all of the Warrants.

 

Section 3.  Certain Adjustments.

 

a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares,

 

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(iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(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.

 

b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all (or substantially all) of the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to all (or substantially all) of holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (providedhowever, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

 

d) Fundamental Transaction. Subject to Section 5(e) of the Note, if, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company (or any Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (approved or recommended by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof) 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 Company, 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 Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination

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(including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires more than fifty percent (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 exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) or Section 2(f) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) or Section 2(f) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; providedhowever, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; providedfurther, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (i) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (ii) the greater of (x) the last VWAP immediately prior to the public announcement of such Fundamental Transaction and (y) the last VWAP immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction and (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five Business Days of the Holder’s election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(d) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity

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(or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.

 

e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

 

f) Notice to Holder.

 

i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

 

g) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant, subject to the prior written consent of the Required Holders, reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.

 

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Section 4.  Transfer of Warrant.

 

a) Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth in Section 4(d) hereof and to the provisions of Section 4.1 of the Purchase Agreement, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.

 

b) New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the original Issue Date and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.

 

c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

d) Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, comply with the provisions of Section 5.7 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

e) Representation by the Holder. The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.

 

Section 5.  Miscellaneous.

 

a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to on a receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) or Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.

 

 

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b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.

 

c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

d) Authorized Shares.

 

The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

 

Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.

 

Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

 

e) Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

 

g) Non Waiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Purchase Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

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h) Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.

 

l) Amendment. Except as otherwise permitted herein and except for Section 2(f), which may not be amended, modified or waived by the parties hereto, this Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.

 

m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

 

n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.

 

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

 

(Signature Page Follows)

 

 

 12  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

 

  AEYE, INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:   
  Title:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 13  

 

 


EXHIBIT A

 

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO: AEye, Inc.,

 

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

 

(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):

 

in lawful money of the United States.

 

if permitted the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).

 

  

(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

_______________________________

 

The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:

 

_______________________________

 

_______________________________

 

_______________________________

 

(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

 

Name of Investing Entity: ________________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________

Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________

Date: ________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 14  

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

Name: __________________________________________

 

  (Please Print)

 

Address: __________________________________________

 

  (Please Print)

 

Phone: __________________________________________

 

Email Address: __________________________________________

 

Dated: ______________ ___, _______

 

Holder’s Signature: _____________________

 

Holder’s Signature: _____________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

*** Information has been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. 

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of September 15, 2022, between AEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and/or Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, desires to purchase from the Company, securities of the Company as more fully described in this Agreement.

 

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 each Purchaser agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement: (a) capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Notes (as defined herein), and (b) the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

 

Acquiring Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.7.

 

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

 

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar U.S. federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the Federal Bank of New York is closed.

 

Closings” means each of the First Closing pursuant to Section 2.1(a) and the Second Closing pursuant to Section 2.1(b).

 

Closing Dates” means each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date.

 

Closing Statement” means the Closing Statement in the form on Annex A attached hereto.

 

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

 

Company Counsel” means Shearman & Sterling LLP.

 

  1 

 

 

Company Intellectual Property” means, collectively, any and all (i) Owned Intellectual Property and (ii) the Licensed Intellectual Property.

Computer Security Incident” means any data or security breaches or unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, misuse, loss, or unavailability of Personal Information or IT Systems. Examples of such incidents include: (i) an attacker commands a botnet to send high volumes of connection requests to a web server, causing it to crash; (ii) users are tricked into opening a “quarterly report” sent via email that is actually malware; running the tool has infected their computers and established connections with an external host; (iii) an attacker obtains sensitive data and threatens that the details will be released publicly if the organization does not pay a designated sum of money; or (iv) a user provides or exposes sensitive information to others through peer-to-peer file sharing services.

 

Conversion Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Notes.

 

Conversion Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Notes.

 

Copyrights” means all rights in mask works, and other rights in any works of authorship of any type, in all forms, media or medium now known or hereinafter Developed, and whether or not completed, published, or used, including all rights in drafts, plans, sketches, artwork, layouts, copy, designs, photographs, illustrations, collections, serials, printed or graphic matter, slides, compilations, serials, promotions, audio or visual recordings, transcriptions, Software, and all derivative works, translations, adaptations and combinations of any of the foregoing, all registrations and applications therefor and all extensions, restorations, and renewals of any of the foregoing, all worldwide rights and priorities afforded under any law with respect to any of the foregoing, and all termination rights, moral rights, rights of publicity, author rights and all other rights associated therewith.

 

Data Processing Contracts” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(n)(ii).

 

Designated Entity” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(n)(i).

 

Disclosure Schedules” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.

 

Disclosure Time” means, (i) if this Agreement is signed on a day that is not a Trading Day or after 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) and before midnight (New York City time) on any Trading Day, 9:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately following the date hereof, unless otherwise instructed as to an earlier time by the Placement Agent, and (ii) if this Agreement is signed between midnight (New York City time) and 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, no later than 9:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof, unless otherwise instructed as to an earlier time by the Placement Agent.

 

Effective Date” means the earliest of the date that (a) the initial Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, (b) all of the Underlying Shares have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, (c) following the one (1) year anniversary of the Second Closing Date provided that a holder of the Underlying Shares is not an Affiliate of the Company or (d) all of the Underlying Shares may be sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and Company Counsel has delivered to such holders a standing written unqualified opinion that resales may then be made by such holders of the Underlying Shares pursuant to such exemption which opinion shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such holders.

 

Equity Conditions” means, during the period in question, (a) the Company shall have duly honored all conversions and redemptions scheduled to occur or occurring by virtue of one or more Notices of Conversion of the Holders, if any, (b) the Company shall have paid all liquidated damages and other amounts owing to the Holder in respect of the Notes, (c)(i) there is an effective Registration Statement pursuant to which the Holder is permitted to utilize the prospectus thereunder to resell all of the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents (and the Company believes, in good faith, that such effectiveness will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future) or (ii) all of the Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents (and shares issuable in lieu of cash payments of interest) may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements as determined by the counsel to the Company as set forth in a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Transfer Agent and the Holder,

 

  2 

 

 

(d) the Common Stock is trading on a Trading Market and all of the shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents are listed or quoted for trading on such Trading Market (and the Company believes, in good faith, that trading of the Common Stock on a Trading Market will continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future), (e) there is a sufficient number of authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved shares of Common Stock for the issuance of all of the shares then issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents, (f) there is no existing Event of Default and no existing event which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, would constitute an Event of Default, (g) the issuance of the shares in question (or, in the case of an Optional Redemption or Installment Redemption, the shares issuable upon conversion in full of the Optional Redemption Amount or Installment Redemption Amount) to the Holder would not violate the limitations set forth in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) of the Notes, (h) there is no pending or proposed Fundamental Transaction or Change of Control Transaction that would be required to be disclosed under a current report on Form 8-K and has not been publicly disclosed, (i) the applicable Holder is not in possession of any information provided by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their officers, directors, employees, agents or Affiliates, that constitutes, or may constitute, material non-public information, (j) the Company has timely filed (subject to any applicable grace period) all of its SEC Reports during the time period in question, (k) the daily VWAP of the Common Stock exceeds $1.50 on the Principal Trading Market during each Trading Day for the twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the applicable date in question, (l) the average daily trading volume of the Common Stock on the Principal Trading Market during each Trading Day for the twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the applicable date in question exceeds $1,500,000 and (m) the outstanding balance of the Holders owning the original principal amount of the Notes is less than $2,000,000.

 

Equity Line” means the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2021, by and between the Company and Tumim Stone Capital LLC, pursuant to which Tumim Stone Capital LLC has committed to purchase up to $125,000,000 of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

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

 

Exchange Capshall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.18(a).

 

Exchange Cap Limitationshall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.18(a).

 

Exchange Cap Share Failureshall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.18(b).

 

Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock or options to employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of the compensation committee of 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 after 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, (c) shares of Common Stock sold by the Company pursuant to the Equity Line, subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4.12(e) or (d) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions, divestitures, licenses, partnerships, collaborations or strategic transactions approved by the Company’s Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of directors established for such purpose, which acquisitions, divestitures, licenses, partnerships, collaborations or strategic transactions can have a Variable Rate Transaction component, provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equity holders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities; provided that the Company shall not effect a conversion of any securities under this clause (d) while any Notes remain outstanding.

 

  3 

 

 

FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

First Closing” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1.

 

First Closing Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1.

 

GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).

 

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local, international, supranational or foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency (which for the purposes of this Agreement shall include the Commission), governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency, court, arbitral tribunal, securities exchange or similar body or instrumentality thereof.

 

Intellectual Property” means all of the following: (a) Copyrights; (b) Trademarks; (c) Patents; (d) Proprietary Information; (e) databases (including knowledge databases, customer lists and customer databases); (f) all domain names, uniform resource locators and other names and locators associated with the internet, including applications and registrations thereof; (g) all publicity and privacy rights, including all rights with respect to use of a Person’s name, signature, likeness, image, photograph, voice, identity, personality, and biographical and Personal Information and materials; (h) all rights (as such may exist or be created in any jurisdiction), whether statutory, common law or otherwise, in, arising out of, or associated with the foregoing; (i) all other intellectual property or proprietary rights now known or hereafter recognized in any jurisdiction worldwide; (j) all rights equivalent or similar or pertaining to the foregoing, including those arising under international treaties and convention rights; (k) all rights and powers to assert, defend and recover title to any of the foregoing; (l) all rights to assert, defend, sue, and recover damages for any past, present and future infringement, misuse, misappropriation, impairment, unauthorized use or other violation of any rights in or to any of the foregoing; (m) all proceeds, income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and payable under or in respect of all of the foregoing (including with respect to past, present or future infringement or violation thereof); and (n) all administrative rights arising from the foregoing, including the right to prosecute applications and oppose, interfere with or challenge the applications of others, the rights to obtain renewals, continuations, divisions and extensions of legal protection pertaining to any of the foregoing.

  

Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions” shall mean the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, dated as of the date of each Closing, among the Company and the Transfer Agent, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

 

IT Systems” means all computer hardware, servers, networks, platforms, peripherals, data communication lines and other information technology equipment that are owned by, or used under the control of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Legacy AEye” means AEye Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (f/k/a AEye, Inc.), prior to the effective time of its merger with Predecessor AEye on August 16, 2021.

 

Legend Removal Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(c).

 

Licensed Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(n)(i).

 

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

 

Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(b).

 

  4 

 

 

Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.17.

 

Money Laundering Laws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(ii).

 

Notes” means the Senior Unsecured Convertible Notes due, subject to the terms therein, eighteen (18) months from their dates of issuance, issued by the Company to the Purchasers hereunder, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

Open Source Software” means any and all Software and other materials distributed under a “free,” “open source,” or similar licensing model (including but not limited to the MIT License, Apache License, GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License and GNU Affero General Public License).

Owned Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(n)(i).

Patents” means all (a) U.S. and foreign patents (including certificates of invention and other patent equivalents), utility models, and applications for any of the foregoing, including provisional applications, and all patents of addition, improvement patents, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, renewals, confirmations, substitutions and extensions thereof or related thereto, and all applications or counterparts in any jurisdiction pertaining to any of the foregoing, including applications filed pursuant to any international patent law treaty, and (b) other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventors’ certificates, petty patents and innovation patents), together with all worldwide rights and priorities afforded under any law with respect to any of the foregoing.

Permits” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(l).

  

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.

 

Personal Information” means (a) all data and information that, whether alone or in combination with any other data or information, identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a natural person, household, or his, her or its device, including name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number, driver’s license number, passport number, government-issued ID number, customer or account number, health information, financial information, credit report information, device identifiers, transaction identifier, cookie ID, browser or device fingerprint or other probabilistic identifier, IP addresses, physiological and behavioral biometric identifiers, viewing history, platform behaviors, and any other similar piece of data or information; and (b) all other data or information that is otherwise protected by any Privacy Laws or otherwise considered personally identifiable information or personal data under applicable law.

 

Placement Agent” means Reedland Capital Partners.

 

Predecessor AEye” means CF Finance Acquisition Corp. III, a Delaware corporation, prior to the effective time of its merger with Legacy AEye on August 16, 2021.

  

Principal Amount” means, as to each Purchaser, the amounts set forth below such Purchaser’s signature block on the signature pages hereto next to the heading “Principal Amount,” in United States Dollars, which shall equal such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount multiplied by 1.05.

 

Principal Trading Market” means The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

  5 

 

 

Privacy Laws” means all laws concerning the privacy, secrecy, security, protection, disposal, international transfer or other Processing of Personal Information, including incident reporting and security incident notifying requirements.  

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.

 

Proprietary Information” means all trade secrets, confidential information, proprietary information, designs, formulas, algorithms, procedures, methods, techniques, discoveries, developments, know-how, research and development, technical data, tools, materials, specifications, processes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), apparatus, creations, improvements, recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses, documented and undocumented information, information and materials not generally known to the public, protocols, schematics, compositions, sketches, photographs, websites, content, images, graphics, text, artwork, audiovisual works, build instructions, Software, databases, pricing, customer and user lists, market studies, business plans, systems, structures, architectures, devices, concepts, methods and information, together with any and all notes, analysis, compilations, lab reports, notebooks, invention disclosures, studies, summaries, and other material containing or based, in whole or in part, on any information included in the foregoing, including all copies and tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing in whatever form or medium.

 

Purchaser Party” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.10.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, among the Company and the Purchasers, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

 

Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale of the Underlying Shares by each Purchaser as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).

 

Required Holders” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.5.

 

Required Minimum” means a number of shares equal to the Exchange Cap.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Sanctions” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(gg).

  

Second Closing” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1.

 

Second Closing Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1.

 

Second Closing Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1.

 

SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).

 

Securities” means the Notes, the Warrants and the Underlying Shares.

 

  6 

 

 

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

 

Shareholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE American/the Nasdaq Stock Market/The New York Stock Exchange (or any successor entity) from the shareholders of the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including (a) the issuance of all of the Underlying Shares in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock on the First Closing Date and (b) any subsequent issuance(s) of the Underlying Shares in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock as a consequence of any corporate action including the implementation of a reverse stock split. 

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 locating and/or borrowing shares of Common Stock).

 

Software” means all (a) computer software, programs, applications, scripts, middleware, firmware, interfaces, tools, operating systems, software code of any nature, (including object code, source code, interpreted code, data files, rules, definitions and methodology derived from the foregoing) and any derivations, updates, enhancements and customizations of any of the foregoing, together with all related processes, technical data, algorithms, APIs, subroutines, operating procedures, report formats, development tools, templates and user interfaces, and (b) documentation, including user manuals, technical manuals, programming comments, descriptions, flow charts and other work products used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, and training materials related to any of the foregoing.

 

Subscription Amount” means, as to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for Notes and Warrants purchased hereunder as specified below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement and next to the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.

  

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3.1(a) and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.

 

Trademarks” means all trademarks, service marks, trade names, business names, corporate names, trade dress, look and feel, product and service names, logos, brand names, slogans, 800 numbers, Internet domain names, URLs, social media usernames, handles, hashtags and account names, symbols, emblems, insignia and other distinctive identification and indicia of source of origin, whether or not registered, including all common law rights thereto, and all applications and registrations therefor, and all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing or the business connected with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing.

Trading Day” means a day on which the Principal Trading Market is open for trading.

 

Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock will, in accordance with the terms hereof, be listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American; the Nasdaq Capital Market; the Nasdaq Global Market; the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

Transfer Agent” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust, the current transfer agent of the Common Stock, with a mailing address of 1 State Street 30th Floor, New York, NY 10004-1561, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

 

  7 

 

 

Underlying Shares” means the Warrant Shares and shares of Common Stock issued and issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes, including without limitation, the Conversion Shares and the shares of Common Stock issued and issuable in lieu of the cash payment of interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes, in each case without respect to any limitation or restriction on the conversion of the Notes or the exercise of the Warrants.

 

Variable Rate Transaction” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.12(a).

 

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 on the Pink Open Market (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 Purchasers 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.

 

Warrants” means, collectively, the Common Stock purchase warrants delivered to the Purchasers at the applicable Closing in accordance with Section 2.2(a) or Section 2.2(c)hereof, which Warrants shall be exercisable immediately and shall have a term of exercise equal to four (4) years, in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto.

 

Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

ARTICLE II.

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1        Closing.

 

(a) First Closing. The first closing of the offer and sale of the Securities (the “First Closing”) shall occur at 10:00 am (New York City time) at the offices of Morrison & Foerster LLP, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, on the first (1st) Trading Day on which the conditions to the First Closing set forth in Section 2.3 hereof are satisfied or waived in writing as provided elsewhere herein, or on such other date and time as agreed to by the Company and the Purchaser (the “First Closing Date”); provided that the First Closing Date shall occur no later than three (3) Trading Days after the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Second Closing.

 

(i) Subject to the satisfaction (or express waiver) of (i) the conditions set forth in this Section 2.1 and Section 2.3 and (ii) the Equity Conditions, the Company shall have the right to require the Purchaser to purchase the Securities on the Second Closing Date by delivering to the Purchasers an irrevocable written notice (the “Second Closing Notice”) on the Effective Date (as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) that the Company has exercised its right to require the Purchasers to purchase the Securities.

 

(ii) The Second Closing Notice shall state that (A) the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission (and with respect to which no stop order has been issued); (B), the date and time of the a second closing (the “Second Closing”), which shall be at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time), on a date that is no earlier than the ninetieth (90th) calendar day after the First Closing Date (the “Second Closing Date”); and (iii) all the conditions to the Second Closing set forth in this Section 2.1. and Section 2.3 hereof are satisfied or waived in writing. Subject to compliance with the applicable federal securities laws, the Company and the Purchaser may mutually agree on such other date and time for the Second Closing. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Second Closing does not occur by March 15, 2024, the Company’s right to effect a Second Closing hereunder shall automatically terminate. To this end, the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to effectuate the Second Closing.

 

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(c) For the avoidance of doubt, it is the Parties’ intention that there will be two Closings with the aggregate Subscription Amounts delivered at each Closing by the applicable Purchasers to be $10,000,000. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate Subscription Amounts after the two Closings shall total $20,000,000.

 

2.2 Deliveries.

 

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

 

(i)this Agreement duly executed by the Company;

 

(ii)a legal opinion of Company Counsel, substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto;

 

(iii)a Note having the respective principal amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 under the heading “First Closing Principal Amount of Notes”, duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of such Purchaser;

 

(iv)a Warrant duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of such Purchaser to purchase up to a number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 under the heading “First Closing Warrant Shares,” which amount shall be equal to forty-one and two-thirds (41⅔) percent of such Purchaser’s Conversion Shares applicable to the First Closing Date;

 

(v)the Company shall have provided each Purchaser with the Company’s wire instructions, on Company letterhead and executed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer;

 

(vi)the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by the Company;

 

(vii)the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions duly executed by the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by the Transfer Agent;

 

(viii)the Disclosure Schedules, updated as of such First Closing Date;

 

(ix)an officer’s certificate and compliance certificate, each in a form reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers’ counsel; and

 

(x)such other opinions, certificates, statements, including, without limitation, a closing statement, and agreements as the Purchasers’ counsel may reasonably require.

 

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

 

(i) this Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser;

 

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(ii) such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name under the heading “First Closing” on Schedule 1 by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified in writing by the Company; and

  

(iii) the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser.

 

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

 

(i) a Note having the respective principal amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 under the heading “Second Closing Principal Amount of Notes”, duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of such Purchaser;

 

(ii) a Warrant duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of such Purchaser to purchase up to a number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 under the heading “Second Closing Warrant Shares,” which amount shall be equal to forty-one and two-thirds (41⅔) percent of such Purchaser’s Conversion Shares applicable to the Second Closing Date;

 

(iii) the Disclosure Schedules, updated as of such Second Closing Date;

 

(iv) the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instruction Letter duly executed by the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by the Transfer Agent;

 

(v) an opinion from the Company’s counsel in a form reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers’ counsel; 

 

(vi) an officer’s certificate and compliance certificate, indicating among other matters, that the Equity Conditions have been satisfied, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers’ counsel; and

(vii) such other opinions, certificates, statements, including, without limitation, a closing statement, and agreements as the Purchasers’ counsel may reasonably require.

 

(d) On or prior to the Second Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name under the heading “Second Closing” on Schedule 1 by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified in writing by the Company.

 

2.3 Closing Conditions.

 

(a) The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with each 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) on the Closing Date for such Closing of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers 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 each Purchaser required to be performed pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date for such Closing shall have been performed; and

 

(iii) the delivery by each Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b) or Section 2.2(d), as applicable, of this Agreement.

 

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(b) The respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder in connection with each 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 Closing Date for such 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 pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date for such Closing shall have been performed;

 

(iii) the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) or Section 2.2(c), as applicable, of this Agreement;

 

(iv) there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof and no existing event which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, would constitute an Event of Default;

 

(v) from (I) the date hereof to the Closing Date for such Closing and (II) continuing on such Closing Date, (a) trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission or the Company’s Principal Trading Market, (b) trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service or on any Trading Market, (c) a banking moratorium shall not have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities or (d) there shall not be continuing of any material (A) outbreak or (B) escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such magnitude that would have material adverse change in any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of such Purchaser and the Company, makes it impracticable to purchase the Securities at such Closing;

 

(vi) the Company meets the current public information requirements under Rule 144 in respect of the Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares and any other shares of Common Stock issuable under the Notes or the Warrants;

 

(vii) any other conditions contained herein or the other Transaction Documents, including those set forth in Section 2.2; and

 

(viii) the Company has submitted a Listing of Additional Shares Notification Form (or its equivalent) with The Nasdaq Capital Market with respect to each issuance of Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

 

 

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1 Representations 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 as of each Closing Date to the extent of the disclosure contained in the corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedules, the Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each Purchaser:

 

(a) Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company, other than those that may be omitted pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K, 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 except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(a), free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock 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.

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(b) Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company that would prohibit or otherwise materially interfere with or delay the ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect,” provided, however, that no facts, circumstances, changes or effects exclusively and directly resulting from, relating to or arising out of the following, individually or in the aggregate, shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (a) changes in conditions in the U.S. or global capital, credit or financial markets generally, including changes in the availability of capital or currency exchange rates, provided such changes shall not have affected the Company in a materially disproportionate manner as compared to other similarly situated companies; (b) changes generally affecting the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, provided such changes shall not have affected the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a materially disproportionate manner as compared to other similarly situated companies; (c) any effect of the announcement of, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents on the Company’s relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, vendors, bank lenders, strategic venture partners or employees; (d) changes arising in connection with earthquakes, pandemics, hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions or any escalation or material worsening of any such pandemic, hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions existing as of the date hereof; (e) any action taken by the Purchaser with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (f) the effect of any changes in applicable laws or accounting rules, provided such changes shall not have affected the Company in a materially disproportionate manner as compared to other similarly situated companies) and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

 

(c) Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, conservatorship, receivership and other laws of general application relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents,

 

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or (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(d), conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give rise to any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any material agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument or obligation (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or Governmental Authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such conflict, default, Lien, termination, amendment, acceleration, cancellation or violation as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e) Filings, Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(e) (“Required 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 Section 4.6 of this Agreement, (ii) the filing with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, (iii) 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 and Warrant Shares for trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby, and (iv) the filing of Form D with the Commission and such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws.

 

(f) Issuance of the Securities. The Notes and the Warrants are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Underlying Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock a number of shares of Common Stock for issuance of the Underlying Shares at least equal to the Required Minimum on the date hereof.

 

(g) Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company and the shares thereof issued and outstanding were as set forth in the SEC Reports as of the dates reflected therein. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company is obligated to register the sale of any securities under the Securities Act. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, no shares of Common Stock 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 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 or as set forth in the SEC Reports, 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 of the Company. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or the consummation of the transactions described herein or therein. The Company has filed with the Commission true and correct copies of the Company’s certificate of incorporation as in effect on the Closing Date, and the Company’s bylaws as in effect on the Closing Date.

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(h) SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, since August 16, 2021 (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates (if amended or superseded by a filing, on the date of such amended or superseded filing), the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed (if amended or superseded by a filing, on the date of such amended or superseded filing), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has not been an issuer subject to Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act since August 16, 2021. The prospectus and each prospectus supplement required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement after the Closing Date, when taken together, on its date, shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act) and shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the prospectus or any prospectus supplement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Purchaser expressly for use therein. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports (including the historical consolidated financial statements of Predecessor AEye) comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP or may be condensed or summary statements, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.

 

(i) Labor Relations. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is bound by or subject to (and none of their assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any contract with any labor union, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no labor union has requested or has sought to represent any of the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no strike or other labor dispute involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, that has had or would be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is there any labor organization activity involving the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. With respect to all current and former Persons who have performed services for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable state and federal equal employment opportunity, wage and hour, compensation and other laws and COVID-19 measures related to employment, including but not limited to, overtime requirements, classification of employees and independent contractors under federal and state laws (including for tax purposes and for purposes of determining eligibility to participate in any Employee Plan (as defined below)), hours of work, leaves of absence, equal opportunity, sexual and other harassment, whistleblower protections, immigration, occupational health and safety, workers’ compensation, and the withholding and payment of all applicable taxes, and there are no material arrears in the payments of wages, unemployment insurance premiums or other similar obligations. There are no material claims, disputes, grievances, or controversies pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened involving any employee or group of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no material charges, investigations, administrative proceedings or formal complaints of (i) discrimination or retaliation (including discrimination, harassment or retaliation based upon sex, age, marital status, race, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status), (ii) unfair labor practices,

 

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(iii) violations of health and safety laws, (iv) workplace injuries or (v) whistleblower retaliation against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case that (y) pertain to any current or former employee and (z) have been threatened by such employee or are pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Workers Compensation Appeals Board, or any other Governmental Authority.

 

(j) Compliance. Except as set forth on in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court; or (iii) is in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in all cases for any such violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(k) Environmental Laws. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all Permits 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 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.

 

(l) Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or local regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted (the “Permits”), except where the failure to possess such permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Permit or has any reason to believe that such Permit will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where the failure to obtain any such renewal would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. This Section 3.1(l) does not relate to environmental matters, such items being the subject of Section 3.1(k).

 

(m) Title to Assets. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to its properties, assets and rights, and has good title to all its leasehold interests, in each case free and clear of any lien, charges or encumbrances, other than (a) liens, charges or encumbrances for taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) liens, charges or encumbrances imposed by applicable law and incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries since August 16, 2021 for obligations not past due, (c) liens, charges or encumbrances in respect of pledges or deposits under workers’ compensation laws or similar legislation, and (d) liens, charges, encumbrances and defects in title which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or which have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and which have not arisen otherwise than in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries since August 16, 2021. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, with respect to the properties, assets and rights it leases since August 16, 2021, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with such leases in all material respects and, to the knowledge of the Company, holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, charges or encumbrances subject to clauses (a)-(d) above. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the properties, assets and rights owned, leased or licensed by the Company and its Subsidiaries from and after August 16, 2021, constitute all the properties, assets and rights used in connection with the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except for such properties, assets and rights the loss of use of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Such properties, assets and rights constitute all the properties, assets and rights necessary for the Company and its Subsidiaries to continue to conduct their respective businesses from and after August 16, 2021 as they are currently being conducted, except as would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n) Intellectual Property; IT Systems; Data Privacy.

 

(i) Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, no material amount of funding of a university, college, other educational institution or Governmental Authority (each a “Designated Entity”) were used directly in the development, testing or commercialization, in whole or in part, of any Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries (“Owned Intellectual Property”) and no Designated Entity has any right, title or interest (including any usage, license, “march in”, ownership, co-ownership or other rights) in or to any Owned Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and its Subsidiaries have received no written notice of any Action currently before any Governmental Authority, domain name registrar or other public or quasi-public legal authority anywhere in the world (including before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office, or similar authority anywhere in the world), including any interference, reexamination, cancellation, nullity or opposition proceedings or inventorship challenges in which any claims have been raised relating to the validity, enforceability, registrability, scope, misappropriation, ownership, violation or infringement with respect to any of the Owned Intellectual Property that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to any material Owned Intellectual Property used, held for use, or necessary in connection with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries (i) is the sole and exclusive owner of, and possess all right, title, and interest in and to, any and all Owned Intellectual Property, free and clear of all material liens, charges or encumbrances, and (ii) possess a valid, legally enforceable license or other right to use any and all other Intellectual Property used or held for use by the Company and its Subsidiaries that are necessary in the operation of their respective businesses. The Company Intellectual Property constitutes all of the Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has taken all reasonable actions, consistent with industry standards and applicable laws to maintain and protect each item of Owned Intellectual Property material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including with respect to the validity and enforceability thereof. None of the Owned Intellectual Property is subject to any claims of joint ownership and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any contract that limits, restricts or impairs its or their ability to use, sell, transfer, assign, license or convey any of the Owned Intellectual Property. All of the Owned Intellectual Property, including any and all registrations, issuances and applications thereof, is subsisting, in full force and effect, and to the knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not and are not conducting the business in a manner that would result in the cancellation or unenforceability of any Owned Intellectual Property. Each contract (other than COTS Licenses) (i) for which the primary purpose is to grant to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries a license to use any Intellectual Property of a third party (such Intellectual Property, “Licensed Intellectual Property”) or (ii) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has granted to a third party any right in or to any Intellectual Property is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, is in full force and effect and is enforceable against the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto is in material breach or violation of or default under any Licensed Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a material breach or violation or default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the other parties thereto under any Licensed Intellectual Property. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice or written threat that any other party intends to terminate or not renew, or seek to amend or modify the terms of, any Licensed Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the operation and conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, nor the use of the Company Intellectual Property infringes, dilutes, violates, interferes with, misappropriates or makes unlawful use of any Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of any other Person. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim (including in the form of a demand letter or offer of license), written demand, or suit based on an alleged violation of any of the foregoing. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no existing fact or circumstance that would be reasonably expected to give rise to any such Action as described in this Section 3.1(n).

 

 

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To the knowledge of the Company, there is no actual or threatened infringement, violation, interferences, dilution, misappropriation or unlawful use by a third party of any of the Company Intellectual Property. The Company Intellectual Property is sufficient in all material respects for the Company and its Subsidiaries to carry on their business as presently carried on, consistent with past practice.

 

(ii) Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the IT Systems (i) perform in material conformance with their documentation, (ii) in the past three years have not suffered any material persistent substandard performance, breakdown or failure, (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, are free from any material defects, and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, do not contain any virus, software routine or hardware component designed to permit unauthorized access or to disable or otherwise harm any computer, systems or Software or any software routine designed to disable a computer program automatically with the passage of time or under the positive control of a Person other than an authorized licensee or owner of the Software. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the IT Systems are in good repair and operating condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are adequate and suitable (including with respect to working condition, performance and capacity) in all material respects for the purposes for which they are being used or held for use. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, since August 16, 2021, no use of or activities with respect to the Open Source Software by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, their employees, or contract workers (i) requires the licensing, disclosure or distribution of any Owned Intellectual Property to any other Person under the terms of any Open Source Software license, (ii) prohibits or limits the receipt of consideration in connection with licensing or distribution of any Owned Intellectual Property, or imposition of contractual restrictions on the rights of licensees or permits recipients to decompile, disassemble or otherwise reverse engineer any Owned Intellectual Property, or (iii) grant, or purport to grant, to any Person any patent license or non-assertion covenant with respect to any Owned Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, since August 16, 2021, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has materially complied with all material notice, attribution and other requirements applicable to any and all Open Source Software used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, since August 16, 2021, to the knowledge of the Company, no Computer Security Incident has occurred, or, to the knowledge of the Company, has been attempted, involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets, rights or properties that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and its Subsidiaries implement, and since August 16, 2021 have implemented, maintain and comply in all material respects with reasonably adequate technologies, policies and procedures designed to prevent (i) the occurrence of any security breaches, and (ii) the reoccurrence of any security breaches that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and its Subsidiaries implement, and since August 16, 2021 have implemented commercially reasonable business continuity, backup and disaster recovery, and security plans. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, since August 16, 2021, to the knowledge of the Company, no Person has gained unauthorized access to or made any unauthorized processing of any Personal Information processed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, since August 16, 2021, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notices, allegations or complaints from any Governmental Authority or any other Person with respect to any Computer Security Incidents (including any unauthorized processing of Personal Information), nor have they received any claims for compensation under Privacy Laws from data subjects or any other Person that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, since August 16, 2021, the Company and its Subsidiaries have (i) in compliance in all material respects with Privacy Laws, obtained valid consent where necessary from data subjects and has provided data subjects with privacy notices as required and (ii) complied in all material respects with the terms of any contract by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are bound relating to data protection, privacy or security or the processing of Personal Information (“Data Processing Contracts”), except where, in each case, the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

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No Actions are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the processing of Personal Information which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company and its Subsidiaries have Data Processing Contracts and other agreements in place with all service providers, vendors and other Persons whose relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries involves the relevant service provider, vendor or other Person processing any Personal Information on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in compliance in all material respects with Privacy Laws applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to maintain and protect the confidentiality of all Proprietary Information constituting Company Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the Company, since August 16, 2021, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there has been no misappropriation of any Proprietary Information of the Company and its Subsidiaries by any Person, (ii) no employee, agent or other contract worker of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has misappropriated any Proprietary Information of any other Person in the course of performance as an employee, agent or other contract worker of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (iii) no employee, agent or other contract worker of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in default or breach of any term of any contract relating in any way to the protection, ownership, development, use or transfer of Company Intellectual Property as a result of their performance of their duties for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(o) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

(p) Transactions with Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth on the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company’s stockholders, the officers or directors of any stockholder of the Company, or any family member or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, has either directly or indirectly any interest in, or is a party to, any transaction that is required to be disclosed as a related party transaction pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(q) Internal Accounting Controls. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, from and after August 16, 2021, the Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Documents and the Registration Statement fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, since August 16, 2021, the Company and its Subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting are effective and the Company and its Subsidiaries are not aware of any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting.

 

(r) Certain Fees. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(r), no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Purchasers 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 incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries that may be due or payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

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(s) Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, the offer and sale of the Securities by from the Company to the Purchaser in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D. The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market.

 

(t) Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Securities, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(u) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. 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 Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements. The Common Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees to the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.

 

(v) Application of Takeover Protections. There is no control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Purchasers as a result of the Purchasers and the Company fulfilling their respective obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents (as applicable), including without limitation as a result of the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Purchasers’ ownership of the Securities.

 

(w) 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 any of the Purchasers or their agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers will rely on the foregoing representation in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All of the disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchasers regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, their respective businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby (other than forward-looking information and projections and information of a general economic nature and general information about the Company’s industry), including the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, taken together, is true and correct in all material respects on the date on which such information is dated or certified 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading at such time.

 

(x) No Integrated Offering. None of the Company or any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on 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 require registration of the offer, issuance and sale by the Company to the Purchaser of any of the Securities under the Securities Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of stockholders of the Company under any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of the Trading Market.

 

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None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their Affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps referred to in the preceding sentence that would require registration of the offer, issuance and sale by the Company to the Purchaser of any of the Securities under the Securities Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with any other offering of securities of the Company.

 

(y) Solvency. Since August 16, 2021, the Company has not taken any steps, and does not currently expect to take any steps, to seek protection pursuant to any Bankruptcy Law, nor does the Company have any knowledge that its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for relief under any Bankruptcy Law. The Company is financially solvent and is generally able to pay its debts as they become due.

 

(z) Tax Status. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all material tax returns as required by applicable federal, state and local law. These tax returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has paid all material taxes, other than taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently engaged in any material audit, administrative or judicial proceeding with respect to taxes. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from a Governmental Authority of a proposed deficiency of any material amount of taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has withheld or collected from each payment made to its employees all material taxes required to be withheld or collected therefrom and has paid the same to the proper tax authority.

 

(aa) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any Person acting on behalf of the Company 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.

 

(bb) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any director or officer, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee, agent, representative or Affiliate of the Company, has taken within the past five years any action in furtherance of an 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 political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage (to the extent acting on behalf of or providing services to the Company); and the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses within the past five years in compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and other applicable anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and anti-bribery laws, and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

 

(cc) Accountants. To the knowledge of the Company, Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes, was during the periods covered by their report, with respect to the Company, independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). To the knowledge of the Company, the Deloitte & Touche LLP is not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to the Company.

  

(dd) Acknowledgment Regarding Purchasers’ Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Purchasers is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

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The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is 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 thereby and any advice given by any Purchaser or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchasers’ purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each Purchaser that the Company’s decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company and its representatives.

  

(ee) 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, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Placement Agent in connection with the placement of the Securities. Neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or Affiliates will during the term of this Agreement, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no Person acting on their behalf will during the term of this Agreement, take any of the actions referred to in the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(ff) Stock Option Plans. Each stock option granted by the Company under the Company’s stock option plan was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock option plan and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

(gg) Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, or employee thereof, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, Affiliate or representative of the Company, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds from the sale of Securities under this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person (a) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions, or (b) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have knowingly engaged in, or are now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

(hh) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

  

(ii) Money Laundering. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times within the past five years in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes, including but not limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title 18 U.S. Code Section 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and international anti-money laundering principles or procedures by an intergovernmental group or organization,

 

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such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, of which the United States is a member and with which designation the United States representative to the group or organization continues to concur, all as amended, and any executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder, of jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(jj) No Disqualification Events. With respect to the Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506 under the Securities Act, none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering hereunder, any beneficial owner 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 at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person” and, together, “Issuer 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 whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event.

   

(kk) ERISA. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to an “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), which: (i) is subject to Title IV of ERISA and (ii) is or was at any time maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates (as defined hereafter). Each plan is referred to herein as an “Employee Plan.” An “ERISA Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person which, together with that Person, could be treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Each Employee Plan has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of applicable law. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, there is no liability in respect of post-retirement health and medical benefits for retired employees of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates, other than medical benefits required to be continued under applicable law. No “prohibited transaction”(as defined in either Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) has occurred with respect to any Employee Plan; and each Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could cause the loss of such qualification, except where such occurrence or failure to qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Employee Plan, no Actions (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course of business) are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such Actions. No Employee Plan is currently under investigation or audit by any Governmental Authority and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such investigation or audit is contemplated or under consideration. Each Employee Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” subject to Section 409A of the Code has been maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and in operational and documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code and all regulations and other applicable regulatory guidance (including notices and rulings) thereunder.

 

3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. Each Purchaser, for itself and for no other Purchaser, hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date to the Company as follows (unless as of a specific date therein, in which case they shall be accurate as of such date):

 

(a) Organization; Authority. Such 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.

 

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The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by such 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 such Purchaser, and no further consent or authorization of the Purchaser, its Board of Directors or its members is required. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such 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.

 

(b) Own Account. Such 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 such Purchaser’s right to sell the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws). Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.

 

(c) No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and shall not (i) result in a violation of such Purchaser’s certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other applicable organizational instruments, (ii) conflict with, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give rise to any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any material agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, indenture, note, bond, license, lease agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets are bound, (iii) create or impose any lien, charge or encumbrance on any property of the Purchaser under any agreement or any commitment to which the Purchaser is party or under which the Purchaser is bound or under which any of its properties or assets are bound, or (iv) result in a violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, rule, or regulation, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental agency applicable to the Purchaser or by which any of its properties or assets are bound or affected, except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for such conflicts, defaults, terminations, amendments, acceleration, cancellations and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or otherwise interfere with, in any material respect, the ability of the Purchaser to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Transaction Documents. The Purchaser is not required under any applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement and the Transaction Documents or to purchase or acquire the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof; provided, however, that for purposes of the representation made in this sentence, the Purchaser is assuming and relying upon the accuracy of the relevant representations and warranties and the compliance with the relevant covenants and agreements of the Company in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.

 

(d) Investment Purpose. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities for its own account, for investment purposes and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered under or exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, the Purchaser does not agree, or make any representation or warranty, to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with, or pursuant to, a Registration Statement filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or an applicable exemption under the Securities Act. The Purchaser does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to sell or distribute any of the Securities.

 

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(e) Purchaser Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is, and on each date on which it exercises its Warrant, converts its Note into Common Stock or is issued any Common Stock under the terms of its Note, it will be either: (i) an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act or (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act.

 

(f) Experience of Such Purchaser. Such 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. Such 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.

 

(g) Reliance on Exemption. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of U.S. federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Securities.

 

(h) General Solicitation. Such Purchaser is not, to such 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, to the knowledge of such Purchaser, any other general solicitation or general advertisement.

 

 (i) Information. All materials relating to the business, financial condition, management and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by such Purchaser have been furnished or otherwise made available to the Purchaser or its advisors, including, without limitation, the SEC Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC as of the applicable date or time this representation is made. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities, including a total loss thereof, and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of a proposed investment in the Securities. The Purchaser and its advisors have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning the financial condition and business of the Company and other matters relating to an investment in the Securities. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by the Purchaser or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect the Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document to which the Company is a party or the Purchaser’s right to rely on any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the opinions of the Company’s counsel delivered pursuant to Sections 2.2(a)(ii) or 2.2(c)(ii)). The Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities. The Purchaser understands that it (and not the Company) shall be responsible for its own tax liabilities that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 (j) No Governmental Review. Such Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

 (k) Not an Affiliate. Such Purchaser is not an officer, director or an Affiliate of the Company. As of the date of this Agreement, the Purchaser does not beneficially own any shares of Common Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock.

 

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(l) Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Other than consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, such Purchaser has not, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with such Purchaser, directly or indirectly executed any purchases or sales, including Short Sales, of the securities of the Company during the period commencing as of the time that such 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, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such 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 such Purchaser’s representatives, including, without limitation, its officers, directors, partners, legal and other advisors, employees, agents and Affiliates, such Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction).

 

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 Documents or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any actions, with respect to locating or borrowing shares, except in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.

 

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

4.1 Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a) The Securities may only be transferred 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 a 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 the Registration Rights Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(b) The Purchasers agree 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:

 

THE ISSUE AND SALE OF THIS SECURITY [AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS [EXERCISABLE] [CONVERTIBLE]] HAVE [NOT] BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS [EXERCISABLE] [CONVERTIBLE] 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 [EXERCISE] [CONVERSION] 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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[THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (“OID”). PURSUANT TO TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1), ANDREW HUGHES, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY WILL, BEGINNING TEN DAYS AFTER THE ISSUANCE DATE OF THIS NOTE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE HOLDER UPON REQUEST THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1)(i). ANDREW HUGHES MAY BE REACHED AT TELEPHONE NUMBER (925) 400 - 4366.]

 

The Company acknowledges and agrees that a 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, if required under the terms of such arrangement, such 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 appropriate 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 subject to registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, 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 (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) thereunder.

 

(c) Certificates evidencing the Underlying Shares shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) hereof): (i) while a registration statement (including the Registration Statement) covering the resale of such security is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) if such Underlying Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants) 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 or (iii) 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 or the Purchaser promptly if required by the Transfer Agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder, or if requested by a Purchaser (if any of the foregoing conditions are satisfied), respectively. If all or any portion of a Note is converted or Warrant is exercised at a time when there is an effective registration statement to cover the resale of the Underlying Shares, or if such 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 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants) as to such Underlying Shares and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions 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 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) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent of a certificate representing Underlying Shares, as applicable, issued with a restrictive legend (such date, the “Legend Removal Date”), deliver or cause to be delivered to such 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 Depository Trust Company System as directed by such 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 Underlying Shares, as applicable, issued with a restrictive legend.

  

(d) Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, agrees with the Company that such Purchaser will sell any Securities pursuant to either the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption therefrom, and that if Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, they will be sold in compliance with the plan of distribution set forth therein, and acknowledges that the removal of the restrictive legend from certificates representing Securities as set forth in this Section 4.1 is predicated upon the Company’s reliance upon this understanding.

 

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4.2 Acknowledgment of Dilution. The Company acknowledges that the issuance of the Securities may result in dilution of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, which dilution may be substantial under certain market conditions. The Company further acknowledges that its obligations under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, its obligation to issue the Underlying Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents, are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any right of set off, counterclaim, delay or reduction, regardless of the effect of any such dilution or any claim the Company may have against any Purchaser and regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership of the other stockholders of the Company.

 

4.3 Furnishing of Information; Public Information.

 

(a) Until the earliest of the time that (i) no Purchaser owns Securities or (ii) the Warrants have expired, the Company covenants to maintain the registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and 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 even if the Company is not then subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

  

4.4 Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer to sell 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.

 

4.5 Conversion and Exercise Procedures. Each of the form of Notice of Exercise included in the Warrants and the form of Notice of Conversion included in the Notes set forth the totality of the procedures required of the Purchasers in order to exercise the Warrants or convert the Notes. Without limiting the preceding sentences, no ink-original Notice of Exercise or Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise or Notice of Conversion form be required in order to exercise the Warrants or convert the Notes. No additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of the Purchasers to exercise their Warrants or convert their Notes. The Company shall honor exercises of the Warrants and conversions of the Notes and shall deliver Underlying Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Transaction Documents.

 

4.6 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company shall (a) by the Disclosure Time, issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) 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 issuance of such press release, the Company represents to the Purchasers that it shall have publicly disclosed all material, non-public information delivered to any of the Purchasers 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 issuance of such press release, 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 Purchasers or any of their Affiliates on the other hand, shall terminate. The Company and each Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing any other press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor any Purchaser shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of any Purchaser, or without the prior consent of each Purchaser, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Purchaser, or include the name of any Purchaser in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (a) as required by federal securities law in connection with (i) any registration statement contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) the filing of final Transaction Documents with the Commission and (b) to the extent such disclosure is required by law or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide the Purchasers with prior notice of such disclosure permitted under this clause (b).

 

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

 

4.8 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 4.6, the Company covenants and agrees that neither it, nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide any Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that constitutes, or the Company reasonably believes constitutes, material non-public information, unless prior thereto such 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 each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. To the extent that the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, director, agents, employees or Affiliates delivers any material, non-public information to a Purchaser without such Purchaser’s consent, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that such 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. The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.

 

4.9 Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder for general corporate purposes.

 

4.10 Indemnification of Purchasers. Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Company will indemnify and hold each Purchaser and its directors, officers, shareholders, members, managers, 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 such 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, managers, 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, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation that any such Purchaser Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to (a) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents or (b) any action instituted against the Purchaser Parties in any capacity, or any of them or their respective Affiliates, by any stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of such Purchaser Party, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (unless such action is solely based upon a material breach of such Purchaser Party’s representations, warranties or covenants under the Transaction Documents or any agreements or understandings such Purchaser Party may have with any such stockholder or any violations by such Purchaser Party of state or federal securities laws or any conduct by such Purchaser Party which is finally judicially determined to constitute fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct). 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 (but will not be required to) to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser Party.

 

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After the Company notifies the Purchaser Party that the Company wishes to assume the defense of a claim, action, suit or proceeding, the Company will not be liable for any further legal or other expenses incurred by the Purchaser Party in connection with the defense against the claim, action, suit or proceeding except that if, in the opinion of counsel to the Purchaser Party, it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the Company and such Purchaser Party. In such event, the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one separate counsel for all such Purchaser Party promptly as such fees and expenses are incurred. 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 (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Company in writing or (ii) the Company has failed after a reasonable period of time (in all cases at least a minimum of 10 days from the date that the Company is notified in writing by the Purchaser Party of such action) to assume such defense and to employ counsel. The Company will not be liable to any Purchaser Party under this Agreement (y) for any settlement by a Purchaser Party effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (z) 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. Each Purchaser Party, as a condition to receiving indemnification as provided in Section 4.10, will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the Company in the defense of any action or claim as to which indemnification is sought. The indemnification required by this Section 4.10 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, subject to reimbursement by the applicable Purchaser Party if a final judicial judgment is made (that can no longer be appealed whatsoever) that such Purchaser Party was not entitled to an indemnity under this Section 4.10. 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.

 

4.11 Reservation and Listing of Securities.

 

(a) The Company shall maintain a reserve of the Required Minimum from its duly authorized shares of Common Stock for issuance pursuant to the Transaction Documents in such amount as may then be required to fulfill its obligations in full under the Transaction Documents.

 

(b) 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.

 

The Company shall, if applicable: (i) in the time and manner required by the Principal Trading Market, prepare and file with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering a number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to the Required Minimum on the date of such application; (ii) take all steps necessary to cause such shares of Common Stock to be approved for listing or quotation on such Trading Market as soon as possible thereafter; (iii) provide to the Purchasers evidence of such listing or quotation; and (iv) maintain the listing or quotation of such Common Stock on any date at least equal to the Required Minimum on such date on such Trading Market or another Trading Market. The Company agrees to maintain the eligibility of the Common Stock for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation, including, without limitation, by timely payment of fees to the Depository Trust Company or such other established clearing corporation in connection with such electronic transfer.

 

4.12 Subsequent Equity Sales.

 

(a) From the date hereof until such time as no Purchaser holds any of the Notes, the Company shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (or a combination of units thereof) involving a Variable Rate Transaction. “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company (i) issues or sells any debt or equity securities that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive, additional shares of Common Stock either (A) at a conversion price, exercise price or exchange rate or other price that is based upon, and/or varies with, the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity securities or

 

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(B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock or (ii) enters into, or effects a transaction under, any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit (other than pursuant to the Equity Line, subject to the restrictions set forth in clause (e) below), pursuant to which the Company may issue securities at a price that would be determined on a future date following the applicable closing for such transaction or agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restriction shall not prohibit the Company from entering into or effecting transactions or agreements pursuant to which the Company may issue its securities for which the price is determined at the time of the applicable closing for such transaction or agreement, including, but not limited to, a private investment in public equity (PIPE) transaction. Any Purchaser shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.

 

(b) From the date hereof until such time as no Purchaser holds any of the Notes, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall, directly or indirectly, effect or enter into (or publicly announce or recommend to its shareholders the approval or adoption thereof by such shareholders) any agreement, plan, arrangement or transaction structured in accordance with, based upon, or related or pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) or Section 3(a)(l0) of the Securities Act, without the prior written consent of the holder (which consent may be withheld, delayed or conditioned in the sole discretion of such holder).

 

(c) Unless Shareholder Approval has been obtained and deemed effective, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall make any issuance whatsoever of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents which would cause any adjustment of the Conversion Price to the extent the holders of Notes would not be permitted, pursuant to Section 4(d) of the Notes to convert their respective outstanding Notes and exercise their respective Warrants in full, ignoring for such purposes the other conversion or exercise limitations therein. Any Purchaser shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.12 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance, except that no Variable Rate Transaction shall be an Exempt Issuance unless otherwise expressly stated herein.

 

(e) For a period of five (5) Trading Days after the Company receives a Notice of Conversion, the Company shall not effect a sale of its Common Stock pursuant to the Equity Line without the prior written consent of the holder.

 

4.13 Equal Treatment of Purchasers. No consideration (including any modification of any Transaction Document) shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the parties to such Transaction Documents. Further, the Company shall not make any payment of principal or interest on the Notes in amounts which are disproportionate to the respective principal amounts outstanding on the Notes at any applicable time. For clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Purchaser by the Company and negotiated separately by each Purchaser and is intended for the Company to treat the Purchasers as a class and shall not in any way be construed as the Purchasers acting in concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of Securities or otherwise.

 

4.14 Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, 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 or similar transactions, 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 4.6. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, 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 4.6,

 

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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 pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.6, (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 4.6 and (iii) 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 as described in Section 4.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Purchaser’s assets, the covenant 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.

 

4.15 Selling Restrictions. Each Purchaser covenants and agrees that from the date hereof until such time as such Purchaser no longer holds any of the Notes or Warrants, neither the Purchaser nor any of its Affiliates acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with such Purchaser shall, directly or indirectly, (i) engage in or effect any Short Sales of Common Stock or (ii) execute any stock pledge, forward sales contract, option, put, call, swap or similar hedging arrangement (including on a total return basis), which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock.

 

4.16 Form D; Blue Sky Filings. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of any Purchaser. The Company shall take such 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 Purchasers at each 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 any Purchaser.

 

4.17 Capital Changes. Until the one (1) year anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company shall not undertake a reverse or forward stock split or reclassification of the Common Stock without the prior written consent of Purchasers except as may be required to meet any exchange requirement for continued listing.

 

4.18 Compliance with Rules of Trading Market.

(a) Exchange Cap. Subject to Section 4.18(b) and the applicable rules of the Trading Market, the Company shall not issue any Underlying Shares to the Purchasers if, to the extent that after giving effect thereto, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that would be issued pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby would exceed 32,117,892 (such number of shares equal to 19.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date of this Agreement), which number of shares shall be reduced, on a share-for-share basis, by the number of shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any transaction or series of transactions that may be aggregated with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under applicable rules of the Trading Market (such maximum number of shares, the “Exchange Cap” and such limitation on the Company’s issuance of shares to the Purchasers, the “Exchange Cap Limitation”).

 

(b) Shareholder Approval. In the event the Company is prohibited from issuing any shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4.18(a) (an “Exchange Cap Share Failure”), then the Company shall, at the first regularly scheduled annual meeting of its stockholders (for which no definitive proxy statement has been filed as of such Exchange Cap Share Failure) following the date of occurrence of such Exchange Cap Share Failure, but in no event later than one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days thereafter, seek the Shareholder Approval; provided that, if the next regularly scheduled annual meeting is not within one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days from such Exchange Cap Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders as needed to seek the Shareholder Approval.

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In connection with such meeting and any subsequent stockholder meetings, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement in compliance with applicable SEC rules and regulations and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit the approval of its stockholders of the Shareholder Approval and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. If, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable, the Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the first stockholder meeting, the Company shall cause an additional stockholder meeting to be held semi-annually thereafter to seek Shareholder Approval until the earlier of (i) the date such Shareholder Approval is obtained and (ii) the date on which none of the Notes and the Warrants are outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company is required to and fails to obtain Shareholder Approval, the Exchange Cap shall be applicable for all purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby at all times during the term of this Agreement.

(c) General. The Company shall not issue any Underlying Shares pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby if such issuance would reasonably be expected to result in (A) violation of the Securities Act or (B) breach of the rules of the Trading Market. The provisions of this Section 4.18 shall be implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 4.18 only if necessary to ensure compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules of the Trading Market. The limitations contained in this Section 4.18 may not be waived by the Company or any Purchaser. 

 

ARTICLE V.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by any Purchaser, as to such Purchaser’s obligations hereunder only and without any effect whatsoever on the obligations between the Company and the other Purchasers, by written notice to the other parties, if the First Closing has not been consummated on or before the fifth (5th) Trading Day following the date hereof, providedhowever, that no such termination will affect the right of any party to sue for any breach by any other party (or parties).

 

5.2 Fees and Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Purchaser for all costs and expenses incurred by it or its affiliates in connection with the structuring, documentation, negotiation and closing of the transactions contemplated herein (including $50,000 previously paid to the Purchasers as an initial deposit). The Company shall deliver to each Purchaser, prior to each Closing, a completed and executed copy of the Closing Statement, attached hereto as Annex A. Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all (i) Transfer Agent fees (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company and any conversion or exercise notice delivered by a Purchaser), stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities to the Purchasers, and (ii) all fees, disbursements, and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, including, without limitation, the Company’s legal and accounting fees and disbursements, the costs incident to the preparation, printing and distribution of any registration statement and filing fees.

 

5.3 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.

 

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

 

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5.5 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 Purchaser/Purchasers which purchased at least 50.1% in interest of the Notes based on the initial Subscription Amounts (including the Secord Closing) hereunder (the “Required Holders”) or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought, provided that if any amendment or modification treats a Purchaser (or group of Purchasers) in a manner that is different than other Purchasers, the consent of such disproportionately impacted Purchaser (or group of Purchasers) shall also be required. 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 proposed amendment or waiver that disproportionately, materially and adversely affects the rights and obligations of any Purchaser relative to the comparable rights and obligations of the other Purchasers shall require the prior written consent of such adversely affected Purchaser. Any amendment effected in accordance with this Section 5.5 shall be binding upon each Purchaser and holder of Securities and the Company.

 

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

 

5.7 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 each Purchaser (other than by merger). Any Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities, 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 “Purchasers.”

 

5.8 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. The Placement Agent shall be the third-party beneficiary of the representations and warranties of the Company in Section 3.1 and the representations and warranties of the Purchasers in Section 3.2. 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, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.10 and this Section 5.8.

  

5.9 Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan. 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 under Section 4.10, 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.

 

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5.10 Survival. Each Purchaser shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.

 

5.11 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

5.12 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.

 

5.13 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 any 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 such 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; providedhowever, that, in the case of a rescission of a conversion of a Note or exercise of a Warrant, the applicable 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 such Purchaser of the aggregate exercise price paid to the Company for such shares and the restoration of such Purchaser’s right to acquire such shares pursuant to such Purchaser’s Warrant (including, issuance of a replacement warrant certificate evidencing such restored right).

 

5.14 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.

 

5.15 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers 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.

 

5.16 Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a 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.

 

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5.17 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 any 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 any Purchaser with respect to indebtedness evidenced by the Transaction Documents, such excess shall be applied by such 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 such Purchaser’s election.

 

5.18 Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance or non-performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. For reasons of administrative convenience only, each Purchaser has chosen to communicate with the Company through Morrison & Foerster LLP. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any of the Purchasers. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company and a Purchaser, solely, and not between the Company and the Purchasers collectively and not between and among the Purchasers.

 

5.19 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.

 

5.20 Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

 

5.21 Electronic SignaturesEach party agrees that the electronic signatures, whether digital or encrypted, of the parties included in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document are intended to authenticate this writing and to have the same force and effect as manual signatures. Electronic signature means any electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed and adopted by a party with the intent to sign such record, including facsimile or email electronic signatures. The Purchaser expressly agrees that this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents are “transferable records” as defined in applicable Regulations relating to electronic transaction and that it may be created, authenticated, stored, transmitted and transferred in a manner consistent with and permitted by such applicable Regulations.

 

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5.22 Set-Off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable regulations and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Purchaser is hereby authorized by the Company at any time or from time to time, without notice or demand to the Company or to any other Person, any such notice or demand being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, including indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other indebtedness or other amounts at any time held or owing by the Company or any Subsidiary to or for the credit or the account of the Company or any of its Affiliates against and on account of any amounts due by the Company or any of its Affiliates to such Purchaser under any Transaction Documents (including from the purchase price to be disbursed hereunder), irrespective of whether or not (a) such Purchaser shall have made any demand hereunder or (b) the principal of or the interest on the Notes or any other Obligation shall have become due and payable and although such obligations and liabilities, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured. If, as a result of such set off, appropriate or application, such Purchaser receives more than it is owed under any Transaction Document, it shall hold such amounts in trust for the other Purchaser Parties and transfer such amounts to the other Purchaser Parties ratably according to the amounts they are owed on the date of receipt.

 

5.23 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)

 

 


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.

 

AEYE, INC    
       
By:      
Name:       
Title:      
       
 

 

Address for Notice:

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

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

 

 

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[PURCHASER SIGNATURE PAGES TO 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: _______________________________________________________________________

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser: ________________________________________________

 

Name of Authorized Signatory: ______________________________________________________________

 

Title of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________________________

 

Email Address of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________________

  

Address for Notice to Purchaser:

 

Address for Delivery of Securities to Purchaser (if not same as address for notice):

 

Subscription Amount: __________

 

Principal Amount (1.05 x Subscription Amount): _____________________

 

EIN Number: _______________

 

 

   

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

First Closing

 

 

 

Name of Purchaser   Subscription Amount     Principal Amount of Notes     Number of Warrants  
3i, LP   $ 10,000,000     $ 10,500,000       1,750,000  
                         
                         
Total:   $ 10,000,000     $ 10,500,000       1,750,000  

 

Second Closing

 

Name of Purchaser   Subscription Amount     Principal Amount of Notes     Number of Warrants  
3i, LP   $ 10,000,000     $ 10,500,000       1,750,000  
                         
                         
Total:   $ 10,000,000     $ 10,500,000       1,750,000  

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Note

[***]

 

 

   

 

 

Exhibit B

 

FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

[***]

 

 

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF WARRANT

[***]

 

 

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF LEGAL OPINION

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Exhibit E

 

FORM OF TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS

[***]

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September 15, 2022 between AEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the several purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser, a “Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

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

 

The Company and each 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 7(c).

 

Effectiveness Date” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 95th calendar day following the date hereof and with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 2(c) or Section 3(c), the 65th calendar day following the date on which an additional Registration Statement is required to be filed hereunder; providedhowever, that in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that one or more of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth (5th) Trading Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates set forth or otherwise required above, provided, further, if such Effectiveness Date falls on a day that is not a Trading Day, then the Effectiveness Date shall be the next succeeding Trading Day.

 

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, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 60th calendar day following the date hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 2(c) or Section 3(c), the 55th calendar day following the 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.

 

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 the shares of Common Stock then issued and issuable upon conversion in full of the Notes (assuming on such date the Notes are converted in full without regard to any conversion limitations therein), (b) all shares of Common Stock issued and issuable as interest or principal on the Notes assuming all permissible interest and principal payments are made in shares of Common Stock and the Notes are held until maturity, (c) all Warrant Shares then issued and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (assuming on such date the Warrants are exercised in full without regard to any exercise limitations therein) (d) any additional shares of Common Stock issued and issuable in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the Notes or the Warrants (in each case, without giving effect to any limitations on conversion set forth in the Notes or limitations on exercise set forth in the Warrants) and (e) 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 (a) 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, (b) such Registrable Securities have been previously sold in accordance with Rule 144, or (c) such securities become eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without current public information pursuant to Rule 144 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).

 

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.

 

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.

 

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(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-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith (including Form S-1), subject to the provisions of Section 2(d)) and shall contain (unless otherwise directed by the Holders of at least 85% of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities (for purposes of clarification, this includes any Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of any Securities)) substantially the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex Aprovidedhowever, 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 commercially reasonable 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, but in any event no later than the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use commercially reasonable 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, 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. (New York City time) on a Trading Day. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via facsimile or by e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same 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. (New York City time) on the Trading Day after the effective date of such Registration Statement, file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule 424.

(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 commercially reasonable 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 for resale by the Commission, on Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering, subject to the provisions of Section 2(c); with respect to filing on Form S-3 or other appropriate form, and subject to the provisions of Section 2(d) with respect to the payment of liquidated damages; providedhowever, that prior to filing such amendment, the Company shall be obligated to use commercially reasonable 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 commercially reasonable 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;

 

(ii) Second, the Company shall reduce Registrable Securities represented by Warrant Shares (applied, in the case that some Warrant Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Warrant Shares held by such Holders); and

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(iii) Third, the Company shall reduce Registrable Securities represented by Conversion Shares (applied, in the case that some Conversion Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Conversion Shares held by such Holders).

 

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 commercially reasonable 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-3 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.

 

(d) (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) prior to the effective date of a Registration Statement, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of such Registration Statement within fifteen (15) calendar days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for such Registration Statement to be declared effective, (iv) despite the Company’s commercially reasonable effort, a Registration Statement registering for resale all of the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the Commission by the Effectiveness Date of the Initial Registration Statement, or (v) despite the Company’s commercially reasonable effort, 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 twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days or more than an aggregate of sixty (60) Trading Days (which need not be consecutive calendar days) during any 365-day period (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event”, and for purposes of clauses (i), 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 which such fifteen (15) calendar day period is exceeded, and for purpose of clause (v) the date on which such twenty (20) or sixty (60) Trading 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 each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to the product of 0.5% multiplied by the aggregate Subscription Amount paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. 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) If Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the Commission.

 

(f) 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 three (3) 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 50.1% or more of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities (for purposes of clarification, this includes any Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of any Securities) shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than two (2) 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 third (3rd) 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 practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably practicable 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 then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than the number of such Registrable Securities.

 

(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vii) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably practicable (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,

 

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(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, (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending or contemplation of an acquisition, merger, tender offer, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Company determines in good faith that (A) the Company’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in such Registration Statement or other registration statement or (B) such transaction renders the Company unable to comply with Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it impractical or inadvisable to cause any Registration Statement (or such filings) to be used by Holders or to promptly amend or supplement any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement on a post effective basis, as applicable, or (vii) 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 ((vi) and (vii), collectively, “Allowable Grace Period”); providedhowever, that 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 commercially reasonable 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.

 

(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, use commercially reasonable 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.

 

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(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 practicable under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders 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 (vii) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use commercially reasonable 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), including the Allowable Grace Period, 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 twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days or more than an aggregate of 60 Trading Days in any 365-day period (which need not be consecutive Trading Days).

 

(k) Otherwise use commercially reasonable 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 shall, as applicable, use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain eligibility for use of Form S-3 (or any successor form thereto) for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities.

 

(m) 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 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 and the documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for selling Holders in an amount not to exceed $20,000, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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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.

 

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, managers, partners, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors 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, managers, stockholders, 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)-(vii), 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 7(c). 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 7(f).

 

(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

 

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(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.

 

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 after having received prompt notification from the 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.

 

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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.

 

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. Reports Under the Exchange Act.

 

With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144, the Company agrees to:

(a) use its commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

(b) use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit any of the Company’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144;

(c) furnish to each Holder so long as such Holder owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting, submission and posting requirements of Rule 144 and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the Commission if such reports are not publicly available via EDGAR, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit such Holder to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration; and

 

(d) take such additional action as is reasonably requested by the Holders to enable the Holders to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, including, without limitation, delivering all such legal opinions, consents, certificates, resolutions and instructions to the Company’s Transfer Agent as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Holders and otherwise fully cooperate with the Holders and the Holders’ brokers to effect such sale of securities pursuant to Rule 144.

 

7. 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.

 

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(b) No Piggyback on Registrations; Prohibition on Filing Other Registration Statements. Without the prior written consent of the Holders of 50.1% or more of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities (for purposes of clarification, this includes any Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of any Securities), 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. The Company shall not file any other registration statements until all Registrable Securities are registered pursuant to a Registration Statement that is declared effective by the Commission, provided that this Section 7(b) shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to registration statements filed prior to the date of this Agreement so long as no new securities are registered on any such existing registration statements.

 

(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 (vii), 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 commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as reasonably 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 3(d).

 

(d) 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 (for purposes of clarification, this includes any Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of any Securities), 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; providedhowever, 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 7(d). 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.

 

(e) 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.

 

(f) 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 5.7 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

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(g) 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 4.13 to the Purchase Agreement, 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.

 

(h) 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 facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

(i) 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.

 

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

 

k) 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.

 

(l) 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.

 

(m) Independent Nature of Holders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Holders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or transactions. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The use of a single agreement with respect to the obligations of the Company contained was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of any Holder, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Holder. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement is between the Company and a Holder, solely, and not between the Company and the Holders collectively and not between and among Holders.

 

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

 

(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.

 

AEYE, INC.  
     
BY:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 

Name of Holder: __________________________

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder: __________________________

 

Name of Authorized Signatory: _________________________

 

Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]

 

 

 

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Annex A

 

Plan of Distribution

 

Each selling stockholder (the “Selling Stockholders”) of the securities of AEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their Company securities covered hereby on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which such 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;

  

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

  

  a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

  any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (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.

 

The Selling Stockholders 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. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).

 

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 Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. The Selling Stockholders have advised us that there is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale securities by the Selling Stockholders.

 

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We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earliest of (i) one (1) year from the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, (ii) the date on which the securities may be resold by the Selling Stockholders 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 (iii) the date on which 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 Stockholders 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 securities of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders 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

 

AEye, Inc.

 

Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire

 

The undersigned beneficial owner of shares of common stock (the “Registrable Securities”) of AEye, INC. (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:

 

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:  

Fax:  

 

 

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Contact Person:  

 

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:
     
     
     

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.

 

 

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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 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:

 

Andrew Hughes

Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Email: ahughes@aeye.ai

 

  

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