BNAI 8-K
Brand Engagement Network Inc. (BNAI)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| The Stock Market LLC | ||||
| The 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).
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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Additionally, on June 3, 2026, Brand Engagement Network, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with Ben Capital Fund I, LLC and Joseph Bevash for a private placement of an aggregate 56,150 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $17.82 per share (the “Purchase Price”), for total gross proceeds of $1,000,593 (the “Proceeds”). The Purchase Price represents 120% of the closing price of the Company’s common stock on May 29, 2026. The SPA includes 100% warrant coverage.
The investment will be funded in five monthly installments of $150,044.40, with the initial tranche paid on June 4, 2026 and a final payment of $250,371.00 to be paid on November 1, 2026 closed on April 21, 2026 and the remaining $750,460 expected to close before May 29, 2026. The Proceeds will be used to exercise the warrant to purchase an aggregate 243,309 shares of common stock of Hightide Energy, Inc. d/b/a Accelevate Solutions as each tranche is received by the Company.
The foregoing description of the letter agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Securities Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
The Securities Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties, post-closing covenants, and indemnification provisions in favor of the Company. The securities were offered and sold pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
On June 5, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the transaction described in Item 8.01 above, simultaneously with the filing of this Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. The information in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 is furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 10.1 | Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 3, 2026, by and between Brand Engagement Network, Inc., BEN Capital Fund I, LLC and Joseph Bevash | |
| 99.1 | Press Release of Brand Engagement Network, Inc., dated June 05, 2026 (furnished herewith). | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Date Filed (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| Brand Engagement Network Inc. | ||
| Dated: June 5, 2026 | By: | /s/ Tyler Luck |
| Name: | Tyler Luck | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Exhibit 10.1
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 3, 2026 between Brand Engagement Network Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) on the one hand, and BEN Capital Fund I, LLC and Joseph Bevash, an individual, (collectively, including successors and assigns, the “Purchaser”) on the other hand, as identified on the signature page hereto.
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company desires to issue and sell to Purchaser and Purchaser 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 Purchaser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:
“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.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York are generally open for use by customers on such day.
“Closing” means, initially, the closing of the purchase and sale of the Initial Shares pursuant to Section 2.1. Thereafter, “Closing” shall mean the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares in consideration of a Required Funding.
“Closing Date” means, initially, the Trading Day on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto in connection with the initial Closing (which shall take place on June 3, 2026) and such Closing, the “Initial Closing”), and to the extent applicable, all conditions precedent to (i) the Purchaser’s obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Shares, in each case, have been satisfied or waived, but in no event later than the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date hereof. Thereafter, “Closing Date” shall mean the Trading Day on which the Shares are issued to the Purchasers.
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“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Company Counsel” means The Law Offices of James D. Henderson, Jr., located at 2530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 210, Santa Monica, CA 90403.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Event of Default” means any of the following events: (i) the delisting of the Company’s Common Stock on a Trading Market for a period of thirty consecutive trading days or more; (ii) The failure by the Company to timely comply with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to its Annual Report on Form 10-K or its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including applicable extension periods and an additional grace period of ten calendar days (this clause (ii) a “Reporting Default”); (iii) The failure for any reason by the Company to issue Securities to a Purchaser within the required time periods; (iv) the Company files for bankruptcy under Title 11 of the United States Code or receivership or any final order is filed against the Company for more than $500,000 and remains unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of twenty calendar days; and (v) any cessation of operations by the Company.
“GAAP” means generally accepting accounting principles in the U.S.
“Funding Condition Certification” means a certification of the Company signed by the members of Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors that the Company continues to evaluate mergers, acquisitions and strategic transactions in good faith.
“Liens” 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).
“Per Share Purchase Price” equals $17.82, 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.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
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“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.
“Purchaser” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.
“Registration Statement” means any Registration Statement under which the Shares are registered.
“Representation Letter” means that certain letter attached as Exhibit B hereto.
“Risk Factor Annex” means that certain Annex I attached hereto.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 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.
“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(g).
“Securities” means the Shares, the Common Warrants, and the Warrant Shares.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.
“Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock).
“Subscription Amount” means, as Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Shares purchased hereunder as specified below Purchaser’s name on the signature pages 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 in the SEC Reports, and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
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“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the form of warrant governing the Common Warrants, the Warrant Exercise Agreement, 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 Company, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
PURCHASE AND SALE
1.2 Closing. On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto, the Company agrees to sell and the Purchaser agrees to purchase an aggregate of [enter]Shares at a price per share of $17.82 based on the average Closing Price on May 29, 2026 of the Company’s common stock. Purchaser’s Subscription Amount as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto shall be made available for settlement with the Company or its designee in accordance with Section 2.2 below. The Company shall deliver to Purchaser its respective Shares, subject to any Escrow Legends, as applicable, as determined pursuant to Section 2.2, and the Company and Purchaser shall deliver the other items set forth in Section 2.2 deliverable at each Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.3 and 2.4, each Closing shall take place remotely by electronic transmission of the Closing documentation. Settlement of the Shares shall occur on each Closing Date, on which the Company shall issue the Shares registered in Purchaser’s name and addresses and released by the Transfer Agent directly to the account identified by Purchaser, subject to any Escrow Legends, as applicable; upon receipt of such Shares, Purchaser will promptly make payment therefor by wire transfer to the Company.
1.3 Escrow; Required Funding.
(a) On the Closing Date, in accordance with the breakout on Schedule 1, Purchaser will pay an aggregate of $1,000,594.00 to the Company (the “Initial Payment”) and the Company shall issue directly to the Purchaser 56,150 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Shares”).
1.4 Deliveries.
(a) On or prior to the 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) the Company’s wire instructions, and
(iii) subject to Section 2.1 and 2.2, an irrevocable letter of instruction to the Company’s Transfer Agent, instructing the Transfer Agent to deliver in book-entry form the Initial Shares registered in the name of the Purchaser;
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(b) On or prior to the Closing Date, Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:
(i) this Agreement duly executed by Purchaser (for the Initial Closing only);
(ii) Purchaser’s cash payment for the Securities to be purchased by it on the Closing Date;
(iii) if an entity, duly executed copies of Purchaser’s governing documents (for the Initial Closing only); and
(iv) if an entity, duly executed copies of the Representation Letter from each member, stockholder or other equity owner of such Purchaser.
1.5 Closing Conditions.
(a) The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:
(i) the accuracy in all material respects on the applicable Closing Date (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) of the representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained herein (unless such representation or warranty is as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of such date);
(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of Purchaser required to be performed at or prior to the applicable Closing Date shall have been performed; and
(iii) the delivery by Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.3(b) of this Agreement.
(b) The obligations of Purchaser hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:
(i) the accuracy in all material respects on the applicable Closing Date (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) when made of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless such representation or warranty is as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of such date);
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(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the applicable Closing Date shall have been performed;
(iii) the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement; and
(iv) there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof.
ARTICLE II.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each Purchaser:
(a) Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of its 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 (if a good standing concept exists in such jurisdiction), 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 its 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 (if a good standing concept exists in such jurisdiction), except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would 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 its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”; provided, however, that changes in the trading price or trading volume of the Common Stock shall not, in and of itself, constitute a Material Adverse Effect) and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.
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(b) 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 corporate 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. 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 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.
(c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(d) Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company has filed all quarterly and annual reports required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and documents (other than exhibits to such documents) incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”). The Company has delivered to Purchaser true and complete copies of the SEC Reports, except for such exhibits and incorporated documents, and except as such Documents are available EDGAR filings on the SEC’s sec.gov website. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Reports, and none of the SEC Reports, at the time they were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the statements made in any such SEC Reports is, or has been, required to be amended or updated under applicable law (except for such statements as have been amended or updated in subsequent filings prior the date hereof). As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, during the periods involved and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). Except as set forth in the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports, the Company has no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to March 31, 2024, and (ii) obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and not required under generally accepted accounting principles to be reflected in such financial statements, which, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the financial condition or operating results of the Company. The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. For the avoidance of doubt, filing of the documents required in this Section 3.1(d) via the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”) shall satisfy all delivery requirements of this Section 3.1(d).
(e) Issuance of the Securities. The Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all liens imposed by the Company and immediately after such issuance the Purchasers shall have title to the Securities. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement and the Common Warrants.
(f) No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.
(g) SEC Reports. 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 (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.
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(h) Litigation. There is no Action or Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates is subject to or bound by any order, in either case that would prevent or otherwise materially interfere with the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to otherwise perform its obligations under this Agreement to which the Company is or will be a party.
(i) Compliance. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries: (i) is in default under or in violation of, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (other than those that have been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority) or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, other than tax payments related to payroll that are late, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) D&O Insurance. The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the subsidiaries are engaged, for directors and officers insurance coverage at least equal to the aggregate Subscription Amount. The Company does not have any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.
(k) Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls. Except as may be disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company is in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and its subsidiaries have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and its subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its subsidiaries.
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(l) No Disagreements with Accountants and Lawyers. There are no disagreements of any kind presently existing, or reasonably anticipated by the Company to arise, between the Company and the accountants and lawyers formerly or presently employed by the Company and the Company is current with respect to any fees owed to its accountants and lawyers which would affect the Company’s ability to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents.
(m) Acknowledgment Regarding Purchaser’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that such Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby. The Company further acknowledges that such Purchaser is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by such Purchaser or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to such Purchaser’s 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.
(n) Acknowledgment Regarding Purchaser’s Trading Activity. Anything in this Agreement or elsewhere herein to the contrary notwithstanding, it is understood and acknowledged by the Company that: (i) the Purchasers has not been asked by the Company to agree, nor has Purchaser agreed, to desist from purchasing or selling, (excluding long and short sales) securities of the Company, or to hold the Securities for any specified term (other than as required by applicable law), (ii) past or future open market or other transactions by any Purchaser, before or after the closing of this or future private placement transactions, may negatively impact the market price of the Company’s publicly-traded securities.
(o) 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 Company’s placement agent in connection with the placement of the Securities.
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(p) Registration Rights. The Company grants Purchaser piggy-back registration rights on its next Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the resale of the Shares subject to the approval of any underwriter or investment bank involved with such registration statement. .
2.2 Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgments of Purchaser. Purchaser hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and as of the date of the Required Funding 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. Purchaser is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by 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 Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by Purchaser, and when delivered by Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of 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) Understandings or Arrangements. Purchaser is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons (other than managers and/or members of an LLC) to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities. Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its personal and/or business.
(c) 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 any Common Warrants, it will be either: (i) an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9), (a)(12), or (a)(13) under the Securities Act or (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act.
(d) Experience of Purchaser. Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.
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(e) Access to Information. Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review the Transaction Documents (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) and has read the SEC Reports and the Risk Factor Annex and has been afforded, (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and its financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment.
(f) 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. Other than to other Persons party to this Agreement or to such Purchaser’s representatives that are bound by confidentiality obligations, 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). 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 in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.
(g) General Solicitation. Purchaser is not 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.
(h) Litigation. There is no Action or Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of such Purchaser, threatened against or affecting such Purchaser or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and neither such Purchaser nor any of its affiliates is subject to or bound by any order, in either case that would prevent or otherwise materially interfere with the ability of such Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to otherwise perform its obligations under this Agreement to which such Purchaser is or will be a party.
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(i) Finders’ Fees. There is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary that has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of such Purchaser or any of its affiliates, who is entitled to any fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(j) Sufficiency of Funds. Purchaser has sufficient capital on hand to enable such Purchaser to pay the Required Amount and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(k) Purchaser’s Investigation and Reliance. Purchaser is a sophisticated purchaser and has made its own independent investigation, review and analysis regarding the Company, which investigation, review and analysis were conducted by Purchaser together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that it has engaged for such purpose. Purchaser has been provided access to the facilities, books and records of the Company and any other information that it has requested in connection with its investigation of the Company. Purchaser is not relying on any statement, representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, made by the Company or any of its representatives or any other person, except as set forth in this Article III. Purchaser acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of its stockholders, affiliates or representatives is making, directly or indirectly, any representation or warranty with respect to any estimates, projections or forecasts involving the Company.
(l) Conduct of Company’s Business. Purchaser acknowledges that the Company intends to conduct its operations and execute its business plan as described in the Company’s SEC Reports and represents that it is not purchasing the Securities in contemplation of the Company’s entry into new lines of business or other activities not described in the Company’s SEC Reports.
(m) Going Concern; Additional Fundraising Activities. Purchaser acknowledges that the Company requires substantial additional capital in addition to the Required Amount to conduct its business and that the Company’s current liquidity position raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Purchaser further acknowledges that the Company is currently engaged in seeking additional investments from various capital sources, including under terms that may be dilutive or otherwise materially adverse to such Purchaser.
(n) Securities Not Registered. Purchaser understands that (i) the sale or resale of the Securities has not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, and the Securities may not be transferred unless (a) the Securities are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (b) such Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel (which may be counsel to the Company) that shall be in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions to the effect that the Securities to be sold or transferred may be sold or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration (c) the Securities are sold or transferred to an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or a successor rule) (“Rule 144”)) of such Purchaser who agrees to sell or otherwise transfer the Securities only in accordance with this clause (n), (d) the Securities are sold pursuant to Rule 144 or other applicable exemption, or (e) the Securities are sold pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act (or a successor rule) (“Regulation S”), and such Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company, at the cost of the Company, an opinion of counsel that shall be in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in corporate transactions, which opinion shall be accepted by the Company; (ii) any sale of such Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of said Rule and further, if said Rule is not applicable, any re-sale of such Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the Securities Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register such Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder (in each case). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained herein to the contrary, the Securities may be pledged in connection with a bona fide margin account or other lending arrangement secured by the Securities, and such pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and such Purchaser in effecting such pledge of Securities shall not be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise.
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(a) Acknowledgment of Representation. Purchaser acknowledges that James D. Henderson, Jr., is counsel to the Company and Purchaser has obtained its own legal advice or consultation with respect to the Transaction Documents.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in this Section 3.2 shall not modify, amend or affect the Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the 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 in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.
ARTICLE III.
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
3.1 Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities 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.
3.2 Reservation of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
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3.3 Listing of Common Stock. The Company hereby agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing or quotation of the Common Stock on the Trading Market on which it is currently listed, and following the Closing, the Company shall apply to list all of the Shares on such Trading Market and promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to secure the listing of all of the Shares on such Trading Market. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other Trading Market, it will then include in such application all of the Shares s, and will take such other action as is reasonably necessary to cause all of the Shares to be listed on such other Trading Market as promptly as possible.
3.4 Right to Participate. For so long as Purchaser makes the Required Funding by the Funding Deadline or the five day right to cure thereafter, and for a period of 60 days following the execution of this Agreement, such Purchaser shall have a right of first refusal to participate in any capital raising transaction of the Company on the same terms and conditions offered to the Company by third-parties for an amount of up to 50% of its pro rata amount of the proposed aggregate investment amount of such capital raising transaction. Investors shall be provided with written notice of any such capital raising transaction and shall be granted four business days to elect to exercise its rights of first refusal and fund its investment amounts (provided that in the event of a registered offering of the Company’s securities, such Purchaser shall be required to exercise its rights concurrently with the pricing of such offering).
3.5 Certain Transactions. Purchaser covenants that neither it nor any Affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any Short Sales of any of the Company’s securities for a period of one year following this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV.
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 Fees and Expenses. 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 Transfer Agent fees (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company and any exercise notice delivered by the Purchaser), stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities to the Purchaser. The Company shall pay any and all Registrations fees, including any legal and accountant fees associated with such Registrations of the Shares.
4.2 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.
4.3 Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered by email, with affirmative confirmation of receipt by Purchaser and only if such affirmative confirmation is given, (iii) one business day after being sent, if sent by reputable, internationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) business days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, prepaid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
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4.4 Modifications and Amendments. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written agreement executed by the Company and the Purchasers holding a majority of the Securities issued hereunder.
4.5 Waivers and Consents. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by a written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.
4.6 Headings and Captions. The headings captions of the various sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.
4.7 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. None of the Company nor the Purchasers may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company or the Purchasers, as applicable.
4.8 Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan 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 Action or 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 nationally recognized 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.
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4.9 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.
4.10 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by e-mail delivery (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method, such signature shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
4.11 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.
4.12 Acknowledgment of Dilution of Voting Power. The Company acknowledges that the issuance of the Securities will result in dilution of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, which dilution will be substantial.
4.13 Publicity. The Company and Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing any other press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor Purchaser shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of Purchaser or without the prior consent of 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.
4.14 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.
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4.15 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any Action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
4.16 Event of Default. Should an Event of Default occur, Purchaser shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder to make the Required Funding. In the event of a Reporting Default, for each day such Reporting Default goes uncured, an additional day shall be added to the applicable Funding Deadline for a Required Funding.
4.17 Blue Sky Filings. 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 Purchaser 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.
4.18 Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or 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.
4.19 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.
4.20 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.
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4.21 Indemnification.
(a) Company agrees to indemnify and hold Subscriber, and each person, if any, who controls Subscriber within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of Subscriber within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and each broker, placement agent or sales agent to or through which Subscriber effects or executes the resale of any Shares or Warrant Shares (collectively, the “Subscriber Indemnified Parties”), harmless against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including any reasonable out-of-pocket legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (collectively, “Losses”) incurred by Subscriber Indemnified Parties directly that are caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement which covers the Shares ]\ (including, in each case, the prospectus contained therein) or any amendment thereof (including the prospectus contained therein) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading, except to the extent insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company by a Subscriber expressly for use therein. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company’s indemnification obligations shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
(b) Subscriber agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, and the officers, employees, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents of the Company, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act (collectively, the “Company Indemnified Parties”), harmless against any and all Losses incurred by Company Indemnified Parties directly that are caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement which covers the Shares (including, in each case, the prospectus contained therein) or any amendment thereof (including the prospectus contained therein) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading, to the extent insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company by each Subscriber expressly for use therein. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Subscriber’s indemnification obligations shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of each Subscriber (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
4.22 Restrictive Legends. Any certificates representing the Shares shall have endorsed thereon legends substantially as follows:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL (IF THE COMPANY SO REQUEST), IS AVAILABLE.
4.23 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)
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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.
| Brand Engagement Network Inc. | Address for Notice: | ||
| By: | Brand Engagement Network Inc. | ||
| Name: | Tyler Luck | 300 Delaware Ave. Suite 210 | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | Wilmington, DE 19801 | |
| E-Mail: [email protected] | |||
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]
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SCHEDULE 1
Pursuant to Section 1.3(a), above, payments are to be made by Purchaser according to the following schedule:
| a. | $150,044.40 to acquire 8,420 shares on or before June 2, 2026; | |
| b. | $150,044.40 to acquire 8,420 shares on or before July 1, 2026; | |
| c. | $150,044.40 to acquire 8,420 shares on or before August 3, 2026; | |
| c. | $150,044.40 to acquire 8,420 shares on or before September 1, 2026; | |
| d. | $150,044.40 to acquire 8,420 shares on or before October 1, 2026; and | |
| e. | $250,371.00 to acquire 14,050 shares on or before November 1, 2026. |
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ANNEX I
Risks Related to this Offering
We may issue additional equity or convertible debt securities in the future, which may result in additional dilution to investors.
To raise additional capital in the future, we believe that we may offer and issue additional shares of our Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Common Stock in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Common Stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering. We also have a significant number of stock options and warrants outstanding. To the extent that outstanding stock options or warrants have been or may be exercised or other shares issued, you may experience additional dilution.
Further, as we grow our business, we may seek to rely more heavily on capital raising transactions to fund our operations, raise capital to retire any debt we may hereafter incur, for other corporate purposes, or due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans.
There is no public market for the Warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock being offered in this offering.
There is no established public trading market for the Warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including The Nasdaq Capital Market. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Warrants will be limited.
We have broad discretion in the use of our available cash and other sources of funding, including the net proceeds from this offering.
Our management has broad discretion in the use of our available cash and other sources of funding, including the net proceeds we receive in this offering. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause the price of our Common Stock to decline and. Pending use in our operations, we may invest our available cash, including the net proceeds we receive in this offering, in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.
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The Warrants purchased in this offering do not entitle the holder to any rights as common stockholders until the holder exercises the warrant for shares of our Common Stock, except as set forth in the Warrants.
Until you acquire shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of your Warrants purchased in this offering, such Warrants will not provide you any rights as a common stockholder, except as set forth therein. Upon exercise of your Warrants purchased in this offering, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs on or after the exercise date.
Our stock price is volatile, and your investment may suffer a decline in value.
As a result of fluctuations in the price of our Common Stock, you may be unable to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for them. The market price of our Common Stock is likely to continue to be volatile and subject to significant price and volume fluctuations in response to market, industry and other factors. The market price of our Common Stock may also be dependent upon the valuations and recommendations of the analysts who cover our business. If the results of our business do not meet these analysts’ forecasts, the expectations of investors or the financial guidance we provide to investors in any period, the market price of our Common Stock could decline.
In addition, the stock markets in general, and the markets for technology stocks in particular, have experienced significant volatility that has often been unrelated to the financial condition or results of operations of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock and, consequently, adversely affect the price at which you could sell the shares of Common Stock that you purchase in this offering. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market or significant price declines, securities class-action litigation has often been instituted against companies. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Future sales of our Common Stock in the public market or other financings could cause our stock price to fall, and a substantial number of shares of Common Stock may be sold in the market following this offering, which may depress the market price for our Common Stock.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market, the perception that these sales might occur, or other financings could depress the market price of our Common Stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. In addition, shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options, as well as shares reserved for future issuance under our incentive stock plan, will be eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by applicable vesting requirements, if any, and, in some cases, subject to compliance with the requirements of Rule 144. As a result, these shares will be eligible to be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to restrictions under the securities laws.
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Because we do not currently intend to declare cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock in the foreseeable future, stockholders must rely on appreciation of the value of our Common Stock for any return on their investment.
We do not currently anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of any existing or future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, we expect that only appreciation of the price of our Common Stock, if any, will provide a return to existing stockholders for the foreseeable future.
Resales of our Common Stock in the public market during this offering by our stockholders may cause the market price of our Common Stock to fall.
We may issue Common Stock from time to time. This issuance from time to time of these new shares of our Common Stock, or our ability to issue these shares of Common Stock in this offering, could result in resales of our Common Stock by our current stockholders concerned about the potential dilution of their holdings. In turn, these resales could have the effect of depressing the market price for our Common Stock.
The market price of our Common Stock may be adversely affected by market conditions affecting the stock markets in general, including price and trading fluctuations on Nasdaq.
Market conditions may result in volatility in the level of, and fluctuations in, market prices of stocks generally and, in turn, our Common Stock and sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock in the market, in each case being unrelated or disproportionate to changes in our operating performance. A weak global economy or other circumstances, such as changes in tariffs and trade, could also contribute to extreme volatility of the markets, which may have an effect on the market price of our Common Stock.
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Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brand Engagement Network (NASDAQ: BNAI) Invests $1 Million in Accelevate Solutions and Secures Additional Investor Capital Commitment to Support Expansion
WILMINGTON, Del., June 5, 2026 — Brand Engagement Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNAI) (“BEN” or the “Company”), a leader in secure, enterprise-grade conversational AI, announced the completion of its $1 million strategic investment in HighTide Energy, Inc. d/b/a Accelevate Solutions (“Accelevate”), resulting in an approximately 10% ownership stake.
The investment reflects BEN’s conviction in Accelevate’s strong growth momentum and the opportunity to expand growth capital in support of continued scale, alongside the companies’ shared vision to advance AI-powered fleet intelligence solutions across North America, Latin America, and Africa.
In connection with the financing, BEN received a warrant to increase its ownership interest in Accelevate and intends to exercise it over the next six months, with ownership expected to increase to approximately 20% upon completion.
To support this, BEN has secured a $1 million equity capital commitment from BEN investors through a Securities Purchase Agreement to purchase BEN common stock at $17.82 per share, representing a premium of over 20% to the closing market price on May 29, 2026. The commitment will be funded in six monthly installments through November 2026, with BEN exercising a corresponding portion of the Accelevate warrant as each tranche is received.
Through this collaboration, BEN and Accelevate will combine complementary capabilities in conversational AI and fleet intelligence to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of next-generation operational solutions across North America, Latin America, and Africa. Accelevate’s platform serves commercial fleet operators across these markets, expanding BEN’s exposure to a large and growing transportation technology sector.
“We have completed our initial investment, secured the capital to support an increase in our ownership interest, and aligned our organizations around a commercialization strategy that we believe can accelerate the deployment of AI-powered fleet intelligence across multiple global markets,” said Tyler Luck, Chief Executive Officer of BEN.
“What excites us most is that this partnership demonstrates how AI should be deployed - not as a standalone technology, but as a driver of real-world operational efficiency and engagement. By combining forces with Accelevate, we are building more connected, intelligent, and responsive operations. Across fleet networks, this means bringing intelligence and engagement closer to drivers and consumers in vehicles, enabling more seamless interaction between people, assets, and data in motion. That’s the future we believe in: AI that delivers measurable outcomes and creates value in everyday business operations.”
About Brand Engagement Network, Inc.
Brand Engagement Network, Inc. (“BEN”) builds secure, enterprise-grade artificial intelligence for the engagement layer of AI, where people interact with systems and actions occur. Powered by BEN’s proprietary Engagement Language Model (ELM™), BEN’s technology enables conversational AI interactions that connect human intent to organizational data, workflows, and real-world outcomes. BEN’s AI operates within secure closed-loop environments using approved organizational data and built-in governance and compliance controls. Trusted by organizations operating in regulated and high-impact industries, BEN helps bring AI into real operational settings where engagement drives outcomes and accountability matters. For more information, visit www.brandengagementnetwork.com.
About Accelevate Solutions
Accelevate Solutions, a division of HighTide Energy, Inc., is developing AI-powered fleet decision intelligence for commercial transportation operators. The platform is designed to analyze and optimize core fleet functions, including operations, procurement, and fleet right-sizing, turning complex operational data into real-time, actionable outcomes. Accelevate’s goal is to enable transportation operators to grow top-line revenues while reducing costs, turning fleets into intelligence-driven systems that scale across passenger and supply chain networks. For more information, visit www.accelevatesolutions.com.
CONTACTS:
BEN Media Contact: [email protected]
BEN Investor Relations: [email protected]
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the intended use of BEN’s technology within Accelevate’s fleet platform, anticipated commercial opportunities in North America, Latin America and Africa, and the completion of the Company’s agreed exercise of the Warrant and the second $1,000,000 investment in Accelevate described herein. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the ability to successfully develop and deploy the intended technology integration, customer adoption of AI-driven fleet solutions, the completion of installment funding under the Securities Purchase Agreement, general economic and geopolitical conditions in target markets, and other risks described in the Company’s SEC filings, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law.