CIMG 8-K
CIMG Inc. (CIMG)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On September 24, 2024, NuZee, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain investors (the “Investors”), providing for the sale and issuance of 3,508,769 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000 at the Nasdaq Minimum Price (as defined in Nasdaq Rule 5635(d)), or $0.57 per share. The purchase, sale, and issuance of the Shares (the “Closing”) are planned to take place on or before October 4, 2024.
The Shares were issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration requirements thereof provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. The Company relied on these exemptions from registration based in part on representations made by the Investors.
On September 24, 2024, in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investors (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Registration Rights Agreement provided, among other things, that the Company will as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event no later than November 30, 2024, file with the SEC (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Shares of Common Stock. The Company agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof.
The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants in connection with the transaction. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Purchase Agreements are not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Purchase 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.
The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, the forms of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The information provided in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 3.02.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit | Description | |
| 10.1 | Form of Securities Purchase Agreement | |
| 10.2 | Form of Registration Rights Agreement | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (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.
| NUZEE, INC. | ||
| Dated: September 30, 2024 | By: | /s/ Jianshuang Wang |
| Name: | Jianshuang Wang | |
| Title: | Co-Chief Executive Officer and and Director | |
Exhibit 10.1
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of September 24, 2024 (this “Agreement”, as the same may hereafter be modified, supplemented, extended, amended, restated or amended and restated from time to time), is entered into by and among NuZee, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and the persons and entities listed on the schedule of investors attached hereto as Schedule I (as updated from time to time) (each an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and each Investor are executing this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Rule 903 of Regulation S (“Regulation S”) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and sell to each Investor, and each Investor, desires to purchase from the Company, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, shares of the Company’s Common Stock, as defined below, as more fully described in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Investor and the Company are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will agree to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Shares, as defined below, under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable state securities laws.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants of the parties hereinafter expressed and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, each intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
RECITALS, SCHEDULES
The foregoing recitals are true and correct and, together with the Exhibits and Schedules referred to hereafter, are incorporated into this Agreement by this reference.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or otherwise defined elsewhere in this Agreement, or unless the context otherwise requires, the capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Article as follows:
2.1 “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.
2.2 “Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
2.3 “Assets” means all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, wherever located, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.
2.4 “Investor” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
2.5 “Claims” means any Proceedings, Judgments, Obligations, known threats, losses, damages, deficiencies, settlements, assessments, charges, costs and expenses of any nature or kind.
2.6 “Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, $0.00001 par value per share.
2.7 “Company” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
2.8 “Contract” means any written contract, agreement, order or commitment of any nature whatsoever, including, any sales order, purchase order, lease, sublease, license agreement, services agreement, loan agreement, mortgage, security agreement, guarantee, management contract, employment agreement, consulting agreement, partnership agreement, shareholders agreement, buy-sell agreement, option, warrant, debenture, subscription, call or put.
2.9 “Encumbrance” means any lien, security interest, pledge, mortgage, easement, leasehold, assessment, tax, covenant, restriction, reservation, conditional sale, prior assignment, or any other encumbrance, claim, burden or charge of any nature whatsoever.
2.10 “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.11 “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, methods and practices set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or of such other Person as may be approved by a significant segment of the U.S. accounting profession, in each case as of the date or period at issue, and as applied in the U.S. to U.S. companies.
2.12 “Governmental Authority” means any foreign, federal, state or local government, or any political subdivision thereof, or any court, agency or other body, organization, group, stock market or exchange exercising any executive, legislative, judicial, quasi-judicial, regulatory or administrative function of government.
2.13 “Judgment” means any final order, writ, injunction, fine, citation, award, decree, or any other judgment of any nature whatsoever of any Governmental Authority.
2.14 “Law” means any provision of any law, statute, ordinance, code, constitution, charter, treaty, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company.
2.15 “Material Adverse Change” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.13.
2.16 “Obligation” means any debt, liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever, whether secured, unsecured, recourse, nonrecourse, liquidated, unliquidated, accrued, absolute, fixed, contingent, ascertained, unascertained, known, unknown or obligations under executory Contracts.
2.17 “Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, joint venture, partnership, company, corporation, association, cooperation, trust, estate, Governmental Authority, or any other entity of any nature whatsoever.
2.18 “Principal Trading Market” shall mean the Nasdaq Capital Market.
2.19 “Proceeding” means any demand, claim, suit, action, litigation, investigation, audit, study, arbitration, administrative hearing, or any other proceeding of any nature whatsoever.
2.20 “Purchase Price” means $0.57 per Share.
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2.21 “Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.
2.22 “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
2.23 “SEC Documents” means all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act by the Company with the SEC from May 6, 2013 to the date hereof, or amended after the date hereof, and all exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein.
2.24 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.25 “Share” or “Shares” means that number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Schedule I to this Agreement and issuable to each Investor pursuant to this Agreement.
2.26 “Tax” means (i) any foreign, federal, state or local income, profits, gross receipts, franchise, sales, use, occupancy, general property, real property, personal property, intangible property, transfer, fuel, excise, accumulated earnings, personal holding company, unemployment compensation, social security, withholding taxes, payroll taxes, or any other tax of any nature whatsoever, (ii) any foreign, federal, state or local organization fee, qualification fee, annual report fee, filing fee, occupation fee, assessment, rent, or any other fee or charge of any nature whatsoever, or (iii) any deficiency, interest or penalty imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
2.27 “Transfer Agent” means VStock Transfer, LLC.
2.28 “Effective Date” means the date of this Agreement.
2.29 “Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and other documents related this transaction.
ARTICLE III
INTERPRETATION
In this Agreement, unless the express context otherwise requires: (i) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (ii) references to the words “Article” or “Section” refer to the respective Articles and Sections of this Agreement, and references to “Exhibit” or “Schedule” refer to the Exhibits or Schedules annexed hereto; (iii) references to a “party” mean a party to this Agreement and include references to such party’s permitted successors and permitted assigns; (iv) references to a “third party” mean a Person not a party to this Agreement; (v) the terms “dollars” and “$” means U.S. dollars; (vi) wherever the word “include,” “includes,” or “including” is used in this Agreement, it will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
ARTICLE IV
PURCHASE AND SALE
4.1 Sale and Issuance of Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Investor agrees to purchase, and the Company agrees to sell and issue to each Investor, the Shares in the respective amount (“Investment Amount”) as set forth in in Schedule I to this Agreement at the per share price equal to the Purchase Price. Certain Investors shall remit payment of the Investment Amount in Renminbi (RMB) based on an agreed-upon estimated exchange rate of 7.03:1.
4.2 Closing. The purchase, sale, and issuance of the Shares (the “Closing”) shall take place at the office of Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP, located at 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st floor, New York, NY 10036 on or before October 4, 2024 or another date as the Parties mutually agree in writing (the “Closing Date”).
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4.3 Form of Payment; Delivery. Payments for the Purchase Price will be made by each Investor by wire into the bank account designated by the Company and the Company shall issue the Shares to each Investor.
4.4 Deliveries.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, subject to the conditions precedent in Article VIII, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Investor the following:
(i) this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by the Company;
(ii) a copy of the irrevocable instructions to the Transfer Agent instructing the Transfer Agent to deliver, on an expedited basis, evidence of the issuance of such Purchaser’s Shares hereunder as held in DRS book-entry form by the Transfer Agent and registered in the name of such Investor, which evidence shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Investor;
(iii) the Company’s board of directors’ approval of entering this Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated herein;
(iv) the filing of a Listing of Additional Shares Notification Form with The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC with respect to each issuance of securities pursuant to this Agreement; and
(b) On or prior to the Closing Date, subject to the conditions precedent in Article IX, each Investor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:
(i) this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by such Investor; and
(ii) such Investor’s Investment Amount.
ARTICLE V
INVESTOR’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Investor represents and warrants to the Company, that the statements contained in this Article V are true and correct as of the date hereof and the Closing Date:
5.1 Investment Purpose. Each Investor is acquiring the Shares for its own account for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted from registration under the Securities Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, each Investor reserves the right to dispose of the Shares at any time in accordance with or pursuant to an effective registration statement covering such Shares or an available exemption under the Securities Act. Each Investor acknowledges that a legend will be placed on the certificates representing the Shares in the following form:
THESE SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ARE “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER, THE AVAILABILITY OF WHICH IS TO BE ESTABLISHED TO THE REASONABLE SATISFACTION OF COUNSEL TO THE ISSUER.
5.2 Non-U.S. Person Status. Each Investor represents and warrants to Seller as follows: (i) Investor is not a U.S. person as that term is defined under Regulation S; (ii) at the time the purchase was originated, Investor was outside the United States and is outside of the United States as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement; (iii) Investor is purchasing the Shares for its own account and not on behalf of any U.S. person, and the sale has not been pre-arranged with a purchaser in the United States.
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5.3 Reliance on Exemptions; Opinion. Each Investor understands that (1) the offering of the Shares have not and will not be registered under the Securities Act, (2) the Shares will be “restricted securities” (as that term is defined under Rule 144(a)(3) of the Securities Act and such Shares may not be resold unless they are registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available), (3) the Shares are being offered and sold to each Investor in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities Laws, and (4) the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and each Investor’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of each Investor set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of each Investor to acquire the Shares.
5.4 Information. Each Investor and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and other information each Investor deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its purchase of the Shares which have been requested by each Investor. Each Investor acknowledges that Investor has reviewed the SEC Documents (as defined below), which are available on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) at no charge to each Investor. Each Investor acknowledges that the Investor may retrieve all SEC Documents from such website and each Investor’s access to such SEC Documents through such website shall constitute delivery of the SEC Documents to each Investor. Each Investor and Investor’s advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Each Investor understands that Investor’s investment in the Shares involves a high degree of risk. Each Investor is financially sophisticated sufficiently to evaluate the merits and risks of this investment. Each Investor has sought such accounting, legal, and tax advice as Investor has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Shares. Without limiting the foregoing, each Investor has carefully considered the potential risks relating to the Company and a purchase of the Shares, including those risks described in the SEC Documents, and Investor fully understands that the Shares are a speculative investment that involves a high degree of risk of loss of each Investor’s entire investment.
5.5 No Governmental Review. Each Investor understands that no United States federal or state Governmental Authority has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Shares, or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Shares, nor have such Governmental Authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Shares.
5.6 Authorization, Enforcement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of each Investor and is a valid and binding agreement of the each Investor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar Laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.
5.7 General Solicitation. Each Investor is not purchasing the Shares as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement. Each Investor represents that it has a relationship with the Company preceding the offering of the Shares.
5.8 Organization and Authority of Investor. Each Investor is an individual or is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation. Each Investor has all necessary power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to carry out its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by each Investor of this Agreement, the performance by each Investor of its obligations hereunder, and the consummation by each Investor of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of each Investor.
5.9 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Investor of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, do not and will not: (a) violate or conflict with any provision of the certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, or other governing documents of Investor; (b) violate or conflict with any provision of any Law or Governmental Authority applicable to Investor; (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, violate or conflict with, or result in the acceleration of any agreement to which Investor is a party; or (d) require any consent, permit, Governmental Authority, filing or notice from, with or to any Governmental Authority; except, in the cases of clauses (b) and (c), where the violation, conflict, acceleration or failure to obtain consent or give notice would not have a material adverse effect on each Investor’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and, in the case of clause (d), where such consent, permit, Governmental Authority’s order, filing or notice which, in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on each Investor’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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5.10 Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Other than consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, Investor has not, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with Investor, 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 Investor first received a term sheet (written or oral) from the Company or any other Person representing the Company setting forth the material terms, which terms include definitive pricing 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 Investor’s representatives, including, without limitation, its officers, directors, partners, legal and other advisors, employees, agents and Affiliates, Investor 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 order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.
5.11 Independent Advice. Each Investor understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to each Investor in connection with the purchase of the Shares constitutes legal, tax or investment advice.
5.12 No Brokers or Finders. Except as previously disclosed to the Company prior to the date of this Agreement and other than Inova Capital LLC, neither such Investor nor any of its Affiliates has retained, utilized or been represented by, or otherwise become obligated to, any broker, placement agent, financial advisor or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement whose fees the Company would be required to pay.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth and disclosed in the Company’s disclosure schedules (“Schedules”) attached to this Agreement and made a part hereof, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (“Subsidiaries”) each hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each Investor as of the Effective Date and the Closing Date. The Schedules shall be arranged in sections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections and subsections contained in this Article VI and certain other sections of this Agreement, and the disclosures in any section or subsection of the Schedules shall qualify other sections and subsections in this Article VI only to the extent it is readily apparent from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other sections and subsections.
6.1 Organization. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a domestic Company and is in good standing under the laws of Nevada as of the date hereof, and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification.
6.2 Subsidiaries. All direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, and each Subsidiary is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company taken as a whole.
6.3 Capitalization. The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as of September 24, 2024 as set forth in Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement and such authorized capital stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the SEC Documents. The description of the securities of the Company in the SEC Documents is complete and accurate in all material respects. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date referred to therein, there are no stock options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company or any security convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell shares of Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
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6.4 Valid Issuance of Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized shares of Common Stock conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the SEC Documents. The offers and sales of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such shares, exempt from such registration requirements.
6.5 Authorization; Enforceability. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.
6.6 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and all ancillary documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Charter”) of the Company; or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Authority as of the date hereof.
6.7 Issuance of Shares. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued and fully paid; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Shares are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares has been duly and validly taken. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each Investor set forth in Article V above, the offer and sale by the Company of the Shares is exempt from: (i) the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act; and (ii) the registration and/or qualification provisions of all applicable state and provincial securities and “blue sky” laws.
6.8 Reserved.
6.9 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To the knowledge of the Company, Malone Bailey, LLP (the “Auditor”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the SEC Documents, is a registered independent public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and is in good standing with the PCAOB as of the date hereof.
6.10 Enforceability of Agreements. All agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in the SEC Documents are legal, valid and binding Obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
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6.11 No Violation or Default. No default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter, or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.12 Compliance with Laws. Except for (i) the Company’s existing noncompliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement, and (ii) the Company’s failure to timely file the Form 10-K Part III Information by an amendment to Form 10-K or incorporation by reference from a Proxy Statement, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries: (A) is and at all times has been in compliance with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to Company’s business (“Applicable Laws”); (B) has not received any notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from any other governmental authority alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws (“Authorizations”); (C) possesses all material Authorizations and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (D) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority or third party alleging that any business operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (E) has not received notice that any Governmental Authority has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority is considering such action; and (F) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission), in each case to the extent of a Material Adverse Change.
6.13 No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the SEC Documents, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Company, nor any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change or a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company (a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) no officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company.
6.14 Financial Statements. The financial statements included in the SEC Documents, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the SEC Documents (the “Financial Statements”), fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied throughout the periods involved (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not contain all footnotes required by GAAP); and the supporting schedules included in the SEC Documents present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements are required to be included in the SEC Documents under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information and the related notes, if any, included in the SEC Documents have been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and present fairly the information shown therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. All disclosures contained in the SEC Documents regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission), if any, comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. Each of the SEC Documents discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, (a) neither the Company nor any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (including, for this purpose, any variable interest entities), including each entity disclosed or described in the SEC Documents as being a Subsidiary, has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its shares of Common Stock or any other equity securities, (c) there has not been any change in the shares of Common Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, other than in the course of business, any grants under any stock compensation plan, and (d) there has not been any Material Adverse Change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt.
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6.15 Reserved.
6.16 Consents and Permits. Except as described in the SEC Documents, the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the SEC Documents (collectively, “Permits”), except for such Permits the failure of which to possess, obtain or make the same would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.17 Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries own or possesses or have valid rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the SEC Documents. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries necessary for the conduct of its business as currently carried on and as described in the SEC Documents will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement, fee or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change (A) there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company; (B) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the rights of the Company in or to any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 6.17, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (C) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and the Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company have not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 6.17, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (D) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others, the Company has not received any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 6.17, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and (E) to the knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company is in or has ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company, or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company and could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change. All material technical information developed by and belonging to the Company which has not been patented has been kept confidential. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the SEC Documents and are not described therein. The SEC Documents contain in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of its officers, directors or employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.
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6.18 Certain Market Activities. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
6.19 Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such respective Subsidiary. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the SEC Documents are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing to each Investor, (i) no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its Subsidiaries. The term “taxes” mean all federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.
6.20 Reserved.
6.21 Accounting Controls. The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations) to the extent required by the Exchange Act that have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, 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. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are known to the Company’s management and that have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’ ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud known to the Company’s management, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
6.22 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance.
(a) Disclosure Controls. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, the Company has developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures that will comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, and such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents.
(b) Compliance. The Company has been, and on the Closing Date, will be, in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefor) with all of the material provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
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6.23 No Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company, exists or is, to the Company’s knowledge, imminent.
6.24 Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, will not be, either after receipt of payment for the Shares or after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in this Agreement, required to register as an “investment company,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
6.25 Margin Securities. The Company owns no “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and none of the proceeds from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the shares of Common Stock to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board
6.26 Insurance. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks which the Company believes are adequate in view of balancing of the costs of insurance, the risks of loss and its benefits to the Company, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
6.27 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Change or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company.
6.28 Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
6.29 Related-Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the SEC Documents that have not been described as required under Regulation S-K.
6.30 Reserved.
6.31 Employment Matters.
(a) The Company is not a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining or other agreement with a labor organization representing any of its employees. During the recent two fiscal years, there has not been, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, picketing or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Company.
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(b) The Company is in material compliance with all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices to the extent they relate to employees of the Company. There are no actions against the Company pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitral tribunal in connection with the employment or termination of employment of any current or former employee of the Company, including, without limitation, any action relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, leave, accommodation, minimum wages, overtime compensation, hazardous work conditions, equal pay or any other hiring, employment or employment termination related matter arising under applicable Laws.
(c) The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 6.31 are the Company’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding employment matters.
6.32 Reserved.
6.33 Disclosure. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided Investor or their agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information which is not otherwise disclosed in the Company’s public filings. The Company understands and confirms that Investor 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 Investor regarding the Company and its subsidiaries, their respective businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Schedules to this Agreement, is true and correct in all material respects 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. The press releases disseminated by the Company during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement taken as a whole do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made and when made, not misleading. The Company acknowledges and believes, to its best knowledge, that Investor makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section V hereof.
6.34 No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of Investor’s representations and warranties set forth in Section V, 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 Shares to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of (i) the Securities Act that would require the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act, or (ii) any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any trading market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.
6.35 Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares hereunder, (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date.
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6.36 Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any subsidiary, threatened.
6.37 Reserved.
6.38 No Brokers or Finders. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has retained, utilized or been represented by, or otherwise become obligated to, any broker, placement agent, financial advisor or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents whose fees the Investors would be required to pay.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS
7.1 Best Efforts. Each party shall use its best efforts to timely satisfy each of the conditions as provided in Articles VIII and IX of this Agreement prior to the Closing Date.
7.2 Affirmative Covenants.
(a) Reporting Status; Listing. Until the earlier of one (1) year from the date hereof or when the Shares are no longer registered in the names of each Investor on the books and records of the Company, the Company shall: (i) file in a timely manner all reports required to be filed under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any securities Laws and regulations thereof applicable to the Company of any state of the United States, or by the rules and regulations of the Principal Trading Market, and, if not otherwise publicly available, to provide a copy thereof to an Investor upon request; (ii) not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the Exchange Act even if the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would otherwise permit such termination unless in connection with a Sale Event (as defined below); (iii) if required by the rules and regulations of the Principal Trading Market, promptly secure the listing of any of the Shares upon the Principal Trading Market (subject to official notice of issuance) and, take all action under its control to maintain the continued listing, quotation and trading of its Common Stock on the Principal Trading Market, and the Company shall comply in all respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other Obligations under the bylaws or rules of the Principal Trading Market, FINRA, and such other Governmental Authorities, as applicable.
7.3 Reserved.
7.4 Public Disclosure of Investors. The Company shall not publicly disclose the name of each Investor, or include the name of each Investor in any filing with the SEC or any regulatory agency or Principal Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Investor except: (a) as required by federal securities law or (b) to the extent such disclosure is required by Law or Principal Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide Investors with prior written notice of such disclosure permitted under this clause (b).
7.5 Removal of Legends.
(a) The Shares may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Shares other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption from registration under the Act, to the Company or to an Affiliate of each Investor or in connection with a pledge as contemplated in this Section 7.5 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 Shares under the Securities Act.
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(b) Investor agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required by the Securities Act, of a legend on any of the Shares in the following form:
THESE SHARES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ARE “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER, THE AVAILABILITY OF WHICH IS TO BE ESTABLISHED TO THE REASONABLE SATISFACTION OF COUNSEL TO THE ISSUER.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that Investor 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 Shares 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, Investor may transfer pledged or secured Shares 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 Investor’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Shares may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Shares.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE COMPANY’S OBLIGATIONS TO SELL
The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Shares to each Investor at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion:
8.1 Each Investor shall have executed this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, and delivered it to the Company.
8.2 Each Investor shall acknowledge that it has read the definition of non-U.S. persons set forth in Exhibit B and hereby represents that it is a non-U.S. person.
8.3 Each Investor shall have paid the Purchase Price to the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4.3 above.
8.4 Reserved.
8.5 Each Investor’s representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the applicable Closing Date as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date), and each Investor shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by each Investor at or prior to the applicable Closing Date.
8.6 The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third-party consents and approvals necessary for the sale of the Shares.
8.7 No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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8.8 Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the SEC or any Principal Trading Market (except for any suspensions of trading of not more than one trading day solely to permit dissemination of material information regarding the Company) at any time since the date of execution of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EACH INVESTOR’S OBLIGATIONS TO PURCHASE
The obligation of each Investor hereunder to purchase the Shares at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions (in addition to any other conditions precedent elsewhere in this Agreement), provided that these conditions are for each Investor’s sole benefit and may be waived by each Investor at any time in its sole discretion:
9.1 The Company shall have executed this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and delivered the same to each Investor.
9.2 The representations and warranties of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that any of such representations and warranties are already qualified as to materiality in Article VI above, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects without further qualification) as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date) and the Company and each of the Subsidiaries shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company and the Subsidiaries at or prior to the Closing Date.
9.3 No event shall have occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
9.4 On the Closing Date, the Company shall have delivered all the deliverables set forth in Section 4.4(a) to the other Parties.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION
10.1 Termination. The obligations of the Company, on one hand, and the Investors, on the other hand, to effect the Closing shall terminate as follows:
(a) Upon the mutual written consent of the Company and all the Investors;
(b) By the Company if the Closing has not occurred on or prior to the Closing Date; or
(c) By either the Company or any Investor (with respect to itself only) if the other party breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements contained in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, provided that the terminating party has not breached the Agreement and other Transaction Documents.
10.2 Consequences of Termination. Nothing in Article X of this Agreement shall release any party from any liability for breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
11.1 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.
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11.2 Indemnification by the Company. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article XI, from and after the Closing, the Company will indemnify and hold each Investor and its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls such Investor (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling persons (each, a “Investor 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 (collectively, “Losses”) that any such Investor 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 an Investor Party in any capacity, or any of them or their respective Affiliates, by any shareholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of such Investor Party, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (unless such action is based upon a material breach of such Investor Party’s representations, warranties or covenants under the Transaction Documents or any agreements or understandings such Investor Party may have with any such shareholder or any violations by such Investor Party of state or federal securities laws or any conduct by such Investor Party which is finally judicially determined to constitute fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct). If any action shall be brought against any Investor Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, such Investor Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing, and the Company shall have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing reasonably acceptable to each Investor Party. Any Investor 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 Investor Party except to the extent that (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Company in writing, (ii) the Company has failed after a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and to employ counsel or (iii) in such action there is, in the reasonable opinion of counsel, a material conflict on any material issue between the position of the Company and the position of such Investor Party, in which case the Company shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one such separate counsel. The Company will not be liable to any Investor Party under this Agreement (y) for any settlement by an Investor 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 Investor Party’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Investor Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any cause of action or similar right of any Investor Party against the Company or others and any liabilities the Company may be subject to pursuant to law.
11.3 Indemnification by Investor. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article XI, from and after the Closing, Investor shall indemnify the Company against, and shall hold the Company harmless from and against, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Company based upon, arising out of or with respect to:
(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Investor contained in this Agreement; or
(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Investor pursuant to this Agreement.
11.4 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Sections 11.2 and 11.3 shall be subject to the following limitations:
(a) The aggregate amount of all Losses for which a party shall be liable pursuant to this Article XI shall not exceed the proceeds actually received under this Agreement.
(b) In no event shall any party be liable to any other party for any punitive, incidental, consequential, special or indirect damages, including loss of future revenue or income, loss of business reputation or opportunity relating to the breach or alleged breach of this Agreement, or diminution of value or any damages based on any type of multiple.
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(c) Payments by a party pursuant to this Article XI in respect of any Loss shall be limited to the amount of any liability or damage that remains after deducting therefrom any insurance proceeds and any indemnity, contribution or other similar payment received or reasonably expected to be received by the indemnified party in respect of any such claim. The indemnified party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to recover under insurance policies or indemnity, contribution or other similar agreements for any Losses prior to seeking indemnification under this Agreement.
(d) Each Indemnified Party shall take all reasonable steps to mitigate any Loss upon becoming aware of any event or circumstance that would be reasonably expected to, or does, give rise thereto, including incurring costs only to the minimum extent necessary to remedy the breach that gives rise to such Loss.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Notices. All notices of request, demand and other communications hereunder shall be addressed to the parties as follows:
| If to the Company, to: | NuZee, Inc. | |
6107, 6th Floor, Building C4, No.1 Huangchang West Road, Dougezhuang, Chaoyang District, Beijing | ||
| Attn: | Jianshuang Wang | |
| Telephone: | ||
| Email: | ||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
|
Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st floor New York, NY 10036 | |
| Attention: | Huan Lou, Esq. | |
| Email: | ||
| If to each Investor: | To each Investor based on the information set forth on the signature page to this Agreement attached hereto | |
unless the address is changed by the party by like notice given to the other parties. Notice shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered: (i) if mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the address below, then three (3) business days after deposit of same in a regularly maintained U.S. Mail receptacle; or (ii) if mailed by Federal Express, UPS or other nationally recognized overnight courier service, next business morning delivery, then one (1) business day after deposit of same in a regularly maintained receptacle of such overnight courier; or (iii) if hand delivered, then upon hand delivery thereof to the address indicated on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on a business day. Any notice hand delivered after 5:00 p.m., New York time, shall be deemed delivered on the following business day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice, consents, waivers or other communications referred to in this Agreement may be sent by facsimile, e-mail, or other method of delivery, but shall be deemed to have been delivered only when the sending party has confirmed (by reply e-mail or some other form of written confirmation from the receiving party) that the notice has been received by the other party.
12.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Schedules attached hereto and the documents delivered pursuant hereto, set forth all the promises, covenants, agreements, conditions and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements or conditions, expressed or implied, oral or written, except as contained herein; provided, however, except as explicitly stated herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on any agreements each Investor has entered into with, or any instruments each Investor has received from, the Company prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior investment made by each Investor in the Company or (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect any Obligations of the Company, or any rights of or benefits to each Investor or any other Person, in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or among the Company and each Investor, or any instruments each Investor received from the Company prior to the date hereof, and all such agreements and instruments shall continue in full force and effect.
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12.3 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement, and any and all rights, duties and Obligations hereunder, shall not be assigned, transferred, delegated or sublicensed by the Company without the prior written consent of each Investor. Subject to the foregoing and except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto.
12.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their respective successors and permitted assigns.
12.5 Amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and each Investor.
12.6 Gender and Use of Singular and Plural. All pronouns shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the party or parties or their personal representatives, successors and assigns may require.
12.7 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall be deemed and considered one and the same Agreement, and same shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and each party has delivered its signed counterpart to the other party. A digital reproduction, portable document format (“.pdf”) or other reproduction of this Agreement may be executed by one or more parties hereto and delivered by such party by electronic signature (including signature via DocuSign or similar services), electronic mail or any similar electronic transmission device pursuant to which the signature of or on behalf of such party can be seen. Such execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and effective for all purposes.
12.8 Headings. The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of the Agreement.
12.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company 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 to the Company at the address set forth on the signature page to the Purchase Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. The Company 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, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action, or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action, or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude each Investor from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to each Investor, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of each Investor. THE COMPANY AND EACH INVESTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT THEY MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREE NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
12.10 Further Assurances. The parties hereto will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts and things as may be reasonably required to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
12.11 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing.
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12.12 Joint Preparation. The preparation of this Agreement has been a joint effort of the parties and the resulting documents shall not, solely as a matter of judicial construction, be construed more severely against one of the parties than the other.
12.13 Severability. If any one of the provisions contained in this Agreement, for any reason, shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and be construed as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
12.14 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
12.15 Remedies, Characterization, Other Obligations, Breaches and Injunctive Relief. The remedies provided in this Agreement shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Agreement and 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 right of each Investor to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Agreement. The Company covenants to each Investor 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, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by each Investor 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 each Investor 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, each Investor of this Agreement shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to each Investor that is requested by each Investor to enable each Investor to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 1 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon Closing shall be made without charge to each Investor or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than each Investor or its agent on its behalf.
[SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date and year set forth above.
| NUZEE, INC., | ||
| a Nevada corporation | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Jianshuang Wang | |
| Title: | CEO | |
[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date and year set forth above.
INVESTOR:
Signature: |
||
Name: |
||
Title: |
Business
Email:
[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit A
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit B
NON-U.S. PERSON REPRESENTATION
Each Investor indicating that it is not a U.S. person, severally and not jointly, further represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
| 1. | At the time of (a) the offer by the Company and (b) the acceptance of the offer by such person or entity, of the Shares, such person or entity was outside the United States. |
| 2. | Such person or entity is acquiring the Shares for such Shareholder’s own account, for investment and not for distribution or resale to others and is not purchasing the Shares for the account or benefit of any U.S. person, or with a view towards distribution to any U.S. person, in violation of the registration requirements of the Securities Act. |
| 3. | Such person or entity will make all subsequent offers and sales of the Shares either (x) outside of the United States in compliance with Regulation S; (y) pursuant to a registration under the Securities Act; or (z) pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Specifically, such person or entity will not resell the Shares to any U.S. person or within the United States prior to the expiration of a period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is one year thereafter (the “Distribution Compliance Period”), except pursuant to registration under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. |
| 4. | Such person or entity has no present plan or intention to sell the Shares in the United States or to a U.S. person at any predetermined time, has made no predetermined arrangements to sell the Shares and is not acting as a Distributor of such securities. |
| 5. | Neither such person or entity, its Affiliates nor any Person acting on behalf of such person or entity, has entered into, has the intention of entering into, or will enter into any put option, short position or other similar instrument or position in the U.S. with respect to the Shares at any time after the Closing Date through the Distribution Compliance Period except in compliance with the Securities Act. |
| 6. | Such person or entity consents to the placement of a legend on any certificate or other document evidencing the Shares substantially in the form set forth in Section 5.1. |
| 7. | Such person or entity is not acquiring the Shares in a transaction (or an element of a series of transactions) that is part of any plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of the Securities Act. |
| 8. | Such person or entity has sufficient knowledge and experience in finance, securities, investments and other business matters to be able to protect such person’s or entity’s interests in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. |
| 9. | Such person or entity has consulted, to the extent that it has deemed necessary, with its tax, legal, accounting and financial advisors concerning its investment in the Shares. |
| 10. | Such person or entity understands the various risks of an investment in the Shares and can afford to bear such risks for an indefinite period of time, including, without limitation, the risk of losing its entire investment in the Shares. |
| 11. | Such person or entity has had access to the Company’s publicly filed reports with the SEC and has been furnished during the course of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with all other public information regarding the Company that such person or entity has requested and all such public information is sufficient for such person or entity to evaluate the risks of investing in the Shares. |
| 12. | Such person or entity has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of the issuance of the Shares. |
| 13. | Such person or entity is not relying on any representations and warranties concerning the Company made by the Company or any officer, employee or agent of the Company, other than those contained in this Agreement. |
| 14. | Such person or entity will not sell or otherwise transfer the Shares unless either (A) the transfer of such securities is registered under the Securities Act or (B) an exemption from registration of such securities is available. |
| 15. | Such person or entity represents that the address furnished on its signature page to this Agreement is the principal residence if he is an individual or its principal business address if it is a corporation or other entity. |
| 16. | Such person or entity understands and acknowledges that the Shares have not been recommended by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority, that the foregoing authorities have not confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of any information concerning the Company that has been supplied to such person or entity and that any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. |
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 24, 2024 is by and among each person named on the signature page hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”), and NuZee, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors have entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Investors certain shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of, and in consideration for the Investors entering into, the Purchase Agreement, and to induce the Investors to execute and deliver the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the Investors with certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and the Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Blue Sky Filing” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“Claims” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor entity.
“Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share.
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“Company” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Company Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(b).
“Current Public Information Failure” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(g).
“EDGAR” means the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.
“Effective Date” means the date that the applicable Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Indemnified Damages” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
“Investor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Investor Party” and “Investor Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in Section 6(a).
“Person” means any person or entity, whether a natural person, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, business association, firm, joint venture, governmental agency, or authority.
“Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form included in a Registration Statement, as supplemented from time to time by any Prospectus Supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Prospectus Supplement” means any prospectus supplement to a Prospectus filed with the Commission from time to time pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and the declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the Commission.
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“Registrable Securities” means (i) any shares of Common Stock issued to the Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or (ii) any Common Stock issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in the preceding clause (i) by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the earlier of the (i) one year anniversary of the Effective Date or (ii) on such date that such Investor may sell all of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act without any restrictions as to volume or manner of sale or otherwise.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the Securities Act covering the resale by the Investors of Registrable Securities, as such registration statement or registration statements may be amended and supplemented from time to time, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein.
“Registration Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3(a).
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration.
“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the Commission providing for offering securities on a delayed or continuous basis.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Staff” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(e).
“Violations” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
2. Registration.
(a) Mandatory Registration. At the Company’s own expense, the Company shall prepare and, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than November 30, 2024 (the “Filing Deadline”), file with the Commission an initial Registration Statement on Form S-1 covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities. Such initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Investors) the “Selling Stockholder” and “Plan of Distribution” sections. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable.
(b) Reserved.
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(c) Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the number of shares available under any Registration Statement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement, the Company shall amend such Registration Statement (if permissible), or file with the Commission a new Registration Statement on Form S-1 (or, if the Company is eligible to use a Registration Statement on Form S-3, a new Registration Statement on Form S-3), or both, so as to cover all of the Registrable Securities, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) Trading Days after the necessity therefor arises (but taking account of any Staff position with respect to the date on which the Staff will permit such amendment to the Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to be filed with the Commission). The Company shall use its commercially best efforts to cause such amendment to such Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to become effective as soon as practicable and following the filing thereof with the Commission.
(d) No Inclusion of Other Securities. In no event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(c) without consulting the Investors prior to filing such Registration Statement with the Commission.
(e) Reserved.
(f) Ineligibility to Use Form S-3. In the event that the Company files a Form S-1 for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (and any subsequent Registration Statement) to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3; provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of all Registration Statements then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the Commission and the Prospectus contained therein is available for use.
(g) Reserved.
3. Related Obligations. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
(a) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep each Registration Statement effective (and the Prospectus contained therein available for use) pursuant to Rule 415 for resales by the Investors on a continuous basis at then-prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices) at all times until the earliest of (i) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or (ii) the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement (disregarding any reduction pursuant to Section 2(e)) without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) (the “Registration Period”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that, when filed and at all times while effective, each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) and the Prospectus (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) used in connection with such Registration Statement shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of Prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading.
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(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection with each such Registration Statement, which Prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep each such Registration Statement effective (and the Prospectus contained therein current and available for use) at all times during the Registration Period for such Registration Statement, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Investors as set forth in such Registration Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company covenants and agrees that at or before 8:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of any Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereto), the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with issuances and/or conversions pursuant to such Registration Statement (or post-effective amendment thereto). In the case of amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement on Form S-1 or Prospectus related thereto which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q, or Form 10-K or any analogous report under the Exchange Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement and Prospectus, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus with the Commission on the same day on which the Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement or Prospectus, for the purpose of including or incorporating such report into such Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus (including, without limitation, any supplement thereto) included in each Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act and with the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the jurisdictions in which the Registrable Securities may be sold by the Investors, in connection with the resale of the Registrable Securities and for such period of time thereafter as such Prospectus (including, without limitation, any supplement thereto) (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with resales of Registrable Securities.
(c) The Company shall (A) permit Investors an opportunity to review and comment upon each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto at least two (2) Business Days prior to its filing with the Commission and (B) shall reasonably consider any reasonable comments of the Investors on any such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto or to any Prospectus contained therein. Investors shall use its reasonable best efforts to comment upon any such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto provided by the Company within one (1) Business Day of receipt.
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(d) Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Purchase Agreement, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Investors, without charge, (i) after the same is prepared and filed with the Commission, at least one (1) electronic copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by the Investors, all exhibits thereto, (ii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one (1) electronic copy of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto and (iii) such other documents, including, without limitation, copies of any final Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement thereto, as the Investors may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Investors; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to furnish any document to the Investors to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.
(e) The Company shall take such action as is reasonably necessary to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by the Investors of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or “Blue Sky” laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify the Investors of the receipt by the Company of any written notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
(f) The Company shall notify the Investors in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the Prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission 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 (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement and such Prospectus contained therein to correct such untrue statement or omission and deliver one (1) electronic copy of such supplement or amendment to the Investors (or such other number of copies as the Investors may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify the Investors in writing (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to the Investors by facsimile or e-mail on the same day of such effectiveness), (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate. The Company shall respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto.
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(g) The Company shall (i) use its commercially best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus contained therein, or the suspension of the qualification, or the loss of an exemption from qualification, of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible time and (ii) notify the Investors of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding.
(h) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning the Investors provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required to be disclosed in such Registration Statement pursuant to the Securities Act, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning the Investors is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to the Investors and allow the Investors, at the Investors’ expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
(i) Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Purchase Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement to be listed on the Principal Trading Market or (ii) secure designation and quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement on another Trading Market. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under the preceding sentence. In addition, the Company shall reasonably cooperate with the Investors and any broker-dealer through which the Investors proposes to sell its Registrable Securities in effecting a filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 as reasonably requested by the Investors.
(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Investors and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts (as the case may be) as the Investors may reasonably request from time to time and registered in such names as the Investors may request.
(k) Upon the written request of the Investors, the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of notice from the Investors, (i) incorporate in a Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the Investors reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement or Prospectus contained therein if reasonably requested by the Investors.
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(l) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities in the United States as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
(m) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders (which may be satisfied by making such information available on EDGAR) as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a twelve-(12) month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of each Registration Statement.
(n) The Company shall otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply, in all material respect, with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission in connection with any registration hereunder.
(o) Within one (1) Business Day after each Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared effective by the Commission, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission.
4. Reserved.
5. Expenses of Registration. All expenses of the Company incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, shall be paid by the Company.
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6. Indemnification.
(a) In the event any Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement under this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Investors, each of its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title), and each Person, if any, who controls the Investors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each of the directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling Persons (each, an “Investor Party” and collectively, the “Investor Parties”), against any losses, obligations, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including, without limitation, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs of defense, and investigation), amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, “Claims”) reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing, or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation, or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the Commission, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an Investor Party is or may be a party thereto (“Indemnified Damages”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “Blue Sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (“Blue Sky Filing”), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) or in any Prospectus Supplement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being, collectively, “Violations”). Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Investor Parties, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Investor Party arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Investor Party for such Investor Party expressly for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement, Prospectus, or Prospectus Supplement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) shall not be available to the Investors to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investors to deliver or to cause to be delivered the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) made available by the Company (to the extent applicable), including, without limitation, a corrected Prospectus, if such Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) or corrected Prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d) and then only if, and to the extent that, following the receipt of the corrected Prospectus no grounds for such Claim would have existed; and (iii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Investor Party and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
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(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Investors is participating, the Investors agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an “Company Party”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case, to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the Investors furnished to the Company by the Investors expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto; and, subject to Section 6(c) and the below provisos in this Section 6(b), the Investors shall reimburse a Company Party any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Company Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Investors, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; and provided, further that the Investors shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to the Investors as a result of the applicable sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement, Prospectus, or Prospectus Supplement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Company Party and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including, without limitation, any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Investor Party or the Company Party (as the case may be); provided, however, an Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party if: (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Claim and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) in any such Claim; or (iii) the named parties to any such Claim (including, without limitation, any impleaded parties) include both such Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) and the indemnifying party, and such Investor Party or such Company Party (as the case may be) shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Investor Party or such Company Party and the indemnifying party (in which case, if such Investor Party or such Company Party (as the case may be)) notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof on behalf of the indemnified party and such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party, provided further that in the case of clause (iii) above the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one (1) separate legal counsel for all Investor Parties or Company Parties (as the case may be). The Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim, or proceeding effected without its prior written consent; provided, however, the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay, or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) of a release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Company Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to Sections 6(a) and 6(b) hereof. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) with respect to all third parties, firms, or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(d) No Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities who is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to indemnification from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who is not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) The indemnification required by this Section 6 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 Indemnified Damages are incurred; provided that any Person receiving any payment pursuant to this Section 6 shall promptly reimburse the Person making such payment for the amount of such payment to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such Person receiving such payment was not entitled to such payment.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Company Party or Investor Party against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
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7. Contribution. To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however: (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement, (ii) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the applicable sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, the Investors shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by the Investors from the applicable sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that the Investors has otherwise been required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(b), by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
8. Reserved.
9. Assignment of Registration Rights. All or any portion of the rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to any transferee or assignee (as the case may be) of all or any portion of the Investors’ Registrable Securities, if: (i) the Investors agree in writing with such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) to assign all or any portion of such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be); (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be), furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee (as the case may be), and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned (as the case may be); (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) the further disposition of such securities by such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) is restricted under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws if so required; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; (v) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement (as the case may be); and (vi) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been conducted in accordance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
10. Amendment or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be (i) amended other than by a written instrument signed by both parties hereto or (ii) waived other than in a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
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11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Solely for purposes of this Agreement, a Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices, or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice, or election received from such record owner of such Registrable Securities.
(b) Any notices, consents, waivers, or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement shall be deliver to contact information set forth on the signature page to the Purchase Agreement.
(c) The Company and the Investors acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that either party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by the other party and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required), this being in addition to any other remedy to which either party may be entitled by law or equity.
(d) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement, and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the 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, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action, or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action, or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper. 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 to such party at the address for such 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 manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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(e) The remedies provided in this Agreement shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Agreement, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Investors to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of Agreement. The Company covenants to the Investors 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, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Investors 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 Investors 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 Investors shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Investors that is requested by the Investors to enable the Investors to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 1 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Agreement shall be made without charge to the Investor or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Investors or its agent on its behalf.
(f) If (a) this Agreement is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Investors otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Agreement or to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the company, or other proceedings affecting company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Agreement, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Investors for such collection, enforcement, or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership, or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.
(g) The Transaction Documents set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties solely with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, negotiations, and understandings between the parties, both oral and written, solely with respect to such matters. There are no promises, undertakings, representations, or warranties by either party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary and without implication that the contrary would otherwise be true, nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit, modify, or affect in any manner whatsoever any of the Company’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors. This Agreement is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any Person, other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and the Persons referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof (and in such case, solely for the purposes set forth therein).
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(i) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include,” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
(j) This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which 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; provided that a facsimile signature or signature delivered by e-mail in a “.pdf” format data file, including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com, www.echosign.adobe.com, etc., shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original signature.
(k) Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(l) The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
12. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate in its entirety upon the date on which the Investors shall have sold all the Registrable Securities; provided, that the provisions of Sections 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 shall remain in full force and effect.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Investors and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| NUZEE, INC. | ||
| By | ||
| Name: | Jianshuang Wang | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investors and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
INVESTOR:
Signature: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
Business Address:
Email:
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]