Cleanspark, Inc S-3ASR, filed Jan 5, 2024
Cleanspark, Inc. (CLSK)
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 5, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CleanSpark, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada | 87-0449945 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638
Henderson, Nevada 89052
(702) 989-7692
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Zachary K. Bradford
President and CEO
CleanSpark, Inc.
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638
Henderson, Nevada 89052
(702) 989-7692
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Mark D. Wood, Esq.
Elizabeth C. McNichol, Esq.
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
525 W. Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 902-5200
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective on filing with the SEC pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☒ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
Table of Contents
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains:
| • | a base prospectus, which covers the offering, sale and issuance by us of the securities identified below from time to time in one or more offerings; and |
| • | a sales agreement prospectus supplement covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $500,000,000 of our common stock that may be issued and sold from time to time under a sales agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright. |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any other securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in one or more prospectus supplements to the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus supplement immediately follows the base prospectus.
Table of Contents
PROSPECTUS
CleanSpark, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Subscription Rights
We may offer and sell the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.
Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, before you invest in any of our securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. These securities also may be resold by selling securityholders. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 3 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR IN THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “CLSK.” On January 4, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $10.76 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, on Nasdaq or any other securities market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is January 5, 2024
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||
| 1 | ||||
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE |
2 | |||
| 3 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 9 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 17 | ||||
| 18 | ||||
| 18 | ||||
| 21 | ||||
| 21 | ||||
Table of Contents
This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings as described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. However, no prospectus supplement will offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, includes all material information relating to the offering of securities under this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), the information and documents incorporated herein by reference and the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
When we refer to “CleanSpark, Inc.,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean CleanSpark, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. When we refer to “you,” we mean the holders of the applicable series of securities.
1
Table of Contents
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Available Information
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
Our website address is www.cleanspark.com. The information on, or accessible through, our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
Incorporation by Reference
The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference our documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, between the date of this prospectus and the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including our performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on December 1, 2023; |
| • | our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on January 23, 2023 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022); |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 11, 2023 and October 27, 2023 (except that, with respect to each of the foregoing Current Reports, any portions thereof which are furnished and not filed shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus); and |
2
Table of Contents
| • | the description of our common stock contained in our Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on December 1, 2023, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
CleanSpark, Inc.
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638
Henderson, Nevada 89052
(702) 989-7692
Overview
We are a bitcoin mining company. We independently own and operate five data centers in Georgia for a total developed capacity of 230 megawatts (“MW”). We are developing an additional 150 MW at our data center in Sandersville, GA, which is expected to energize in early 2024. We do not currently host miners for any other companies. A partner in Massena, NY hosts 50 MW for us. We design our proprietary infrastructure to responsibly support bitcoin, the world’s most important digital commodity and an essential tool for financial independence and inclusion.
Through CleanSpark and our wholly owned subsidiaries, we have operated in the bitcoin mining sector since December 2020. From March 2014 to June 30, 2022, we provided advanced energy technology solutions to commercial and residential customers to solve modern energy challenges in the alternative energy sector. As of June 30, 2022, we discontinued our energy operations due to our strategic decision to strictly focus on our bitcoin mining operations.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638, Henderson, NV 89052, and our telephone number is (702) 989-7692. Our website is located at www.cleanspark.com. Information contained on our website or that can be accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Where You Can Find More Information
For additional information as to our business, properties and financial condition, please refer to the documents cited in “Where You Can Find More Information.”
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference
3
Table of Contents
in this prospectus, and other information included in any document that we file from time to time after the date of this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this document and the materials accompanying this document are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. Frequently, but not always, forward-looking statements are identified by the use of the future tense and by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “projects,” “continues,” “estimates” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the important factors incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act and in our other filings with the SEC, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Except as otherwise set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes, which may include funding our future development, strategic acquisitions or other significant corporate transactions.
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the common stock and preferred stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate. This description is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the applicable provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) Chapters 78 and 92A and our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended through March 8, 2023 (the “Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation”), and amended and restated bylaws, which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
4
Table of Contents
In this “Description of Capital Stock” section, when we refer to “we,” “us” or “our” or when we otherwise refer to ourselves, we mean CleanSpark, Inc., excluding, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context requires, our subsidiaries.
General
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorize us to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 2,000,000 of such shares are designated as Series A Preferred Stock.
As of January 5, 2024, there were 189,558,029 shares of common stock outstanding and 1,750,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
Common Stock
Voting rights. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting of stockholders.
Dividends. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of our business. As a result, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Liquidation. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then-outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and preferences. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock, including any series of preferred stock that our board of directors may designate in the future.
Fully paid and nonassessable. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock to be issued in this offering, if any, will be, upon payment therefor, fully paid and nonassessable.
Preferred Stock
Under our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders (unless such stockholder action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or market on which our securities are then traded), to designate and issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each wholly unissued series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.
We will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in a certificate of designation relating to that series.
5
Table of Contents
We will file as an exhibit to our reports, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of that series of preferred stock. This description will include, as applicable:
| • | the title and stated value, if any; |
| • | the number of shares we are offering; |
| • | the liquidation preference, if any, per share; |
| • | the purchase price; |
| • | the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends; |
| • | whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
| • | the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; |
| • | the provisions for a sinking fund, if any; |
| • | the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights; |
| • | any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; |
| • | whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period; |
| • | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period; |
| • | voting rights, if any; |
| • | preemptive rights, if any; |
| • | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| • | a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
| • | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; |
| • | any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and |
| • | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock. |
Nevada law provides that, in addition to any approval otherwise required and unless such right to vote is specifically denied in a corporation’s articles of incorporation (including any applicable certificate of designation), any proposed amendment to a corporation’s articles of incorporation that would adversely alter or change any preference or any relative or other right given to any class or series of outstanding shares must be approved by the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of each class or series adversely affected by the amendment regardless of limitations or restrictions on the voting power of the class or series.
Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting, exchange or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
6
Table of Contents
Series A Preferred Stock
Currently, two million (2,000,000) shares of our preferred stock are designated as Series A Preferred Stock, of which one million seven hundred fifty thousand (1,750,000) shares are outstanding. Under the certificate of designation for the Series A Preferred Stock, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to quarterly dividends on 2% of our earnings before interest, taxes and amortization. The dividends are payable in cash or common stock. The holders will also have a liquidation preference on the stated value of $0.02 per share plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends. The holders are further entitled to have the Company redeem each share of Series A Preferred Stock for three shares of our common stock if a change of control event (as defined in the certificate of designation) occurs, and they are entitled to vote together with the holders of the Company’s common stock on all matters submitted to stockholders at a rate of forty-five (45) votes for each share of Series A Preferred Stock held.
Stock Options
The Company sponsors a stock-based incentive compensation plan known as the 2017 Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which was established by our board of directors on June 19, 2017. A total of 300,000 shares were initially reserved for issuance under the 2017 Plan. On October 7, 2020, the Company executed an amendment to the 2017 Plan to increase the reserved option pool to 1,500,000 shares. On September 17, 2021, the Company executed a second amendment to the 2017 Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan by an additional 2,000,000 shares. On March 8, 2023, the Company executed a third amendment to the 2017 Plan to (i) increase the number of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2017 Plan by an additional 8,012,000 shares and (ii) add an evergreen provision to, on April 1st and October 1st of each year, automatically increase the maximum number of shares of common stock available under the 2017 Plan to fifteen percent (15%) of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, in each case as of the last day of the immediately preceding month.
The 2017 Plan allows the Company to grant incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and stock units. The incentive stock options are exercisable for up to ten years, at an option price per share not less than the fair market value on the date the option is granted. The incentive stock options are limited to persons who are regular full-time employees of the Company at the date of the grant of the option. Non-qualified options may be granted to any person, including, but not limited to, employees, independent agents, consultants and attorneys who the Company’s board of directors believes have contributed, or will contribute, to the success of the Company. Non-qualified options may be issued at option prices of less than fair market value on the date of grant and may be exercisable for up to ten years from date of grant. The option vesting schedule for options granted is determined by the board of directors at the time of the grant. The 2017 Plan provides for accelerated vesting of unvested options if there is a change in control, as defined in the 2017 Plan.
As of January 5, 2024, there were options exercisable to purchase 1,140,345 shares of common stock in the Company and 787,471 unvested options outstanding that cannot be exercised until vesting conditions are met. As of January 5, 2024, the outstanding options had a weighted average remaining term of 7.94 years and an intrinsic value of $4,068,203.
Warrants
As of January 5, 2024, there were warrants exercisable to purchase 182,560 shares of common stock in the Company and there were no warrants that were unvested. All outstanding warrants contain provisions allowing cashless exercise at their respective exercise prices.
Anti-Takeover Laws
The NRS contain provisions governing the acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Nevada corporations. Nevada’s “acquisition of controlling interest” statutes (NRS 78.378 through 78.3793, inclusive)
7
Table of Contents
contain provisions governing the acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Nevada corporations. These “control share” laws provide generally that any person that acquires a “controlling interest” in certain Nevada corporations may be denied voting rights, unless a majority of the disinterested stockholders of the corporation elect to restore such voting rights. These laws will apply to us as of a particular date if we were to have 200 or more stockholders of record (at least 100 of whom have addresses in Nevada appearing on our stock ledger at all times during the 90 days immediately preceding that date) and do business in the State of Nevada directly or through an affiliated corporation, unless our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or amended and restated bylaws in effect on the tenth day after the acquisition of a controlling interest provide otherwise. These laws provide that a person acquires a “controlling interest” whenever a person acquires shares of a subject corporation that, but for the application of these provisions of the NRS, would enable that person to exercise (1) one-fifth or more, but less than one-third, (2) one-third or more, but less than a majority, or (3) a majority or more of all of the voting power of the corporation in the election of directors. Once an acquirer crosses one of these thresholds, shares which it acquired in the transaction taking it over the threshold and within the 90 days immediately preceding the date when the acquiring person acquired or offered to acquire a controlling interest become “control shares” to which the voting restrictions described above apply. These laws may have a chilling effect on certain transactions if our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or amended and restated bylaws are not timely amended to provide that these provisions do not apply to us or to an acquisition of a controlling interest, or if our disinterested stockholders do not confer voting rights in the control shares.
Nevada’s “combinations with interested stockholders” statutes (NRS 78.411 through 78.444, inclusive) provide that specified types of business “combinations” between certain Nevada corporations and any person deemed to be an “interested stockholder” of the corporation are prohibited for two years after such person first becomes an “interested stockholder” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination (or the transaction by which such person becomes an “interested stockholder”) in advance, or unless the combination is approved by the board of directors and sixty percent of the corporation’s voting power not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder, its affiliates and associates. Furthermore, in the absence of prior approval certain restrictions may apply even after such two-year period. For purposes of these statutes, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (1) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, or (2) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the two previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of the term “combination” is sufficiently broad to cover most significant transactions between a corporation and an “interested stockholder”. These laws generally apply to Nevada corporations with 200 or more stockholders of record. However, a Nevada corporation may elect in its articles of incorporation not to be governed by these particular laws, but if such election is not made in the corporation’s original articles of incorporation, the amendment (1) must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of stock representing a majority of the outstanding voting power of the corporation not beneficially owned by interested stockholders or their affiliates and associates, and (2) is not effective until 18 months after the vote approving the amendment and does not apply to any combination with a person who first became an interested stockholder on or before the effective date of the amendment. We have not made such an election in our original articles of incorporation and we have not amended our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to so elect.
Further, NRS 78.139 provides that directors may resist a change or potential change in control of a corporation if the board of directors determines that the change or potential change in control is opposed to or not in the best interest of the corporation upon consideration of any relevant facts, circumstances, contingencies or constituencies pursuant to NRS 78.138(4).
Listing
The Company’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
8
Table of Contents
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Securities Transfer Corporation. Its address is 2901 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 380, Plano, Texas 75093.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
| • | the title of the series of debt securities; |
| • | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued; |
| • | the maturity date or dates; |
| • | the form of the debt securities of the series; |
9
Table of Contents
| • | the applicability of any guarantees; |
| • | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| • | whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
| • | if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined; |
| • | the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
| • | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| • | if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
| • | the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
| • | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| • | any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series; |
| • | whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities; |
| • | if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange; |
| • | additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant; |
| • | additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable; |
| • | additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance; |
| • | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture; |
| • | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture; |
10
Table of Contents
| • | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; |
| • | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
| • | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any, and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes; |
| • | any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and |
| • | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.
Events of Default Under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
| • | if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; |
| • | if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; |
| • | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied |
11
Table of Contents
| and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
| • | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of such series of debt securities due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series; provided that:
| • | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
| • | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
| • | the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
| • | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request; |
| • | such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; and |
| • | the trustee does not institute the proceeding and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
12
Table of Contents
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
| • | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series; |
| • | to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale”; |
| • | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
| • | to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture; |
| • | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture; |
| • | to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect; |
| • | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under “Description of Debt Securities—General” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
| • | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or |
| • | to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
| • | extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series; |
| • | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; or |
| • | reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver. |
Discharge
The indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
| • | provide for payment; |
| • | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
| • | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
| • | pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series; |
| • | maintain paying agencies; |
13
Table of Contents
| • | hold monies for payment in trust; |
| • | recover excess money held by the trustee; |
| • | compensate and indemnify the trustee; and |
| • | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
| • | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
| • | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of
14
Table of Contents
default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that, unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the indenture or the debt securities, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
General
We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or any combination thereof. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our debt securities, preferred stock or common stock and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants. The warrant agent will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. This summary of certain provisions of the warrants is not complete. For the terms of a particular series of warrants, you should refer to the prospectus supplement for that series of warrants and the warrant agreement for that particular series.
Debt Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to purchase debt securities will describe the terms of the debt warrants, including the following:
| • | the title of the debt warrants; |
| • | the offering price for the debt warrants, if any; |
15
Table of Contents
| • | the aggregate number of the debt warrants; |
| • | the designation and terms of the debt securities, including any conversion rights, purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants; |
| • | if applicable, the date from and after which the debt warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable; |
| • | the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities or other property; |
| • | the dates on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and expire; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the debt warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
| • | the antidilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any; |
| • | the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; |
| • | any provisions with respect to the holder’s right to require us to repurchase the debt warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and |
| • | any additional terms of the debt warrants, including procedures and limitations relating to the exchange, and exercise and settlement of the debt warrants. |
Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations. Debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payment of principal or any premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise.
Equity Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants to purchase our common stock or preferred stock will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:
| • | the title of the warrants; |
| • | the offering price for the warrants, if any; |
| • | the aggregate number of warrants; |
| • | the designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each security; |
| • | if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable; |
| • | the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the exercise price for the warrants; |
16
Table of Contents
| • | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and expire; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
| • | the antidilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
| • | the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; |
| • | any provisions with respect to a holder’s right to require us to repurchase the warrants upon a change in control or similar event; and |
| • | any additional terms of the warrants, including procedures and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise and settlement of the warrants. |
Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled:
| • | to vote, consent or receive dividends; |
| • | receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or |
| • | exercise any rights as stockholders. |
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. These subscription rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we offer, if any, will, to the extent applicable, include specific terms relating to the offering, including some or all of the following:
| • | the price, if any, for the subscription rights; |
| • | the exercise price payable for our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights; |
| • | the number of subscription rights to be issued to each stockholder; |
| • | the number and terms of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities which may be purchased per each subscription right; |
| • | the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable; |
| • | any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire; |
| • | the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and |
17
Table of Contents
| • | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement which may be entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights. |
The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights certificate and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.
We may issue units consisting of some or all of the securities described above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. The terms of these units will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The description of the terms of these units in the related prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable form of unit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to these units.
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:
| • | through underwriters or dealers; |
| • | directly to purchasers; |
| • | in a rights offering; |
| • | in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise; |
| • | through agents; |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods; or |
| • | through any other method permitted by applicable law and described in a prospectus supplement. |
In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of securities will include the following information:
| • | the terms of the offering; |
| • | the names of any underwriters, dealers or direct purchasers; |
| • | the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters; |
| • | the purchase price or initial public offering price of the securities; |
| • | the net proceeds from the sale of the securities; |
18
Table of Contents
| • | any delayed delivery arrangements; |
| • | any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; |
| • | any commissions paid to agents; and |
| • | any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed. |
Sale through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.
Some or all of the securities that we offer through this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at fixed prices or at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the applicable prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
If agents are used in an offering, the names of the agents and the terms of the agency will be specified in a prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the agents will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of their appointment.
Dealers and agents named in a prospectus supplement may be underwriters, as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
19
Table of Contents
Underwriters, dealers or agents and their associates may engage in other transactions with and perform other services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated in a prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. We may enter contracts with commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutional investors. The obligations of any institutional investor will be subject to the condition that its purchase of the offered securities will not be illegal at the time of delivery. The underwriters and other agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of contracts.
Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any sales of these securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the Market Offerings
We may also sell the securities offered by any applicable prospectus supplement in “at the market offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise.
Remarketing Arrangements
Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.
The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
General Information
We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be required to make. Underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
20
Table of Contents
The validity of the shares of our common stock and preferred stock offered hereby, and certain other matters of Nevada corporate law, will be passed upon for CleanSpark, Inc. by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, Las Vegas, Nevada. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP will pass upon certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby on behalf of CleanSpark, Inc. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of CleanSpark, Inc. as of and for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance on the report of MaloneBailey, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
21
Table of Contents
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Up to $500,000,000
Common Stock
We have entered into an at the market offering agreement, or the sales agreement, with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or Wainwright, relating to shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share.
In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time having an aggregate offering price of up to $500,000,000, through Wainwright acting as our sales agent.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “CLSK.” On January 4, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $10.76 per share.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be “at the market” equity offerings as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Capital Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, directly to the sales agent as principal, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or in any other method permitted by law. If we and Wainwright agree on any method of distribution other than sales of shares of our common stock into the Nasdaq Capital Market or another existing trading market in the United States at market prices, we will file a further prospectus supplement providing all information about such offering as required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. Wainwright is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares, but will act as sales agent on a commercially reasonable efforts basis consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Wainwright will be entitled to compensation at a fixed commission rate of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds per share sold under the sales agreement. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Wainwright may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of Wainwright may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Wainwright with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our common stock, please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement, and in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the prospectus to which it relates. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
The date of this prospectus supplement is January 5, 2024
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
| Page | ||||
| S-1 | ||||
| S-2 | ||||
| S-4 | ||||
| S-6 | ||||
| S-9 | ||||
| S-9 | ||||
| S-10 | ||||
| S-11 | ||||
| S-12 | ||||
| S-12 | ||||
| S-12 | ||||
| S-12 | ||||
Table of Contents
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also supplements and updates information contained or incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer only to the prospectus, we are referring to the combined document consisting of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and, when we refer to the accompanying prospectus, we are referring to the base prospectus. To the extent there is an inconsistency or a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein filed prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference herein were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you.
We have not, and Wainwright has not, authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations, other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and Wainwright take no responsibility for, and provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus supplement is an offer to sell only the shares of common stock offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, or in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the respective dates thereof, regardless of its time of delivery or any sale of shares of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (and any applicable free writing prospectuses that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering), together with any documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in its entirety, before making an investment decision.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation of an offer in such jurisdiction. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.
References to the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are to CleanSpark, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.
S-1
Table of Contents
CleanSpark® and our logo are some of our trademarks used in this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement also includes trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are the property of other organizations. All trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are the property of their respective owners. Use or display by us of other parties’ trademarks, trade dress or products is not intended to and does not imply a relationship with, or endorsements or sponsorship of, us by the trademark or trade dress owner. Solely for convenience, our trademarks and tradenames referred to in this prospectus supplement appear without the ® and ™ symbol, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and tradenames.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements may include terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “positioned,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future operating results, potential risks pertaining to these future operating results, future plans or prospects, anticipated benefits of proposed (or future) acquisitions, dispositions and new facilities, growth, the capabilities and capacities of business operations, the remediation of the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, any financial or other guidance, expected capital expenditures and all statements that are not based on historical fact, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate, as well as the economy, trends and other future conditions, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, some of which are beyond our control. Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results implied by these forward-looking statements will be realized. Furthermore, the inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that future events, plans or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The following important factors, among others, could affect future results and events, causing those results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements:
| • | our ability to achieve profitability, and to maintain profitability, in the future; |
| • | high volatility in the value attributable to our business; |
| • | the rapidly changing regulatory and legal environment in which we operate may lead to unknown future challenges to operating our business or may subject our business to added costs and/or uncertainty regarding the ability to operate; |
| • | the availability of financing opportunities, risks associated with economic conditions, dependence on management and conflicts of interest; |
| • | economic dependence on regulated terms of service and power rates; |
| • | dependency on continued growth in blockchain and bitcoin usage; |
| • | our ability to keep pace with technology changes and competitive conditions; |
| • | security and cybersecurity threats and hacks; |
| • | dependency on third parties to maintain our cold and hot wallets that hold our bitcoin; |
| • | changes to bitcoin mining difficulty; |
S-2
Table of Contents
| • | our reliance on a limited number of key employees; |
| • | changes in network and infrastructure; |
| • | our ability to successfully integrate our newly acquired operations; |
| • | our ability to execute on our business strategy; |
| • | our ability to remediate the material weakness identified in our internal control over financial reporting; |
| • | our ability to resolve open comments from the SEC on our public filings and any changes to our disclosures as a result of the resolution of such matters; |
| • | risks relating to our potential establishment of an in-house function to trade bitcoin for our own account on the bitcoin we have mined, and hedge risk relating to our bitcoin holdings; and |
| • | other risks and uncertainties discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. |
For information about the risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements, please review the disclosure contained in this prospectus supplement, and in the accompanying prospectus and our other filings made with the SEC. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and to not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement or information speaks only as of the date of on which it is made. Except as expressly required under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or changed circumstances or for any other reason after the date of such forward-looking statements.
S-3
Table of Contents
This summary highlights selected information about CleanSpark, Inc. contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated herein by reference. This summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you in making an investment decision. For a more complete understanding of CleanSpark, Inc., you should read carefully this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the “Risk Factors” section, and the other documents we refer to and incorporate by reference. Unless otherwise indicated, “common stock” means our common stock, par value $0.001 per share.
Overview
We are a bitcoin mining company. We independently own and operate five data centers in Georgia for a total developed capacity of 230 megawatts (“MW”). We are developing an additional 150 MW at our data center in Sandersville, GA, which is expected to energize in early 2024. We do not currently host miners for any other companies. A partner in Massena, NY hosts 50 MW for us. We design our proprietary infrastructure to responsibly support bitcoin, the world’s most important digital commodity and an essential tool for financial independence and inclusion.
Through CleanSpark and our wholly owned subsidiaries, we have operated in the bitcoin mining sector since December 2020. From March 2014 to June 30, 2022, we provided advanced energy technology solutions to commercial and residential customers to solve modern energy challenges in the alternative energy sector. As of June 30, 2022, we discontinued our energy operations due to our strategic decision to strictly focus on our bitcoin mining operations.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638, Henderson, NV 89052, and our telephone number is (702) 989-7692. Our website is located at www.cleanspark.com. Information contained on our website or that can be accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
THE OFFERING
| Issuer: |
CleanSpark, Inc., a Nevada corporation. |
| Common Stock to be Offered by Us: |
Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $500,000,000. |
| Common Stock to be Outstanding After this Offering: |
Up to 236,026,430 shares, after giving effect to the assumed sale of $500,000,000 of shares of our common stock at an assumed price of $10.76 per share, which was the closing sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 4, 2024. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the price at which shares may be sold from time to time during this offering. |
| Manner of Offering: |
“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC. See “Plan of Distribution.” |
S-4
Table of Contents
| Use of Proceeds: |
We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for growth initiatives, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate purposes. However, as of the date of this prospectus supplement, the Company has no arrangements, agreements or understanding in principle of any such acquisitions. See “Use of Proceeds.” |
| Symbol on The Nasdaq Capital Market |
“CLSK” |
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering as shown above is based on 189,558,029 shares of common stock outstanding as of January 4, 2024, and excludes the following, in each case as of such date:
| • | 1,927,816 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options with a weighted average exercise price of $14.93 per share; |
| • | 4,326,641 shares reserved for issuance in connection with restricted stock unit awards under our equity compensation plan; |
| • | 10,029,227 shares reserved for issuance in connection with future restricted stock unit awards under our equity compensation plan; |
| • | 182,560 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $13.30 per share; and |
| • | 5,250,000 shares issuable if all of our 1,750,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding are redeemed. |
Unless otherwise stated, all information contained in this prospectus supplement reflects an assumed public offering price of $10.76 per share, which was the closing sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 4, 2024.
S-5
Table of Contents
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before you make an investment decision with respect to our common stock, you should consider carefully the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, and other information included in any document that we file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement that is incorporated by reference herein, as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. If any of the following events or any of the events described in any such other document actually occur, our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business and operations.
The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at-the-market” offerings, and investors that buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors that purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their shares as a result of sales made at share prices lower than the prices they paid.
The actual number of shares we will issue under the sales agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a sales notice to Wainwright at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Wainwright after delivering a sales notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period and limits we set with Wainwright. Because the price per share of each share sold in this offering will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued. As of January 5, 2024, we had 88,725,727 authorized but unissued shares of common stock (less the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Company’s authorized capital stock including in respect of our equity compensation plan).
If you purchase our common stock in this offering, you may incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your shares.
Investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering may pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock prior to this offering. After giving effect to the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $10.76 per share (which was the closing sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 4, 2024), and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2023 would have been approximately $1,090.7 million or approximately $5.28 per share. As a result, investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering will incur immediate dilutive value of $5.48 per share, representing the difference between the assumed public offering price of $10.76 per share and our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2023 after giving effect to this offering. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed discussion of dilution.
You will experience further dilution if we issue additional equity securities in the future.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that
S-6
Table of Contents
we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. In addition, as of September 30, 2023, approximately 13,682,237 shares of common stock that are subject to outstanding options, warrants, preferred stock, or restricted stock units reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans are eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act. To the extent that outstanding options or warrants are exercised, investors purchasing our common stock in this offering will experience further dilution.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.
Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock (including in this offering), or securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock, into the public market, including shares of our common stock issued upon exercise of options and warrants, or the perception that those sales could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and our ability to raise capital in the future. Additionally, the market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales by, or the perceived possibility of sales by, our existing stockholders of shares of our common stock in the market after this offering. These sales might also make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities at a time and price that we deem appropriate.
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds of this offering and may not use them effectively.
We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital, general corporate purposes and capital expenditures. Our management will have considerable discretion in the application of any such net proceeds and could spend the proceeds in ways with which you may not agree. We may not invest the proceeds of this offering effectively or in a manner that yields a favorable or any return and, consequently, this could result in financial losses that could have a material and adverse effect on our business or cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
The price of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, volatile and could fluctuate or decline significantly, regardless of our operating performance.
The market price of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, highly volatile. Given the continued uncertainty surrounding many variables that may affect our business and the industry in which we operate, our ability to foresee results for future periods is limited. This variability could affect our operating results and thereby adversely affect our stock price. Many factors that contribute to this volatility are beyond our control and may cause the market price of our common stock to change, regardless of our operating performance. Factors that could cause fluctuation in our stock price may include, among other things:
| • | technological innovations or new products and services by us or our competitors; |
| • | government regulation of our products and services; |
| • | the establishment of partnerships with other technology companies; |
| • | intellectual property disputes; |
| • | additions or departures of key personnel; |
| • | sales of our common stock; |
| • | the trading price of bitcoin; |
| • | our ability to integrate operations, technology, products and services; |
| • | our ability to execute our business plan; |
S-7
Table of Contents
| • | loss of any strategic relationship; |
| • | industry developments; |
| • | general economic, market and political conditions; |
| • | current and future litigation and negative publicity; |
| • | period-to-period fluctuations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us, including financial results that are below our or such other companies’ expectations and estimates; and |
| • | other risks, uncertainties and factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference. |
In addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Specifically, the trading price of our common stock has already been correlated, and, in the future, as we continue to expand our bitcoin mining business, may be increasingly correlated, to the trading prices of bitcoin. The stocks of bitcoin mining companies have shown volatility relative to bitcoin. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency market prices, which have historically been volatile and are impacted by a variety of factors (including those discussed herein), are determined primarily by using data from various exchanges, over-the-counter markets and derivative platforms. While we had no direct exposure to the failure of FTX Trading Ltd. (“FTX”), the failure or insolvency of large exchanges like FTX may cause the price of bitcoin to fall and decrease confidence in the ecosystem, which could negatively impact our stock price. Furthermore, such prices may be subject to factors such as those that impact commodities, more so than business activities, which could be subjected to additional influence from fraudulent or illegitimate actors, real or perceived scarcity, and political, economic, regulatory or other conditions. Pricing may be the result of, and may continue to result in, speculation regarding future appreciation in the value of bitcoin, or our share price, inflating and making their market prices more volatile. For example, the closing sales price of our common stock on September 30, 2022 was $3.18 per share and the closing price of bitcoin was $19,426 and, as of September 30, 2023, the closing sales price of our common stock was $3.81 per share, and the closing price of bitcoin was $26,961.
In addition, the stock markets in general have often experienced volatility, including in the wake of COVID-19, that has sometimes been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations have caused, and may continue to cause, the trading price of our common stock to decline. A continuation or worsening of the levels of market disruption and volatility seen in the recent past could have an adverse effect on our ability to access capital, on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and prospects, and on the market price of our common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. We may become involved in this type of litigation in the future. Litigation of this type may be expensive to defend and may divert our management’s attention and resources from the operation of our business.
Our outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock have, and, in the future, we may issue additional shares of our Series A Preferred Stock or other series of preferred stock that have, rights, preferences and privileges that may adversely affect our common stock.
We are authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock, with such rights, preferences and privileges as may be determined from time-to-time by our board of directors. Our board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, and to fix for any series
S-8
Table of Contents
the dividend rights, dissolution or liquidation preferences, redemption prices, conversion rights, voting rights, and other rights, preferences and privileges for the preferred stock. As of January 5, 2024, we had designated 2,000,000 shares as Series A Preferred Stock, of which 1,750,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were outstanding. Under the terms of the Certificate of Designations for our Series A Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of common stock on all matters submitted to stockholders, with each share of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to 45 votes. The outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock represented approximately 30% of the voting power of our outstanding shares as of January 5, 2024. Holders of Series A Preferred Stock are also entitled to quarterly dividends, payable in cash or common stock, a liquidation preference on the stated value of $0.02 per share plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends, and the right to have each share of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed for three shares of common stock in the event of a change of control.
We may in the future issue additional series of preferred stock, and depending on the rights, preferences and privileges attributable to any designated series of preferred stock, the issuance of preferred stock could further reduce the relative voting rights and powers of the common stock and the portion of our assets allocated for distribution to common stockholders in a liquidation event, and could also result in dilution in the book value per share of the common stock. The preferred stock could also be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method for raising additional capital or discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company, to the detriment of the investors in the common stock offered hereby. We cannot assure you that we will not issue additional shares of our preferred stock.
We qualified as a smaller reporting company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, and, under the smaller reporting company rules, we were subject to scaled disclosure requirements that may make it more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects.
We qualified as a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. We elected to provide disclosure under the smaller reporting company rules for such periods and, therefore, were subject to decreased disclosure obligations in our filings with the SEC, including being required to provide only two years of audited financial statements in our annual reports. Consequently, it may be more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects.
We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $500,000,000 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition of this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time.
We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for growth initiatives, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate purposes. However, as of the date of this prospectus supplement, the Company has no arrangements, agreements or understanding in principle of any such acquisitions.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock, and we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We expect to retain future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business, subject to certain preferential dividend rights held by holders of our Series A Preferred Stock. Any future determination to pay dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and any contractual restrictions.
S-9
Table of Contents
If you invest in shares of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement, you will experience dilution to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of common stock you pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after giving effect to this offering. Our net tangible book value as of September 30, 2023 was approximately $605.6 million or approximately $3.78 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value represents total tangible assets less total liabilities. Net tangible book value does not include the value of intangible assets, such as the value of any bitcoin held by the Company. Net tangible book value per share represents net tangible book value divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2023.
After giving effect to the assumed sale of shares of common stock in the aggregate amount of $500,000,000 in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $10.76 per share (the closing sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 4, 2024), and after deducting the commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us, assuming the Company has sufficient authorized shares of common stock to issue such shares at such assumed public offering price, our as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock on September 30, 2023 would have been approximately $1,090.7 million or approximately $5.28 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value per share of our common stock of approximately $1.50 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate increase in dilutive value of approximately $5.48 per share to purchasers in this offering. The following table illustrates this per-share dilution:
| Assumed public offering price per share |
$ | 10.76 | ||
| Net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2023 |
$ | 3.78 | ||
| Increase per share attributable to new investors |
$ | 1.50 | ||
| As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2023 after giving effect to this offering |
$ | 5.28 | ||
| Dilutive value per share to new investors |
$ | 5.48 |
A $1.00 increase in the assumed public offering price of $10.76 per share (the closing sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 4, 2024), would increase the as adjusted net tangible book value after the offering by $0.10 per share and would increase the dilutive value to new investors by $6.38 per share, after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed public offering price of $10.76 per share (the closing sales price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on January 4, 2024), would decrease the as adjusted net tangible book value after the offering by $0.12 per share and would decrease the dilutive value to new investors by $0.88 per share, after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering.
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 160,184,921 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2023, and excludes the following, in each case as of such date:
| • | 1,970,458 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options with a weighted average exercise price of $14.86 per share; |
| • | 5,560,323 shares reserved for issuance in connection with restricted stock unit awards under our equity compensation plan; |
| • | 715,896 shares reserved for issuance in connection with future restricted stock unit awards under our equity compensation plan; |
| • | 185,560 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $13.49 per share; and |
| • | 5,250,000 shares issuable if all of our 1,750,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding are redeemed. |
S-10
Table of Contents
To the extent that outstanding options or warrants are exercised or outstanding restricted stock units vest, investors purchasing our common stock in this offering will experience further dilution. In addition, to the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
We have entered into the sales agreement with Wainwright under which we may issue and sell from time to time shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of not more than $500,000,000 through Wainwright as our sales agent. Sales of our common stock, if any, will be made by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act. If we and Wainwright agree on any method of distribution other than sales of shares of our common stock on or through the Nasdaq Capital Market or another existing trading market in the United States at market prices, we will file a further prospectus supplement providing all information about such offering as required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.
Wainwright will offer our common stock at prevailing market prices subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement as agreed upon by us and Wainwright. We will designate the maximum number of shares which we desire to sell on a daily basis, any minimum price below which sales may not be made and other sale parameters as we deem appropriate. Subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, Wainwright will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell on our behalf all of the shares of common stock so designated. We or Wainwright may suspend the offering of our common stock being made through Wainwright under the sales agreement upon proper notice to the other party.
Settlement for sales of common stock will occur on the second business day, or such shorter settlement cycle as may be in effect under Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1 from time to time, following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Wainwright in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Wainwright may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will pay Wainwright in cash, upon each sale of our shares of common stock pursuant to the sales agreement, a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from each sale of shares of our common stock. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition of this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the sales agreement, we agreed to reimburse Wainwright for the documented fees and costs of its legal counsel reasonably incurred in connection with entering into the transactions contemplated by the sales agreement in an amount not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate. Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the sales agreement, we agreed to reimburse Wainwright for the documented fees and costs of its legal counsel reasonably incurred in connection with Wainwright’s ongoing diligence, drafting and other filing requirements arising from the transactions contemplated by the sales agreement in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per calendar quarter. We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of common stock sold through Wainwright under the sales agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to Wainwright in connection with the sales of common stock.
In connection with the sales of common stock on our behalf, Wainwright may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to Wainwright may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed in the sales agreement to provide
S-11
Table of Contents
indemnification and contribution to Wainwright against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
The offering of our shares of common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the earlier of the (i) sale of all of our shares of common stock provided for in this prospectus supplement or (ii) termination of the sales agreement as permitted therein.
From time to time, Wainwright and its affiliates have provided, and may provide in the future, various advisory, investment and commercial banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of business, including in connection with offerings by us in October 2020, March 2021, June 2021 and December 2022, for which it has received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. To the extent required by Regulation M, Wainwright will not engage in any market making activities involving our shares of common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement. This summary of the material provisions of the sales agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Wainwright and Wainwright may distribute this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus electronically.
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is acting as counsel for the Company in connection with this offering. The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as counsel for Wainwright in connection with this offering.
The consolidated financial statements of CleanSpark, Inc. as of and for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance on the report of MaloneBailey, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and do not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the reference may not be complete and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement or the exhibits to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a copy of such contract, agreement or other document. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our public filings are available to the public on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents instead of having to repeat the
S-12
Table of Contents
information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (SEC File No. 001-39187) and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this prospectus supplement and the termination of this offering (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items, unless otherwise indicated therein):
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on December 1, 2023; |
| • | our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on January 23, 2023 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022); |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 11, 2023 and October 27, 2023 (except that, with respect to each of the foregoing Current Reports, any portions thereof which are furnished and not filed shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement); |
| • | the description of our common stock contained in our Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on December 1, 2023, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and |
| • | filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part and before the termination of the offering made by this prospectus supplement. |
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including exhibits which are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to CleanSpark, Inc., Attn: Investor Relations, 10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638, Henderson, NV 89052, telephone number (702) 989-7693 or email ir@cleanspark.com.
A statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes. The making of such a modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission for any purposes that the modified or superseded statement, when made, constituted a misrepresentation, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact that was required to be stated or that was necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of those respective documents.
S-13
Table of Contents
Up to $500,000,000
Common Stock
CleanSpark, Inc.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
H.C. Wainwright & Co.
Table of Contents
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby.
| SEC registration fee |
$ | (1) | ||
| FINRA filing fee |
$ | (2) | ||
| Nasdaq supplemental listing fee |
$ | (2) | ||
| Printing expenses |
$ | (2) | ||
| Legal fees and expenses |
$ | (2) | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
$ | (2) | ||
| Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses |
$ | (2) | ||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses |
$ | (2) | ||
| Trustee fees and expenses |
$ | (2) | ||
| Miscellaneous |
$ | (2) | ||
| Total |
$ | (2) |
| (1) | Pursuant to Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, we are deferring payment of all applicable registration fees other than the fees due in connection with the $500,000,000 of our common stock that may be issued and sold from time to time under a sales agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC. |
| (2) | The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated aggregate amount of expenses payable with respect to any offering of securities. |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Our officers and directors are exculpated and indemnified as provided by the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) and our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws.
NRS 78.138(7) provides that, subject to limited statutory exceptions and unless the articles of incorporation or an amendment thereto (in each case filed on or after October 1, 2003) provide for greater individual liability, a director or officer is not individually liable to a corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his or her capacity as a director or officer unless the presumption established by the business judgment rule codified in NRS 78.138(3) has been rebutted and it is proven that: (i) the act or failure to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer and (ii) the breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, provide that directors shall have no liability to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for conduct as a director, except for acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct by the director, or a knowing violation of law by the director, or for conduct violating NRS 78.138(7), or for any transaction from which the director will personally receive a benefit in money, property or services to which the director is not legally entitled.
NRS 78.7502 permits a corporation to indemnify, pursuant to that statutory provision, a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or of another entity or enterprise for which such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the corporation, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith, arising by reason of such person’s service in such capacity if such person (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138, or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with
II-1
Table of Contents
respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, however, no indemnification pursuant to NRS 78.7502 may be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper. Any discretionary indemnification pursuant to NRS 78.7502, unless ordered by a court or advanced to a director or officer by the corporation in accordance with the Nevada Revised Statutes, may be made by a corporation only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances. Such determination must be made (1) by the stockholders, (2) by the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding, (3) if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion. NRS 78.751 further provides that indemnification pursuant to NRS 78.7502 does not exclude any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, or any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in the person’s official capacity or an action in another capacity while holding office, except that indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to NRS 78.7502 or for the advancement of expenses, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of any appeals, to be liable for intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law, and such misconduct, fraud or violation was material to the cause of action. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws provide for indemnification substantially similar to that provided under the statutory indemnification mechanisms provided under NRS 78.7502.
We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of ours pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such a director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed hereby in the Securities Act and we will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.
| Item 16. | Exhibits |
The Exhibits to this registration statement are listed below, under the Exhibit Index.
II-2
Table of Contents
| Item 17. | Undertakings |
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
II-3
Table of Contents
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(6) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(8) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
II-4
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX
| * | Filed herewith. |
| ** | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference. |
| *** | To be filed separately pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, if applicable. |
II-5
Table of Contents
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Henderson, State of Nevada, on January 5, 2024.
| CLEANSPARK, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Zachary K. Bradford | |
| Zachary K. Bradford | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
II-6
Table of Contents
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Zachary K. Bradford and Gary Vecchiarelli, or each one of them individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith to this Registration Statement and any later registration statement filed by the registrant under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, which relates to this Registration Statement) and to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact and agent, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Zachary K. Bradford Zachary K. Bradford |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
January 5, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Gary Vecchiarelli Gary Vecchiarelli |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
January 5, 2024 | ||
| /s/ S. Matthew Schultz S. Matthew Schultz |
Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors |
January 5, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Larry McNeill Larry McNeill |
Director | January 5, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Dr. Thomas L. Wood Dr. Thomas L. Wood |
Director | January 5, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Roger P. Beynon Roger P. Beynon |
Director | January 5, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Amanda Cavaleri Amanda Cavaleri |
Director | January 5, 2024 | ||
II-7
Exhibit 1.2
AT THE MARKET OFFERING AGREEMENT
January 5, 2024
H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
430 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
CleanSpark, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Nevada (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Manager”) as follows:
| 1. | Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated. |
“Accountants” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(m).
“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(p).
“Affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(o).
“Applicable Time” shall mean, with respect to any Shares, the time of sale of such Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any relevant Terms Agreement.
“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.
“Board” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(iii).
“Broker Fee” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(v).
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, that, for purposes of clarity, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home,” “shelter-in-place,” “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.
“Common Stock Equivalents” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(g).
“Company Counsel” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(l).
“DTC” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(vii).
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(n).
“Incorporated Documents” shall mean the documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission on or prior to the Effective Date that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and any documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission after the Effective Date that are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
“Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(v).
“Immaterial Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary that contributes less than 2.0% of the total consolidated revenue of the Company.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.
“Losses” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7(d).
“Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(b).
“Material Permits” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(t).
“Maximum Amount” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.
“Net Proceeds” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(v).
“Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(g).
“Placement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(c).
2
“Proceeding” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(b).
“Prospectus” shall mean the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the most recently filed Prospectus Supplement (if any).
“Prospectus Supplement” shall mean each prospectus supplement relating to the offering and sale of Shares hereunder prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) from time to time, including the documents and information incorporated by reference therein, except to the extent superseded or modified.
“Registration Statement” shall mean the automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company on the date of this Agreement, including the Incorporated Documents, exhibits and financial statements and any Prospectus Supplement deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.
“Representation Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(k).
“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(e).
“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 173”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”,
“Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.
“Sales Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(i).
“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(m).
“Settlement Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(vii).
“Subsidiary” means any majority-owned subsidiary of the Company.
“Terms Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a).
“Time of Delivery” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(c).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Trading Market is open for trading.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
3
| 2. | Sale and Delivery of Shares. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or principal, from time to time during the term of this Agreement and on the terms set forth herein, up to the lesser of such number of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), that does not exceed (a) $500,000,000 of shares of Common Stock registered on the Registration Statement, or (b) the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (less the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Company’s authorized capital stock) (the lesser of (a) and (b), the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 2 on the number and aggregate sales price of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Manager shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. |
| (a) | Appointment of Manager as Selling Agent; Terms Agreement. For purposes of selling the Shares through the Manager, the Company hereby appoints the Manager as exclusive agent of the Company for the purpose of selling the Shares of the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions stated herein. The Company agrees that, whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2 of this Agreement. |
| (b) | Agent Sales. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company will issue and agrees to sell Shares from time to time through the Manager, acting as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, as sales agent for the Company, on the following terms: |
| (i) | The Shares are to be sold on any day that (A) is a Trading Day, (B) the Company has instructed the Manager by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail) to make such sales (“Sales Notice”) and (C) the Company has satisfied its obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement. The Company will designate the maximum amount of the Shares to be sold by the Manager on any day (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2(d)) and the minimum price per Share at which such Shares may be sold. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on a particular day all of the Shares designated for the sale by the Company on such day. The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 2(b) shall be the market price for the shares of Common Stock sold by the Manager under this Section 2(b) on the Trading Market at the time of sale of such Shares. |
4
| (ii) | The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager will be successful in selling the Shares, (B) the Manager will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell the Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares as required under this Agreement, and (C) the Manager shall be under no obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically agreed by the Manager and the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement. |
| (iii) | The Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Manager shall not be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), or a duly authorized committee thereof, or duly authorized officers of the Company, and notified to the Manager in writing. The Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail), suspend the offering of the Shares for any reason and at any time; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice. |
| (iv) | The Manager may sell Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Act, including, without limitation, sales made directly on the Trading Market, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. The Manager may also sell Shares in privately negotiated transactions; provided that the Manager receives the Company’s prior written approval for any sales in privately negotiated transactions and if and as so provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus Supplement or a supplement to the Prospectus Supplement or a new Prospectus Supplement disclosing the terms of such privately negotiated transaction. |
| (v) | The compensation to the Manager for sales of the Shares under this Section 2(b) shall be a placement fee of up to 3% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(b) (“Broker Fee”). The foregoing rate of compensation shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price agreed upon at the relevant Applicable Time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after deduction of the Broker Fee and deduction of any transaction fees imposed by any clearing firm, execution broker, or governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”). |
| (vi) | The Manager shall provide written confirmation (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) to the Company following the close of trading on the Trading Market each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 2(b) setting forth the number of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate gross sales proceeds and the Net Proceeds to the Company, and the compensation payable by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales. |
5
| (vii) | Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Manager, settlement for sales of the Shares will occur at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). On or before the Trading Day prior to each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Shares being sold by crediting the Manager’s or its designee’s account (provided that the Manager shall have given the Company written notice of such designee at least one Trading Day prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit/ Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which Shares in all cases shall be freely tradable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Manager will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company. The Company agrees that, if the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized Shares on a Settlement Date, in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 7 hereto, the Company will (i) hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company, and (ii) pay to the Manager any commission, discount or other compensation to which the Manager would otherwise have been entitled absent such default. |
| (viii) | At each Applicable Time, Settlement Date, and Representation Date, the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in Section 3 of this Agreement as if such representation and warranty were made as of such date (except for any of such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended as of such date. Any obligation of the Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein in accordance with the foregoing, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement. |
6
| (ix) | If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution” and the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive the Distribution, the “Record Date”), the Company hereby covenants that, in connection with any sales of Shares pursuant to a Sales Notice on the Record Date, the Company shall issue and deliver such Shares to the Manager on the Record Date and the Record Date shall be the Settlement Date and the Company shall cover any additional costs of the Manager in connection with the delivery of Shares on the Record Date. |
| (c) | Term Sales. If the Company wishes to sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement but other than as set forth in Section 2(b) of this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), the Company will notify the Manager of the proposed terms of such Placement. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or the Manager unless and until the Company and the Manager have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by the Manager. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement and any other information or documents required by the Manager. |
| (d) | Maximum Number of Shares. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate amount of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Shares under this Agreement, the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Board, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Manager in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company |
7
| cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Board, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer, and notified to the Manager in writing. Further, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or permit the aggregate offering amount of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement to exceed the Maximum Amount. |
| (e) | Regulation M Notice. Unless the exceptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are satisfied with respect to the Shares, the Company shall give the Manager at least one Business Day’s prior notice of its intent to sell any Shares in order to allow the Manager time to comply with Regulation M. |
| 3. | Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Manager at the Execution Time and on each such time the following representations and warranties are repeated or deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth below, except in each case as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or the Incorporated Documents: |
| (a) | Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are set forth in the SEC Reports. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any “Liens” (which for purposes of this Agreement shall mean a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction), and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. |
| (b) | Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary), with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under this Agreement (any of (i), (ii) or |
8
| (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”) and no “Proceeding” (which for purposes of this Agreement shall mean any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened) has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification. |
| (c) | Authorization and Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law. |
| (d) | No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as would not reasonably be expected to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect. |
9
| (e) | Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other “Person” (defined as an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind, including the Trading Market) in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, other than (i) the filings contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the filing with the Commission of the Prospectus Supplement and any Current Reports on Form 8-K with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the submission of notifications to Trading Market with respect to the issuance of the Shares and manner required thereby, and (iv) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (collectively, the “Required Approvals”); provided that any filings required to be made with FINRA shall be the responsibility of the Manager. |
| (f) | Issuance of Shares. The Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The issuance by the Company of the Shares has been registered under the Act and, upon issuance hereunder, all of the Shares will be freely tradable by the purchasers thereof under federal and state securities laws without restriction (other than any restriction arising from an act, omission or status (e.g., as an Affiliate of the Company) of any such purchaser). The Shares are being issued pursuant to the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Shares will have been registered by the Company under the Act. The “Plan of Distribution” section within the Registration Statement permits the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. |
| (g) | Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company at the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company included in or incorporated by reference into the SEC Reports is as set forth in the SEC Reports. The Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than (i) pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options and upon vesting of other awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans and (ii) the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of securities of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock (“Common Stock Equivalents”), outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated |
10
| by this Agreement. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports and other than securities issued pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Shares will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder or, except as otherwise provided herein, the Board is required for the issuance and sale of the Shares. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders. |
| (h) | Registration Statement. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and, on the date of this Agreement, will file with the Commission the Registration Statement, including a related Base Prospectus and a Prospectus Supplement, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Shares. Such Registration Statement will, upon filing with the Commission, be effective and available for the offer and sale of the Shares as of the date hereof. As filed, the Base Prospectus will contain all information required to be included therein by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Manager prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of the Shares, meets or will meet, as applicable, the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). |
| (i) | Accuracy of Incorporated Documents. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and none of the Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, |
11
| the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of each of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading. |
| (j) | Status as a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Act) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Act and (iii) at the date hereof, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Act, including not having been and not being an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, and the Shares, since their registration on the Registration Statement, are and will remain eligible for registration by the Company on a Rule 405 “automatic shelf registration statement”. The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement form. |
| (k) | Free Writing Prospectus. The Company is eligible to use Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information the substance of which conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any Incorporated Documents and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for use therein. Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) has been, or will be, filed |
12
| with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) or that was prepared by or behalf of or used by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder. The Company will not, without the prior consent of the Manager use or refer to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in connection herewith. |
| (l) | Proceedings Related to Registration Statement. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Company has not received any notice that the Commission has issued or intends to issue a stop-order with respect to the Registration Statement or that the Commission otherwise has suspended or withdrawn the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, either temporarily or permanently, or intends or has threatened in writing to do so. |
| (m) | SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the twelve months preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension (excluding, for this purpose, reports on Form 8-K that do not affect eligibility to utilize Form S-3). As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments. The agreements and documents described in the |
13
Registration Statement and the SEC Reports conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder to be described in the Registration Statement or the SEC Reports, or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement or the SEC Reports, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
| (n) | [RESERVED]. |
| (o) | Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date this representation is made, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) fees, expenses and other liabilities incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (B) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission and (D) other liabilities that would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the |
14
| Company has not issued any equity securities to any executive officer, director or “Affiliate” (defined as 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 144 under the Act), except pursuant to existing Company equity incentive plans and (vi) no executive officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company. Except for the issuance of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made. Unless otherwise disclosed in an SEC Report filed prior to the date this representation is made, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports the Company has not: (i) issued any debt securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money, or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock. |
| (p) | Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Shares or (ii) would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof in his or her capacity as such, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company in such director or officer’s capacity as such. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Act. |
| (q) | Labor Relations. No labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships |
15
| with their employees are good. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
| (r) | Compliance. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including, without limitation, all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters. |
| (s) | Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands, or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all permits licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), where the failure to so comply or have received any such permit or approval, as applicable, would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. |
16
| (t) | Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of Federal, State, local and all foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects. |
| (u) | Title to Assets. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all real property and all personal property that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP and, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance. |
| (v) | Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest financial statements included within the SEC Reports, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
17
| (w) | Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business. |
| (x) | Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from, any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option and other award agreements under any equity incentive plan of the Company. |
| (y) | Sarbanes Oxley Compliance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company and the |
18
| Subsidiaries have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and the Subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. There have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and are required to have been disclosed in previously filed SEC Reports but have not been disclosed therein. |
| (z) | Certain Fees. Other than payments to be made to the Manager, no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company or any Subsidiary to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Manager shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. |
| (aa) | No Other Sales Agency Agreement. The Company has not entered into any other sales agency agreements or other similar arrangements with any agent or any other representative in respect of at the market offerings of the Shares. |
| (bb) | [RESERVED]. |
| (cc) | Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. |
19
The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements. The Common Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees to the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.
| (dd) | [RESERVED]. |
| (ee) | Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the date hereof, (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 date hereof. The Company’s most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act sets forth as of the end of the period covered thereby all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments that were required to be disclosed therein and there have been no material changes with respect to such disclosure except as set forth in the SEC Reports. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $250,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $250,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
20
| (ff) | Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. The term “taxes” 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 whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes. |
| (gg) | Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”). The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the FCPA. |
| (hh) | Accountants. To the knowledge and belief of the Company, the Accountants (as defined below) (i) are an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) shall express its opinion with respect to the financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. The Accountants have not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act. |
21
| (ii) | Regulation M Compliance. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Shares, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Manager in connection with the sale of the Shares. |
| (jj) | [RESERVED]. |
| (kk) | [RESERVED]. |
| (ll) | Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”). |
| (mm) | U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon the Manager’s request. |
| (nn) | Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. |
| (oo) | 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 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. |
22
| (pp) | FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge, no officer, director or any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Company’s unregistered securities has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the Manager if it learns that any officer, director or owner of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member firm. |
| (qq) | Experienced Issuer. The Company is an “experienced issuer,” as defined in Rule 5110(j)(6) of the FINRA Manual. |
| 4. | Agreements. The Company agrees with the Manager that: |
| (a) | Right to Review Amendments and Supplements to Registration Statement and Prospectus. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act in connection with the offering or the sale of Shares, the Company will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including any Prospectus Supplement) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has furnished to the Manager a copy for its review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Manager reasonably objects (provided, however, that the Company will have no obligation to provide the Manager any advance copy of a filing or to provide the Manager an opportunity to object to a filing if such filing does not name the Manager and does not relate to the transactions contemplated herein). The Company has properly completed the Prospectus, in a form approved by the Manager, and filed such Prospectus, as amended at the Execution Time, with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) by the Execution Time and will cause any supplement to the Prospectus to be properly completed, in a form approved by the Manager, and will file such supplement with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed thereby and will provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Manager of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Manager (i) when any Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) when, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) is required under the Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective (other than any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act), (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any |
23
| such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as reasonably possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its commercially reasonable efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable. |
| (b) | Subsequent Events. If, at any time on or after an Applicable Time but prior to the related Settlement Date, any event occurs as a result of which the Registration Statement or Prospectus would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Manager so that any use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus may cease until such are amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request. |
| (c) | Notification of Subsequent Filings. If, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Manager of any such event, (ii) subject to Section 4(a), prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, and (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement become effective as soon as reasonably practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request. |
| (d) | Earnings Statements. As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Manager an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4(d). |
24
| (e) | Delivery of Registration Statement. Upon the request of the Manager, the Company will furnish to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Manager or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule), as many copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Manager may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering. |
| (f) | [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] |
| (g) | Free Writing Prospectus. The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Manager, and the Manager agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Manager or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping. |
| (h) | Subsequent Equity Issuances. The Company shall not deliver any Sales Notice hereunder (and any Sales Notice previously delivered shall not apply during such three Business Days) for at least three (3) Business Days prior to any date on which the Company or any Subsidiary offers, sells, issues, contracts to sell, contracts to issue or otherwise disposes of, directly or indirectly, any other shares of Common Stock or any Common Stock Equivalents (other than the Shares), subject to Manager’s right to waive this obligation; provided that, without compliance with the foregoing obligation, the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to any employee equity plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect from time to time and described in the SEC Reports (a “Disclosed Equity Plan”) and the Company may issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents described in the SEC Reports outstanding from time to time; provided that no Common Stock Equivalents be issued during such three (3) Business Day period (other than under a Disclosed Equity Plan). |
25
| (i) | Market Manipulation. Until the termination of this Agreement, the Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation in violation of the Act, Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise violate any provision of Regulation M under the Exchange Act. |
| (j) | Notification of Incorrect Certificate. The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise the Manager promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would result in any material statement made in any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6 herein to be materially inaccurate or untrue as of the date such statement was made. |
| (k) | Certification of Accuracy of Disclosure. Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder lasting more than 30 Trading Days), and each time thereafter that (i) the Registration Statement or Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented, other than by means of Incorporated Documents, (ii) the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, (iii) the Company files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act, (iv) the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information that is furnished and not filed), if the Manager reasonably determines that the information in such Form 8-K is material and notifies the Company thereof, or (v) the Shares are delivered to the Manager as principal at the Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement (such commencement or recommencement date and each such date referred to in (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above, a “Representation Date”), unless waived by the Manager, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith a certificate dated and delivered on the Representation Date, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement which were last furnished to the Manager are true and correct at the Representation Date, as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 6(c), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of delivery of such certificate. The requirement to furnish or cause to be furnished a certificate under this Section 4(k) shall at the request of the Company be waived for any Representation Date occurring on a date on which no instruction to the Manager to sell Shares pursuant to this Agreement has been delivered by the Company or is pending. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following any Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Manager a certificate pursuant to this Section 4(k), then before the Company is entitled to deliver a Sales Notice to the Manager to sell Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall provide the Manager such certificate. |
26
| (l) | Bring Down Opinions; Negative Assurance. At each Representation Date, unless waived by the Manager, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager and to counsel to the Manager a written opinion of (i) counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”) and (ii) local counsel to the Company (“Local Counsel”), each addressed to the Manager and dated and delivered on such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, including, solely with respect to Company Counsel, a negative assurance representation. In lieu of delivering such an opinion or such opinions for Representation Dates subsequent to the commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement Company Counsel or Local Counsel, as applicable, may furnish the Manager with a letter to the effect that the Manager may rely on a prior opinion delivered under Section 6(b) or this Section 4(l) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of such subsequent Representation Date). The requirement to furnish or cause to be furnished such opinions under this Section 4(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date other than a Representation Date on which a material amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus is made or the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K or a material amendment thereto under the Exchange Act, unless the Manager reasonably requests such deliverable required under this Section 4(l) in connection with a Representation Date, upon which request such deliverables shall be deliverable hereunder. |
| (m) | Auditor Bring Down “Comfort” Letter. At each Representation Date, unless waived by the Manager, the Company shall cause (1) the Company’s auditors (the “Accountants”), or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, and (2) the Chief Financial Officer of the Company forthwith to furnish the Manager a certificate, in each case dated on such Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letters and certificate referred to in Section 6 of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letters and certificate. The requirement to furnish or cause to be furnished a “comfort” letter under this Section 4(m) shall be waived for any Representation Date other than a Representation Date on which a material amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus is made or the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K or a material amendment thereto under the Exchange Act, unless the Manager reasonably requests the deliverables required by this Section 4(m) in connection with a Representation Date, upon which request such deliverables shall be deliverable hereunder. |
27
| (n) | Secretary’s Certificate. At each Representation Date, unless waived by the Manager, the Company shall cause the Secretary of the Company forthwith to furnish the Manager with a certificate dated and delivered on the Representation Date in form reasonably satisfactory to the Manager (the “Secretary’s Certificate”). |
| (o) | Due Diligence Session. Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder lasting more than 30 Trading Days), and at each Representation Date, the Company will conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include representatives of management and the Accountants. The Company shall reasonably cooperate in a timely manner with any reasonable due diligence request from or review conducted by the Manager or its agents from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and available documents and access to appropriate corporate officers and the Company’s agents during regular business hours, and timely furnishing or causing to be furnished such certificates, letters and opinions from the Company, its officers and its agents, as the Manager may reasonably request. The Company shall reimburse the Manager for Manager’s counsel’s fees in each such due diligence update session, up to a maximum of $5,000 per update, plus any incidental expense incurred by the Manager in connection therewith. |
| (p) | Acknowledgment of Trading. The Company acknowledges that the Manager may trade in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to a Terms Agreement. |
| (q) | Disclosure of Shares Sold. The Company will disclose in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, the number of Shares sold through the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company with respect to sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter; and, if required by any subsequent change in Commission policy or request, more frequently by means of a Current Report on Form 8-K or a further Prospectus Supplement. |
| (r) | Rescission Right. If, to the knowledge of the Company, the conditions set forth in Section 6 shall not have been satisfied as of the applicable Settlement Date, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares. |
| (s) | Bring Down of Representations and Warranties. Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares). |
28
| (t) | Reservation of Shares. At the Applicable Time, the Company shall ensure that there will be available sufficient shares of Common Stock for the issuance, free of any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in treasury the aggregate number of Shares sold at the Applicable Time. |
| (u) | Listing of Shares. At the Applicable Time, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed for trading on the Trading Market and to maintain such listing. |
| (v) | Obligations Under the Exchange Act. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (as applicable, giving effect to any extension pursuant to Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act). |
| (w) | DTC Facility. The Company shall cooperate with Manager and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC. |
| (x) | Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the Net Proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Prospectus. |
| (y) | Filing of Prospectus Supplement. If any sales are made pursuant to this Agreement which are not made in “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415, including, without limitation, any Placement pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company shall file a Prospectus Supplement describing the terms of such transaction, the amount of Shares sold, the price thereof, the Manager’s compensation, and such other information as may be required pursuant to Rule 424 and Rule 430B, as applicable, within the time required by Rule 424. |
| (z) | Additional Registration Statement. To the extent that the Company does not have an effective Registration Statement covering the sales of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional shares of Common Stock necessary to complete such sales of the Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including |
29
| all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective. |
| 5. | Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including without limitation: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Shares, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Shares; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Shares; (v) the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act, if applicable, and the listing of the Shares on the Trading Market; (vi) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]; (vii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (ix) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]; (x) the reasonable fees and expenses of the Manager’s counsel, not to exceed $100,000 (excluding any periodic due diligence fees provided for under Section 4(n)), which shall be paid upon the Execution Time; and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder. In addition, the parties hereto agree that any fees and expenses of the Manager’s counsel to be paid by the Company with respect to any non-ordinary course Representation Date, irrespective of time, shall be negotiated and agreed in good faith between the parties hereto. |
| 6. | Conditions to the Obligations of the Manager. The obligations of the Manager under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, each Representation Date, and as of each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Time of Delivery (subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4(1) and Section 4(m)), (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions: |
30
| (a) | Filing of Prospectus Supplement. The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, required by Rule 424 to be filed with the Commission have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) with respect to any sale of Shares; each Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed in the manner required by Rule 424(b) within the time period required hereunder and under the Act; any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened. |
| (b) | Delivery of Opinion. The Company shall have caused Company Counsel and Local Counsel to furnish to the Manager their respective opinions and, solely with respect to Company Counsel, negative assurance representation, dated as of such date and addressed to the Manager in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Manager. In addition, the Manager shall have received negative assurance representation from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel to the Manager (i) as of the Execution Time and (ii) on each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver negative assurance representation pursuant to Section 4(l) and for which no waiver is applicable. |
| (c) | Delivery of Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Manager a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and that: |
| (i) | the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of such date with the same effect as if made on such date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such date; |
| (ii) | no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and |
| (iii) | since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, there has been no Material Adverse Effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. |
| (d) | Delivery of Secretary’s Certificate. The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Manager the Secretary’s Certificate, dated as of such date. |
31
| (e) | Delivery of Accountants’ “Comfort” Letter. The Company shall have requested and caused the Accountants to have furnished to the Manager letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the Manager), dated as of such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and that they have performed a review of any unaudited interim financial information of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and providing customary “comfort” as to such review in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager. |
| (f) | No Material Adverse Event. Since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, except as otherwise stated therein, there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease in previously reported results specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any material development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Manager, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Incorporated Documents and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). |
| (g) | Payment of All Fees. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Shares within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Act and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or in a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b). |
| (h) | No FINRA Objections. FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements under this Agreement. |
| (i) | Shares Listed on Trading Market. The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the Trading Market, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Manager. |
| (j) | Other Assurances. Prior to each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, as applicable, the Company shall have furnished to the Manager such further information, certificates and documents as the Manager may reasonably request. |
32
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, this Agreement and all obligations of the Manager hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as applicable, by the Manager. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered to the office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Manager, at One Manhattan West, New York, New York 10001, Attn: Michael J. Zeidel, Esq., on each such date as provided in this Agreement.
| 7. | Indemnification and Contribution. |
| (a) | Indemnification by Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Manager and each person who controls the Manager within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Shares as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have. |
| (b) | Indemnification by Manager. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Manager, but only with reference to written information relating to the Manager furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity; provided, however, that in no case shall the Manager be responsible for any amount in excess of the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Manager may otherwise have. |
33
| (c) | Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. An indemnified party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder. |
34
| (d) | Contribution. In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Manager agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and the Manager may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Manager on the other from the offering of the Shares; provided, however, that in no case shall the Manager be responsible for any amount in excess of the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Manager severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Manager on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Manager shall be deemed to be equal to the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder as determined by this Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Manager on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Manager agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls the Manager within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of the Manager shall have the same rights to contribution as the Manager, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d). |
35
| 8. | Termination. |
| (a) | The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time upon prior written notice. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (ii) the provisions of Sections 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. |
| (b) | The Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. |
| (c) | This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such date that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Sections 8(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 shall remain in full force and effect. |
| (d) | Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that no such termination shall be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares effected prior to such termination, such sale of the Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement. |
| (e) | In the case of any purchase of Shares by the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Manager pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination, in the absolute discretion of the Manager, by prompt oral notice given to the Company prior to the Time of Delivery relating to such Shares, if any, and confirmed promptly by facsimile or electronic mail, if since the time of execution of the Terms Agreement and prior to such delivery and payment, (i) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the Trading Market or trading in securities generally on the Trading Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Manager, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). |
36
| 9. | Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Manager set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by the Manager or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares. |
| 10. | Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and will be mailed, delivered, e-mailed or facsimiled to the addresses of the Company and the Manager, respectively, set forth on the signature page hereto. |
| 11. | Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. |
| 12. | No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Manager is acting solely as sales agent and/or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities and not as a fiduciary of the Company, and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Manager in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Manager has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. |
| 13. | Integration. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Manager with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that certain engagement letter, dated as of October 19, 2023, by and between the Company and the Manager remains in full force and effect and supersedes shall continue to govern the subject matter thereof and supersedes any inconsistent provision hereof. |
| 14. | Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Manager. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right. |
37
| 15. | Applicable Law. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York. Each of the Company and the Manager: (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be instituted exclusively in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (ii) waives any objection which it may have or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Company and the Manager further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that service of process upon the Company mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Manager mailed by certified mail to the Manager’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Manager, in any such suit, action or proceeding. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provision of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding. |
| 16. | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE MANAGER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY TERMS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. |
| 17. | Counterparts and Electronic Signatures. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties hereto need not sign the same counterpart. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including email delivery of a “.pdf” format data file or any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes. |
| 18. | Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. |
[Signature pages follow]
38
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the Manager.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| CLEANSPARK, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Zachary Bradford | |
| Name: Zachary Bradford | ||
| Title: CEO | ||
| Address for Notice: | ||
| 1185 S. 1800 West, Suite 3 | ||
| Woods Cross, Utah 84087 | ||
| Attention: Zachary Bradford, CEO | ||
| Email: zach@cleanspark.com | ||
| With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | ||
| 525 West Monroe Street | ||
| Chicago, Illinois 60661 | ||
| Attention: Mark D. Wood and Elizabeth C. McNichol | ||
| Email: mark.wood@katten.com and elizabeth.mcnichol@katten.com | ||
| The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above. | ||
[Signature Page to ATM Agreement]
| H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO., LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Mark W. Viklund | |
| Name: Mark W. Viklund | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Address for Notice: | ||
| 430 Park Avenue | ||
| New York, New York 10022 | ||
| Attention: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Email: notices@hcwco.com | ||
| With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | ||
| One Manhattan West | ||
| New York, New York 10001 | ||
| Attention: Michael J. Zeidel, Esq. | ||
| Email: michael.zeidel@skadden.com | ||
| The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above. | ||
[Signature Page to ATM Agreement]
Form of Terms Agreement
ANNEX I
CLEANSPARK, INC.
TERMS AGREEMENT
Dear Sirs:
CleanSpark, Inc. (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the At The Market Offering Agreement, dated January 5, 2024 (the “At The Market Offering Agreement”), between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“Manager”), to issue and sell to Manager the securities specified in the Schedule I hereto (the “Purchased Shares”).
Each of the provisions of the At The Market Offering Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein (except for any of such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date) shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery, except that each representation and warranty in Section 3 of the At The Market Offering Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the At The Market Offering Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Shares.
An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the At The Market Offering Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares, in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the At The Market Offering Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule I hereto.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the At The Market Offering Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the Manager and the Company.
[Signature page follows]
| CLEANSPARK, INC. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| ACCEPTED as of the date first written above. | ||
| H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO., LLC | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Terms Agreement]
Schedule I
Exhibit 5.1
|
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP | |
| 702.382.2101 main | ||
| 100 North City Parkway, Suite 1600 | ||
| Las Vegas, Nevada 89106 |
January 5, 2024
CleanSpark, Inc.
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638
Henderson, Nevada 89052
To the addressee set forth above:
We have acted as local Nevada counsel to CleanSpark, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company on the date hereof of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (including the Prospectus (as defined below) contained therein, the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration for offering and sale from time to time by the Company of an indeterminate number of the following securities of the Company, with an aggregate offering price of up to $500,000,000, pursuant to the following prospectus included therein: (A) the base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), relating to (i) shares (the “Base Common Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), which Base Common Shares include any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the (x) conversion or exchange, as applicable, of any Preferred Shares (as defined below) or Debt Securities (as defined below) convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock and (y) exercise of any Warrants (as defined below) or Subscription Rights (as defined below) to purchase shares of Common Stock; (ii) shares (the “Preferred Shares”, and together with the Base Common Shares, the “Base Shares”) of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) in one or more series, which Preferred Shares include any shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the (x) conversion or exchange, as applicable, of any Debt Securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of Preferred Stock and (y) exercise of any Warrants or Subscription Rights to purchase shares of Preferred Stock; (iii) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to one or more indentures, in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (each, as amended or supplemented through and including the date of each issuance of Debt Securities, an “Indenture”), which Debt Securities include any Debt Securities issuable upon the exercise of any Warrants or Subscription Rights to purchase Debt Securities; (iv) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”), issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”); (v) subscription rights to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities (the “Subscription Rights”), to be evidenced pursuant to the applicable subscription rights certificate (each, a “Subscription Rights Certificate”); and (vi) units (the “Units” and together with the Base Shares, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Subscription Rights, the “Base Securities”) comprising any combination of the foregoing Base Securities, issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”); and (B) the sales agreement prospectus supplement (the Base Prospectus, as so supplemented, the “Prospectus”), relating to shares (the “ATM Shares,” and together with the Base Common Shares, the “Common Shares”) of Common Stock, with a maximum aggregate offering price of $500,000,000, issuable from time to time pursuant to that certain At The Market Offering Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2024 (the “Sales Agreement”), by and between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, as manager. The Base Securities and the ATM Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Securities”. This opinion letter is being delivered at your request pursuant to the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.
In our capacity as such counsel, we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the registration of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement. For purposes of this opinion letter, and except to the extent set forth in the opinions expressed below, we have assumed that all such proceedings have been or will be timely completed in the manner presently proposed in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus.
For purposes of issuing this opinion letter, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies of (i) the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, (ii) the Company’s articles of incorporation and bylaws, each as amended to date (collectively, the “Governing Documents”), and (iii) such agreements (including the Sales Agreement), instruments, corporate records (including resolutions of the board of directors and any committee thereof) and other documents, or forms thereof, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. For purposes of issuing this opinion letter, we have also obtained from officers and other representatives and agents of the Company and from public officials, and have relied upon, such certificates, representations and assurances, and public filings, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate.
www.bhfs.com
CleanSpark, Inc.
January 5, 2024
Page 2
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we have, with your permission, assumed without independent verification:
(A) with respect to the opinions set forth in numbered opinion paragraphs 1 and 2 of this opinion letter, that (i) each agreement, instrument or other document (or form thereof) we have reviewed or which is referenced herein has been or will be duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto to the extent due execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof; (ii) any and all agreements, instruments or other documents relating to the offering, issuance or sale of any Base Securities, including any and all Indentures (including any officer’s certificate(s) or supplemental indenture(s) relating thereto), Warrant Agreements (including each warrant certificate contemplated thereby), Subscription Rights Certificates and Unit Agreements (including each unit certificate contemplated thereby) (collectively, the “Securities Documents”), have been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) each of the Securities Documents, the form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, has been or will be executed in substantially the form of such exhibit; (iv) the obligations of each party set forth in the Securities Documents are or will be its valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; (v) no Base Securities have been or will be offered, issued or sold in violation or breach of, nor will any such offering, issuance or sale result in a default under, the Governing Documents, any agreement or instrument that is binding upon the Company, or any requirement or restriction imposed by any governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body; (vi) the Company has taken or will take all corporate action required in connection with the authorization, offering, issuance and sale of any Base Securities (including, without limitation, any Base Securities or other securities of the Company underlying, or issued or sold pursuant to or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of, any Base Securities or any other agreement or arrangement), all Base Securities have been or will be offered, issued and sold in compliance with all applicable laws, the Governing Documents and the relevant Securities Documents in effect at all relevant times, and any and all certificates evidencing any Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Warrants, Subscription Rights or Units are or will be properly signed, registered and delivered, as necessary, in accordance with all applicable laws, the Governing Documents and the relevant Securities Documents (collectively, “Corporate Proceedings”); (vii) the voting rights, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions, privileges and relative rights of each series of Preferred Stock (including the Preferred Shares) have been or will be fixed in a certificate of designation relating to such series, prepared in the form prescribed by applicable law, duly signed by an officer of the Company and properly filed with the Nevada Secretary of State (each, a “Certificate of Designation”), and at no time will the total number of shares of Preferred Stock designated pursuant to all then-effective Certificates of Designation exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock then authorized under the Company’s articles of incorporation; (viii) after any issuance of Preferred Shares, the total number of issued and outstanding shares of each series thereof, together with the total number of shares of such series then reserved for issuance or obligated to be issued by the Company pursuant to any agreement or arrangement (including pursuant to the terms of any Base Securities), or otherwise, will not exceed the total number of shares of such series then designated under the Certificate of Designation for such series; and (ix) after any issuance of Common Shares, the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, together with the total number of shares of Common Stock then reserved for issuance or obligated to be issued by the Company pursuant to any agreement or arrangement (including pursuant to the terms of any Base Securities), or otherwise, will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock then authorized under the Company’s articles of incorporation;
(B) with respect to the opinion set forth in numbered opinion paragraph 3 of this opinion letter, that (i) the obligations of each party set forth in the Sales Agreement are or will be its valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their terms; (ii) prior to each issuance of any ATM Shares, the placement notice under the Sales Agreement with respect to such ATM Shares will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with the Sales Agreement; (iii) no ATM Shares have been or will be offered, issued or sold in violation or breach of, nor will any such offering, issuance or sale result in a default under, the Governing Documents, any agreement or instrument that is binding upon the Company, or any requirement or restriction imposed by any governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body; and (iv) after any issuance of ATM Shares, the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, together with the total number of shares of Common Stock then reserved for issuance or obligated to be issued by the Company pursuant to any agreement (including, without limitation, the Sales Agreement) or arrangement or otherwise, will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock then authorized under the Company’s articles of incorporation; and
(C) with respect to all opinions set forth in this opinion letter, that (i) the statements of fact and representations and warranties set forth in the documents we have reviewed are, or at all relevant times will be, true and correct as to factual matters; (ii) each natural person executing a document has or will have sufficient legal capacity to do so; (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, the signatures on all documents we reviewed are genuine, and any document submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or facsimile copies conform to the original document; and (iv) all corporate records made available to us by the Company, and all public records we have reviewed, are accurate and complete.
CleanSpark, Inc.
January 5, 2024
Page 3
We are qualified to practice law in the State of Nevada. The opinions set forth herein are expressly limited to and based exclusively on the general corporate laws of the State of Nevada, and we do not purport to be experts on, or to express any opinion with respect to the applicability thereto or the effect thereon of, the laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion concerning, and we assume no responsibility as to laws or judicial decisions related to, or any orders, consents or other authorizations or approvals as may be required by, any federal laws, rules or regulations, including, without limitation, any federal securities laws, rules or regulations, or any state securities or “blue sky” laws, rules or regulations.
Based upon the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and having regard to legal considerations and other information that we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
1. If and when all Corporate Proceedings have been taken and completed in respect of any offering, issuance or sale of Base Shares, and to the extent such Base Shares have been issued in accordance with all applicable terms and conditions set forth in the relevant Securities Documents and any relevant Certificates of Designation, including proper conversion, exchange or exercise of any relevant Base Securities, and payment in full of all consideration required therefor as authorized by such Corporate Proceedings and prescribed by such Securities Documents, Certificates of Designation and other Base Securities, as applicable, such Base Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2. If and when all Corporate Proceedings have been taken and completed in respect of any offering, issuance or sale of Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights or Units, such Base Securities will be duly authorized.
3. If, when and to the extent any ATM Shares are issued in accordance with the terms of, and in the manner contemplated by, the Sales Agreement, including payment in full to the Company of the consideration for such ATM Shares as required thereunder, and in accordance with the proceedings described in, and in the manner contemplated by, the Registration Statement, such ATM Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The opinions expressed herein are based upon the applicable laws of the State of Nevada and the facts in existence on the date of this opinion letter. In delivering this opinion letter to you, we disclaim any obligation to update or supplement the opinions set forth herein or to apprise you of any changes in any laws or facts after such time as the Registration Statement is declared effective. No opinion is offered or implied as to any matter, and no inference may be drawn, beyond the strict scope of the specific issues expressly addressed by the opinions set forth herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm therein under the heading “Legal Matters”. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Exhibit 5.2
|
525 W. Monroe Street Chicago, IL 60661-3693 312.902.5200 tel 312.902.1061 fax www.kattenlaw.com |
January 5, 2024
CleanSpark, Inc.
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Suite A - 638
Henderson, Nevada 89052
| Re: | CleanSpark, Inc. |
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to CleanSpark, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on the date hereof pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), with respect to the registration and public offering by the Company, from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act, of an indeterminate number and amount of securities, consisting of the following:
| (i) | common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company (“Common Stock”); |
| (ii) | preferred stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company, of one or more classes or series (“Preferred Stock”); |
| (iii) | senior debt securities of the Company (the “Senior Debt Securities”) and subordinated debt securities of the Company (the “Subordinated Debt Securities” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”); |
| (iv) | warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities (“Warrants”); |
| (v) | subscription rights to purchase shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities (“Subscription Rights”); and |
| (vi) | units comprised of one or more of the securities described above in any combination (“Units”). |
The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights and Units are referred to herein as the “Securities.”
The Registration Statement also includes a prospectus supplement (the “ATM Prospectus Supplement”) relating to the offer and sale of shares of the Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up $500,000,000 in accordance with the At the Market Offering Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2024, by and between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “ATM Agreement,” and the offering of all such Common Stock thereunder, collectively, the “ATM Offering”).
KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN LLP
CENTURY CITY CHARLOTTE CHICAGO DALLAS HOUSTON LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK ORANGE COUNTY SHANGHAI WASHINGTON, DC
A limited liability partnership including professional corporations
LONDON: KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN UK LLP
The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to a Senior Debt Indenture (the “Senior Indenture”), and the Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to a Subordinated Debt Indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture”), the forms of which have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Indentures”) and are to be entered into, in each case, between the Company and a trustee (the “Trustee”).
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act in respect of the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights and Units.
In connection with this opinion, we have relied as to matters of fact, without investigation, upon certificates of public officials and officers of the Company. We have also relied, to the extent we have determined such reliance to be appropriate, without independent investigation and with the permission of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, on the opinion of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, dated of even date herewith, as Nevada counsel to the Company, which is filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such instruments, documents and records as we have deemed relevant and necessary to examine for the purpose of this opinion, including (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the form of Senior Indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and (iii) the form of Subordinated Indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
In connection with this opinion, we have assumed at all applicable times the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents and records that we have reviewed, the genuineness of all signatures, the due authority of the parties signing such documents, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or reproduced copies. We have assumed that the Company is, and at all times will be, duly organized and in good standing under the laws of Nevada and has or will have the corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under and, in respect of, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Subscription Rights and the Units, and under and in respect of all agreements and instruments under which any such Securities shall be offered or issued, and with respect to all documents executed or to be executed by parties, we have assumed that such parties had or will have the power and authority, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the valid existence of such parties, the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents.
In addition, we have assumed that (i) any amendments to the Registration Statement will, to the extent applicable, have become effective under the Act and the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereof) shall not have been terminated or rescinded, (ii) a prospectus supplement and any required pricing supplement will have been timely filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby, (iii) all Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights and Units will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable Federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement, (iv) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights or Units offered will be duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (v) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Securities being offered will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise, (vi) there will be no terms or provisions contained in any agreement pursuant to which any Securities are to be issued that would affect the opinions rendered herein, (vii) any agreement pursuant to which any Securities shall be offered or issued shall be governed
2
by New York law, (viii) the Company’s entry into the Senior Indenture in the form of Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement will be duly authorized and approved, and the Senior Indenture will be entered into by the Company and the Trustee in the form of Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, (ix) the Company’s entry into the Subordinated Indenture in the form of Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement will be duly authorized and approved, and the Subordinated Indenture will be entered into by the Company and the Trustee in the form of Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement, and (x) all actions are taken by the Company (A) so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and (B) so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
Our opinions set forth below are subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory and other laws regarding fraudulent conveyances, fraudulent transfers and preferential transfers), (ii) the exercise of judicial discretion and the application of principles of equity, good faith, fair dealing, reasonableness, conscionability and materiality (regardless of whether the enforceability of the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights or Units, to the extent applicable, are considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (iii) the possible unenforceability of indemnity, exculpation and contribution provisions, (iv) the effect and possible unenforceability of choice of law provisions, (v) the possible unenforceability of provisions purporting to waive rights or defenses where such waiver is against public policy, (vi) the possible unenforceability of provisions purporting to exonerate any party for negligence or malfeasance, or to negate any remedy of any party for fraud, (vii) the possible unenforceability of forum selection clauses, (viii) the possible unenforceability of provisions permitting modification of an agreement only in writing, and (ix) the possible unenforceability of provisions purporting to allow action without regard to mitigation of damages.
On the basis of the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, we hereby are of the opinion that:
(1) Debt Securities. With respect to any series of Debt Securities to be issued under either the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, when (a) the Trustee is qualified to act as Trustee under the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, (b) the Trustee has duly executed and delivered the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, (c) the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee, (d) the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (e) the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof (such Board of Directors or committee being hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (f) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with (i) the provisions of the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, and (ii) the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and duly executed and delivered by the Company, upon payment of the consideration therefor as provided therein, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
(2) Warrants. With respect to any Warrants, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Warrants, the terms, execution and delivery of the warrant agreement relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”), the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (b) the Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by all of the parties thereto, and (c) such Warrants have been duly executed, attested, issued and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company in accordance with (i) the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement and (ii) the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the
3
Board and duly executed and delivered by the Company, or upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of other Securities in accordance with the terms of such Securities or the instrument governing such Securities providing for such conversion, exercise or exchange as approved by the Board, upon payment of the consideration therefor as provided therein, such Warrants and the related Warrant Agreement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
(3) Subscription Rights. With respect to any Subscription Rights, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Subscription Rights, the terms, execution and delivery of the subscription agreement relating to the Subscription Rights (the “Subscription Agreement”), the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (b) the Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by all of the parties thereto, and (c) such Subscription Rights have been duly executed, attested, issued and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company in accordance with (i) the provisions of the applicable Subscription Agreement and (ii) the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and duly executed and delivered by the Company, or upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of other Securities in accordance with the terms of such Securities or the instrument governing such Securities providing for such conversion, exercise or exchange as approved by the Board, upon payment of the consideration therefor as provided therein, such Subscription Rights and the related Subscription Agreement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
(4) Units. With respect to any Units, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Units, the terms, execution and delivery of the unit agreement relating to the Units (the “Unit Agreement”), the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (b) the Unit Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by all of the parties thereto, (c) such Units have been duly executed, attested, issued and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company in accordance with (i) the provisions of the applicable Unit Agreement and (ii) the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board and duly executed and delivered by the Company, or upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of other Securities in accordance with the terms of such Securities or the instrument governing such Securities providing for such conversion, exercise or exchange as approved by the Board, and (d) the Securities to be issued as part of such Units have been duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance, upon payment of the consideration therefor as provided therein, such Units and the related Unit Agreement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
Our opinions expressed above are limited to all of the limitations and qualifications contained herein. Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of New York, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. In addition, we express no opinion herein concerning any statutes, ordinances, administrative decisions, rules or regulations of any county, town, municipality or special political subdivision (whether created or enabled through legislative action at the federal, state or regional level). This opinion is given as of the date hereof and as of the effective date of the Registration Statement and we assume no obligation to advise you of changes that may thereafter occur or be brought to our attention.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Act or included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
4
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN LLP |
| KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN LLP |
5
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated December 1, 2023 with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements of CleanSpark, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) (which report expresses an unqualified opinion) and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which report expresses an adverse opinion) included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023.
We also consent to the references to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP
www.malonebailey.com
Houston, Texas
January 5, 2024