Co-Diagnostics, Inc S-3, filed Mar 16, 2023
Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (CODX)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Utah | 3841 | 46-2609396 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
2401 S. Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84109
(801) 438-1036
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Brian Brown
Chief Financial Officer
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
2401 S. Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84109
(801) 438-1036
(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
David F. Marx Daniel P. Lyman Dorsey & Whitney LLP 111 South Main Street, Suite 2100 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 |
Kevin Ontiveros Vice President and General Counsel Co-Diagnostics, Inc. 2401 S. Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84109 (801) 438-1036 |
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 upon filing with the Commission 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 Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses:
| ● | a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $150,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, units and/or rights; and | |
| ● | an equity distribution agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $50,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock that may be issued and sold under an equity distribution agreement with Piper Sandler & Co. |
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 equity distribution agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus.
The $50,000,000 of shares of common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under the equity distribution agreement prospectus is included in the $150,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the equity distribution agreement, any portion of the $50,000,000 included in the equity distribution agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the equity distribution agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and an accompanying prospectus supplement, and if no shares are sold under the equity distribution agreement, the full $50,000,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and an accompanying prospectus supplement.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED March 16, 2023
PROSPECTUS
$150,000,000
Common Stock, Preferred Stock,
Debt Securities,
Warrants, Units and Rights
From time to time, we may offer and sell up to $150,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in combination. We may also offer shares of common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, shares of common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide specific terms of the securities offered in a supplement to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. A prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you invest in any securities. This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by an applicable prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX.” On March 15, 2023, the last reported sale price for our common stock was $2.91 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any securities market or other exchange of the securities, if any, covered by the prospectus supplement.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. YOU SHOULD REVIEW CAREFULLY THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DESCRIBED UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 6 AND CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND ANY RELATED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS AND UNDER SIMILAR HEADINGS IN THE OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS.
The securities may be sold directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any underwriters or agents are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters or agents and any applicable commissions or discounts and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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In this prospectus, unless otherwise stated or unless the context otherwise requires, all references to “Co-Dx,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” or “the Company” in this prospectus refer collectively to Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation, and its subsidiaries.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this shelf registration, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the 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 and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation by Reference.”
You should rely only on the information that we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. We have not authorized anyone else to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is delivered or securities sold on a later date.
This document contains references to trademarks, trade names and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Prospectus Summary” and “Risk Factors.”
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated herein regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, plans, prospects and objectives are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
In addition, past financial and/or operating performance is not necessarily a reliable indicator of future performance, and you should not use our historical performance to anticipate results or future period trends. We can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this prospectus, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including the risks of investing discussed under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6, the information incorporated by reference, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The Company
We develop, manufacture and sell reagents used for diagnostic tests that function via the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA), including robust and innovative molecular tools for detection of infectious diseases, liquid biopsy for cancer screening, and agricultural applications. In connection with the sale of our tests we may sell diagnostic equipment from other manufacturers as self-contained lab systems (which we refer to as the “MDx Device”). We are also developing a unique, groundbreaking portable PCR device and proprietary test cups (the “Co-Dx PCR Home™ platform”) that have been designed to bring affordable, reliable polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) to patients in point-of-care and even at-home settings. This platform is subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) review and is not available for sale at the time of this filing. There is no guarantee that our Co-Dx PCR Home platform will receive the necessary regulatory approvals for commercialization, or that, if regulatory approval is received, we will be able to successfully commercialize this platform.
Our diagnostics systems enable dependable, low-cost, molecular testing for organisms and genetic diseases by automating or simplifying historically complex procedures in both the development and administration of tests. CODX’s technical advance involves a novel, patented approach to PCR test design of primer and probe structure (“CoPrimers™”) that eliminates one of the key vexing issues of PCR amplification: the exponential growth of primer-dimer pairs (false positives and false negatives) which adversely interferes with identification of the target DNA/RNA.
We believe our proprietary molecular diagnostics technology is paving the way for innovation in disease detection and life sciences research through our enhanced detection of genetic material. For various reasons, including owning our own platform, we believe we will be able to accomplish this faster and more economically than some competitors, allowing for significant margins while still positioning ourselves as a low-cost provider of molecular diagnostics and screening services.
In addition, continued development has demonstrated the unique properties of our CoPrimer technology that we believe makes it ideally suited for a variety of applications where specificity is key to optimal results, including multiplexing several targets, enhanced Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (“SNP”) detection and enrichment for next generation sequencing.
Our scientists use the complex mathematics of DNA/RNA PCR test design to engineer and optimize PCR tests and to automate algorithms that rapidly screen millions of possible options to pinpoint the optimum design. Dr. Brent Satterfield, our founder, developed the intellectual property we use in our business, consisting of the predictive mathematical algorithms and patented molecular structure used in the testing process, which together represent a major advance in PCR testing systems. CODX technologies are now protected by more than 20 granted or pending US and foreign patents, as well as certain trade secrets and copyrights. Ownership of our proprietary platform permits us the advantage of avoiding payment of patent royalties required by other PCR test systems, which may allow the sale of diagnostic PCR tests at a lower price than competitors, while enabling us to maintain profit margins.
Our proprietary test design process involves identifying the optimal locations on the target genes for amplification and pair the locations with the optimized primer and probe structure to achieve outputs that meet the design input requirements identified from market research. This is done by following planned and documented processes, procedures and testing. In other words, we use the data resulting from our tests to verify whether we succeeded in designing what we intended. Verification involves a series of testing that concludes that the product is ready to proceed to validation in an evaluation either in our laboratory or in an independent laboratory setting using initial production tests to confirm that the product as designed meets the user needs.
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We may either sell or lease the MDx Device to labs and diagnostic centers, through sale or lease agreements, and sell the reagents that comprise our proprietary tests to those laboratories and testing facilities.
Using our proprietary test design system and proprietary reagents, we have designed and obtained regulatory approval in the European Community and/or in India to sell PCR diagnostic tests for the detection of COVID-19, influenza, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus, malaria, chikungunya, dengue, and the Zika virus. In the United States, we obtained Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) for our Logix Smart™ COVID-19 detection test from the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and we sell that test to qualified labs. In addition, our COVID-19 detection test and certain of our other suite of COVID-19 products have been approved for sale in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico by the regulatory bodies in those countries and have been registered for sale in many more countries.
In addition to testing for infectious disease, the technology lends itself to identifying any section of a DNA or RNA strand that describes any type of genetic trait, which creates several significant applications. We, in conjunction with our customers, are active in designing and licensing tests that identify genetic traits in plant and animal genomes. We also have three multiplexed tests developed to test mosquitos for the identification of diseases carried by the mosquitos to enable municipalities to concentrate their efforts in managing mosquito populations on the specific areas known to be breeding the mosquitos that carry deadly viruses.
On January 23, 2020, we announced the completion of the principal design work for a PCR test for COVID-19, intended to address the potential need for detection of the virus. This test features our patented CoPrimers technology, and was designed using our proprietary software system, following the guidelines published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
On February 24, 2020, we announced that this test had obtained regulatory clearance to be sold as an in-vitro diagnostic (“IVD”) for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in markets that accept CE-marking as valid regulatory approval and became available for purchase from our Utah-based ISO-13485:2016 certified facility.
We commenced sales of the COVID-19 tests in February and March of 2020 to international customers and to date have since sold over 34,000,000 of this and other COVID tests in numerous countries around the world through an expanding distributor network.
On April 6, 2020, we announced that we had received an EUA from the FDA allowing us to commence sales of our Logix Smart COVID-19 test to laboratories certified by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Clinical Laboratories Improvements Act (“CLIA”) to accept human samples for diagnostics testing throughout the United States and have sold our Logix Smart COVID-19 test to such CLIA labs since that time.
Because we believe that testing for COVID-19 will continue to be a consideration for public health worldwide, we have initiated the Co-Dx PCR Home platform to facilitate frequent testing in homes, schools, businesses, and the hospitality industry. We believe this may be accomplished through the development of a compact, relatively low-cost testing device, easy to use by non-professionals, that can provide PCR test results in around 30 minutes. The initial project built on this platform, an at-home and point-of-care COVID-19 PCR test, was ultimately facilitated by our development of a saliva or nasal swab-based PCR test that does not require the RNA/DNA extraction. While we believe the final result is believed to be approximately equivalent to those processed by a high-complexity clinical laboratory, it our COVID-19 PCR test has the advantages of increased speed and ease of handling thanks to lyophilization (or freeze-drying) of our testing reagents to allow for stability at room temperatures.
On February 15, 2021, we engaged the services of a group of professionals at Idaho Molecular, Inc. (“IdMo”) and Advanced Conceptions, Inc. (“ACI”), with the expertise to develop the hardware for a device using our CoPrimers as the reagent chemistry. In December 2021, we announced the closing of the acquisitions of IdMo and ACI along with all existing and future assets and intellectual property related to the platform and device. It is expected that the device and test will be available to homes, schools, offices, and the travel industry among other locations, at a cost that will allow screening frequently to prevent spread of the COVID-19 virus in the future, as well as other diseases as additional single- and multiplex tests are developed and validated for use on the device. The device would also be available to test for other pathogens detectable through saliva or other samples as we develop those tests and offer them to the marketplace. All such tests will be subject to regulatory approval.
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On February 22, 2023, we announced that clinical evaluations for the device and its initial test for COVID-19 had begun. Because the evaluations are dependent on identifying and enrolling a particular number of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19-positive and -negative patients at testing sites, the Company did not provide projected timelines for completion at that time.
Corporate Information
Our headquarters is located at 2401 S. Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109 and our telephone number is (801) 438-1036. We maintain a website at https://www.co-dx.com. Information on the website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this prospectus.
Additional Information
For additional information related to our business and operations, please refer to the reports incorporated herein by reference, as described under the caption “Incorporation by Reference” on page 28 of this prospectus.
The Securities We May Offer
We may offer shares of common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities and warrants to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in units, and rights to purchase shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, or warrants, with a total value of up to $150,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement and related free writing prospectus, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. Each time we offer a type or series of securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Nasdaq Capital Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX”. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our 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 Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference, and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. 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.
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Except as described in any applicable prospectus, prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including expanding our sales and marketing, capital expenditures, facilities expansion, and development of existing and new products. We may use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire complementary business or products, technologies or businesses or to repay indebtedness we may incur from time to time; however, we currently have no binding agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions or to make any such indebtedness repayments from the proceeds of this offering, although we do look for such acquisition opportunities.
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As of the date of this prospectus, our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, authorize us to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. The following is a summary of the rights of our common and preferred stock and some of the provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, our Amended and Restated Bylaws, and the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (the “URBCA”). Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of each of which has been incorporated as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We urge to you read each of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws described herein in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities.
Common Stock
As of December 31, 2022 there were 30,872,607 shares of common stock outstanding. In addition, as of December 31, 2022 there were: (i) 1,040,572 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options; (ii) 2,426,725 shares of common stock subject to unvested outstanding restricted stock units; (iii) 6,210,790 shares of common stock available for future issuance under 2015 Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan; and 485,000 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under outstanding common stock purchase warrants.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote can elect all of the directors standing for election. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and any shares of our common stock to be sold pursuant to this prospectus will be fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of common stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations and after liquidation payments to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer LLC located at 18 Lafayette Pl, Woodmere, New York 11598. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX”.
Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Shareholders’ rights and related matters are governed by our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, Amended and Restated Bylaws and Utah law, including the URBCA. An amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, must be approved by holders of a majority of our outstanding common and our preferred stock, if any, except for certain limited amendments that can be effected by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office or by our shareholders at any annual meeting of shareholders, or special meeting of shareholders called for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class.
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Board of Directors
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the number of directors must fall within a range between three (3) and ten (10), the exact number to be fixed by resolution of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has adopted a resolution limiting the current size of the board to 5 persons.
Preferred Stock
Our Board of Directors has the authority under our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, without further action by our shareholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 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 rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the shares of each wholly unissued series, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference and sinking fund terms, 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).
Our Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could have the effect of restricting dividends on our common stock, diluting the voting power of our common stock, impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock or otherwise adversely affecting the rights of holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. As of December 31, 2022, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding, and we have no current plans to issue any preferred stock.
Future Preferred Stock
Our Board of Directors will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series that we sell under this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. This description will include:
| ● | the title and stated value; | |
| ● | the number of shares we are offering; | |
| ● | the liquidation preference per share; | |
| ● | the purchase price per share; | |
| ● | the dividend rate per share, dividend period and payment dates and method of calculation for dividends; | |
| ● | whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; | |
| ● | our right, if any, to defer payment of dividends and the maximum length of any such deferral period; | |
| ● | 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 shares of common stock or other securities of ours, including warrants, and, if applicable, the conversion period, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances it may be adjusted; | |
| ● | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange period, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and under what circumstances it may be adjusted; | |
| ● | voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; | |
| ● | preemptive rights, if any; | |
| ● | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; | |
| ● | a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
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| ● | 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 issuances of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock being issued as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and | |
| ● | any other specific terms, rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications or restrictions of the preferred stock. |
When we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.
Warrants
The following summary of the material terms of our existing warrants is not intended to be complete and is qualified by reference to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws and the warrant-related documents described herein which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read each of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws and the warrant-related documents described herein in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of the warrants.
Contingent Consideration Warrants
On December 31, 2021, we completed our acquisitions (the “Acquisitions”) of Advanced Conceptions, Inc. (“ACI”) and Idaho Molecular Inc. (“IdMo”), pursuant to (i) an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “ACI Merger Agreement”) with ACI Acquisition Corp., an Idaho corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary, ACI, and the Company Representative named therein and (ii) an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “IM Merger Agreement” and together with the ACI Merger Agreement, the “Merger Agreements”) with IDMO Acquisition Corp., an Idaho corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“IM Merger Sub”), IdMo, and the Company Representative named therein.
Upon the completion of the Acquisitions, all outstanding shares of ACI and Idaho Molecular common stock were initially exchanged for approximately 3.2 million shares of common stock and contingent consideration that includes up to approximately 1.4 million shares of common stock and approximately 456,000 warrants to purchase shares of common stock. During 2022, we finalized negotiations with one remaining shareholder of ACI. Following the resolution with the remaining shareholder, the total number of shares issued as purchase consideration in the Acquisitions was approximately 3.3 million shares. Additionally, the aggregate purchase consideration for the Acquisitions included contingent consideration of up to approximately 1.4 million shares and 465,000 warrants (the “Contingent Consideration Warrants”) to purchase shares of common stock. The contingent consideration is based on the achievement of certain milestones, which include regulatory approval for identified products, as well as production and net revenue targets.
The material terms and provisions of the Contingent Consideration Warrants are summarized below. This summary of some provisions of the Contingent Consideration Warrants is not complete. For the complete terms of the Contingent Consideration Warrants, you should refer to the warrant agreements filed as Exhibit 4.7 and Exhibit 4.8 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Pursuant to the warrant agreements between us and VStock Transfer, LLC, as warrant agent, the Contingent Consideration Warrants were issued in book-entry form.
Exercise. The Contingent Consideration Warrants have an initial exercise price equal to $9.125 per share. The Contingent Consideration Warrants become exercisable, subject to certain conditions, upon the achievement of certain milestones described in the Merger Agreements, or the earlier of (in each case provided that such event occurs prior to January 1, 2027) (i) a change of control, as defined in the Merger Agreements, (ii) the consummation of a transaction or series of transactions in which we or any of our affiliates sell all or substantially all of the assets relating to the design, engineering and development of a prototype highly sensitive and rapid response home saliva and/or nasal swab diagnostic platform and receptacle kits for, among other things, PCR testing and pathogen detection (“Working Prototype”) for the ultimate manufacturing, commercialization and marketing of home use, consumer diagnostic kits based off the Working Prototype and the related saliva receptacle cups containing our pathogen detection technology (the “Project”), and (iii) our failure to satisfy certain funding commitments relating to the Project. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contingent Consideration Warrants will expire at 5:0 pm Eastern Time on January 1, 2027.
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The holder of a Contingent Consideration Warrant is not deemed a holder of our underlying common stock until such warrant is exercised. The holders must pay the exercise price in cash upon exercise of the Contingent Consideration Warrants, unless such holders are utilizing the cashless exercise provision of the Contingent Consideration Warrants. Prior to the exercise of any Contingent Consideration Warrants to purchase common stock, holders of the Contingent Consideration Warrants do not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to vote, except as set forth therein.
Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Contingent Consideration Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of recapitalization events, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock.
Merger or Consolidation. In the event we consummate a merger or consolidation with or into another person or other reorganization event in which we are not the surviving entity, the holders of the Contingent Consideration Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of such Contingent Consideration Warrants the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property which the holders would have received had they exercised their Contingent Consideration Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.
Registration Rights. The Contingent Consideration Warrants include registration rights requiring the company to maintain a registration statement registering the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the Contingent Consideration Warrants, until such time as such shares of common stock can be freely sold under Rule 144 of the Securities Act. If we fail to satisfy such registration rights, we may be required to pay partial liquidated damages equal to the product of 2.0% multiplied by the aggregate consideration paid to the holder in the Acquisitions.
The Contingent Consideration Warrants are not listed on any securities exchange, and we do not intend to apply for listing of the Contingent Consideration Warrants on any securities exchange or other trading system.
Coltrin Warrants
In October 2019 and February 2020, we issued an aggregate of 50,000 warrants to Coltrin & Associates, Inc. for public relations services (the “Coltrin Warrants”). The material terms and provisions of the Coltrin Warrants are summarized below. This summary of some provisions of the Coltrin Warrants is not complete. For the complete terms of the Coltrin Warrants, you should refer to the warrant agreements filed as Exhibit 4.9, Exhibit 4.10, Exhibit 4.11, and Exhibit 4.12 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Exercise. The Coltrin Warrants have an initial exercise price equal to $1.40 per share. The 30,000 Coltrin Warrants issued in October 2019 expire in October 2024. The 20,000 Coltrin Warrants issued in February 2020 expire in February 2025. The holder of a Coltrin Warrant is not deemed a holder of our underlying common stock until such warrant is exercised. The holders must pay the exercise price in cash upon exercise of the Coltrin Warrants, unless such holders are utilizing the cashless exercise provision of the Coltrin Warrants issued in October 2019. Prior to the exercise of any Coltrin Warrants to purchase common stock, holders of the Coltrin Warrants do not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to vote, except as set forth therein.
Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Contingent Consideration Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of recapitalization events, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock.
Fundamental Transaction. In the event we consummate a Fundamental Transaction, as defined in the Coltrin Warrants, the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of such Contingent warrants the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property which the holders would have received had they exercised their warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. Any successor to us or surviving entity shall assume the obligations under the November 2018 Warrants. Additionally, as more fully described in the Coltrin Warrants, in the event of certain Fundamental Transactions, the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to receive cash consideration in an amount equal to the value of such Fundamental Transaction per share of common stock outstanding less the exercise price of the Coltrin Warrants.
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Purchase Rights. If at any time we grant, issue, or sell any options, convertible securities, or other rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities, or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of our common stock (the “Purchase Rights”), the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the holder could have acquired if the holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon complete exercise of the Coltrin Warrants (without regard to any beneficial ownership limitations) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of common stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.
Distributions. In addition to the adjustments described above, if we declare or make any dividend or other distribution of our assets to holders of common stock, then the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to participate in such distribution to the same extent that the holder would have participated therein if the holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon the complete exercise of their Coltrin Warrants immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of common stock are to be determined for the participation in such distribution.
The Coltrin Warrants are not listed on any securities exchange, and we do not intend to apply for listing of the Coltrin Warrants on any securities exchange or other trading system.
Effects of Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Some provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws could make the acquisition of control of us and/or the removal of our existing management more difficult, including those that provide as follows:
| ● | our directors may only be removed for cause, and only with a the vote of the holders of at least 75 percent of the voting power of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote as a single class; | |
| ● | our Amended and Restated Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office or by our shareholders at any annual meeting of shareholders, or special meeting of shareholders called for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; | |
| ● | any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders of the Company may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of the shareholders of the Company and may not be effected by written consent.; | |
| ● | special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.; | |
| ● | our Board of Directors may create new directorships and may appoint new directors to serve for the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created and may fill vacancies on our Board of Directors occurring for any reason for the remainder of the term of the class of director in which the vacancy occurred; | |
| ● | our Board of Directors may issue shares of preferred stock without any vote or further action by the shareholders; and | |
| ● | our Board of Directors retains the power to designate series of preferred stock and to determine the powers, rights, preferences, qualifications and limitations of each class. |
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Indemnification
Additionally, we will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the judicial court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our Amended and Restated Bylaws. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our executive officers and directors for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred by an executive officer or director in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our executive officers or directors, or as an executive officer or director of any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our officers, directors and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have 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.
Defensive Provisions of Utah Law
Certain provisions of Utah law summarized below may be considered to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter, or prevent a tender offer, proxy contest or other takeover attempt that shareholders might consider to be in their best interest, including a takeover attempt that might result in the payment of a premium over the market price of our common stock.
The Utah Control Shares Acquisition Act, or the Control Shares Act, provides that, when a person or group acquires control of shares of a corporation that is subject to the Control Shares Act equal to or in excess of 20%, 33 1/3% or a majority of the voting power of the corporation, the acquiring person is not permitted to vote the shares unless a majority of the corporation’s shares, excluding shares held by the acquiring person or by the officers and employee-directors of the corporation, approve a resolution granting the acquiring person the right to vote the shares. As a public company headquartered in Utah, the Control Shares Act will apply to acquisitions of our common stock that cause an acquiring person to exceed the specified thresholds. Although a corporation may opt out of the Control Shares Act, we have not elected to opt out of the Control Shares Act.
Section 728 of the URBCA prohibits cumulative voting in the election of directors. Cumulative voting could facilitate a shareholder or group of shareholders in electing one or more candidates to our Board of Directors in opposition to our slate of proposed directors.
Part 18 of the URBCA is an anti-takeover provision that makes it difficult to effect a hostile takeover of an SEC-registered Utah corporation. It does so by generally prohibiting business combinations between a Utah corporation and a shareholder holding 20% or more of the corporation’s shares until the interested shareholder has been an interested shareholder for at least five years. The following exceptions apply: (1) the business combination or acquisition of shares by the interested shareholder was approved by the board of the corporation before the date the interested shareholder crossed the 20% ownership threshold; (2) the business combination is approved by a majority of the disinterested shareholders, provided that the business combination still may not occur earlier than five years after the interested shareholder’s share acquisition date; or (3) the purchase price of the business combination meets certain “fair price” thresholds.
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Defensive Provisions in Articles or Bylaws
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws set forth procedures for shareholders to recommend nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors. Nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) by any stockholder of the Company who (A) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice, (B) is entitled to vote with respect to such matter at the meeting, and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in the Amended and Restated Bylaws.
The following is a summary of key provisions from our Amended and Restated Bylaws. For nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder making such nominations must have given timely notice in writing to the secretary of the Company. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 75th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 125th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the 75th day prior to the scheduled date of such annual meeting or (y) the 15th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary must: set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Company’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, as of the date of such notice, and (C) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, unless otherwise required by law. This restriction on the calling of special shareholders’ meetings may deter hostile takeovers by making it more difficult for a person or entity to obtain immediate control of the corporation between annual meetings.
Our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, authorize the issuance of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Shares were authorized to provide our Board of Directors with as much flexibility as possible to effect, among other transactions, financings, acquisitions, share dividends, and the exercise of employee stock options. However, these additional authorized shares may also be used by the Board of Directors, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duty, to deter future attempts to gain control of the Company. As a result of the ability to issue additional shares, our Board of Directors has the power to issue shares to persons friendly to management in order to attempt to block a tender offer, merger or other transaction by which a third party seeks control of the Company, and thereby allow members of management to retain their positions.
The matters described above may be considered to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or other takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider to be in such shareholder’s best interest, including such an attempt as might result in the receipt of a premium over the market price for the common stock held by such shareholder.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer LLC located at 18 Lafayette Pl, Woodmere, New York 11598.
Stock Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX”.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This section describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer using this prospectus and the related indenture. This section is only a summary and does not purport to be complete. You must look to the relevant form of debt security and the related indenture for a full understanding of all terms of any series of debt securities. The form of debt security and the related indenture have been or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies.
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 otherwise mentioned or 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” (“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 the 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; | |
| ● | 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, or subordinated debt; |
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| ● | 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, mandatory redemption or analogous provisions or otherwise, to repurchase, at the holder’s option, the series of debt securities; | |
| ● | 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; | |
| ● | if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; | |
| ● | 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; | |
| ● | the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which 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; | |
| ● | 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 applicable indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations; and | |
| ● | the subordination terms of the debt securities of the series, if any. |
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 shares of 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.
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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 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. |
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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.
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. |
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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; |
| ● | 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. 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 of 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. |
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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 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.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant document or agreement that describes the terms of the particular warrants we are offering before the issuance of the related warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant document or agreement applicable to particular warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus related to the particular warrants that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant document or agreement that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms relating to the warrants, including, if applicable:
| ● | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| ● | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
| ● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
| ● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| ● | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants; |
| ● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| ● | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
| ● | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
| ● | material United States federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
| ● | the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or |
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth in the warrant agreement or documents and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.
Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant documents properly completed and duly executed at the office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
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We may issue rights to purchase shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock, or warrants in one or more series. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any rights offering to our shareholders, we may enter into a standby underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriters will purchase any of the offered securities remaining unsubscribed after the expiration of the rights offering. In connection with a rights offering to our shareholders, we will distribute certificates evidencing the rights and an applicable prospectus supplement to our shareholders on the record date that we set for receiving rights in the rights offering. An applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
| ● | the title of the rights; |
| ● | the securities for which the rights are exercisable; |
| ● | the exercise price for the rights; |
| ● | the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| ● | the number of the rights issued to each security holder; |
| ● | the extent to which the rights are transferable; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of the rights; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire (subject to any extension); |
| ● | the conditions to completion of the rights offering; |
| ● | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the rights; |
| ● | the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| ● | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the rights offering; and |
| ● | any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights. |
Each right will entitle the holder to purchase for cash the amount of securities, at the exercise price. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date of the rights. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void. The manner in which rights may be exercised will be described in an applicable prospectus supplement. We may, but we will not be required to, permit the exercise of rights through the delivery of a notice of guaranteed delivery from a bank, a trust company, or a New York Stock Exchange member guaranteeing delivery of (1) payment of the exercise price for the securities for which the rights are being exercised, and (2) a properly completed and executed rights certificate. The notice of guaranteed delivery must be received by the rights agent before the expiration of the rights, and the rights agent will not honor a notice of guaranteed delivery unless a properly completed and executed rights certificate and full payment for the securities being purchased are received by the rights agent by the close of business on the third business day after the expiration time of the rights. Upon receipt of payment and the proper completion and due execution of the rights certificate at the designated office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, we or the transfer agent will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchased through the exercise of the rights. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of the methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to particular units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular units that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.
General
We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock and warrants in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the units, including:
| ● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| ● | any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and |
| ● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
We, the unit agents, and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.
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General
Each debt security, warrant, and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular purchaser or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus provides otherwise, certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each purchaser’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the purchaser with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Registered Global Securities
We may issue the registered debt securities, warrants or units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities, bearing all applicable legends, to be deposited with and registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for certificated securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ global accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair such purchasers’ global abilities to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. These procedures may change from time to time. We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
Principal, premium, if any, on and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to warrants or units, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of us, the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any other agent of ours, agent of the trustees or agent of the warrant agents or the unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be qualified to serve as a depositary, and a qualified successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue certificated securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent or unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
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We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus (1) to or through underwriters or dealers, (2) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates, (3) through agents, including ordinary brokerage transactions, block trades, placements, “at the market” transactions, put or call transactions or in any other way not involving market makers or established trading markets, (4) through a combination of any of these methods, or (5) through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement. The securities may be distributed at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. Any prospectus supplement will include, to the extent applicable, the following information:
| ● | the terms of the offering; | |
| ● | the names of any underwriters or agents; | |
| ● | the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters; | |
| ● | the purchase price of the securities; | |
| ● | the net proceeds from the sale of the securities; | |
| ● | any delayed delivery arrangements; | |
| ● | any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; | |
| ● | any initial public offering price; | |
| ● | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and | |
| ● | any commissions paid to agents. |
We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4). Any at the market offering will be through an underwriter or underwriters acting as principal or agent for us.
Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are currently required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
We may issue to the holders of our common stock, on a pro rata basis for no consideration, subscription rights to purchase shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, or debt securities. These subscription rights may or may not be transferable by stockholders. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of our common or preferred stock through the issuance of subscription rights, including the terms of the subscription rights offering, the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights and, if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of common or preferred stock through the issuance of subscription rights.
Sales through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. 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 otherwise indicated in the 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 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. The prospectus supplement will include the names of the principal underwriters, the respective amount of securities underwritten, the nature of the obligation of the underwriters to take the securities and the nature of any material relationship between an underwriter and us.
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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 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 offered pursuant to this prospectus.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The prospectus supplement will include the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.
Securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. Any required prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent by us. Unless otherwise indicated in such 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. The terms of any such sales will be described in any required prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities 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 prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, all securities we may offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of such offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.
Any underwriter engaged by us may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Rule 104 under the Exchange Act. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.
Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.
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Derivative Transactions and Hedging
We, the underwriters or other agents may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters or agents may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters or agents. The underwriters or agents may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters or agents may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.
Electronic Auctions
We may also make sales through the Internet or through other electronic means. Since we may from time to time elect to offer securities directly to the public, with or without the involvement of agents, underwriters or dealers, utilizing the Internet or other forms of electronic bidding or ordering systems for the pricing and allocation of such securities, you should pay particular attention to the description of that system we may provide in any prospectus supplement.
Such electronic system may allow bidders to directly participate, through electronic access to an auction site, by submitting conditional offers to buy that are subject to acceptance by us, and which may directly affect the price or other terms and conditions at which such securities are sold. These bidding or ordering systems may present to each bidder, on a so-called “real-time” basis, relevant information to assist in making a bid, such as the clearing spread at which the offering would be sold, based on the bids submitted, and whether a bidder’s individual bids would be accepted, prorated or rejected. For example, in the case of a debt security, the clearing spread could be indicated as a number of “basis points” above an index treasury note. Of course, many pricing methods can and may also be used.
Upon completion of such an electronic auction process, securities will be allocated based on prices bid, terms of bid or other factors. The final offering price at which securities would be sold and the allocation of securities among bidders would be based in whole or in part on the results of the Internet or other electronic bidding process or auction.
General Information
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX”.
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Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Salt Lake City, Utah will pass for us upon the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement, and counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement will pass upon legal matters for any underwriters, dealers or agents.
The consolidated financial statements of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., incorporated by reference herein incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been audited by Haynie & Company, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These documents may be accessed through the SEC’s electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system via electronic means, including the SEC’s home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov). Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at www.carparts.com/investor. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and, therefore, is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. For more detail about us and any securities that may be offered by this prospectus, you may examine the registration statement on Form S-3 and the exhibits filed with it at the locations listed in the previous paragraph. Please be aware that statements in this prospectus referring to a contract or other document are summaries and you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or document.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022; and | |
| ● | the description of our common stock, which is contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on July 11, 2017, as updated by the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding, in each case, information deemed furnished and not filed, until we sell all of the securities we are offering or the termination of the offering. All reports and other documents filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to: Corporate Secretary, Co-Diagnostics, Inc., 2401 S Foothill Drive, Suite D, Salt Lake City, UT 84109 and our telephone number is (801) 438-1036.
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$150,000,000
Common Stock,
Preferred Stock,
Debt Securities,
Warrants,
Units and Rights
PROSPECTUS
____________, 2023
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED March 16, 2023
PROSPECTUS
Up to $50,000,000
Common Stock
We have entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) with Piper Sandler & Co. (“Piper Sandler”), relating to shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, pursuant to this prospectus, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value, having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time through Piper Sandler acting as our agent.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market LLC under the symbol “CODX.” On March 15, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $2.91 per share.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (the “Securities Act”). Piper Sandler is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares of our common stock, but as instructed by us will act as our agent on a best efforts basis and will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the shares of common stock requested to be sold by us, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable laws and regulations, subject to the terms and conditions of the Equity Distribution Agreement, on mutually agreed terms between Piper Sandler and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement. The offering of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the sale of shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement having an aggregate sales price of $50,000,000 and (2) the termination by us or Piper Sandler of the Equity Distribution Agreement pursuant to its terms. We provide more information about how the common stock will be sold in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”
Piper Sandler will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement. See “Plan of Distribution” for additional information regarding compensation to be paid to Piper Sandler. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Piper Sandler will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Piper Sandler will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Piper Sandler with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD REVIEW CAREFULLY THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES REFERENCED UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 6 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AS WELL AS THOSE CONTAINED IN ANY RELATED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS, AND IN THE OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Piper Sandler
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS __________, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS
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This prospectus relates to the registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell shares of our common stock. Under this prospectus, we may from time to time sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. Before buying any of the common stock that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” herein and therein. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
This prospectus describes the terms of this offering of common stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus that was filed with the SEC, before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date (for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus) the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. The information contained in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus, or incorporated by reference herein or therein, is accurate only as of the respective dates thereof, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our shares of common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
We have not, and Piper Sandler has not, authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus 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. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the securities offered by this 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.
This document contains references to trademarks, trade names and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
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This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The Company
We develop, manufacture and sell reagents used for diagnostic tests that function via the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA), including robust and innovative molecular tools for detection of infectious diseases, liquid biopsy for cancer screening, and agricultural applications. In connection with the sale of our tests we may sell diagnostic equipment from other manufacturers as self-contained lab systems (which we refer to as the “MDx Device”). We are also developing a unique, groundbreaking portable PCR device and proprietary test cups (the “Co-Dx PCR Home™ platform”) that have been designed to bring affordable, reliable polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) to patients in point-of-care and even at-home settings. This platform is subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) review and is not available for sale at the time of this filing. There is no guarantee that our Co-Dx PCR Home platform will receive the necessary regulatory approvals for commercialization, or that, if regulatory approval is received, we will be able to successfully commercialize this platform.
Our diagnostics systems enable dependable, low-cost, molecular testing for organisms and genetic diseases by automating or simplifying historically complex procedures in both the development and administration of tests. CODX’s technical advance involves a novel, patented approach to PCR test design of primer and probe structure (“CoPrimers™”) that eliminates one of the key vexing issues of PCR amplification: the exponential growth of primer-dimer pairs (false positives and false negatives) which adversely interferes with identification of the target DNA/RNA.
We believe our proprietary molecular diagnostics technology is paving the way for innovation in disease detection and life sciences research through our enhanced detection of genetic material. For various reasons, including owning our own platform, we believe we will be able to accomplish this faster and more economically than some competitors, allowing for significant margins while still positioning ourselves as a low-cost provider of molecular diagnostics and screening services.
In addition, continued development has demonstrated the unique properties of our CoPrimer technology that we believe makes it ideally suited for a variety of applications where specificity is key to optimal results, including multiplexing several targets, enhanced Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (“SNP”) detection and enrichment for next generation sequencing.
Our scientists use the complex mathematics of DNA/RNA PCR test design to engineer and optimize PCR tests and to automate algorithms that rapidly screen millions of possible options to pinpoint the optimum design. Dr. Brent Satterfield, our founder, developed the intellectual property we use in our business, consisting of the predictive mathematical algorithms and patented molecular structure used in the testing process, which together represent a major advance in PCR testing systems. CODX technologies are now protected by more than 20 granted or pending US and foreign patents, as well as certain trade secrets and copyrights. Ownership of our proprietary platform permits us the advantage of avoiding payment of patent royalties required by other PCR test systems, which may allow the sale of diagnostic PCR tests at a lower price than competitors, while enabling us to maintain profit margins.
Our proprietary test design process involves identifying the optimal locations on the target genes for amplification and pair the locations with the optimized primer and probe structure to achieve outputs that meet the design input requirements identified from market research. This is done by following planned and documented processes, procedures and testing. In other words, we use the data resulting from our tests to verify whether we succeeded in designing what we intended. Verification involves a series of testing that concludes that the product is ready to proceed to validation in an evaluation either in our laboratory or in an independent laboratory setting using initial production tests to confirm that the product as designed meets the user needs.
We may either sell or lease the MDx Device to labs and diagnostic centers, through sale or lease agreements, and sell the reagents that comprise our proprietary tests to those laboratories and testing facilities.
Using our proprietary test design system and proprietary reagents, we have designed and obtained regulatory approval in the European Community and/or in India to sell PCR diagnostic tests for the detection of COVID-19, influenza, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus, malaria, chikungunya, dengue, and the Zika virus. In the United States, we obtained Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) for our Logix Smart™ COVID-19 detection test from the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and we sell that test to qualified labs. In addition, our COVID-19 detection test and certain of our other suite of COVID-19 products have been approved for sale in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico by the regulatory bodies in those countries and have been registered for sale in many more countries.
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In addition to testing for infectious disease, the technology lends itself to identifying any section of a DNA or RNA strand that describes any type of genetic trait, which creates several significant applications. We, in conjunction with our customers, are active in designing and licensing tests that identify genetic traits in plant and animal genomes. We also have three multiplexed tests developed to test mosquitos for the identification of diseases carried by the mosquitos to enable municipalities to concentrate their efforts in managing mosquito populations on the specific areas known to be breeding the mosquitos that carry deadly viruses.
On January 23, 2020, we announced the completion of the principal design work for a PCR test for COVID-19, intended to address the potential need for detection of the virus. This test features our patented CoPrimers technology, and was designed using our proprietary software system, following the guidelines published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
On February 24, 2020, we announced that this test had obtained regulatory clearance to be sold as an in-vitro diagnostic (“IVD”) for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in markets that accept CE-marking as valid regulatory approval and became available for purchase from our Utah-based ISO-13485:2016 certified facility.
We commenced sales of the COVID-19 tests in February and March of 2020 to international customers and to date have since sold over 34,000,000 of this and other COVID tests in numerous countries around the world through an expanding distributor network.
On April 6, 2020, we announced that we had received an EUA from the FDA allowing us to commence sales of our Logix Smart COVID-19 test to laboratories certified by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Clinical Laboratories Improvements Act (“CLIA”) to accept human samples for diagnostics testing throughout the United States and have sold our Logix Smart COVID-19 test to such CLIA labs since that time.
Because we believe that testing for COVID-19 will continue to be a consideration for public health worldwide, we have initiated the Co-Dx PCR Home platform to facilitate frequent testing in homes, schools, businesses, and the hospitality industry. We believe this may be accomplished through the development of a compact, relatively low-cost testing device, easy to use by non-professionals, that can provide PCR test results in around 30 minutes. The initial project built on this platform, an at-home and point-of-care COVID-19 PCR test, was ultimately facilitated by our development of a saliva or nasal swab-based PCR test that does not require the RNA/DNA extraction. While we believe the final result is believed to be approximately equivalent to those processed by a high-complexity clinical laboratory, it our COVID-19 PCR test has the advantages of increased speed and ease of handling thanks to lyophilization (or freeze-drying) of our testing reagents to allow for stability at room temperatures.
On February 15, 2021, we engaged the services of a group of professionals at Idaho Molecular, Inc. (“IdMo”) and Advanced Conceptions, Inc. (“ACI”), with the expertise to develop the hardware for a device using our CoPrimers as the reagent chemistry. In December 2021, we announced the closing of the acquisitions of IdMo and ACI along with all existing and future assets and intellectual property related to the platform and device. It is expected that the device and test will be available to homes, schools, offices, and the travel industry among other locations, at a cost that will allow screening frequently to prevent spread of the COVID-19 virus in the future, as well as other diseases as additional single- and multiplex tests are developed and validated for use on the device. The device would also be available to test for other pathogens detectable through saliva or other samples as we develop those tests and offer them to the marketplace. All such tests will be subject to regulatory approval.
On February 22, 2023, we announced that clinical evaluations for the device and its initial test for COVID-19 had begun. Because the evaluations are dependent on identifying and enrolling a particular number of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19-positive and -negative patients at testing sites, the Company did not provide projected timelines for completion at that time.
Corporate Information
Our headquarters is located at 2401 S. Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109 and our telephone number is (801) 438-1036. We maintain a website at https://www.co-dx.com. Information on the website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this prospectus.
Additional Information
For additional information related to our business and operations, please refer to the reports incorporated herein by reference, as described under the caption “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” on page 18 of this prospectus.
Nasdaq Capital Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX”.
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| Shares of Common Stock Offered By Us | Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000. | |
| Common Stock Outstanding After This Offering | Up to 48,054,737 shares, assuming the sale of up to 17,182,130 shares of our common stock at a price of $2.91 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 15, 2023. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering. | |
| Plan of Distribution | Sales of shares of our common stock, if any, will be made pursuant to the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement. Sales of the shares will be made in sales deemed to be “at-the-market” equity offerings as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which may be made from time to time on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, through Piper Sandler, as agent. Piper Sandler will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the shares of common stock requested to be sold by us, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable rules and regulations, subject to the terms and conditions of the Equity Distribution Agreement. See “Plan of Distribution” on page 17 of this prospectus. | |
| Use of Proceeds | We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including expanding our sales and marketing, capital expenditures, facilities expansion, and development of existing and new products. We may use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire complementary business or products, technologies or businesses or to repay indebtedness we may incur from time to time; however, we currently have no binding agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions or to make any such indebtedness repayments from the proceeds of this offering, although we do look for such acquisition opportunities. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 8 of this prospectus. | |
| Risk Factors | Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 6 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. | |
| Symbol on the Nasdaq Capital Market | “CODX” |
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 30,872,607 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and excludes as of December 31, 2022:
| ● | 1,040,572 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options having a weighted-average exercise price of approximately $2.19 per share. | |
| ● | 2,426,725 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting of outstanding unvested restricted stock units. | |
| ● | 485,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants having a weighted-average exercise price of approximately $8.81 per share. |
In addition, unless we specifically state otherwise, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of outstanding stock options subsequent to December 31, 2022.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found, among other places, in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Prospectus Summary” and “Risk Factors.”
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated herein regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, plans, prospects and objectives are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
In addition, past financial and/or operating performance is not necessarily a reliable indicator of future performance, and you should not use our historical performance to anticipate results or future period trends. We can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments occurring after the date of this prospectus, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described below and under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations. Please also read carefully the section above titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
ADDITIONAL RISKS RELATED TO THIS OFFERING
You may experience dilution.
The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 17,182,130 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $2.91 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 15, 2023, for aggregate gross proceeds of $50,000,000, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, you would experience immediate dilution of $0.08 per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2022 after giving effect to this offering and the assumed offering price. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering. Because the sales of the shares offered hereby will be made directly into the market or in negotiated transactions, the prices at which we sell these shares will vary and these variations may be significant. Purchasers of the shares we sell, as well as our existing shareholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell shares at prices significantly below the price at which they invested.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering.
Our management might apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways with which you do not agree and in ways that may impair the value of your investment.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including expanding our sales and marketing, capital expenditures, facilities expansion, and development of existing and new products. We may use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire complementary business or products, technologies or businesses or to repay indebtedness we may incur from time to time; however, we currently have no binding agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions or to make any such indebtedness repayments from the proceeds of this offering, although we do look for such acquisition opportunities.
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The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows from operations and the anticipated growth of our business. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds of the offerings. We might apply these proceeds in ways with which you do not agree, or in ways that do not yield a favorable return. If our management applies these proceeds in a manner that does not yield a significant return, if any, on our investment of these net proceeds, it could compromise our ability to pursue our growth strategy and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
It is not possible to predict the actual number of shares we will sell under the Equity Distribution Agreement or the gross proceeds resulting from those sales.
Subject to certain limitations in the Equity Distribution Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver instructions to Piper Sandler to sell shares of our common stock at any time throughout the term of the Equity Distribution Agreement. The number of shares that are sold through Piper Sandler after our instructions will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our common stock during the sales period, the limits we set with Piper Sandler in any instructions to sell shares, and the demand for our common stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during this offering, it is not currently possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.
The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our Board of Directors, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock.
Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur as a result of our utilization of our shelf registration statement, the Equity Distribution Agreement or otherwise could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock or the market perception that we are permitted to sell a significant number of our securities would have on the market price of our common stock.
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We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $50,000,000 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering price for the shares that we may offer from time to time, the actual total public offering amount, commissions to Piper Sandler and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler as a source of financing.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including expanding our sales and marketing, capital expenditures, facilities expansion, and development of existing and new products. We may use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire complementary business or products, technologies or businesses or to repay indebtedness we may incur from time to time; however, we currently have no binding agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions or to make any such indebtedness repayments from the proceeds of this offering, although we do look for such acquisition opportunities. The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows from operations and the anticipated growth of our business. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds of the offerings.
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If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2022 was approximately $87.4 million or $2.83 per share. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets, less total liabilities, by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022. Dilution with respect to net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
After giving effect to the sale of 17,182,130 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed offering price of $2.91 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 15, 2023 for aggregate gross proceeds of $50,000,000, and after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2022 would have been approximately $135.9 million, or $2.83 per share. This represents immediate dilution of $0.08 per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
| Assumed public offering price per share | $ | 2.91 | ||||||
| Net tangible book value per share of as of December 31, 2022 | $ | 2.83 | ||||||
| Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering | $ | 0.00 | ||||||
| As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2022, after giving effect to this offering | $ | 2.83 | ||||||
| Dilution per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering | $ | 0.08 |
The above discussion and table are based on 30,872,607 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and exclude as of December 31, 2022:
| ● | 1,040,572 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options having a weighted-average exercise price of approximately $2.19 per share. | |
| ● | 2,426,725 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding unvested restricted stock units. | |
| ● | 485,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding common stock warrants having a weighted-average exercise price of approximately $8.81 per share. |
The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 17,182,130 shares of our common stock are offered during the term of the Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler at a price of $2.91 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 15, 2023, for aggregate gross proceeds of $50,000,000. The shares subject to the Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler are being sold from time to time at various prices.
An increase of $0.10 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $2.91 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $50,000,000 during the term of the Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler is sold at that price, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $2.86 per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $0.15 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us.
A decrease of $0.10 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $2.91 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $50,000,000 during the term of the Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler is sold at that price, would decrease our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $2.79 per share and would result in dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering of $0.02 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only.
To the extent that stock options and common stock warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2022 have been or may be exercised or other shares issued, investors purchasing our common stock in this offering may experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities exchangeable for common stock, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
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As of the date of this prospectus, our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, authorize us to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. The following is a summary of the rights of our common and preferred stock and some of the provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, our Amended and Restated Bylaws, and the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (the “URBCA”). Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of each of which has been incorporated as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We urge to you read each of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws described herein in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities.
Common Stock
As of December 31, 2022 there were 30,872,607 shares of common stock outstanding. In addition, as of December 31, 2022 there were: (i) 1,040,572 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options; (ii) 2,426,725 shares of common stock subject to unvested outstanding restricted stock units; (iii) 6,210,790 shares of common stock available for future issuance under 2015 Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan; and 485,000 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under outstanding common stock purchase warrants.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote can elect all of the directors standing for election. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and any shares of our common stock to be sold pursuant to this prospectus will be fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of common stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are remaining after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations and after liquidation payments to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer LLC located at 18 Lafayette Pl, Woodmere, New York 11598. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX”.
Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Shareholders’ rights and related matters are governed by our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, Amended and Restated Bylaws and Utah law, including the URBCA. An amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, must be approved by holders of a majority of our outstanding common and our preferred stock, if any, except for certain limited amendments that can be effected by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office or by our shareholders at any annual meeting of shareholders, or special meeting of shareholders called for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class.
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Board of Directors
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the number of directors must fall within a range between three (3) and ten (10), the exact number to be fixed by resolution of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has adopted a resolution limiting the current size of the board to 5 persons.
Preferred Stock
Our Board of Directors has the authority under our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, without further action by our shareholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 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 rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the shares of each wholly unissued series, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preference and sinking fund terms, 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).
Our Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could have the effect of restricting dividends on our common stock, diluting the voting power of our common stock, impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock or otherwise adversely affecting the rights of holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control and may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. As of December 31, 2022, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding, and we have no current plans to issue any preferred stock.
Warrants
The following summary of the material terms of our existing warrants is not intended to be complete and is qualified by reference to our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws and the warrant-related documents described herein which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read each of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws and the warrant-related documents described herein in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of the warrants.
Contingent Consideration Warrants
On December 31, 2021, we completed our acquisitions (the “Acquisitions”) of Advanced Conceptions, Inc. (“ACI”) and Idaho Molecular Inc. (“IdMo”), pursuant to (i) an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “ACI Merger Agreement”) with ACI Acquisition Corp., an Idaho corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary, ACI, and the Company Representative named therein and (ii) an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “IM Merger Agreement” and together with the ACI Merger Agreement, the “Merger Agreements”) with IDMO Acquisition Corp., an Idaho corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“IM Merger Sub”), IdMo, and the Company Representative named therein.
Upon the completion of the Acquisitions, all outstanding shares of ACI and Idaho Molecular common stock were initially exchanged for approximately 3.2 million shares of common stock and contingent consideration that includes up to approximately 1.4 million shares of common stock and approximately 456,000 warrants to purchase shares of common stock. During 2022, we finalized negotiations with one remaining shareholder of ACI. Following the resolution with the remaining shareholder, the total number of shares issued as purchase consideration in the Acquisitions was approximately 3.3 million shares. Additionally, the aggregate purchase consideration for the Acquisitions included contingent consideration of up to approximately 1.4 million shares and 465,000 warrants (the “Contingent Consideration Warrants”) to purchase shares of common stock. The contingent consideration is based on the achievement of certain milestones, which include regulatory approval for identified products, as well as production and net revenue targets.
The material terms and provisions of the Contingent Consideration Warrants are summarized below. This summary of some provisions of the Contingent Consideration Warrants is not complete. For the complete terms of the Contingent Consideration Warrants, you should refer to the warrant agreements filed as Exhibit 4.7 and Exhibit 4.8 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Pursuant to the warrant agreements between us and VStock Transfer, LLC, as warrant agent, the Contingent Consideration Warrants were issued in book-entry form.
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Exercise. The Contingent Consideration Warrants have an initial exercise price equal to $9.125 per share. The Contingent Consideration Warrants become exercisable, subject to certain conditions, upon the achievement of certain milestones described in the Merger Agreements, or the earlier of (in each case provided that such event occurs prior to January 1, 2027) (i) a change of control, as defined in the Merger Agreements, (ii) the consummation of a transaction or series of transactions in which we or any of our affiliates sell all or substantially all of the assets relating to the design, engineering and development of a prototype highly sensitive and rapid response home saliva and/or nasal swab diagnostic platform and receptacle kits for, among other things, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and pathogen detection (“Working Prototype”) for the ultimate manufacturing, commercialization and marketing of home use, consumer diagnostic kits based off the Working Prototype and the related saliva receptacle cups containing our pathogen detection technology (the “Project”), and (iii) our failure to satisfy certain funding commitments relating to the Project. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contingent Consideration Warrants will expire at 5:0 pm Eastern Time on January 1, 2027.
The holder of a Contingent Consideration Warrant is not deemed a holder of our underlying common stock until such warrant is exercised. The holders must pay the exercise price in cash upon exercise of the Contingent Consideration Warrants, unless such holders are utilizing the cashless exercise provision of the Contingent Consideration Warrants. Prior to the exercise of any Contingent Consideration Warrants to purchase common stock, holders of the Contingent Consideration Warrants do not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to vote, except as set forth therein.
Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Contingent Consideration Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of recapitalization events, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock.
Merger or Consolidation. In the event we consummate a merger or consolidation with or into another person or other reorganization event in which we are not the surviving entity, the holders of the Contingent Consideration Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of such Contingent Consideration Warrants the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property which the holders would have received had they exercised their Contingent Consideration Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.
Registration Rights. The Contingent Consideration Warrants include registration rights requiring the company to maintain a registration statement registering the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the Contingent Consideration Warrants, until such time as such shares of common stock can be freely sold under Rule 144 of the Securities Act. If we fail to satisfy such registration rights, we may be required to pay partial liquidated damages equal to the product of 2.0% multiplied by the aggregate consideration paid to the holder in the Acquisitions.
The Contingent Consideration Warrants are not listed on any securities exchange, and we do not intend to apply for listing of the Contingent Consideration Warrants on any securities exchange or other trading system.
Coltrin Warrants
In October 2019 and February 2020, we issued an aggregate of 50,000 warrants to Coltrin & Associates, Inc. public relations services (the “Coltrin Warrants”). The material terms and provisions of the Coltrin Warrants are summarized below. This summary of some provisions of the Coltrin Warrants is not complete. For the complete terms of the Coltrin Warrants, you should refer to the warrant agreements filed as Exhibit 4.9, Exhibit 4.10, Exhibit 4.11, and Exhibit 4.12 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Exercise. The Coltrin Warrants have an initial exercise price equal to $1.40 per share. The 30,000 Coltrin Warrants issued in October 2019 expire in October 2024. The 20,000 Coltrin Warrants issued in February 2020 expire in February 2025. The holder of a Coltrin Warrant is not deemed a holder of our underlying common stock until such warrant is exercised. The holders must pay the exercise price in cash upon exercise of the Coltrin Warrants, unless such holders are utilizing the cashless exercise provision of the Coltrin Warrants issued in October 2019. Prior to the exercise of any Coltrin Warrants to purchase common stock, holders of the Coltrin Warrants do not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to vote, except as set forth therein.
Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Contingent Consideration Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of recapitalization events, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock.
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Fundamental Transaction. In the event we consummate a Fundamental Transaction, as defined in the Coltrin Warrants, the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of such Contingent warrants the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property which the holders would have received had they exercised their warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. Any successor to us or surviving entity shall assume the obligations under the November 2018 Warrants. Additionally, as more fully described in the Coltrin Warrants, in the event of certain Fundamental Transactions, the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to receive cash consideration in an amount equal to the value of such Fundamental Transaction per share of common stock outstanding less the exercise price of the Coltrin Warrants.
Purchase Rights. If at any time we grant, issue, or sell any options, convertible securities, or other rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities, or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of our common stock (the “Purchase Rights”), the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the holder could have acquired if the holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon complete exercise of the Coltrin Warrants (without regard to any beneficial ownership limitations) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of common stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.
Distributions. In addition to the adjustments described above, if we declare or make any dividend or other distribution of our assets to holders of common stock, then the holders of the Coltrin Warrants will be entitled to participate in such distribution to the same extent that the holder would have participated therein if the holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon the complete exercise of their Coltrin Warrants immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of common stock are to be determined for the participation in such distribution.
The Coltrin Warrants are not listed on any securities exchange, and we do not intend to apply for listing of the Coltrin Warrants on any securities exchange or other trading system.
Effects of Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws
Some provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws could make the acquisition of control of us and/or the removal of our existing management more difficult, including those that provide as follows:
| ● | our directors may only be removed for cause, and only with a the vote of the holders of at least 75 percent of the voting power of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote as a single class; | |
| ● | our Amended and Restated Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office or by our shareholders at any annual meeting of shareholders, or special meeting of shareholders called for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; | |
| ● | any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders of the Company may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of the shareholders of the Company and may not be effected by written consent.; | |
| ● | special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.; |
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| ● | our Board of Directors may create new directorships and may appoint new directors to serve for the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created and may fill vacancies on our Board of Directors occurring for any reason for the remainder of the term of the class of director in which the vacancy occurred; | |
| ● | our Board of Directors may issue shares of preferred stock without any vote or further action by the shareholders; and | |
| ● | our Board of Directors retains the power to designate series of preferred stock and to determine the powers, rights, preferences, qualifications and limitations of each class. |
Indemnification
Additionally, we will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the judicial court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our Amended and Restated Bylaws. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our executive officers and directors for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred by an executive officer or director in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our executive officers or directors, or as an executive officer or director of any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our officers, directors and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have 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.
Defensive Provisions of Utah Law
Certain provisions of Utah law summarized below may be considered to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter, or prevent a tender offer, proxy contest or other takeover attempt that shareholders might consider to be in their best interest, including a takeover attempt that might result in the payment of a premium over the market price of our common stock.
The Utah Control Shares Acquisition Act, or the Control Shares Act, provides that, when a person or group acquires control of shares of a corporation that is subject to the Control Shares Act equal to or in excess of 20%, 33 1/3% or a majority of the voting power of the corporation, the acquiring person is not permitted to vote the shares unless a majority of the corporation’s shares, excluding shares held by the acquiring person or by the officers and employee-directors of the corporation, approve a resolution granting the acquiring person the right to vote the shares. As a public company headquartered in Utah, the Control Shares Act will apply to acquisitions of our common stock that cause an acquiring person to exceed the specified thresholds. Although a corporation may opt out of the Control Shares Act, we have not elected to opt out of the Control Shares Act.
Section 728 of the URBCA prohibits cumulative voting in the election of directors. Cumulative voting could facilitate a shareholder or group of shareholders in electing one or more candidates to our Board of Directors in opposition to our slate of proposed directors.
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Part 18 of the URBCA is an anti-takeover provision that makes it difficult to effect a hostile takeover of an SEC-registered Utah corporation. It does so by generally prohibiting business combinations between a Utah corporation and a shareholder holding 20% or more of the corporation’s shares until the interested shareholder has been an interested shareholder for at least five years. The following exceptions apply: (1) the business combination or acquisition of shares by the interested shareholder was approved by the board of the corporation before the date the interested shareholder crossed the 20% ownership threshold; (2) the business combination is approved by a majority of the disinterested shareholders, provided that the business combination still may not occur earlier than five years after the interested shareholder’s share acquisition date; or (3) the purchase price of the business combination meets certain “fair price” thresholds.
Defensive Provisions in Articles or Bylaws
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws set forth procedures for shareholders to recommend nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) by any stockholder of the Company who (A) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice, (B) is entitled to vote with respect to such matter at the meeting, and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in the Amended and Restated Bylaws.
The following is a summary of key provisions from our Amended and Restated Bylaws. For nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder making such nominations must have given timely notice in writing to the secretary of the Company. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 75th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 125th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the 75th day prior to the scheduled date of such annual meeting or (y) the 15th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary must: set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Company’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, as of the date of such notice, and (C) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, unless otherwise required by law. This restriction on the calling of special shareholders’ meetings may deter hostile takeovers by making it more difficult for a person or entity to obtain immediate control of the corporation between annual meetings.
Our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, authorize the issuance of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Shares were authorized to provide our Board of Directors with as much flexibility as possible to effect, among other transactions, financings, acquisitions, share dividends, and the exercise of employee stock options. However, these additional authorized shares may also be used by the Board of Directors, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duty, to deter future attempts to gain control of the Company. As a result of the ability to issue additional shares, our Board of Directors has the power to issue shares to persons friendly to management in order to attempt to block a tender offer, merger or other transaction by which a third party seeks control of the Company, and thereby allow members of management to retain their positions.
The matters described above may be considered to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or other takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider to be in such shareholder’s best interest, including such an attempt as might result in the receipt of a premium over the market price for the common stock held by such shareholder.
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Limitations of Liability and Disclosure of SEC Position On Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities
Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws, we will, to the fullest extent permitted by the URBCA indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the corporation, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Additionally, the will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the judicial court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our Amended and Restated Bylaws. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our executive officers and directors for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred by an executive officer or director in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our executive officers or directors, or as an executive officer or director of any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our officers, directors and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have 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.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer LLC located at 18 Lafayette Pl, Woodmere, New York 11598.
Stock Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CODX”.
| 16 |
We have entered into the Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler, as our sales agent, pursuant to which we may issue and sell from time to time shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 through Piper Sandler.
This prospectus only relates to up to $50,000,000 of shares of our common stock that we may issue and sell from time to time under the Equity Distribution Agreement. We will be required to file another prospectus or prospectus supplement in the event we want to offer more than $50,000,000 in shares of our common stock in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement.
Piper Sandler will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all shares of our common stock requested to be sold by us, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable laws and regulations, under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Equity Distribution Agreement. We may instruct Piper Sandler not to sell our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any instruction. We or Piper Sandler may suspend the offering of our common stock upon proper notice and subject to other conditions, as further described in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
Upon delivery of a placement notice, and subject to our instructions in that notice and the terms and conditions of the Equity Distribution Agreement generally, Piper Sandler may sell our common stock by any method permitted by law that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Capital Market or on any other existing trading market for our common stock. Piper Sandler will provide written confirmation to us no later than the opening of trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day following each day in which our common stock is sold under the Equity Distribution Agreement. Each such confirmation will include the number of shares of our common stock sold on such day, the volume-weighted average price of the shares sold, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable by us to Piper Sandler in connection with such sales.
We will pay Piper Sandler commissions for its services in acting as sales agent in the sale of our common stock. Piper Sandler will be entitled to compensation in an amount up to 3.0% of the gross sales price of all common stock sold through it as sales agent under the Equity Distribution Agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse Piper Sandler for the out-of-pocket reasonable fees and disbursements of its legal counsel, in an amount not to exceed $125,000, in connection with the establishment of this at-the-market offering program. In accordance with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Rule 5110, these reimbursed fees and expenses are deemed sales compensation in connection with this offering. We estimate that the total expenses for this offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Piper Sandler under the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, will be approximately $228,500.
Settlement for sales of our common stock will occur on the second business day following the date on which any such sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Piper Sandler in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of our common stock sold through Piper Sandler, as sales agent, under the Equity Distribution Agreement, and the net proceeds to us in connection with such sales.
Piper Sandler and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking, fiduciary and advisory services for us for which they may receive, customary fees and expenses. Piper Sandler and its affiliates may from time to time engage in other transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business.
In connection with the sale of our common stock on our behalf, Piper Sandler will be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid by us to Piper Sandler will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify Piper Sandler against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that Piper Sandler may be required to make because of such liabilities.
The offering of our common stock pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Equity Distribution Agreement. The Equity Distribution Agreement may be terminated by Piper Sandler or us at any time upon specified prior written notice.
Any summary of provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement above does not purport to be a complete statement of the Equity Distribution Agreement terms and conditions. A copy of the Equity Distribution Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
| 17 |
Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Salt Lake City, Utah will pass for us upon the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus. Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York, is counsel for Piper Sandler in connection with this offering.
The consolidated financial statements of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., incorporated by reference herein incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been audited by Haynie & Company, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These documents may be accessed through the SEC’s electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system via electronic means, including the SEC’s home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov). Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at www.carparts.com/investor. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and, therefore, is not part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. Certain information in the registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. For more detail about us and any securities that may be offered by this prospectus, you may examine the registration statement on Form S-3 and the exhibits filed with it at the locations listed in the previous paragraph. Please be aware that statements in this prospectus referring to a contract or other document are summaries and you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or document.
you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022; and | |
| ● | the description of our common stock, which is contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on July 11, 2017, as updated by the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding, in each case, information deemed furnished and not filed, until we sell all of the securities we are offering or the termination of the offering. All reports and other documents filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to: Corporate Secretary, Co-Diagnostics, Inc., 2401 S Foothill Drive, Suite D, Salt Lake City, UT 84109 and our telephone number is (801) 438-1036.
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Up to $50,000,000
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
Piper Sandler
____________, 2023
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the offering of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 5,510.00 | ||
| FINRA Filing Fee | * | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
| Miscellaneous expenses | * | |||
| Total | * |
*These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate amount of these expenses will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws, we will, to the fullest extent permitted by the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (the “Utah Statute”), indemnify our directors and officers with respect to expenses, settlements, judgments and fines in suits (including actions brought against a director or officer in the name of the corporation, commonly referred to as a derivative action) in which such person was made a party by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer, or being or having been such a director or officer, such person was serving as a director, officer, associate or other agent (i) for an enterprise of which we hold the majority of shares entitled to vote in the election of its directors, or (ii) at our request, for another enterprise. No such indemnification may be given if the acts or omissions of the person are finally adjudged to be intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, if such person is liable to the corporation for an unlawful distribution, or if such person personally received a benefit to which he or she was not entitled.
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our bylaws. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our executive officers and directors for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred by an executive officer or director in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our executive officers or directors, or as an executive officer or director of any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.
Section 908 of the Utah Statute also permits a Utah corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its officers and directors. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws permit us to purchase such insurance on behalf of our officers and directors. We maintain a policy of liability insurance for our officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to officers, directors and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company 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.
Item 16. Exhibits
The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this registration statement and such Exhibit Index is incorporated by reference.
| II-1 |
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 of 1933; | ||
| (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% 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) of this section 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 part of the registration statement. | |||
| 2. | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 of 1933 to any purchaser: | ||
| (i) | 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 | ||
| (ii) | 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 of 1933 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-2 |
| 5. | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the 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. | |
| (b) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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. |
| (c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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. |
| (d) | That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933: |
| (i) | The information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and | |
| (ii) | Each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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. |
| (e) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file, if applicable, 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 of 1939 (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act. |
| II-3 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Description | Filed with this Report |
Incorporated by Reference |
Filing Date | SEC File/Reg. Number | |||||
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |||||||||
| 1.2 | Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2023 by and between the Registrant and Piper Sandler & Co. | X | ||||||||
| 3.1 | Articles of Incorporation | Draft Registration Statement (Exhibit 3.1) | 01/12/17 | 377-01467 | ||||||
| 3.1.1 | Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation | Draft Registration Statement (Exhibit 3.1.1) | 01/12/17 | 377-01467 | ||||||
| 3.1.2 | Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation | Form 8-K (Exhibit 3.2) | 01/03/19 | 001-38148 | ||||||
| 3.1.3 | Articles of Amendment | Form 10-K (Exhibit 3.1.3) | 03/24/22 | 001-38148 | ||||||
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Co-Diagnostics, Inc. | Form 8-K (Exhibit 3.1) | 04/01/22 | 001-38148 | ||||||
| 4.1 | Form of Indenture | X | ||||||||
| 4.2* | Form of Debt Securities | |||||||||
| 4.3* | Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate | |||||||||
| 4.4* | Form of Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation describing the designation of Preferred Stock | |||||||||
| 4.5* | Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate | |||||||||
| 4.6* | Form of Rights Certificate | |||||||||
| 4.7 | Warrant Agreement between Co-Diagnostics, Inc and VStock Transfer, LLC. Dated December 31, 2021 (ACI Warrant) | Form 10-K (Exhibit 10.6) | 03/24/22 | 001-38148 | ||||||
| 4.8 | Warrant Agreement between Co-Diagnostics, Inc and VStock Transfer, LLC. Dated December 31, 2021 (IDMO Warrant) | Form 10-K (Exhibit 10.7) | 03/24/22 | 001-38148 | ||||||
| 4.9 | Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Coltrin & Associates dated October 31, 2019 | X |
| II-4 |
| 4.10 | Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Coltrin & Associates dated February 6, 2020 | X | ||||||||
| 4.11 | Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Coltrin & Associates dated February 6, 2020 | X | ||||||||
| 4.12 | Amendment dated July 31, 2020 to Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to Coltrin & Associates dated October 31, 2019 | X | ||||||||
| 5.1 | Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP relating to the base prospectus | X | ||||||||
| 5.2 | Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP relating to the equity distribution agreement prospectus | X | ||||||||
| 23.1 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, | X | ||||||||
| 23.2 | Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) | X | ||||||||
| 23.3 | Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2) | X | ||||||||
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included in signature page) | X | ||||||||
| 25.1* | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Trustee under the Indenture | |||||||||
| 107 | Filing Fee Table | X |
| * | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| II-5 |
SIGNATURES
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 Salt Lake City, State of Utah, on March 16, 2023.
| CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC. | ||
| BY: | /s/ Dwight Egan | |
| Dwight Egan | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Dwight Egan and Brian Brown, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all 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 in about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Dwight Egan | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | March 16, 2023 | ||
| Dwight Egan | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Brian Brown | Chief Financial Officer | March 16, 2023 | ||
| Brian Brown | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
| /s/ Eugene Durenard | Director | March 16, 2023 | ||
| Eugene Durenard | ||||
| /s/ Edward Murphy | Director | March 16, 2023 | ||
| Edward Murphy | ||||
| /s/ James Nelson | Director | March 16, 2023 | ||
| James Nelson | ||||
| /s/ Richard Serbin | Director | March 16, 2023 | ||
| Richard Serbin |
| II-6 |
Exhibit 1.2
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
March 16, 2023
PIPER SANDLER & CO.
U.S. Bancorp Center
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As further set forth in this agreement (this “Agreement”), Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a company organized under the laws of Utah (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell from time to time through Piper Sandler & Co. (the “Agent”), as sales agent, the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) (such shares of Common Stock to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, the “Shares”) on terms set forth herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitation set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement on the number of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.
The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Agent with respect to the sale of the Shares.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
(a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agent that as of the date of this Agreement, each Representation Date (as defined in Section 3(o) below), each date on which a Placement Notice (as defined in Section 2(a)(i) below) is given (each, a “Notice Date”), each date on which Shares are sold hereunder (each, an “Applicable Time”), and each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 2(a)(vii) below) as follows:
(i) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has filed or will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Common Stock, to be issued from time to time by the Company, as well as a prospectus relating to the Shares (the “EDA Prospectus”), both of which incorporate by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). The Company will furnish to the Agent, for use by Agent, copies of the EDA Prospectus. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, as amended when it becomes effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B or 462(b) of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus and EDA Prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, in the form most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (“Rule 433”), relating to the Shares, if any, that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (ii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i), in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).
(ii) Continuing Effectiveness of Registration Statement. As of each Representation Date, Notice Date, Applicable Time and Settlement Date, the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement will have been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company will have complied, to the Commission’s satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, be contemplated or threatened by the Commission. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The sale of the Shares hereunder meets the requirements of General Instruction I.B.1. of Form S-3.
(iii) No Material Misstatements or Omissions. The Prospectus when filed, and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, at the time it becomes effective or its date, as applicable, and as of each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 2(a)(vii) below), will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and as of each effective date and each Settlement Date, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and as of each of the Settlement Date, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Agent furnished to the Company in writing by the Agent expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
(iv) Eligible Issuer. The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated by the Registration Statement; the parties hereto agree and understand that the content of any and all “road shows” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) related to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby is solely the property of the Company.
(v) From the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement to the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act.
(vi) Financial Statements. The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) to be included or incorporated by reference, in the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (“Regulation S-X”) and present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Act, to the extent applicable. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not so included as required. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(vii) No Off-Balance Sheet Transactions. There are no transactions, arrangements and other relationships between and/or among the Company, and/or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its affiliates and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structural finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity (each, an “Off-Balance Sheet Transaction”) that could reasonably be expected to affect materially the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources, including those Off Balance Sheet Transactions described in the Commission’s Statement about Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (Release Nos. 33-8056; 34-45321; FR-61), and are required to be described in the Prospectus, which have not been described as required.
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(viii) Auditor Independence. Haynie & Company, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”), whose report appears in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Public Accounting Oversight Board.
(ix) No Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (a complete list of the Subsidiaries is included as Schedule 3 hereto) has been duly organized, validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are, and will be, duly licensed or qualified as a foreign corporation for transaction of business and in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such license or qualification, and have all corporate power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change or effect, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change or effect, on or affecting (i) the business, earnings, assets, liabilities, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Prospectus. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 except for subsidiaries that in the aggregate would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). None of the Subsidiaries is a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
(x) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All of the issued shares of capital stock or other ownership interest of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xi) Due Authorization, Valid Issuance and Non-Assessiblity of Shares. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to the Agent hereunder have been duly authorized and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will be issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and will be free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights.
(xii) Authority to Enter into this Agreement. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
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(xiii) Non-Contravention. The issue and sale of the Shares, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of association, charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), for such conflicts, breaches, violations, liens, charges, encumbrances or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiv) No Consent or Approval Required. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Shares, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except for (i) the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act; (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the Exchange Act, and applicable state or foreign securities laws and/or the bylaws and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (the “FINRA”) in connection with the sale of the Shares by the Agent; and (iii) the inclusion of the Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Exchange”).
(xv) Internal Controls. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of “internal controls over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (iv) the recorded accountability for the Company’s assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and are prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as of the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries audited by Haynie & Company, there were no “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (each as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, or any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls; and since the end of the latest audited fiscal year, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s board of directors has, subject to the exceptions, cure periods and the phase in periods specified in the Nasdaq rules (“Exchange Rules”), validly appointed an audit committee to oversee internal accounting controls whose composition satisfies the applicable requirements of the Exchange Rules and the Company’s board of directors and/or the audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of the Exchange Rules.
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(xvi) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that 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, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.
(xvii) Critical Accounting Policies. The section entitled “Critical Accounting Policies” incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus accurately describes in all material respects (i) the accounting policies that the Company believes are the most important in the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments (“Critical Accounting Policies”); (ii) the judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of Critical Accounting Policies; and (iii) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions, and an explanation thereof.
(xviii) Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith that are applicable to the Company or its directors or officers in their capacities as directors or officers of the Company.
(xix) Exceptions. Except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, (ii) issued or granted any securities (other than pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other equity compensation plans or arrangements existing on the date hereof and disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (the “Specified Equity Plans”)), (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business, or (v) declared or paid any dividend on its share capital; and since such date, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any change in the share capital, long-term debt, net current assets or short-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
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(xx) Valid Title. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, that are material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except such liens, encumbrances and defects 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 its subsidiaries. All assets held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries, that are material to the business of the Company, are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such assets by the Company and its subsidiaries.
(xxi) Intellectual Property. The Company and each of its subsidiaries owns, possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and it subsidiaries’ business as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted, as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to be conducted except as such failure to own, possess, or acquire such rights would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Furthermore, (A) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (B) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (C) the Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property licensed to the Company and its subsidiaries, has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (D) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of others, neither the Company or any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (E) to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in or has ever been in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (F) there is no prior art or public or commercial activity of which the Company is aware that may render any patent included in the Intellectual Property invalid or that would preclude the issuance of any patent on any patent application included in the Intellectual Property, which has not been disclosed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or the relevant foreign patent authority, as the case may be; (G) to the Company’s knowledge, the issued patents included in the Intellectual Property are valid and enforceable and the Company is unaware of any facts that would preclude the issuance of a valid and enforceable patent on any pending patent application included in the Intellectual Property; (H) the Company has taken reasonable steps necessary to secure the interests of the Company in the Intellectual Property purported to be owned by the Company from all employees, consultants, agents or contractors that developed (in whole or in part) such Intellectual Property; (I) no government funding, facilities or resources of a university, college, other educational institution or research center was used in the development of any Intellectual Property that is owned or purported to be owned by the Company that would confer upon any governmental agency or body, university, college, other educational institution or research center any claim or right in or to any such Intellectual Property; and (J) to the Company’s knowledge, none of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of the rights of any entity. “Intellectual Property” shall mean all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, domain names, technology, know-how and other intellectual property in the United States and foreign jurisdictions.
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(xxii) Health Care Authorizations. The Company has submitted and possesses, or qualifies for applicable exemptions to, such valid and current registrations, listings, approvals, clearances, licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits and supplements or amendments thereto issued or required by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their business (“Permits”), including, without limitation, all such Permits required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”), the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), Health Canada or any other comparable state, federal or foreign agencies or bodies to which it is subject, and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such Permit, except for such Permits, the lack of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiii) Compliance with Health Care Laws. The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, its directors, employees and agents (while acting in such capacity) are and at all times have been in material compliance with, all health care laws applicable to the Company, or any of its products or activities, including, but not limited to, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(b)), the Anti-Inducement Law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7a(a)(5)), the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq.), the administrative False Claims Law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(a)), the Stark law (42 U.S.C. Section 1395nn), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.) as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.), the exclusion laws (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 301 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. Section 801 et seq.), the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.), the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Section 263a), Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act), Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act), and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws, and any other state, federal or foreign law, accreditation standards, regulation, memorandum, opinion letter, or other issuance which imposes requirements on manufacturing, development, testing, labeling, advertising, marketing, promotion, distribution, reporting, kickbacks, patient or program charges, recordkeeping, claims process, documentation requirements, medical necessity, referrals, the hiring of employees or acquisition of services or supplies from those who have been excluded from government health care programs, quality, safety, privacy, security, licensure, accreditation or any other aspect of providing health care, clinical laboratory or diagnostics products or services (collectively, “Health Care Laws”). The Company has not received any notification, correspondence or any other written or oral communication, including notification of any pending or threatened claim, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority, including, without limitation, the FDA, the EMA, Health Canada, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), CMS, HHS’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Justice and state Attorneys General or similar agencies of potential or actual non-compliance by, or liability of, the Company under any Health Care Laws, except, with respect to any of the foregoing, such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to give rise to material liability of the Company under any Health Care Laws. The statements with respect to Health Care Laws and the Company’s compliance therewith included in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus fairly summarize the matters therein described.
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(xxiv) Clinical Trials. The studies, tests and preclinical and clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, the Company, or in which the Company has participated, that are described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, were and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to, where applicable, accepted professional and scientific standards for products or product candidates comparable to those being developed by the Company and all applicable statutes, rules and regulations of the FDA, the EMA, Health Canada and other comparable regulatory agencies outside of the U.S. to which they are subject, including, without limitation, 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58, 312, and 812; the descriptions of the results of such studies, tests and trials contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus do not contain any misstatement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make such statements not misleading; the Company has no knowledge of any studies, tests or trials not described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus the results of which reasonably call into question in any material respect the results of the studies, tests and trials described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus; and the Company has not received any notices or other correspondence from the FDA, EMA, Health Canada or any other foreign, state or local governmental body exercising comparable authority or any Institutional Review Board or comparable authority requiring or threatening the termination, suspension or material modification of any studies, tests or preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, the Company or in which the Company has participated, and, to the Company’s knowledge, there are no reasonable grounds for the same. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any violation of law or regulation by the Company in its respective product development efforts, submissions or reports to any regulatory authority that could reasonably be expected to require investigation, corrective action or enforcement action.
(xxv) Absence of Settlement Agreements or Undertakings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to any corporate integrity agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, or similar agreements with or imposed by any governmental authority.
(xxvi) Absence of Legal or Governmental Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, if determined adversely to the Company, would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.
(xxvii) Material Contracts. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described and filed as required. The statements made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the contracts and other documents described and filed, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such contracts and documents in all material respects. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has knowledge that any other party to any such contract or other document has any intention not to render full performance as contemplated by the terms thereof.
(xxviii) Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain insurance from nationally recognized, in the applicable country, insurers in such amounts and covering such risks as is commercially reasonable in accordance with customary practices for companies engaged in similar businesses and similar industries for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. All policies of insurance of the Company and its subsidiaries are in full force and effect; the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance; there are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(xxix) Related Party Disclosure. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so described.
(xxx) No Labor Dispute. No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxi) No Violation or Default. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its articles of association, charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or has failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxii) Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) are, and at all times prior hereto were, in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (ii) have not received notice or otherwise have knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (z) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.
(xxxiii) Taxes. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes due, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor does the Company have any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or would reasonably be expected to be asserted against the Company, that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(xxxiv) ERISA Compliance. (i) Each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance in all material respects with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (A) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that would result in a material loss to the Company, (B) no “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (C) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan that is required to be funded exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan), and (D) neither the Company or any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and (iv) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, to the Company’s knowledge, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(xxxv) Accuracy of Statistical and Market Data. The statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable in all material respects.
(xxxvi) Not an Investment Company. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, and as of the applicable Settlement Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, none of them will be, (i) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, or (ii) a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).
(xxxvii) Accuracy of Certain Summaries and Statements. The statements set forth or incorporated by reference, as applicable, in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Capital Stock,” and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 under the captions “Legal Proceedings” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence”, insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.
(xxxviii) Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person. There are no contracts, agreements or understandings to require the Company to include any such securities in the securities proposed to be offered pursuant to this Agreement.
(xxxix) No Other Brokers. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Agent for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
(xl) No Integration. The Company has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.
(xli) Absence of Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company and its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares.
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(xlii) Exchange Act Registration and Listing of the Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed on the Exchange; the Company has taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the Exchange, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or Exchange is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
(xliii) Offering Material. The Company has not distributed and prior to any Settlement Date, will not distribute any offering material in connection with any Placement (as defined in Section 2(a)(i) below), other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus to which the Agent has consented.
(xliv) Compliance with Labor Laws. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of or has received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, nor any applicable federal or state wage and hour laws, nor any state law precluding the denial of credit due to the neighborhood in which a property is situated, the violation of any of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xlv) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Convention on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any other similar foreign or domestic law or regulation; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment. The Company has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance with the laws and regulations referenced in clause (iii) of this paragraph.
(xlvi) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
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(xlvii) OFAC.
(A) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any or their directors, officers or employees, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by an individual or entity that is:
(1) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor
(2) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Syria).
(B) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity:
(1) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any individual or entity or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
(2) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(C) For the past five years, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has knowingly engaged in, and is not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
(xlviii) Not a Passive Foreign Investment Company. Subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth in the Registration Statement, the Company is not, and upon the sale of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement does not expect to become, a “passive foreign investment company” (as defined in Section 1297 of the Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder).
(xlix) No Taxes or Fees Due Upon Issuance. No stamp, issue, registration, documentary, transfer or other similar taxes and duties, including interest and penalties, are payable on or in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company or the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
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(l) No Immunity. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective properties or assets, has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment to prior judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of any jurisdiction in which it is organized, headquartered or doing business.
(li) No Legal, Accounting or Tax Advice. The Company has not relied upon the Agent or legal counsel for the Agent for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
(lii) Certificate as Representation and Warranty. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or the Agent’s counsel in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Agent as to the matters covered thereby.
(liii) Cybersecurity. The Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable physical, technical and administrative controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data, including “Personal Data,” used in connection with their businesses. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR (as defined below); (iv) any information which would qualify as “protected health information” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (collectively, “HIPAA”); and (v) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. There have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
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(liv) Compliance with Data Privacy Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable state and federal data privacy and security laws and regulations, including without limitation HIPAA, and the Company and its subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to prepare to comply with, and since May 25, 2018, have been and currently are in compliance with, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and its subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). The Company and its subsidiaries have at all times made all disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have, to the knowledge of the Company, been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any subsidiary: (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.
(lv) eXtensible Business Reporting Language. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(lvi) Post-Market Reporting Obligations. The Company is complying in all material respects with all applicable regulatory post-market reporting obligations, including, without limitation, the FDA’s adverse event reporting requirements at 21 CFR Parts 310, 314, 600, and 803.
(lvii) No Shutdowns or Prohibitions. The Company has not had any product, clinical laboratory or manufacturing site (whether Company-owned or that of a third-party manufacturer for the Company’s products) subject to a governmental authority (including FDA) shutdown or import or export prohibition, nor received any FDA Form 483 or other governmental authority notice of inspectional observations, “warning letters,” “untitled letters,” requests to make changes to the Company’s products, processes or operations, or similar correspondence or notice from the FDA or other governmental authority alleging or asserting material noncompliance with any applicable Health Care Laws. To the Company’s knowledge, neither the FDA nor any other governmental authority is considering such action.
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(lviii) No Safety Notices. (i) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there have been no recalls, field notifications, field corrections, market withdrawals or replacements, warnings, “dear doctor” letters, investigator notices, safety alerts or other notice of action relating to an alleged lack of safety, efficacy, or regulatory compliance of the Company’s products (“Safety Notices”) and (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no facts that would be reasonably likely to result in (x) a Safety Notice with respect to the Company’s products or services, (y) a change in labeling of any the Company’s respective products or services, or (z) a termination or suspension of marketing or testing of any the Company’s products or services.
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.
(a) At-the-Market Sales. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell through the Agent as sales agent, and the Agent agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell for and on behalf of the Company, the Shares on the following terms and conditions; provided, however, that any obligation of the Agent to use such commercially reasonable efforts shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling Shares, and (ii) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Shares as required under this Section 2.
(i) Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify the Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (a “Placement Notice”) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Shares to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined below) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 2 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agent set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) of this Agreement, the Agent declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Shares have been sold, (iii) the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) below, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (v) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 7. The amount of any commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agent in connection with the sale of the Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 2(a)(v) below. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent and the Agent does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the Agent shall delay sales following the delivery of a Placement Notice to the extent necessary to knowingly avoid a violation of the provisions of Rule 101(a) of Regulation M applicable to the Shares to be sold pursuant to such Placement Notice. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which the Company’s Common Stock is purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted.
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(ii) The Shares are to be sold by the Agent on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Company and the Agent on any day that is a trading day for the Exchange (other than a day on which the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time). The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 2(a) shall be the market price for the Company’s Common Stock sold by the Agent under this Section 2(a) at the time of such sale.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may instruct the Agent by telephone (confirmed promptly by email) not to sell the Shares if such sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by the Company in any such instruction. Furthermore, the Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Agent 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 and notified to the Agent in writing. In addition, the Company or the Agent may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by email), suspend the offering of the Shares, whereupon the Agent shall so suspend the offering of Shares until further notice is provided to the other party to the contrary; 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information, the Company and the Agent agree that (i) no sale of Shares will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Shares, and (iii) the Agent shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Shares.
(iv) Subject to the terms of the Placement Notice, the Agent may sell the Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the Exchange. Subject to the terms of any Placement Notice, the Agent may also sell Shares in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices and/or any other method permitted by law, subject to the prior written consent of the Company.
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(v) The compensation to the Agent for sales of the Shares, as an agent of the Company, shall be 3.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a), payable in cash (the “Sales Commission”); provided that the combined Sales Commission and reimbursement of the Agent for its out-of-pocket expenses pursuant to Section 3(g), including reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent’s counsel, shall not exceed 8.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, and reimbursement of expenses that the Agent may be entitled to pursuant to Section 3(g), shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).
(vi) The Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2), no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Shares hereunder, setting forth the number of Shares sold on such day, the volume-weighted average price of the Shares sold, and the Net Proceeds payable to the Company.
(vii) All Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a) will be delivered by the Company to the Agent for the account of the Agent, against payment of the Net Proceeds therefor, by wire transfer of same-day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Piper Sandler & Co., U.S. Bancorp Center, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the second full business day following the date on which such Shares are sold, or at such other time and date as the Agent and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, each such time and date of delivery being herein referred to as a “Settlement Date.” If the Agent so elects, delivery of the Shares may be made by credit through full fast transfer to an account or accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Agent. On each Settlement Date, the Agent will deliver the Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, such Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to timely deliver duly authorized Shares on a Settlement Date, in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 5 hereto, it will (i) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company, (ii) reimburse the Agent for any losses incurred by the Agent attributable, directly or indirectly, to such default and (iii) pay to the Agent any commission or other compensation to which the Agent would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.
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(b) Maximum Amount. Under no circumstances shall the aggregate number or aggregate value of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement exceed: (i) the aggregate number and aggregate dollar amount of shares of Common Stock available for issuance and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement (including any limit set forth in General Instruction I.B.6 thereof, if applicable), (ii) the aggregate number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that are available for issuance under the Company’s articles of incorporation or certificate of designation or (iii) the aggregate number or aggregate dollar amount of shares of Common Stock for which the Company has filed any prospectus supplement in connection with the Shares (the lesser of (i), (ii) and (iii), the “Maximum Amount”).
(c) No Association or Partnership. Nothing herein contained shall constitute the Agent as an unincorporated association or partner with the Company.
(d) Duration. Under no circumstances shall any Shares be sold pursuant to this Agreement after the date which is three years after the Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.
(e) Market Transactions by Agent. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Agent has informed the Company that the Agent may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and this Agreement, purchase and sell shares of Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect, provided, that (i) no sale for its own account shall take place while a Placement Notice is in effect (except to the extent the Agent may engage in sales of Shares purchased or deemed purchased from the Company as a “riskless principal” or in a similar capacity) and (ii) the Company shall not be deemed to have authorized or consented to any such purchases or sales by the Agent. The Company consents to the Agent trading in the Common Stock for the account of any of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agent as follows:
(a) Amendments to Registration Statement and Prospectus. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a prospectus relating to any Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company agrees that it will: (i) notify the Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference or amendments not related to the Shares, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus related to the Shares has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement (insofar as it relates to the transactions contemplated hereby) or Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agent’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the sale of the Shares by the Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); (iii) not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Shares or a security convertible into the Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agent has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that (A) the failure of the Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement), (B) the Company has no obligation to provide the Agent any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Agent an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing does not name the Agent or does not relate to a Placement or other transaction contemplated hereunder, and (C) the only remedy that the Agent shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to provide the Agent with such copy or the filing of such amendment or supplement despite the Agent’s objection shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement); (iv) furnish to the Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (v) cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act.
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(b) Stop Order. The Company will advise the Agent, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.
(c) Continuing Amendments. During any period in which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to any Placement or pending sale of the Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports (taking into account any extensions available under the Exchange Act) and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agent to suspend the offering of Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(d) Qualification of the Shares. The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Agent reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any state. The Company shall promptly advise the Agent of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
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(e) Copies of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agent and counsel for the Agent copies of the Registration Statement (which will include three complete manually signed copies of the Registration Statement and all consents and exhibits filed therewith), the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
(f) Section 11(a). The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder.
(g) Expenses. The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (i) all expenses (including stock or transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Shares, (ii) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Shares, the Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and the producing, word-processing, printing, delivery, and shipping of this Agreement and other underwriting documents or closing documents, including Blue Sky Memoranda (covering the states and other applicable jurisdictions) and including the cost to furnish copies of each thereof to the Agent, (iii) all filing fees, (iv) all fees and disbursements of the Agent’s counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the Agent or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions which the Agent shall designate, (v) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (vi) the filing fees and fees and disbursements of the Agent’s counsel incident to any required review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares, (vii) listing fees, if any, (viii) the cost and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “roadshow” undertaken in connection with marketing of the Shares, and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein. In addition to (iv) and (vi) above, the Company shall reimburse the Agent for its out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent’s counsel incurred by Agent in connection with this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement; provided that such fees and disbursements shall not exceed: (A) $125,000 in connection with the filing of the initial Prospectus Supplement pursuant to this Agreement, and (B) $15,000 for each quarter subsequent to the quarter in which the initial Prospectus Supplement was filed.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner described in the Prospectus.
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(i) Restrictions on Future Sales. During the term of this Agreement, the Company will not, offer for sale, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option for the sale of, enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of Common Stock (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any subsidiary, or otherwise issue or dispose of, directly or indirectly (or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, grant, issuance or other disposition), any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options or rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock, or permit the registration under the Securities Act of any Common Stock, such securities, options or rights, except for: (i) the registration of the Shares and the sales through the Agent pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) sales of shares through any dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan of the Company, (iii) sales of shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units and options granted pursuant to employee benefit plans, and the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such outstanding options or vesting of such restricted stock units, and (iv) the issuance of shares pursuant to the exercise of warrants, in the case of each of (ii), (iii) and (iv), without giving the Agent at least three business days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale, so as to permit the Agent to suspend activity under this Agreement for such period of time as requested by the Company.
(j) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which constitutes: (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock or any other security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares, (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the Agent of any violation of Regulation M by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors promptly after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation. The Company shall not invest in futures contracts, options on futures contracts or options on commodities, unless the Company is exempt from the registration requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “Commodity Act”), or otherwise complies with the Commodity Act. The Company will not engage in any activities bearing on the Commodity Act, unless such activities are exempt from the Commodity Act or otherwise comply with the Commodity Act.
(k) No Other Broker. The Company will not incur any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(l) Timely Securities Act and Exchange Act Reports. During any prospectus delivery period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file on a timely basis with the Commission such periodic and current reports as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(m) Internal Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries will maintain such controls and other procedures, including without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that 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, including without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, to ensure that material information relating to Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities.
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(n) Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Agent, and the Agent represents and agrees that, unless it obtains 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,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Agent is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
(o) Representation Date and Opinions of Counsel. Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice, and thereafter during the term of this Agreement, each time the Company (A) files an amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares), (B) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act or files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and (C) files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial statements (other than an earnings release) under the Exchange Act, (each of the dates in (A), (B) and (C) are referred to herein as a “Representation Date”), the Company shall cause:
(i) Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent the opinion and negative assurance letter of such counsel, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; provided however, only a negative assurance letter of such counsel shall be required for each subsequent Representation Date.
(ii) Meunier Carlin & Curfman LLC, intellectual property and patent counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent the opinion of such counsel, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; provided however, the opinion of counsel shall only be required for the first Settlement Date.
(ii) TechLaw Ventures, intellectual property and patent counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent the opinion of such counsel, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; provided however, the opinion of counsel shall only be required for the first Settlement Date.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the requirement to provide counsel opinions under this Section 3(o) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Agent with opinions under this Section 3(o), then before the Agent sells any Shares pursuant to Section 2(a), the Company shall cause the opinions (including the opinion pursuant to Section 3(o) if not delivered on the date of the prior Form 10-K), comfort letter, certificates and documents that would be delivered on a Representation Date to be delivered.
(p) Representation Date and Comfort Letter. Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and thereafter during the term of this Agreement, on each Representation Date to which a waiver does not apply, the Company shall cause Haynie & Company, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Agent (the “Accountants”), to deliver to the Agent a letter, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agent, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and stating the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent of the same tenor as the first such letter received hereunder.
(q) Representation Date and Representation Certificate. Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and thereafter during the term of this Agreement, on each Representation Date to which a waiver does not apply, the Company shall furnish to the Agent a certificate (the “Representation Certificate”), substantially in the form of Schedule 3 hereto and dated as of such date, addressed to the Agent and signed by the chief executive officer and by the chief financial officer of the Company.
(r) Disclosure of Shares Sold. The Company shall disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K the number of the Shares sold through the Agent under this Agreement, the net proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.
(s) Continued Listing of Shares. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Common Stock on the Exchange.
(t) Notice of Changes. At any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, the Company shall advise the Agent immediately after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to the Agent pursuant to this Section 3.
(u) Maximum Amount. The Company will not instruct the Agent to sell or otherwise attempt to sell Shares pursuant to this Agreement in excess of the Maximum Amount.
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4. Conditions of Agent’s Obligations. The obligations of the Agent hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy, as of the date of this Agreement, each Representation Date, each Notice Date, each Applicable Time, and each Settlement Date (in each case, as if made at such date) of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:
(a) Continuing Amendments; No Stop Order. If filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act, the Company shall have filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b) under the Securities Act); the Registration Statement shall be effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Agent’s satisfaction.
(b) Absence of Certain Events. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related Prospectus or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
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(c) No Material Misstatement or Omission. The Agent shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or any the Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Agent’s opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Agent’s opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(d) No Adverse Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; and there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt of the Company, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the effect of which, in any such case described above, in the Agent’s judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(e) No Rating Downgrade. On or after each Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s securities.
(f) Compliance with Certain Obligations. The Company shall have performed each of its obligations under Section 3(o) – 3(q).
(g) Opinion of Agent Counsel. On each Representation Date to which a waiver does not apply, there shall have been furnished to the Agent the opinion and negative assurance letter of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., counsel for the Agent, dated as of such Representation Date and addressed to the Agent, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters; provided however, the opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. shall only be required prior to the first Placement Notice, and thereafter, only a negative assurance letter of such counsel shall be required for each subsequent Representation Date.
(h) Representation Certificate. On or prior to the first Placement Notice, the Agent shall have received the Representation Certificate in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel.
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(i) No Objection by FINRA. FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(j) Timely Filing of Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed by the Settlement Date, as the case may be, shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424 under the Securities Act.
(k) Additional Documents and Certificates. The Company shall have furnished to the Agent and the Agent’s counsel such additional documents, certificates and evidence as they may have reasonably requested.
All opinions, certificates, letters and other documents described in this Section 4 will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and the Agent’s counsel. The Company will furnish the Agent with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agent shall reasonably request.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Agent may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon, in whole or in part:
(i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the Rule 430B Information (as defined below) and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B promulgated under the Securities Act, and any other information deemed to be part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness, and at any subsequent time pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus), any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), or an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(ii) any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein;
(iii) any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened (whether or not the Agent is a target of or party to such investigation or proceeding);
(iv) any failure of the Company to perform its respective obligations hereunder or under law;
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and will reimburse the Agent for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case of (i) through (iv) to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof. “Rule 430B Information,” as used herein, means information with respect to the Shares and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430B.
In addition to its other obligations under this Section 5(a), the Company agrees that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon any statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in this Section 5(a), it will reimburse the Agent on a monthly basis for all reasonable legal fees or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the Company’s obligation to reimburse the Agent for such expenses and the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction. Any such interim reimbursement payments which are not made to the Agent within 30 days of a request for reimbursement shall bear interest at the WSJ Prime Rate (as published from time to time by the Wall Street Journal).
(b) Agent Indemnification. The Agent will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Agent), but only insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment 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, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof, it being understood and agreed that the only information furnished by the Agent for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus consists of the statements set forth in the eighth paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus, and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.
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(c) Notice and Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that if, in the sole judgment of the Agent, it is advisable for the Agent to be represented by separate counsel, the Agent shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent the Agent, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the Agent as incurred (in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph in subsection (a) above).
The indemnifying party under this Section 5 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 5, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into, and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (b) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
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(d) Contribution; Limitations on Liability; Non-Exclusive Remedy. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other from the offering of the Shares, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total commissions received by the Agent (before deducting expenses) from the sale of the Shares. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Agent, 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 Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
6. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including but not limited to the agreements of the Agent and the Company contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by the Agent hereunder.
7. Termination of this Agreement.
(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving five days’ 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 (i) with respect to any pending sale, through the Agent for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the Agent, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (ii) the provisions of Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) The Agent 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 Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
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(c) Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 7, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earlier to occur of the issuance and sale of all of the Shares through the Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, except that the provisions of Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(d) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 7(a), (b) or (c) 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 Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 shall remain in full force and effect.
(e) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agent or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(a)(vii) of this Agreement.
8. Default by the Company. If the Company shall fail at any Settlement Date to sell and deliver the number of Shares which it is obligated to sell hereunder, then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of the Agent or, except as provided in Section 3(g) hereof, any non-defaulting party. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default, and the Company shall (A) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.
9. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and, if to the Agent, shall be delivered via overnight delivery services to (i) Piper Sandler & Co., U.S. Bancorp Center, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, with a copy to Piper Sandler General Counsel at 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402 and LegalCapMarkets@pjc.com; and (ii) the Company at 2401 S. Foothill Drive, Suite D, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109, Attention: Chief Financial Officer with a copy to 2401 S. Foothill Drive, Suite D, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109, Attention: General Counsel; or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing. Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.
10. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 5. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Shares from the Agent.
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11. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company, having been advised by counsel, acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Agent has been retained solely to act as a sales agent in connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company (including any of the Company’s affiliates (including directors), equity holders, creditors, employees or agents, hereafter, “Company Representatives”), on the one hand, and the Agent on the other, has been created or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters and irrespective of the use of the defined term “Agent;” (b) neither the Agent nor any of its affiliates (including directors), equity holders, creditors, employees or agents (hereafter, “Agent Representatives”) shall have any duty or obligation to the Company or any Company Representative except as set forth in this Agreement; (c) the price and other terms of any Placement executed pursuant to this Agreement, as well as the terms of this Agreement, are deemed acceptable to the Company and its counsel, following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Agent; (d) the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding, and in fact has evaluated, understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of any Placement Notice to be executed pursuant to this Agreement, and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (e) the Company has been advised that the Agent and the Agent Representatives are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Agent and the Agent Representatives have no obligation to disclose any such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship, or otherwise; (f) the Company has been advised that the Agent is acting, in respect of any Placement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Agent, and not on behalf of the Company; and (g) the Company and the Company Representatives waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that they may have against the Agent or any of the Agent Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in respect of any Placement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agree that the Agent and the Agent Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to the Company or any of the Company Representatives in respect of any person asserting any claim of breach of any fiduciary duty on behalf of or in right of the Company or any of the Company Representatives.
12. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that the Agent qualifies as a Covered Entity and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from the Agent of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that the Agent qualifies as Covered Entity and becomes subject, or a BHC Act Affiliate of the Agent becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against the Agent are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
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(c) As used in this section:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k);
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b);
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
13. Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement and any transaction contemplated by this Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflict of laws that would results in the application of any other law than the laws of the State of New York. The Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) 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 or the transactions contemplated hereby.
14. Submission to Jurisdiction, Etc. Each party hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any lawsuit, action or other proceeding in such courts, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such lawsuit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company irrevocably designates and appoints Co-Diagnostics, Inc., Attn: Kevin Ontiveros, General Counsel, 2401 S. Foothill Drive, Ste. D, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109, as its authorized agent in the United States upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon such authorized agent be certified or registered mail, or by personal delivery by Federal Express, to such authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all actions as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of five years from the date of this Agreement.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile or electronic mail (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
16. Construction. The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. References herein to any law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority shall be deemed to refer to such law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority as amended, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time and also to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent in accordance with its terms.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Brian Brown | |
| Name: | Brian Brown | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Confirmed as of the date first above mentioned.
PIPER SANDLER & CO.
| By: | /s/ Connor Leahey |
|
| Name: | Connor Leahey |
|
| Title: | Director |
SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE
No Facsimile and No Voicemail
From: |
Co-Diagnostics, Inc. |
To: |
Piper Sandler & Co.
Attention:
Neil A. Riley Neil.Riley@psc.com
Michael W. Bassett Michael.Bassett@psc.com
Connor N. Anderson Connor.Anderson@psc.com
Tom Wright Thomas.Wright@psc.com
Connor Leahey Connor.Leahey@psc.com |
Date:
Subject: |
[●], 20[●]
Equity Distribution Agreement – Placement Notice |
| Gentlemen: | |
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement between Co-Diagnostics, Inc. ( “Company”), and Piper Sandler & Co. ( “Agent”) dated [●], 2023 (the “Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that Agent sell up to [●] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a minimum market price of $[●] per share. Sales should begin on the date of this Placement Notice and shall continue until [●] /[all shares are sold].
SCHEDULE 2
NOTICE PARTIES
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
Dwight Egan, CEO
d.egan@codiagnostics.com
Brian Brown, CFO
b.brown@codiagnostics.com
Piper Sandler & Co.
Neil A. Riley
Neil.Riley@psc.com
Michael W. Bassett
Michael.Bassett@psc.com
Connor N. Anderson
Connor.Anderson@psc.com
Tom Wright
Thomas.Wright@psc.com
Connor Leahey
Connor.Leahey@psc.com
SCHEDULE 3
FORM OF REPRESENTATION CERTIFICATE
PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(Q) OF THE AGREEMENT
[Date]
Piper Sandler & Co.
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Sir:
The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected [__], of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 3(q) of the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [__], 2023 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), between the Company and Piper Sandler & Co., that to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, as if made at and as of the date of the certificate, 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 the date of the certificate;
(ii) No stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof or the qualification of the Shares for Registration Statement, nor suspending or preventing the use of the base prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body;
(iii) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and that all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken;
(iv) The signers of this certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the base prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the base prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus),
(A) each part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) contain, and contained when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, all statements and information required to be included therein, each part of the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, does not contain, and did not contain, when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state, and did not omit to state when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, does not include and did not include as of its date, or the time of first use within the meaning of the Securities Act, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state and did not omit to state as of its date, or the time of first use within the meaning of the Securities Act, a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
(B) at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of such base prospectus, Prospectus, or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the date such base prospectus, Prospectus, or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends on the date of this certificate did such base prospectus, Prospectus, or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an 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,
(C) since the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement, there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented prospectus which has not been so set forth, and there has been no document required to be filed under the Exchange Act that upon such filing would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the base prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so filed,
(D) except as stated in the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, and except as disclosed in the base prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding Common Stock due to sales of Shares pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement and the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of equity awards or warrants), or any material change in the short term or long term debt, or any Material Adverse Effect or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company, and
(E) except as stated in the base prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there is not pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company is a party before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, which might result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
SCHEDULE 4
SUBSIDIARIES
DNA Logix, Inc.
Idaho Molecular, Inc.
Advanced Conceptions, Inc.
EXHIBIT 4.1
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.,
Issuer
AND
[TRUSTEE],
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of _______, 20__
Debt Securities
Table of Contents
| Page | ||
| article 1 | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| Section 1.01 | Definitions of Terms | 1 |
| article 2 | ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | 4 |
| Section 2.01 | Designation and Terms of Securities | 4 |
| Section 2.02 | Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate | 6 |
| Section 2.03 | Denominations: Provisions for Payment | 6 |
| Section 2.04 | Execution and Authentications | 7 |
| Section 2.05 | Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 7 |
| Section 2.06 | Temporary Securities | 8 |
| Section 2.07 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities | 9 |
| Section 2.08 | Cancellation | 9 |
| Section 2.09 | Benefits of Indenture | 9 |
| Section 2.10 | Authenticating Agent | 10 |
| Section 2.11 | Global Securities | 10 |
| Section 2.12 | CUSIP Numbers | 11 |
| article 3 | REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 11 |
| Section 3.01 | Redemption | 11 |
| Section 3.02 | Notice of Redemption | 11 |
| Section 3.03 | Payment Upon Redemption | 12 |
| Section 3.04 | Sinking Fund | 12 |
| Section 3.05 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 12 |
| Section 3.06 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 13 |
| article 4 | COVENANTS | 13 |
| Section 4.01 | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 13 |
| Section 4.02 | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 13 |
| Section 4.03 | Paying Agents | 13 |
| Section 4.04 | Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee | 14 |
| article 5 | SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE | 14 |
| Section 5.01 | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders | 14 |
| Section 5.02 | Preservation of Information; Communications With Securityholders | 15 |
| Section 5.03 | Reports by the Company | 15 |
| Section 5.04 | Reports by the Trustee | 15 |
| article 6 | REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | 16 |
| Section 6.01 | Events of Default | 16 |
| Section 6.02 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 17 |
| Section 6.03 | Application of Moneys Collected | 18 |
| Section 6.04 | Limitation on Suits | 18 |
| Section 6.05 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 19 |
| Section 6.06 | Control by Securityholders | 19 |
| i |
| Section 6.07 | Undertaking to Pay Costs | 19 |
| article 7 | CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | 20 |
| Section 7.01 | Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 20 |
| Section 7.02 | Certain Rights of Trustee | 21 |
| Section 7.03 | Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities | 22 |
| Section 7.04 | May Hold Securities | 22 |
| Section 7.05 | Moneys Held in Trust | 22 |
| Section 7.06 | Compensation and Reimbursement | 22 |
| Section 7.07 | Reliance on Officer’s Certificate | 23 |
| Section 7.08 | Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 23 |
| Section 7.09 | Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 23 |
| Section 7.10 | Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 24 |
| Section 7.11 | Acceptance of Appointment By Successor | 24 |
| Section 7.12 | Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 25 |
| Section 7.13 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 26 |
| Section 7.14 | Notice of Default. | 26 |
| article 8 | CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | 26 |
| Section 8.01 | Evidence of Action by securityholders | 26 |
| Section 8.02 | Proof of Execution by Securityholders | 26 |
| Section 8.03 | Who May be Deemed Owners | 27 |
| Section 8.04 | Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded | 27 |
| Section 8.05 | Actions Binding on Future Securityholders | 27 |
| article 9 | SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 27 |
| Section 9.01 | Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders | 27 |
| Section 9.02 | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders | 28 |
| Section 9.03 | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 28 |
| Section 9.04 | Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures | 29 |
| Section 9.05 | Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 29 |
| article 10 | SUCCESSOR ENTITY | 29 |
| Section 10.01 | Company May Consolidate, Etc. | 29 |
| Section 10.02 | Successor Entity Substituted | 30 |
| article 11 | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 30 |
| Section 11.01 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 30 |
| Section 11.02 | Discharge of Obligations | 30 |
| Section 11.03 | Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust | 31 |
| Section 11.04 | Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents | 31 |
| Section 11.05 | Repayment to Company | 31 |
| article 12 | IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 31 |
| Section 12.01 | No Recourse | 31 |
| article 13 | MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 32 |
| Section 13.01 | Effect on Successors and Assigns | 32 |
| Section 13.02 | Actions by Successor | 32 |
| Section 13.03 | Surrender of Company Powers | 32 |
| Section 13.04 | Notices | 32 |
| Section 13.05 | Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver | 32 |
| Section 13.06 | Treatment of Securities as Debt | 32 |
| Section 13.07 | Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent | 32 |
| Section 13.08 | Payments on Business Days | 33 |
| Section 13.09 | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 33 |
| Section 13.10 | Counterparts | 33 |
| Section 13.11 | Separability | 33 |
| Section 13.12 | Compliance Certificates | 33 |
| Section 13.13 | U.S.A Patriot Act | 34 |
| Section 13.14 | Force Majeure | 34 |
| Section 13.15 | Table of Contents; Headings | 34 |
| ii |
INDENTURE
Indenture, dated as of _______, 20__, among Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), and [Trustee], as trustee (the “Trustee”):
Whereas, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
Whereas, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
Whereas, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
article 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions of Terms.
The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Authenticating Agent” means the Trustee or an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors (or the functional equivalent thereof) of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or duly authorized committee thereof) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
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“Company” means People’s Utah Bancorp, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Utah, and, subject to the provisions of Article 10, shall also include its successors and assigns.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at __________.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.
“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series, any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.
“Global Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof at any time prior to the stated maturity of the Securities, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.
“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the chairman of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a president, a chief financial officer, a chief operating officer, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer, the controller or any assistant controller or the secretary or any assistant secretary.
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“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Outstanding”, when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article 3, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and in each case who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securityholder”, “holder of Securities”, “registered holder”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security is registered on the Security Register kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” shall have the meanings as set forth in Section 2.05.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
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“Trustee” means _________________________, and, subject to the provisions of Article 7, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“U.S.A. Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, as amended and signed into law October 26, 2001.
article 2
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.01 Designation and Terms of Securities.
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);
(3) the maturity date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(4) the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of authentication for such series;
(5) the applicability of any guarantees;
(6) whether or not the Securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
(7) whether the Securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, or subordinated debt;
(8) if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such 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 Securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;
(9) 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;
(10) the Company’s right, if any, to defer the payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
(11) if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, the Company may at its option, redeem the series of Securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;
(12) the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which the Company is obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund, mandatory redemption or analogous provisions or otherwise, to repurchase, at the Securityholder’s option, the series of Securities;
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(13) the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof;
(14) any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of that series and any security for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series;
(15) whether the 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;
(16) if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such 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 the Company’s 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, which may, without limitation, include the payment of cash as well as the delivery of securities;
(17) if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;
(18) additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the series of Securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;
(19) 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 Securityholders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such Securities to be due and payable;
(20) additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
(21) additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;
(22) additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of this Indenture both with and without the consent of Securityholders of Securities issued under this Indenture;
(23) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payment of Securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;
(24) whether interest will be payable in cash or additional Securities at the Company’s or the Securityholders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
(25) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any, and principal amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;
(26) any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series; and
(27) any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the Securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of this Indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.
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If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.
Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.
Section 2.02 Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Section 2.03 Denominations: Provisions for Payment.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(a)(13). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Subject to Section 2.01(a)(23), the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption or repurchase thereof prior to maturity, and any cash amount due upon conversion or exchange thereof, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.
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(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities and any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the first day of the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
Section 2.04 Execution and Authentications.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by one of its Officers. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.
The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been an Officer (at the time of execution), notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be such an officer of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an Officer, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, if requested, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Section 2.05 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
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(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution or Supplemental Indenture (the “Security Registrar”).
Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities.
(c) Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series or repurchase, conversion or exchange of less than the entire principal amount of a Security, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.
(d) The Company and the Security Registrar shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption or surrendered for repurchase, but not validly withdrawn, other than the unredeemed portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part or not surrendered for repurchase, as the case may be. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.06 Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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Section 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.08 Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, repurchase, exchange, registration of transfer or conversion shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent (or any other applicable agent), be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.09 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.
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Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption, repurchase or conversion thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
Section 2.11 Global Securities.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction (or if the Depositary names the Trustee as its custodian, retained by the Trustee), and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Company has received a request from the Depositary or from the Trustee, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
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Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.
article 3
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.01 Redemption.
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Section 3.02 Notice of Redemption.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid (or with regard to any Global Security held in book entry form, by electronic mail in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository), a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.
Each such notice of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any), specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is from a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed.
In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
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(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by an Officer, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
Section 3.03 Payment Upon Redemption.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).
(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
Section 3.04 Sinking Fund.
The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
Section 3.05 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
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Section 3.06 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officer’s Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
article 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities. Payments of principal on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date. Payments of interest on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions in writing to the Security Registrar and the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date.
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by any officer authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands. The Company initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as its paying agent with respect to the Securities.
Section 4.03 Paying Agents.
(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
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(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and
(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (ii) the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by the Company or any paying agent to the Trustee, the Company or such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Section 4.04 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
article 5
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) within 15 days after each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
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Section 5.02 Preservation of Information; Communications With Securityholders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and, in connection with any such communications, the Trustee shall satisfy its obligations under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the provisions of Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 5.03 Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company will at all times comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Company covenants and agrees to provide (which delivery may be via electronic mail) to the Trustee within 30 days, after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any correspondence filed with the Commission or any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the Commission; and provided further, that so long as such filings by the Company are available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), or any successor system, such filings shall be deemed to have been filed with the Trustee for purposes hereof without any further action required by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, a failure by the Company to file annual reports, information and other reports with the Commission within the time period prescribed thereof by the Commission shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.03.
(b) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee is under no duty to examine any such reports, information or documents delivered to the Trustee or filed with the Commission via EDGAR to ensure compliance with the provision of this Indenture or to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the information or the statements contained therein. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or duty whatsoever to ascertain or determine whether the above referenced filings with the Commission on EDGAR (or any successor system) has occurred.
Section 5.04 Reports by the Trustee.
(a) If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee, within sixty (60) days after each May 1, shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such May 1, which complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any securities exchange.
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article 6
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01 Events of Default.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, 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 the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series 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 that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.
(b) In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the holders of the Securities.
(c) At any time after the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.
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No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
Section 6.02 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
(a) The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 90 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law or equity out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.06.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
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Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.03 Application of Moneys Collected.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.
Section 6.04 Limitation on Suits.
No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture or any Security to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or any Security, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iv) the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) during such 90 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
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Section 6.05 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
Section 6.06 Control by Securityholders.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, shall 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 such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or subject the Trustee in its sole discretion to personal liability. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed, subject to the Trustee’s duties under the Trust Indenture Act, would involve the Trustee in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the Securityholders not involved in the proceeding. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)). Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.07 Undertaking to Pay Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
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article 7
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Securityholder or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series;
(iv) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it;
(v) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder;
(vi) The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee; and
(vii) No Trustee shall have any duty or responsibility for any act or omission of any other Trustee appointed with respect to a series of Securities hereunder.
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Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company by any authorized officer of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);
(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the opinion or written advice of such counsel or, if requested, any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs;
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents or inquire as to the performance by the Company of one of its covenants under this Indenture, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to the Trustee against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(g) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;
(i) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; and
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(j) The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that (a) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee in a timely manner, and (b) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such instructions or directions. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties. The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to furnish the Trustee with Officer’s Certificates, Company Orders and any other matters or directions pursuant to this Indenture.
(k) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.
(l) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default (other than an Event of Default relating to the failure to pay the interest on, or the principal of, the Securities) until the Trustee shall have received written notification in the manner set forth in this Indenture or a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have obtained actual knowledge.
Section 7.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.
(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any statement in any registration statement, prospectus, or any other document in connection with the sale of Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any rating on the Securities or any action or omission of any rating agency.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
Section 7.04 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
Section 7.05 Moneys Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
Section 7.06 Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) The Company shall pay to the Trustee for each of its capacities hereunder from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
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(b) The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder against any loss, liability or expense (including the cost of defending itself and including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it except as set forth in Section 7.06(c) in the exercise or performance of its powers, rights or duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
(c) The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.
(d) To ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all funds or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(4) or (5), the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 7.07 Reliance on Officer’s Certificate.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it reasonably necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.
If such corporation or other Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or other Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
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Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of any amounts due to it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates, (ii) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
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Section 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
Section 7.14 Notice of Default.
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if such Event of Default is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act notice of the Event of Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs and 30 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or written notice of it is received by the Trustee, unless such Event of Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.
article 8
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.01 Evidence of Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether
Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his or her agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
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Section 8.03 Who May be Deemed Owners.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Security Registrar as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 8.04 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
Section 8.05 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
article 9
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;
(b) to comply with Article 10;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
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(d) to add to the covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions relating to the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), 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 herein conferred upon the Company;
(e) 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 Securities, as herein set forth;
(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;
(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; or
(i) to comply with any requirements of the Commission or any successor in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.
Other than as provided in Section 9.01, with the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 9.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
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Section 9.04 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any securities exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
Section 9.05 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall receive an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Article and that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture have been complied with; provided, however, that such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall (or shall direct the Trustee to) transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby .as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Company to mail, or cause the mailing of, such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
article 10
SUCCESSOR ENTITY
Section 10.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc.
Nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors); provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction) or any such sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (other than a sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition to a Subsidiary of the Company), the due and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
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Section 10.02 Successor Entity Substituted.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the obligations set forth under Section 10.01 on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
article 11
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated and not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.10, 11.05 and 13.04 that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.
Section 11.02 Discharge of Obligations.
If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4,01, 4.02, 4,03, 7.06, 7.10, 11.05 and 13.04 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid.
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Thereafter, Sections 7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.
Section 11.03 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.
All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
Section 11.04 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
Section 11.05 Repayment to Company.
Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, or such other shorter period set forth in applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or upon the Company’s request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
article 12
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 12.01 No Recourse.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
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article 13
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 13.02 Actions by Successor.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
Section 13.03 Surrender of Company Powers.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor corporation.
Section 13.04 Notices.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, request or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made or served by the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying or other agent under this Indenture or by the holders of Securities or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: 2401 S. Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84109. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Section 13.05 Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver.
This Indenture and each Security, and any claim, controversy or dispute under or related to this Indenture or any Security, shall 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.
EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.
Section 13.06 Treatment of Securities as Debt.
It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
Section 13.07 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and, if requested, an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
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(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12 of this Indenture or Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 13.08 Payments on Business Days.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
Section 13.09 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
Section 13.10 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 13.11 Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
Section 13.12 Compliance Certificates.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which any Securities of any series were outstanding, an officer’s certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any Event of Default that occurred during such fiscal year. Such certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company and the Company’s performance under this Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 13.12, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If the officer of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such an Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Event of Default and its status.
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Section 13.13 U.S.A Patriot Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
Section 13.14 Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent or any other agent under this Indenture be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions or utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent or any other agent under this Indenture shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 13.15 Table of Contents; Headings.
The table of contents and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof, and will not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
| Co-Diagnostics, Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| [Trustee], as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Signature Page to Indenture
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE (1)
| Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as Amended | Section of Indenture | |
| 310(a) | 7.09 | |
| 310(b) | 7.08 | |
| 7.10 | ||
| 311(a) | 7.13 | |
| 311(b) | 7.13 | |
| 312(a) | 5.01 | |
| 5.02(a) | ||
| 312(b) | 5.02(c) | |
| 312(c) | 5.02(c) | |
| 313(a) | 5.04(a) | |
| 313(b) | 5.04(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.04(a) | |
| 5.04(b) | ||
| 313(d) | 5.04(c) | |
| 314(a) | 5.03 | |
| 13.12 | ||
| 314(b) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(c) | 13.07(a) | |
| 314(d) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(e) | 13.07(b) | |
| 314(f) | Inapplicable | |
| 315(a) | 7.01(a) | |
| 7.01(b) | ||
| 315(b) | 7.14 | |
| 315(c) | 7.01 | |
| 315(d) | 7.01(b) | |
| 315(e) | 6.07 | |
| 316(a) | 6.06 | |
| 8.04 | ||
| 316(b) | 6.04 | |
| 316(c) | 8.01 | |
| 317(a) | 6.02 | |
| 317(b) | 4.03 | |
| 318(a) | 13.09 |
| (1) | This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. |
Exhibit 4.9
WARRANT
THIS WARRANT AND ANY SHARES ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT (I) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SAID ACT, (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT OR (III) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT. THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
Date of Issuance: October 31, 2019
This COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT certifies that COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC. or its permitted assignees is the registered holder (the “Holder”) of this Common Stock Purchase Warrant (including any Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”) to purchase shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”). The Holder takes this Warrant subject to the terms and restrictions set forth herein and shall be entitled to certain rights and privileges as set forth herein.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company hereby certifies that the Holder is entitled to purchase from the Company 30,000 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at a purchase price per share set forth in Section 3 below, and otherwise subject to the terms, conditions and adjustments set forth below in this Warrant. The Holder is the person or entity in whose name this Warrant is registered on the records of the Company regarding registration and transfers of this Warrant (the “Warrant Register”) and is the owner and holder thereof for all purposes. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 23.
1. Exercise of Warrant. This Warrant will be exercisable at any time, in the sole discretion of the Holder, commencing on the date hereof (the “Commencement Date”).
2. Expiration of Warrant. This Warrant shall expire on 5:00 p.m., Mountain Standard time on the Expiration Date.
3. Warrant Price. For purposes of this Warrant the “Warrant Price” means $1.40, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
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4. Exercise of Warrant. This Warrant shall be exercisable as follows:
4.1 Manner of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Commencement Date, in whole or in part, by delivery (whether via facsimile or otherwise) of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant. Within one (1) day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Company of an amount equal to the Warrant Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (the “Aggregate Warrant Price”) in cash or via wire transfer of immediately available funds. The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original of this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. On or before the first day following the date on which the Company has received the Aggregate Warrant Price, the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Aggregate Warrant Price, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, to the Holder. On or before the 10th day following the date on which the Company has received such Aggregate Warrant Price, the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant has been exercised. If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 4.1 and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 9)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all taxes and fees which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.
The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with the issuance of Warrant Shares. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
4.2 Shares to be Fully Paid. The Company covenants and agrees that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of rights presented by this Warrant will, upon issuance by the Company, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from preemptive rights and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto.
4.3 Company to Reaffirm Obligations. The Company will, at the time of each exercise of this Warrant, upon the written request of the Holder hereof, acknowledge in writing its continuing obligation to afford to the Holder all rights (including without limitation any rights to registration of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise) to which the Holder shall continue to be entitled after exercise in accordance with the terms of this Warrant; provided, however, that if the Holder shall fail to make a request, the failure shall not affect the continuing obligation of the Company to afford the rights to such Holder.
5. Adjustments.
5.1 Splits, Subdivisions, etc. In the event that the Company should at any time or from time to time, after the date first referenced above, fix a record date for the effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Common Stock or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly additional shares of Common Stock (hereinafter referred to as “Common Stock Equivalents”) without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional shares of Common Stock or the Common Stock Equivalents (including the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date of such dividend, distribution, split or subdivision if no record date is fixed), the Warrant Price shall be appropriately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of this Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding.
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5.2 Combinations. If the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time after the date first referenced above is decreased by a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, following the record date of such combination, the Warrant Price shall be appropriately increased and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.
5.3 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganizations, etc. If after the date hereof any Fundamental Transaction shall be effected, then, as a condition of such Fundamental Transaction, lawful and fair provision shall be made whereby the Holder of this Warrant shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in this Warrant and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, such shares of stock, securities, or assets as may be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for the number of outstanding shares of such Common Stock equal to the number of shares of such stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, had such Fundamental Transaction not taken place and in such event appropriate provision shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of the Holder of this Warrant to the end that the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, provisions for adjustments of the Warrant Price and of the number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be in relation to any share of stock, securities, or assets thereafter deliverable upon the exercise hereof. The Company shall not effect any such Fundamental Transaction unless prior to the consummation thereof the Successor Entity (if other than the Company) resulting from such Fundamental Transaction, or the corporation purchasing such assets in a Fundamental Transaction, shall assume by written instrument executed and delivered to the Holder of this Warrant the obligation to deliver to the Holder of this Warrant such shares of stock, securities, or assets as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such holders may be entitled to purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any Fundamental Transaction, other than a Fundamental Transaction in which a Successor Entity that is a publicly traded corporation whose stock is quoted or listed for trading on a national exchange assumes this Warrant such that the Warrant shall thereafter be exercisable for the publicly traded common stock of such Successor Entity, then, at the written request of the Holder, if and only if such request is delivered by notice in writing to the Company within thirty (30) Business Days following the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction, the Company (or the Successor Entity) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder, within five (5) Business Days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction), cash in an amount per Warrant Share equal to the Transaction Value per share of Common Stock outstanding, less the Warrant Price. No payment shall be required to be made to the Holder if the Fundamental Transaction is not consummated.
5.4 Stock Combination Event Adjustment. If at any time and from time to time on or after the Commencement Date there occurs any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination recapitalization or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock (each, a “Stock Combination Event”) and the product of (i) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to the Stock Combination Event by (y) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock on each day of the fifteen (15) Trading Day period immediately prior to the Stock Combination Event, divided by (B) fifteen (15); and (ii) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock on each day of the fifteen (15) Trading Day period immediately following the date of such Stock Combination Event, divided by (y) fifteen (15) (each, an “Event Market Price”) is less than the Warrant Price then in effect (after giving effect to the adjustment in clause (b) above), then on the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day immediately following such Stock Combination Event, the Warrant Price then in effect on such sixteenth (16th) Trading Day (after giving effect to the adjustment in clause (b) above) shall be reduced (but in no event increased) to the Event Market Price. For the avoidance of doubt, if the adjustment in the immediately preceding sentence would otherwise result in an increase in the Warrant Price hereunder, no adjustment shall be made.
5.5 Notice of Adjustments. Upon any adjustment of the terms of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 5, then and in each such case the Company shall promptly deliver a notice to the registered Holder of this Warrant, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the changes, if any, in the number of Warrant Shares or kind of securities or other property purchasable at such price upon the exercise hereof, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based.
5.6 Adjustment in Number of Securities. Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, the number of securities issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant shall be adjusted to the nearest full amount by multiplying a number equal to the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment by the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing the product so obtained by the adjusted Warrant Price.
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5.7 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.
5.8 Other Events. In the event that the Company shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 5.8 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Warrant Price and the number of Warrant Shares (if applicable) so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 5.8 will increase the Warrant Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 5, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.
5.9 Application. Without limiting Section 4.3 hereof, the provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly and equally to successive transactions or events covered hereby and shall be applied as if this Warrant (and any such subsequent warrants) were fully exercisable without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant.
6. Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof, and not subject to preemptive rights or other similar rights of stockholders of the Company, solely for the purpose of issuing the shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the issuance or exercise thereof, and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to issue the Common Stock and effect the exercise of this Warrant, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to Holder, the Company shall take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including without limitation, using its best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock. All shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be duly authorized and, when issued upon exercise, shall be validly issued and, in the case of shares, fully paid and nonassessable and free from preemptive rights and free from taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto.
7. No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of its charter or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution, sale of assets or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant but will at all times carry out all such terms and take all such action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the holder of this Warrant against impairment.
8. Restrictions on Transfer.
8.1 Restrictive Legends. This Warrant and each Warrant issued upon transfer or in substitution for this Warrant pursuant to Section 9, each certificate for Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any Warrant and each certificate issued upon the transfer of any such Common Stock shall be transferable only upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Section 8. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8, each of the foregoing securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend reflecting the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Warrant and any restrictions required under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
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8.2 Notice of Proposed Transfer; Opinion of Counsel. Prior to any transfer of any securities which are not registered under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”), the Holder will give written notice to the Company of the Holder’s intention to affect a transfer and to comply in all other respects with this Section 8.2. Each notice shall describe the manner and basic circumstances of the proposed transfer, and, if such transfer is not being made pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A of the Securities Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”), shall designate counsel for the Holder. The following provisions shall then apply:
(a) This Warrant and any Warrant shares issuable upon exercise hereof (collectively, the “Securities”) may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) the Holder shall have delivered to the Company (if requested by the Company) an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) the Holder provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144; (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144, and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the Securities Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) promulgated thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.
(b) Certificates evidencing Securities shall not be required to contain any legend (i) while a registration statement (including a Registration Statement) covering the resale of such Securities is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) following any sale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming the transferor is not an affiliate of the Company), (iii) if such Securities are eligible to be sold, assigned or transferred under Rule 144 (provided that the Holder provides the Company with reasonable assurances that such Securities are eligible for sale, assignment or transfer under Rule 144 which shall not include an opinion of counsel), (iv) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer (other than under Rule 144), provided that the Company provides the Company with an opinion of counsel to the Holder, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or (v) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, controlling judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the SEC).
8.3 Termination of Restrictions. The restrictions imposed by this Section 8 upon the transferability of Restricted Securities shall cease and terminate as to any particular Restricted Securities:
(a) which Restricted Securities shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, or (b) when, in the opinion of counsel for the Holder, which is reasonably acceptable to the Company, or, alternatively, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such restrictions are no longer required in order to insure compliance with the Act or Section 8 hereof. Whenever such restrictions shall cease and terminate as to any Restricted Securities, the Holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company, without expense (other than applicable transfer taxes, if any), new securities of like tenor not bearing the applicable legends required by Section 8.1 hereof.
9. Ownership, Transfer and Substitution of Warrant.
9.1 Ownership of Warrant. The Company may treat the person in whose name this Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(b) hereof as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, except that, if and when any Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be obligated to) treat the bearer thereof as the owner of such Warrant for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. Subject to Section 8 hereof, this Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder without a new Warrant first having been issued.
9.2 Office; Transfer and Exchange of Warrant.
(a) The Company will maintain its principal offices as the office where notices, presentations and demands in respect of this Warrant may be made upon it until the Company notifies the holder of this Warrant of any change of location of the office.
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(b) The Company shall cause to be kept at its office maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof a Warrant Register for the registration and transfer of this Warrant. The names and addresses of holders of this Warrant, the transfers thereof and the names and addresses of transferees of this Warrant shall be registered in such Warrant Register. The Person in whose name any Warrant shall be so registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes of this Warrant, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary.
(c) Upon the surrender of this Warrant, properly endorsed, for registration of transfer or for exchange at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof, the Company at its expense will (subject to compliance with Section 8 hereof, if applicable) execute and deliver to or upon the order of the Holder thereof a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender, in the name of such holder or as such holders as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.
9.3 Replacement of Warrant. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of this Warrant, upon delivery of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company in form and amount or, in the case of any mutilation, upon surrender of this Warrant for cancellation at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof, the Company at its expense will execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor and dated the date hereof.
10. No Rights or Liabilities as Stockholder. No Holder shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of any shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof for any purpose, nor shall anything contained herein be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether upon any recapitalization, issuance of stock, reclassification of stock, change of par value, consolidation, merger, conveyance, or otherwise) or to receive notice of meetings, or to receive dividends or subscription rights or otherwise until this Warrant shall have been exercised and the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise hereof shall have become deliverable, as provided herein. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 10, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.
11. Notices of Record Date, etc. In case the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right; or of any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving entity), or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company, then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the registered holder of this Warrant a notice specifying, as the case may be: (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice unless such prior notice is waived by the registered holder of this Warrant.
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(b) Notices. Any notice or other communication in connection with this Warrant shall be deemed to be given if in writing (or in the form of a facsimile) addressed as hereinafter provided and actually delivered at said address: (a) if to any Holder, at the registered address of such holder as set forth in the Warrant Register kept at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 8.2(a) hereof, or (b) if to the Company, to the attention of its Chief Executive Officer at its office maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof; provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be effective in the manner provided in Section 4 hereof.
12. Payment of Taxes. The Company will pay all documentary stamp taxes attributable to the issuance of shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant upon exercise of this Warrant; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificate for shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant in a name other that of the Holder. The Holder is responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant upon exercise hereof.
13. Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.
14. RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 above, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon the complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distributions would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or the beneficial ownership of any such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and such Distribution to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage).
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15. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Warrant Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the SPA Warrants, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the SPA Warrants then outstanding.
16. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Warrant shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Utah without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Utah located in Salt Lake County and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Utah for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Warrant and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Warrant. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS WARRANT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
17. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Warrant and the observance of any term hereof may be amended, waived or modified (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of greater than 50% of the outstanding Warrants and Warrant Shares, on a combined and fully diluted basis, issued to the Holders. If one or more provisions of this Warrant are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provisions shall be excluded from this Warrant, and the balance of this Warrant shall be interpreted as if such provisions were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. The section headings in this Warrant are for purposes of convenience only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
18. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
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19. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Warrant Price, the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Warrant Price or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Warrant Price the (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
20. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 16 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.
21. Definitions.
(a) “Additional Right” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 5.5) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 14 and 15 hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).
(b) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
(c) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
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(d) “Common Stock Deemed Outstanding” means, at any given time, the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at such time, plus the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be outstanding pursuant to Sections 5.5(i) and 5.5(ii) hereof regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time, but excluding any shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company or issuable upon conversion and exercise, as applicable, of the Warrants.
(e) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.
(f) “Expiration Date” means the date that is the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Issuance Date or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a “Holiday”), the next date that is not a Holiday.
(g) “Fundamental Transaction” means that (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (1) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other Person, or (2) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other Person, or (3) allow any other Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (4) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (5) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock, or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.
(h) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(i) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(j) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.
(k) “Voting Stock” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Common Stock Purchase Warrant to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| Co-Diagnostics, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dwight H. Egan | |
| Name: | Dwight H. Egan | |
| Title: | President/CEO | |
EXHIBIT A
EXERCISE NOTICE
TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Dated:______________
The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase __________________ of the shares of Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued to COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.
1. Payment of Warrant Price. The Holder shall pay the Aggregate Warrant Price in the sum of $___ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.
3. Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to Holder, or its designee or agent as specified below,_______________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant. Delivery shall be made to Holder, or for its benefit, to the following address:
| Date: | ______________________, ________ |
| Name of Registered Holder |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
EXHIBIT B
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and will issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the instructions in the Exercise notice dated _____________ day of ________, 20_______.
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
Exhibit 4.10
WARRANT
THIS WARRANT AND ANY SHARES ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT (I) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SAID ACT, (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT OR (III) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT. THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
Date of Issuance: February 6, 2020
This COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT certifies that COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC. or its permitted assignees is the registered holder (the “Holder”) of this Common Stock Purchase Warrant (including any Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”) to purchase shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”). The Holder takes this Warrant subject to the terms and restrictions set forth herein and shall be entitled to certain rights and privileges as set forth herein.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company hereby certifies that the Holder is entitled to purchase from the Company 10,000 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at a purchase price per share set forth in Section 3 below, and otherwise subject to the terms, conditions and adjustments set forth below in this Warrant. The Holder is the person or entity in whose name this Warrant is registered on the records of the Company regarding registration and transfers of this Warrant (the “Warrant Register”) and is the owner and holder thereof for all purposes. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 23.
1. Exercise of Warrant. This Warrant will be exercisable at any time, in the sole discretion of the Holder, commencing on the date hereof (the “Commencement Date”).
2. Expiration of Warrant. This Warrant shall expire on 5:00 p.m., Mountain Standard time on the Expiration Date.
3. Warrant Price. For purposes of this Warrant the “Warrant Price” means $1.40, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
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4. Exercise of Warrant. This Warrant shall be exercisable as follows:
4.1 Manner of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Commencement Date, in whole or in part, by delivery (whether via facsimile or otherwise) of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant. Within one (1) day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Company of an amount equal to the Warrant Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (the “Aggregate Warrant Price”) in cash or via wire transfer of immediately available funds. The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original of this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. On or before the first day following the date on which the Company has received the Aggregate Warrant Price, the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Aggregate Warrant Price, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, to the Holder. On or before the 10th day following the date on which the Company has received such Aggregate Warrant Price, the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant has been exercised. If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 4.1 and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 9)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all taxes and fees which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.
The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with the issuance of Warrant Shares. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
4.2 Shares to be Fully Paid. The Company covenants and agrees that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of rights presented by this Warrant will, upon issuance by the Company, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from preemptive rights and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto.
4.3 Company to Reaffirm Obligations. The Company will, at the time of each exercise of this Warrant, upon the written request of the Holder hereof, acknowledge in writing its continuing obligation to afford to the Holder all rights (including without limitation any rights to registration of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise) to which the Holder shall continue to be entitled after exercise in accordance with the terms of this Warrant; provided, however, that if the Holder shall fail to make a request, the failure shall not affect the continuing obligation of the Company to afford the rights to such Holder.
5. Adjustments.
5.1 Splits, Subdivisions, etc. In the event that the Company should at any time or from time to time, after the date first referenced above, fix a record date for the effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Common Stock or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly additional shares of Common Stock (hereinafter referred to as “Common Stock Equivalents”) without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional shares of Common Stock or the Common Stock Equivalents (including the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date of such dividend, distribution, split or subdivision if no record date is fixed), the Warrant Price shall be appropriately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of this Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding.
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5.2 Combinations. If the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time after the date first referenced above is decreased by a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, following the record date of such combination, the Warrant Price shall be appropriately increased and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.
5.3 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganizations, etc. If after the date hereof any Fundamental Transaction shall be effected, then, as a condition of such Fundamental Transaction, lawful and fair provision shall be made whereby the Holder of this Warrant shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in this Warrant and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, such shares of stock, securities, or assets as may be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for the number of outstanding shares of such Common Stock equal to the number of shares of such stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, had such Fundamental Transaction not taken place and in such event appropriate provision shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of the Holder of this Warrant to the end that the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, provisions for adjustments of the Warrant Price and of the number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be in relation to any share of stock, securities, or assets thereafter deliverable upon the exercise hereof. The Company shall not effect any such Fundamental Transaction unless prior to the consummation thereof the Successor Entity (if other than the Company) resulting from such Fundamental Transaction, or the corporation purchasing such assets in a Fundamental Transaction, shall assume by written instrument executed and delivered to the Holder of this Warrant the obligation to deliver to the Holder of this Warrant such shares of stock, securities, or assets as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such holders may be entitled to purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any Fundamental Transaction, other than a Fundamental Transaction in which a Successor Entity that is a publicly traded corporation whose stock is quoted or listed for trading on a national exchange assumes this Warrant such that the Warrant shall thereafter be exercisable for the publicly traded common stock of such Successor Entity, then, at the written request of the Holder, if and only if such request is delivered by notice in writing to the Company within thirty (30) Business Days following the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction, the Company (or the Successor Entity) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder, within five (5) Business Days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction), cash in an amount per Warrant Share equal to the Transaction Value per share of Common Stock outstanding, less the Warrant Price. No payment shall be required to be made to the Holder if the Fundamental Transaction is not consummated.
5.4 Stock Combination Event Adjustment. If at any time and from time to time on or after the Commencement Date there occurs any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination recapitalization or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock (each, a “Stock Combination Event”) and the product of (i) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to the Stock Combination Event by (y) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock on each day of the fifteen (15) Trading Day period immediately prior to the Stock Combination Event, divided by (B) fifteen (15); and (ii) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock on each day of the fifteen (15) Trading Day period immediately following the date of such Stock Combination Event, divided by (y) fifteen (15) (each, an “Event Market Price”) is less than the Warrant Price then in effect (after giving effect to the adjustment in clause (b) above), then on the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day immediately following such Stock Combination Event, the Warrant Price then in effect on such sixteenth (16th) Trading Day (after giving effect to the adjustment in clause (b) above) shall be reduced (but in no event increased) to the Event Market Price. For the avoidance of doubt, if the adjustment in the immediately preceding sentence would otherwise result in an increase in the Warrant Price hereunder, no adjustment shall be made.
5.5 Notice of Adjustments. Upon any adjustment of the terms of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 5, then and in each such case the Company shall promptly deliver a notice to the registered Holder of this Warrant, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the changes, if any, in the number of Warrant Shares or kind of securities or other property purchasable at such price upon the exercise hereof, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based.
5.6 Adjustment in Number of Securities. Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, the number of securities issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant shall be adjusted to the nearest full amount by multiplying a number equal to the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment by the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing the product so obtained by the adjusted Warrant Price.
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5.7 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.
5.8 Other Events. In the event that the Company shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 5.8 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Warrant Price and the number of Warrant Shares (if applicable) so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 5.8 will increase the Warrant Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 5, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.
5.9 Application. Without limiting Section 4.3 hereof, the provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly and equally to successive transactions or events covered hereby and shall be applied as if this Warrant (and any such subsequent warrants) were fully exercisable without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant.
6. Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof, and not subject to preemptive rights or other similar rights of stockholders of the Company, solely for the purpose of issuing the shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the issuance or exercise thereof, and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to issue the Common Stock and effect the exercise of this Warrant, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to Holder, the Company shall take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including without limitation, using its best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock. All shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be duly authorized and, when issued upon exercise, shall be validly issued and, in the case of shares, fully paid and nonassessable and free from preemptive rights and free from taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto.
7. No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of its charter or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution, sale of assets or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant but will at all times carry out all such terms and take all such action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the holder of this Warrant against impairment.
8. Restrictions on Transfer.
8.1 Restrictive Legends. This Warrant and each Warrant issued upon transfer or in substitution for this Warrant pursuant to Section 9, each certificate for Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any Warrant and each certificate issued upon the transfer of any such Common Stock shall be transferable only upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Section 8. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8, each of the foregoing securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend reflecting the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Warrant and any restrictions required under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
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8.2 Notice of Proposed Transfer; Opinion of Counsel. Prior to any transfer of any securities which are not registered under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”), the Holder will give written notice to the Company of the Holder’s intention to affect a transfer and to comply in all other respects with this Section 8.2. Each notice shall describe the manner and basic circumstances of the proposed transfer, and, if such transfer is not being made pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A of the Securities Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”), shall designate counsel for the Holder. The following provisions shall then apply:
(a) This Warrant and any Warrant shares issuable upon exercise hereof (collectively, the “Securities”) may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) the Holder shall have delivered to the Company (if requested by the Company) an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) the Holder provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144; (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144, and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the Securities Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) promulgated thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.
(b) Certificates evidencing Securities shall not be required to contain any legend (i) while a registration statement (including a Registration Statement) covering the resale of such Securities is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) following any sale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming the transferor is not an affiliate of the Company), (iii) if such Securities are eligible to be sold, assigned or transferred under Rule 144 (provided that the Holder provides the Company with reasonable assurances that such Securities are eligible for sale, assignment or transfer under Rule 144 which shall not include an opinion of counsel), (iv) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer (other than under Rule 144), provided that the Company provides the Company with an opinion of counsel to the Holder, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or (v) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, controlling judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the SEC).
8.3 Termination of Restrictions. The restrictions imposed by this Section 8 upon the transferability of Restricted Securities shall cease and terminate as to any particular Restricted Securities:
(a) which Restricted Securities shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, or (b) when, in the opinion of counsel for the Holder, which is reasonably acceptable to the Company, or, alternatively, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such restrictions are no longer required in order to insure compliance with the Act or Section 8 hereof. Whenever such restrictions shall cease and terminate as to any Restricted Securities, the Holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company, without expense (other than applicable transfer taxes, if any), new securities of like tenor not bearing the applicable legends required by Section 8.1 hereof.
9. Ownership, Transfer and Substitution of Warrant.
9.1 Ownership of Warrant. The Company may treat the person in whose name this Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(b) hereof as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, except that, if and when any Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be obligated to) treat the bearer thereof as the owner of such Warrant for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. Subject to Section 8 hereof, this Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder without a new Warrant first having been issued.
9.2 Office; Transfer and Exchange of Warrant.
(a) The Company will maintain its principal offices as the office where notices, presentations and demands in respect of this Warrant may be made upon it until the Company notifies the holder of this Warrant of any change of location of the office.
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(b) The Company shall cause to be kept at its office maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof a Warrant Register for the registration and transfer of this Warrant. The names and addresses of holders of this Warrant, the transfers thereof and the names and addresses of transferees of this Warrant shall be registered in such Warrant Register. The Person in whose name any Warrant shall be so registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes of this Warrant, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary.
(c) Upon the surrender of this Warrant, properly endorsed, for registration of transfer or for exchange at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof, the Company at its expense will (subject to compliance with Section 8 hereof, if applicable) execute and deliver to or upon the order of the Holder thereof a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender, in the name of such holder or as such holders as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.
9.3 Replacement of Warrant. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of this Warrant, upon delivery of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company in form and amount or, in the case of any mutilation, upon surrender of this Warrant for cancellation at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof, the Company at its expense will execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor and dated the date hereof.
10. No Rights or Liabilities as Stockholder. No Holder shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of any shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof for any purpose, nor shall anything contained herein be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether upon any recapitalization, issuance of stock, reclassification of stock, change of par value, consolidation, merger, conveyance, or otherwise) or to receive notice of meetings, or to receive dividends or subscription rights or otherwise until this Warrant shall have been exercised and the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise hereof shall have become deliverable, as provided herein. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 10, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.
11. Notices of Record Date, etc. In case the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right; or of any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving entity), or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company, then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the registered holder of this Warrant a notice specifying, as the case may be: (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice unless such prior notice is waived by the registered holder of this Warrant.
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(b) Notices. Any notice or other communication in connection with this Warrant shall be deemed to be given if in writing (or in the form of a facsimile) addressed as hereinafter provided and actually delivered at said address: (a) if to any Holder, at the registered address of such holder as set forth in the Warrant Register kept at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 8.2(a) hereof, or (b) if to the Company, to the attention of its Chief Executive Officer at its office maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof; provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be effective in the manner provided in Section 4 hereof.
12. Payment of Taxes. The Company will pay all documentary stamp taxes attributable to the issuance of shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant upon exercise of this Warrant; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificate for shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant in a name other that of the Holder. The Holder is responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant upon exercise hereof.
13. Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.
14. RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 above, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon the complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distributions would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or the beneficial ownership of any such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and such Distribution to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage).
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15. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Warrant Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the SPA Warrants, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the SPA Warrants then outstanding.
16. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Warrant shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Utah without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Utah located in Salt Lake County and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Utah for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Warrant and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Warrant. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS WARRANT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
17. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Warrant and the observance of any term hereof may be amended, waived or modified (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of greater than 50% of the outstanding Warrants and Warrant Shares, on a combined and fully diluted basis, issued to the Holders. If one or more provisions of this Warrant are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provisions shall be excluded from this Warrant, and the balance of this Warrant shall be interpreted as if such provisions were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. The section headings in this Warrant are for purposes of convenience only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
18. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
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19. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Warrant Price, the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Warrant Price or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Warrant Price the (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
20. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 16 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.
21. Definitions.
(a) “Additional Right” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 5.5) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 14 and 15 hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).
(b) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
(c) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
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(d) “Common Stock Deemed Outstanding” means, at any given time, the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at such time, plus the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be outstanding pursuant to Sections 5.5(i) and 5.5(ii) hereof regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time, but excluding any shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company or issuable upon conversion and exercise, as applicable, of the Warrants.
(e) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.
(f) “Expiration Date” means the date that is the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Issuance Date or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a “Holiday”), the next date that is not a Holiday.
(g) “Fundamental Transaction” means that (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (1) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other Person, or (2) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other Person, or (3) allow any other Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (4) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (5) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock, or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.
(h) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(i) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(j) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.
(k) “Voting Stock” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Common Stock Purchase Warrant to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| Co-Diagnostics, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dwight H. Egan | |
| Name: | Dwight H. Egan | |
| Title: | President/CEO | |
EXHIBIT A
EXERCISE NOTICE
TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Dated:______________
The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase __________________ of the shares of Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued to COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.
1. Payment of Warrant Price. The Holder shall pay the Aggregate Warrant Price in the sum of $___ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.
3. Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to Holder, or its designee or agent as specified below,_______________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant. Delivery shall be made to Holder, or for its benefit, to the following address:
| Date: | ______________________, ________ |
| Name of Registered Holder |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
EXHIBIT B
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and will issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the instructions in the Exercise notice dated _____________ day of ________, 2017.
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
Exhibit 4.11
WARRANT
THIS WARRANT AND ANY SHARES ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT (I) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SAID ACT, (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT OR (III) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT. THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
Date of Issuance: February 6, 2020
This COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT certifies that COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC. or its permitted assignees is the registered holder (the “Holder”) of this Common Stock Purchase Warrant (including any Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”) to purchase shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”). The Holder takes this Warrant subject to the terms and restrictions set forth herein and shall be entitled to certain rights and privileges as set forth herein.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company hereby certifies that the Holder is entitled to purchase from the Company 10,000 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at a purchase price per share set forth in Section 3 below, and otherwise subject to the terms, conditions and adjustments set forth below in this Warrant. The Holder is the person or entity in whose name this Warrant is registered on the records of the Company regarding registration and transfers of this Warrant (the “Warrant Register”) and is the owner and holder thereof for all purposes. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 23.
1. Exercise of Warrant. This Warrant will be exercisable at any time, in the sole discretion of the Holder, commencing on the date hereof (the “Commencement Date”).
2. Expiration of Warrant. This Warrant shall expire on 5:00 p.m., Mountain Standard time on the Expiration Date.
3. Warrant Price. For purposes of this Warrant the “Warrant Price” means $1.40, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
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4. Exercise of Warrant. This Warrant shall be exercisable as follows:
4.1 Manner of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Commencement Date, in whole or in part, by delivery (whether via facsimile or otherwise) of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant. Within one (1) day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Company of an amount equal to the Warrant Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (the “Aggregate Warrant Price”) in cash or via wire transfer of immediately available funds. The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original of this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. On or before the first day following the date on which the Company has received the Aggregate Warrant Price, the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Aggregate Warrant Price, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, to the Holder. On or before the 10th day following the date on which the Company has received such Aggregate Warrant Price, the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant has been exercised. If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 4.1 and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 9)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all taxes and fees which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.
The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with the issuance of Warrant Shares. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
4.2 Shares to be Fully Paid. The Company covenants and agrees that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of rights presented by this Warrant will, upon issuance by the Company, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from preemptive rights and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto.
4.3 Company to Reaffirm Obligations. The Company will, at the time of each exercise of this Warrant, upon the written request of the Holder hereof, acknowledge in writing its continuing obligation to afford to the Holder all rights (including without limitation any rights to registration of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise) to which the Holder shall continue to be entitled after exercise in accordance with the terms of this Warrant; provided, however, that if the Holder shall fail to make a request, the failure shall not affect the continuing obligation of the Company to afford the rights to such Holder.
5. Adjustments.
5.1 Splits, Subdivisions, etc. In the event that the Company should at any time or from time to time, after the date first referenced above, fix a record date for the effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Common Stock or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly additional shares of Common Stock (hereinafter referred to as “Common Stock Equivalents”) without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional shares of Common Stock or the Common Stock Equivalents (including the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date of such dividend, distribution, split or subdivision if no record date is fixed), the Warrant Price shall be appropriately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of this Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding.
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5.2 Combinations. If the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time after the date first referenced above is decreased by a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, following the record date of such combination, the Warrant Price shall be appropriately increased and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.
5.3 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganizations, etc. If after the date hereof any Fundamental Transaction shall be effected, then, as a condition of such Fundamental Transaction, lawful and fair provision shall be made whereby the Holder of this Warrant shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in this Warrant and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, such shares of stock, securities, or assets as may be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for the number of outstanding shares of such Common Stock equal to the number of shares of such stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, had such Fundamental Transaction not taken place and in such event appropriate provision shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of the Holder of this Warrant to the end that the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, provisions for adjustments of the Warrant Price and of the number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be in relation to any share of stock, securities, or assets thereafter deliverable upon the exercise hereof. The Company shall not effect any such Fundamental Transaction unless prior to the consummation thereof the Successor Entity (if other than the Company) resulting from such Fundamental Transaction, or the corporation purchasing such assets in a Fundamental Transaction, shall assume by written instrument executed and delivered to the Holder of this Warrant the obligation to deliver to the Holder of this Warrant such shares of stock, securities, or assets as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, such holders may be entitled to purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any Fundamental Transaction, other than a Fundamental Transaction in which a Successor Entity that is a publicly traded corporation whose stock is quoted or listed for trading on a national exchange assumes this Warrant such that the Warrant shall thereafter be exercisable for the publicly traded common stock of such Successor Entity, then, at the written request of the Holder, if and only if such request is delivered by notice in writing to the Company within thirty (30) Business Days following the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction, the Company (or the Successor Entity) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder, within five (5) Business Days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction), cash in an amount per Warrant Share equal to the Transaction Value per share of Common Stock outstanding, less the Warrant Price. No payment shall be required to be made to the Holder if the Fundamental Transaction is not consummated.
5.4 Stock Combination Event Adjustment. If at any time and from time to time on or after the Commencement Date there occurs any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination recapitalization or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock (each, a “Stock Combination Event”) and the product of (i) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to the Stock Combination Event by (y) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock on each day of the fifteen (15) Trading Day period immediately prior to the Stock Combination Event, divided by (B) fifteen (15); and (ii) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock on each day of the fifteen (15) Trading Day period immediately following the date of such Stock Combination Event, divided by (y) fifteen (15) (each, an “Event Market Price”) is less than the Warrant Price then in effect (after giving effect to the adjustment in clause (b) above), then on the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day immediately following such Stock Combination Event, the Warrant Price then in effect on such sixteenth (16th) Trading Day (after giving effect to the adjustment in clause (b) above) shall be reduced (but in no event increased) to the Event Market Price. For the avoidance of doubt, if the adjustment in the immediately preceding sentence would otherwise result in an increase in the Warrant Price hereunder, no adjustment shall be made.
5.5 Notice of Adjustments. Upon any adjustment of the terms of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 5, then and in each such case the Company shall promptly deliver a notice to the registered Holder of this Warrant, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the changes, if any, in the number of Warrant Shares or kind of securities or other property purchasable at such price upon the exercise hereof, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based.
5.6 Adjustment in Number of Securities. Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, the number of securities issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant shall be adjusted to the nearest full amount by multiplying a number equal to the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment by the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing the product so obtained by the adjusted Warrant Price.
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5.7 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share.
5.8 Other Events. In the event that the Company shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 5.8 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Warrant Price and the number of Warrant Shares (if applicable) so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 5.8 will increase the Warrant Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 5, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.
5.9 Application. Without limiting Section 4.3 hereof, the provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly and equally to successive transactions or events covered hereby and shall be applied as if this Warrant (and any such subsequent warrants) were fully exercisable without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant.
6. Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof, and not subject to preemptive rights or other similar rights of stockholders of the Company, solely for the purpose of issuing the shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the issuance or exercise thereof, and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to issue the Common Stock and effect the exercise of this Warrant, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to Holder, the Company shall take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including without limitation, using its best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock. All shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be duly authorized and, when issued upon exercise, shall be validly issued and, in the case of shares, fully paid and nonassessable and free from preemptive rights and free from taxes, liens and charges with respect thereto.
7. No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of its charter or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution, sale of assets or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant but will at all times carry out all such terms and take all such action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the holder of this Warrant against impairment.
8. Restrictions on Transfer.
8.1 Restrictive Legends. This Warrant and each Warrant issued upon transfer or in substitution for this Warrant pursuant to Section 9, each certificate for Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any Warrant and each certificate issued upon the transfer of any such Common Stock shall be transferable only upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Section 8. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8, each of the foregoing securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend reflecting the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Warrant and any restrictions required under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
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8.2 Notice of Proposed Transfer; Opinion of Counsel. Prior to any transfer of any securities which are not registered under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”), the Holder will give written notice to the Company of the Holder’s intention to affect a transfer and to comply in all other respects with this Section 8.2. Each notice shall describe the manner and basic circumstances of the proposed transfer, and, if such transfer is not being made pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A of the Securities Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”), shall designate counsel for the Holder. The following provisions shall then apply:
(a) This Warrant and any Warrant shares issuable upon exercise hereof (collectively, the “Securities”) may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) the Holder shall have delivered to the Company (if requested by the Company) an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) the Holder provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144; (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144, and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the Securities Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) promulgated thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.
(b) Certificates evidencing Securities shall not be required to contain any legend (i) while a registration statement (including a Registration Statement) covering the resale of such Securities is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) following any sale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming the transferor is not an affiliate of the Company), (iii) if such Securities are eligible to be sold, assigned or transferred under Rule 144 (provided that the Holder provides the Company with reasonable assurances that such Securities are eligible for sale, assignment or transfer under Rule 144 which shall not include an opinion of counsel), (iv) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer (other than under Rule 144), provided that the Company provides the Company with an opinion of counsel to the Holder, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or (v) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, controlling judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the SEC).
8.3 Termination of Restrictions. The restrictions imposed by this Section 8 upon the transferability of Restricted Securities shall cease and terminate as to any particular Restricted Securities:
(a) which Restricted Securities shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, or (b) when, in the opinion of counsel for the Holder, which is reasonably acceptable to the Company, or, alternatively, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such restrictions are no longer required in order to insure compliance with the Act or Section 8 hereof. Whenever such restrictions shall cease and terminate as to any Restricted Securities, the Holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company, without expense (other than applicable transfer taxes, if any), new securities of like tenor not bearing the applicable legends required by Section 8.1 hereof.
9. Ownership, Transfer and Substitution of Warrant.
9.1 Ownership of Warrant. The Company may treat the person in whose name this Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(b) hereof as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, except that, if and when any Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be obligated to) treat the bearer thereof as the owner of such Warrant for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. Subject to Section 8 hereof, this Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder without a new Warrant first having been issued.
9.2 Office; Transfer and Exchange of Warrant.
(a) The Company will maintain its principal offices as the office where notices, presentations and demands in respect of this Warrant may be made upon it until the Company notifies the holder of this Warrant of any change of location of the office.
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(b) The Company shall cause to be kept at its office maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof a Warrant Register for the registration and transfer of this Warrant. The names and addresses of holders of this Warrant, the transfers thereof and the names and addresses of transferees of this Warrant shall be registered in such Warrant Register. The Person in whose name any Warrant shall be so registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes of this Warrant, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary.
(c) Upon the surrender of this Warrant, properly endorsed, for registration of transfer or for exchange at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof, the Company at its expense will (subject to compliance with Section 8 hereof, if applicable) execute and deliver to or upon the order of the Holder thereof a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender, in the name of such holder or as such holders as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.
9.3 Replacement of Warrant. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of this Warrant, upon delivery of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company in form and amount or, in the case of any mutilation, upon surrender of this Warrant for cancellation at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof, the Company at its expense will execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor and dated the date hereof.
10. No Rights or Liabilities as Stockholder. No Holder shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of any shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof for any purpose, nor shall anything contained herein be construed to confer upon the Holder, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether upon any recapitalization, issuance of stock, reclassification of stock, change of par value, consolidation, merger, conveyance, or otherwise) or to receive notice of meetings, or to receive dividends or subscription rights or otherwise until this Warrant shall have been exercised and the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise hereof shall have become deliverable, as provided herein. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 10, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.
11. Notices of Record Date, etc. In case the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right; or of any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving entity), or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company, then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the registered holder of this Warrant a notice specifying, as the case may be: (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice unless such prior notice is waived by the registered holder of this Warrant.
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(b) Notices. Any notice or other communication in connection with this Warrant shall be deemed to be given if in writing (or in the form of a facsimile) addressed as hereinafter provided and actually delivered at said address: (a) if to any Holder, at the registered address of such holder as set forth in the Warrant Register kept at the office of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 8.2(a) hereof, or (b) if to the Company, to the attention of its Chief Executive Officer at its office maintained pursuant to Section 9.2(a) hereof; provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be effective in the manner provided in Section 4 hereof.
12. Payment of Taxes. The Company will pay all documentary stamp taxes attributable to the issuance of shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant upon exercise of this Warrant; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificate for shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant in a name other that of the Holder. The Holder is responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving shares of Common Stock underlying this Warrant upon exercise hereof.
13. Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.
14. RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 5 above, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon the complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distributions would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or the beneficial ownership of any such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and such Distribution to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage).
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15. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Warrant Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the SPA Warrants, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the SPA Warrants then outstanding.
16. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Warrant shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Utah without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Utah located in Salt Lake County and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Utah for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Warrant and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Warrant. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS WARRANT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
17. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Warrant and the observance of any term hereof may be amended, waived or modified (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of greater than 50% of the outstanding Warrants and Warrant Shares, on a combined and fully diluted basis, issued to the Holders. If one or more provisions of this Warrant are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provisions shall be excluded from this Warrant, and the balance of this Warrant shall be interpreted as if such provisions were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. The section headings in this Warrant are for purposes of convenience only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
18. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
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19. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Warrant Price, the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Warrant Price or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Warrant Price the (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
20. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 16 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.
21. Definitions.
(a) “Additional Right” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 5.5) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 14 and 15 hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).
(b) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
(c) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
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(d) “Common Stock Deemed Outstanding” means, at any given time, the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at such time, plus the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be outstanding pursuant to Sections 5.5(i) and 5.5(ii) hereof regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time, but excluding any shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company or issuable upon conversion and exercise, as applicable, of the Warrants.
(e) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.
(f) “Expiration Date” means the date that is the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Issuance Date or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a “Holiday”), the next date that is not a Holiday.
(g) “Fundamental Transaction” means that (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (1) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other Person, or (2) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other Person, or (3) allow any other Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (4) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (5) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock, or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.
(h) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(i) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(j) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.
(k) “Voting Stock” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Common Stock Purchase Warrant to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| Co-Diagnostics, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dwight H. Egan | |
| Name: | Dwight H. Egan | |
| Title: | President/CEO | |
EXHIBIT A
EXERCISE NOTICE
TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Dated:______________
The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase __________________ of the shares of Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued to COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.
1. Payment of Warrant Price. The Holder shall pay the Aggregate Warrant Price in the sum of $___ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.
3. Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to Holder, or its designee or agent as specified below,_______________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant. Delivery shall be made to Holder, or for its benefit, to the following address:
| Date: | ______________________, ________ |
| Name of Registered Holder |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
EXHIBIT B
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and will issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the instructions in the Exercise notice dated _____________ day of ________, 2017.
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
Exhibit 4.12
AMENDMENT TO WARRANT
This Amendment, dated as of July 31, 2020 (this “Amendment”), made and entered into by and between CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), and COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC. (the “Holder”), amends the Warrant dated October 31, 2019 (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Warrant.
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holder have determined that it is necessary, desirable and in the best interest of the Company and the Holder to amend the Warrant as set forth in this Amendment.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and the Holder hereby agree as follows:
1. The following Section 4.4 is inserted as a new section of the Warrant:
“Cashless Exercise. In addition to the manner of exercise provided in Section 4.1, this Warrant may be exercised by either cash or cashless exercise. This Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in part, by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) * (X)] by (A), where:
(A) = the last reported sale price for the shares of Common Stock on the day immediately prior to the date the Exercise Notice is delivered, as quoted on, and reported by, The NASDAQ Stock Market or such other principal securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are then traded;
(B) = the Warrant Price; and
(X) = the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.”
2. The Exercise Notice attached hereto as Exhibit A shall replace the Exercise Notice included in the Warrant.
3. This Amendment is effective as of the date hereof, and all references to the Warrant from and after such time will be deemed to be references to the Warrant as amended hereby.
4. Other than provided in Section 1 and Section 2 of this Amendment, the Warrant is not otherwise supplemented or amended by virtue of this Amendment but remains in full force and effect.
5. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Utah without regard to the choice of law principles thereof.
6. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Amendment transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.
7. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment or applicable to this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, null and void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Holder and the Company have caused this Amendment to the Warrant to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Reed L. Benson | |
| Name: | Reed L. Benson | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| COLTRIN & ASSOCIATES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Stephen H. Coltrin | |
| Name: | Stephen H. Coltrin | |
| Title: | CEO | |
EXHIBIT A
EXERCISE NOTICE CO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
( l ) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ lawful money of the United States; or
☐ the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the fo1mula set forth in Section 4.4.
(3) Please issue a certificate or certificates representing Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
The Common Stock shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number or by physical delivery of a certificate to:
Stephen H. Coltrin and Gwen Coltrin
(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that the aforesaid shares of Common Stock are being acquired for the account of the undersigned for investment and not with a view to, or for resale, in connection with the distribution thereof, and that the undersigned has no present intention of distributing or reselling such shares of Common Stock.
| Coltrin & Associates | ||
| /s/ Stephen H. Coltrin | ||
| By: | Steph H. Coltrin, CEO | |
Exhibit 5.1
March 16, 2023
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
2401 S. Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 840109
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of up to $150,000,000 aggregate offering price, of (i) shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of its preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) its debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), (iv) rights to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, or Warrants (the “Purchase Rights”), (v) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”), and (vi) units consisting of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities and Warrants, (the “Units” and, together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Purchase Rights and Warrants, the “Securities”), including any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of the Securities. The Debt Securities will be issued under an indenture (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), the form of which is attached to the Registration Statement as Exhibit 4.1.
We have examined such documents and have reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of our opinions set forth below. In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements and instruments, that such agreements and instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements and instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and other representatives of the Company and of public officials.
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
March 16, 2023
Page 2
Based on the foregoing, and assuming that (i) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective under the Securities Act and will continue to be so effective, (ii) a prospectus supplement to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, describing the Securities offered thereby, will have been prepared and filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, (iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement, (iv) with respect to any newly-issued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, authorized under the organizational documents of the Company and not otherwise reserved for issuance, (v) the organizational documents of the Company, each as amended as of the date hereof, will not have been amended from the date hereof in a manner that would affect the validity of our opinions set forth below, (vi) none of the terms of any Security to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance, sale or delivery of such Security, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Security, (a) will violate (1) any applicable law or (2) the organizational documents of the Company or (b) will result in a violation or breach of (1) any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or any of its assets or (2) any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets, (vii) any applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and any other applicable agreement with respect to any Securities offered or sold, will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and (viii) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any Security being offered or sold will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to any shares of Common Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Common Stock”), when (a) the board of directors of the Company, a duly constituted and acting committee thereof or any officers of the Company delegated such authority (such board of directors, committee or officers being referred to herein as the “Board”) have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Common Stock in conformity with the organizational documents of the Company and (b) certificates in the form required by the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act representing the Offered Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock), then the Offered Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. With respect to any class or series of Preferred Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Preferred Stock”), when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to establish the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (including, without limitation, by the Company properly filing an amendment to its articles of incorporation with respect to such class or series of Preferred Stock with the Divisions of Corporations and Commercial Code of the State of Utah), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and their issuance and sale in conformity with the terms of the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock as established by the Board and (c) certificates in the form required by the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act representing the Offered Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), then the Offered Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. With respect to any Debt Securities to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (a) the applicable Trustee has been qualified to act as trustee under the Indenture relating to the Offered Debt Securities (the “Applicable Indenture”), (b) the Applicable Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (c) the Applicable Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (d) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Applicable Indenture and (e) the Offered Debt Securities have been issued, executed and authenticated by the applicable Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Applicable Indenture and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
March 16, 2023
Page 3
4. With respect to any Purchase Rights to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Purchase Rights”), when (a) a rights agreement relating to the Offered Purchase Rights (the “Rights Agreement”), to be entered into between the Company and the purchase right agent named therein (the “Purchase Right Agent”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Purchase Rights and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Rights Agreement and (c) the Offered Purchase Rights have been issued, executed and authenticated by the Purchase Right Agent in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exchange of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exchange as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Purchase Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
5. With respect to any Warrants to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Warrants”), when (a) a warrant agreement relating to the Offered Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”), to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent named therein (the “Warrant Agent”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Warrants and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Warrant Agreement and (c) the Offered Warrants have been issued, executed and countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exchange of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exchange as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
6. With respect to any Units to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Units”), when (a) a unit agreement relating to the Offered Units (the “Unit Agreement”), to be entered into between the Company and the unit agent named therein (the “Unit Agent”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Units and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Unit Agreement and (c) the Offered Units have been issued, executed and countersigned by the Unit Agent in accordance with the terms of the Unit Agreement and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exchange of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exchange as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:
(a) Our opinions set forth above are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws).
(b) Our opinions set forth above are subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(c) Our opinions set forth above are subject to limitations regarding the availability of indemnification and contribution where such indemnification or contribution may be limited by applicable law or the application of principles of public policy.
(d) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of (i) provisions that relate to choice of law, forum selection or submission to jurisdiction (including, without limitation, any express or implied waiver of any objection to venue in any court or of any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), (ii) waivers by the Company of any statutory or constitutional rights or remedies, (iii) terms which excuse any person or entity from liability for, or require the Company to indemnify such person or entity against, such person’s or entity’s negligence or willful misconduct or (iv) obligations to pay any prepayment premium, default interest rate, early termination fee or other form of liquidated damages, if the payment of such premium, interest rate, fee or damages may be construed as unreasonable in relation to actual damages or disproportionate to actual damages suffered as a result of such prepayment, default or termination.
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
March 16, 2023
Page 4
(e) We draw your attention to the fact that, under certain circumstances, the enforceability of terms to the effect that provisions may not be waived or modified except in writing may be limited.
We note that, as of the date of this opinion, a judgment for money in an action based on a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit in a federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in United States dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the foreign currency or currency unit in which a particular Security is denominated into United States dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment. Under Section 27 of the New York Judiciary Law, a state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment on a Security would be required to render that judgment in the foreign currency or currency unit in which the Security is denominated, and the judgment would be converted into United States dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment.
Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of New York, the State of Utah, and the federal laws of the United States of America.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. 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 Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Dorsey & Whitney LLP |
Exhibit 5.2
March 16, 2023
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
2401 S. Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 840109
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 and Prospectus
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of (i) a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and (ii) a prospectus (the “Prospectus”) included in the Registration Statement, which Prospectus relates to the offer and sale by the Company of up to $50,000,000 of shares of common stock, value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”). The Shares will be sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated March 16, 2023, by and between the Company and Piper Sandler & Co. (the “Agreement”).
We have examined such documents and have reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of our opinions set forth below. In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and other representatives of the Company and of public officials.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, assuming the terms of any sale of Shares pursuant to the Agreement are made in accordance with the terms approved previously by the Company’s board of directors, when issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor specified in the Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the State of Utah.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. 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 Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Dorsey & Whitney LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Co-Diagnostics, Inc.
Salt Lake City, Utah
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 16, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (the “Company”) appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.
| /s/ Haynie & Company | |
| Salt Lake City, Utah | |
| March 16, 2023 |