EMPD 8-K
Empery Digital Inc. (EMPD)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
__________________________
FORM
__________________________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 3, 2026
(
__________________________
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
__________________________
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Rights Agreement
On February 3, 2026, the board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) of Empery Digital Inc. (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”), payable on February 13, 2026, for each share of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Shares”) outstanding on February 13, 2026 (the “Record Date”) to the stockholders of record on that date. In connection with the distribution of the Rights, the Company entered into a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of February 3, 2026, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company at a price of $15.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment.
The Rights are in all respects subject to and governed by the provisions of the Rights Agreement. The following description of the Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Distribution Date; Exercisability; Expiration
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Share certificates and no separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be issued. Until the Distribution Date (as defined below), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. As long as the Rights are attached to the Common Shares, the Company will issue one Right with each new Common Share so that all such Common Shares will have Rights attached.
The Rights will separate and begin trading separately from the Common Shares, and Right Certificates will be caused to evidence the Rights, on the earlier to occur of (i) the Close of Business (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) on the 10th day following a public announcement, or the public disclosure of facts indicating (or the Board of Directors becoming aware), that a Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) or group of affiliated or associated Persons has acquired Beneficial Ownership (as defined below) of 12.5% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (an “Acquiring Person”) (or, in the event the Board of Directors determines to effect an exchange in accordance with Section 24 of the Rights Agreement and the Board of Directors determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the 10th Business Day (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the Beneficial Ownership by a Person or group of 12.5% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates, the “Distribution Date”). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, unless the Rights are recorded in book-entry or other uncertificated form, the Company will prepare and cause the Right Certificates to be sent to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Distribution Date.
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An “Acquiring Person” will not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan or (v) any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) of such Person, at the time of the first public announcement of the Rights Agreement, is a Beneficial Owner (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (a “Grandfathered Stockholder”). However, if a Grandfathered Stockholder becomes, after such time, the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares (regardless of whether, thereafter or as a result thereof, there is an increase, decrease or no change in the percentage of Common Shares then outstanding Beneficially Owned (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) by such Grandfathered Stockholder) then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless, upon such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares, such person is not the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. In addition, upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s Beneficial Ownership below 12.5% of the Common Shares then outstanding, such Grandfathered Stockholder will no longer be deemed to be a Grandfathered Stockholder. In the event that after the time of the first public announcement of the Rights Agreement, any agreement, arrangement or understanding pursuant to which any Grandfathered Stockholder is deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares expires, is settled in whole or in part, terminates or no longer confers any benefit to or imposes any obligation on the Grandfathered Stockholder, any direct or indirect replacement, extension or substitution of such agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the same or different Common Shares that confers Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares shall be considered the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares by the Grandfathered Stockholder and render such Grandfathered Stockholder an Acquiring Person for purposes of the Rights Agreement unless, upon such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares, such person is not the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
“Acquiring Person” shall not include any Person which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares representing less than 20% of the Common Shares then outstanding, and which is entitled to file, and files, a statement on Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-1(c) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to the Common Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person (a “13G Investor”); provided, that a Person shall not qualify as a 13G Investor if it has filed a statement on Schedule 13D (“Schedule 13D”) in the past five years with respect to Common Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a), 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act; provided, further, that a Person who was a 13G Investor shall no longer be a 13G Investor if it either (i) files a statement on Schedule 13D or (ii) becomes no longer entitled to file a statement on Schedule 13G (the earlier to occur of (i) and (ii), the “13D Event”), and such Person shall be an Acquiring Person if it is the Beneficial Owner (together with all Affiliates and Associates) of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding at any point from and after the time of the 13D Event; provided, however, such Person shall not be an Acquiring Person if (i) on the first Business Day after the 13D Event such Person notifies the Company of its intent to reduce its Beneficial Ownership to below 12.5% as promptly as practicable and (ii) such Person reduces its Beneficial Ownership (together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person) to below 12.5% of the Common Shares as promptly as practicable (but in any event not later than 10 days from such time); provided, further, that such Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” if, after reducing its Beneficial Ownership to below 12.5%, it subsequently becomes the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding or if, prior to reducing its Beneficial Ownership to below 12.5%, it increases (or makes any offer or takes any other action that would increase) its Beneficial Ownership of the then-outstanding Common Shares above the lowest Beneficial Ownership of such Person at any time during such 10-day period.
“Beneficial Ownership” is defined in the Rights Agreement to include any securities (i) which a Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 or 13d-5 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act or has the right or ability to vote, or the right to acquire, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (except under limited circumstances), (ii) which are directly or indirectly Beneficially Owned by any other Person with which a Person has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of such securities, or obtaining, changing or influencing control of the Company, or (iii) which are the subject of, or the reference securities for, or that underlie, certain Derivative Positions (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) of any Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates.
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The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on the Close of Business on February 2, 2027 (the “Final Expiration Date”).
Exempt Persons and Transactions
The Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine that a Person is exempt from the Rights Agreement (an “Exempt Person”), so long as such determination is made prior to such time as such Person becomes an Acquiring Person. Any Person will cease to be an Exempt Person if the Board of Directors makes a contrary determination with respect to such Person regardless of the reason therefor. In addition, the Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, exempt any transaction from triggering the Rights Agreement so long as the determination in respect of such exemption is made prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person.
Qualifying Offer Exemption
The Rights Agreement includes a “qualifying offer” provision, whereby the Rights will automatically expire concurrently with (but no earlier than 90 Business Days after the commencement of a Qualifying Offer (as defined in the Rights Agreement)) the acceptance, for purchase or exchange, of more than two-thirds of the Common Shares then outstanding on a fully diluted basis (excluding from the calculation of the number of Common Shares purchased or exchanged any Common Shares Beneficially Owned by the offeror or its Affiliates and Associates) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for all of the Common Shares then outstanding for the same consideration, provided that the offeror irrevocably commits to purchase all remaining untendered Common Shares for the same per share consideration actually paid pursuant to the offer.
Flip-in Event
If a Person or group becomes an Acquiring Person at any time after the date of the Rights Agreement (with certain limited exceptions), the Rights will become exercisable for Common Shares having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. From and after the announcement that any Person has become an Acquiring Person, if the Rights evidenced by a Right Certificate are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights. If the Board of Directors so elects, the Company may deliver upon payment of the exercise price of a Right an amount of cash, securities, or other property equivalent in value to the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right.
Exchange
At any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by any Person which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment). The Company may issue, transfer or deposit such Common Shares (or other property as permitted under the Rights Agreement) to or into a trust or other entity created upon such terms as the Board of Directors may determine and may direct that all holders of Rights receive such Common Shares or other property only from the trust. In the event the Board of Directors determines, before the Distribution Date, to effect an exchange, the Board of Directors may delay the occurrence of the Distribution Date to such time as it deems advisable.
Flip-over Event
If, at any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company consolidates with, or merges with, any other Person (or any Person consolidates with, or merges with, the Company) and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the Common Shares are or will be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property; or (ii) 50% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets or Earning Power (as defined in the Rights Agreement) are sold, then proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
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Redemption
At any time prior to the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.00001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Amendment
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates).
Preferred Share Rights
Each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share will entitle the holder thereof to the same dividends and liquidation rights as if the holder held one Common Share and will be treated the same as a Common Share in the event of a merger, consolidation or other share exchange.
Rights of Holders
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
| Item 3.03. | Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth under Items 1.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
| Item 5.03. | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, on February 3, 2026, the Company filed a Certificate of Designations designating Series A Preferred Stock with the Delaware Secretary of State. A copy of the Certificate of Designations designating Series A Preferred Stock is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
Share Repurchase Program Increase
On February 2, 2026, the Board of Directors authorized an increase of $50 million to the Company’s existing share repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”), pursuant to which the Company is now authorized to repurchase up to an aggregate of $200 million of shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, par value $0.00001 (“Common Stock”). The authorization is effective through July 24, 2027, subject to extension or earlier termination by the Board of Directors at any time.
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The shares of Common Stock may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the program will be determined by management at its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of the Common Stock, general market and economic conditions and applicable legal requirements. As of February 2, 2026, an aggregate of 14,264,933 shares of the Company’s Common Stock have been repurchased by the Company under the Share Repurchase Program at an average purchase price per share of $6.90. Following these repurchases and the increase to the Share Repurchase Program, approximately $102 million remains available for future repurchases under the Company’s Share Repurchase Program.
Press Release
On February 3, 2026, the Company issued a press release, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| 3.1 | Certificate of Designations designating Series A Preferred Stock of Empery Digital Inc., as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on February 3, 2026. | |
| 4.1 | Rights Agreement, dated as of February 3, 2026, between Empery Digital Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent. | |
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated February 3, 2026. | |
| 104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL. | |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Empery Digital Inc. | |||
| By: |
/s/ Greg Endo |
||
| Name: | Greg Endo | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Date: February 3, 2026
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Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
of
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
of
EMPERY DIGITAL INC
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law)
Empery Digital Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) as required by Section 151 of the General Corporation Law on February 3, 2026:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”) be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
1. Designation and Amount. The shares of this series shall be designated as Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 100,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
2. Dividends and Distributions.
2.1 Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”) or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
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2.2 The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph 2.1 of this Section 2 immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
2.3 Dividends due pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Section 2 shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
3.1 Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
3.2 Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, including any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
3.3 Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
4. Certain Restrictions.
4.1 Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(a) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(b) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or
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(c) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock.
4.2 The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph 4.1 of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. The Corporation shall take all such actions as are necessary to cause all such shares to become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock that may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, including any Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up.
6.1 Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Series A Liquidation Preference”) equal to an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
6.2 If there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
6.3 Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with another entity nor the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
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8. Amendment. While any Series A Preferred Stock is issued and outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner, including in a merger or consolidation, which would alter, change or repeal the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding-up, junior to all other series of Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its duly authorized officer this 3rd day of February 2026.
EMPERY DIGITAL INC.
_____________________________________
By:
Name:
Title:
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Exhibit 4.1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 3, 2026
between
EMPERY DIGITAL INC.
and
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
as Rights Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| 1. Definitions | 1 |
| 2. Appointment of Rights Agent | 6 |
| 3. Issue of Right Certificates. | 6 |
| 4. Form of Right Certificates | 7 |
| 5. Countersignature and Registration | 7 |
| 6. Transfer, Split-up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates | 8 |
| 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights. | 8 |
| 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates | 9 |
| 9. Status and Availability of Preferred Shares. | 9 |
| 10. Preferred Shares Record Date | 10 |
| 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights. | 10 |
| 12. Certificate of Adjustment | 14 |
| 13. Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. | 14 |
| 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. | 15 |
| 15. Rights of Action | 15 |
| 16. Agreement of Right Holders | 16 |
| 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder | 16 |
| 18. Concerning the Rights Agent | 16 |
| 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent | 17 |
| 20. Rights and Duties of Rights Agent | 17 |
| 21. Change of Rights Agent | 20 |
| 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates | 20 |
| 23. Redemption | 20 |
| 24. Exchange. | 21 |
| 25. Notice of Certain Events. | 22 |
| 26. Notices | 22 |
| 27. Supplements and Amendments | 23 |
| 28. Successors | 23 |
| 29. Benefits of this Agreement | 23 |
| 30. Severability | 23 |
| 31. Governing Law | 23 |
| 32. Counterparts | 24 |
| 33. Descriptive Headings and Construction. | 24 |
| 34. Administration | 24 |
| 35. Force Majeure | 24 |
| Exhibits | |
| Exhibit A: Form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred Stock | |
| Exhibit B: Form of Right Certificate |
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 3, 2026, is between Empery Digital Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”).
The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each share of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company outstanding on the Close of Business on February 13, 2026 (the “Record Date”) and has authorized the issuance of one Right with respect to each additional Common Share issued by the Company between the Record Date and the earliest of (i) the Distribution Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the Qualifying Offer Expiration Date or (iv) the Final Expiration Date, and additional Common Shares that shall become outstanding after the Distribution Date as provided in Section 22 of this Agreement, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, subject to adjustment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
1.1 “Acquiring Person” means any Person (other than an Exempt Person) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan or (v) any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, at the time of the first public announcement of this Agreement, is a Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (a “Grandfathered Stockholder”); provided, that (A) for the avoidance of doubt, any Derivative Position that is not by its express terms capable of being settled directly into Common Shares and does not otherwise directly or indirectly convey any voting rights in Common Shares to any Person shall not be included in the calculation of Beneficial Ownership for purposes of determining whether and the extent to which a Person may be deemed to be a Grandfathered Stockholder and (B) if a Grandfathered Stockholder becomes, after such time, the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares (regardless of whether, thereafter or as a result thereof, there is an increase, decrease or no change in the percentage of Common Shares then outstanding Beneficially Owned by such Grandfathered Stockholder) then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless, upon such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares, such Person is not the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding; provided, further, that upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s Beneficial Ownership below 12.5%, such Grandfathered Stockholder shall no longer be deemed to be a Grandfathered Stockholder and this clause (v) shall have no further force or effect with respect to such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, if after the time of the first public announcement of this Agreement, any Derivative Position or other agreement, arrangement or understanding pursuant to which any Grandfathered Stockholder is deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares is, directly or indirectly, replaced, extended, amended or substituted with respect to the same or different Common Shares for any reason (including because it expired, was settled in whole or in part, terminated or no longer confers any benefit to or imposes any obligation on the Grandfathered Stockholder (or, as applicable, an Affiliate or Associate of the Grandfathered Stockholder)), then such Derivative Position or other agreement, arrangement or understanding shall be considered the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares by the Grandfathered Stockholder and render such Grandfathered Stockholder an Acquiring Person for purposes of this Agreement unless, upon such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares, such Person is not the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Acquiring Person” shall not include any Person which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares representing less than 20% of the Common Shares then outstanding, and which is entitled to file, and files, a statement on Schedule 13G (“Schedule 13G”) pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or Rule 13d-1(c) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect at the time of the public announcement of the declaration of the Rights with respect to the Common Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person (a “13G Investor”); provided, that a Person shall not qualify as a 13G Investor if it has filed a statement on Schedule 13D (“Schedule 13D”) in the past five years with respect to Common Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a), 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act; provided, further, that a Person who was a 13G Investor shall no longer be a 13G Investor if it either (i) files a statement on Schedule 13D pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a), 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act or (ii) becomes no longer entitled to file a statement on Schedule 13G (the earlier to occur of (i) and (ii), the “13D Event”), and such Person shall be an Acquiring Person if it is the Beneficial Owner (together with all Affiliates and Associates) of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding at any point from and after the time of the 13D Event; provided, however, such Person shall not be an Acquiring Person if (i) on the first Business Day after the 13D Event such Person notifies the Company of its intent to reduce its Beneficial Ownership to below 12.5% as promptly as practicable and (ii) such Person reduces its Beneficial Ownership (together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person) to below 12.5% of the Common Shares as promptly as practicable (but in any event not later than 10 days from such time); provided, further that such Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” if after reducing its Beneficial Ownership to below 12.5%, it subsequently becomes the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% or more of the Common Shares or if, prior to reducing its Beneficial Ownership to below 12.5%, it increases (or makes any offer or takes any other action that would increase) its Beneficial Ownership of the then-outstanding Common Shares above the lowest Beneficial Ownership of such Person at any time during such 10-day period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an Acquiring Person solely as the result of an acquisition or redemption of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares Beneficially Owned by such Person to 12.5% (20% in the case of a 13G Investor, or such other percentage as would otherwise result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person) or more of the Common Shares then outstanding; provided, that if a Person would, but for the provisions of this paragraph, become an Acquiring Person by reason of an acquisition or redemption of Common Shares by the Company and shall, after such acquisition or redemption by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares at any time such that the Person is or thereby becomes the Beneficial Owner of 12.5% (20% in the case of a 13G Investor, or such other percentage as would otherwise result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person) or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (other than Common Shares acquired solely as a result of corporate action of the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person), then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors determines in good faith that a Person that would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, then such Person shall not be deemed to have become an Acquiring Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a bona fide swaps dealer who would otherwise be an “Acquiring Person” has become so as a result of its actions in the ordinary course of its business that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion, were taken without the intent or effect of evading or assisting any other Person to evade the purposes and intent of this Agreement, or otherwise seeking to control or influence the management or policies of the Company, then, and unless and until the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine, such Person shall not be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person”.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an Acquiring Person solely as a result of an Exempt Transaction.
1.2 “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
1.3 A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to “Beneficially Own,” or have “Beneficial Ownership” of, any securities:
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(a) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 or 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(b) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has (i) the right or ability to vote, cause to be voted or control or direct the voting of pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing; provided, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (B) is not also then reportable on a statement on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report) or (ii) the right or the obligation to become the Beneficial Owner (whether such right is exercisable or such obligation is required to be performed immediately or only after the passage of time, the occurrence of conditions, the satisfaction of regulatory requirements or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), written or otherwise, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise, through conversion of a security, pursuant to the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement, pursuant to the power to terminate a repurchase or similar so-called “stock-borrowing” agreement or arrangement, or pursuant to the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement; provided, that a Person shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;
(c) which are Beneficially Owned (within the meaning of the preceding subsections of this Section 1.3), directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company or cooperating in obtaining, changing or influencing the control of the Company; or
(d) which are the subject of, or the reference securities for, or that underlie, any Derivative Position of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, with the number of Common Shares deemed Beneficially Owned in respect of a Derivative Position being the notional or other number of Common Shares in respect of such Derivative Position (without regard to any short or similar position) that is specified in (i) one or more filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates or (ii) the documentation evidencing such Derivative Position as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such Derivative Position, or the opportunity of the holder of such Derivative Position to profit or share in any profit, is to be calculated in whole or in part (whichever of (i) or (ii) is greater), or if no such number of Common Shares is specified in such filings or documentation (or such documentation is not available to the Board of Directors), as determined by the Board of Directors in its reasonable discretion.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Owner to the contrary, the phrase “then outstanding,” when used with reference to a Person’s Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, means the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to Beneficially Own hereunder.
1.4 “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the state of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
1.5 “Close of Business” on any given date means 5:00 p.m., New York time, on such date; provided, that if such date is not a Business Day, it means 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
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1.6 “Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company. “Common Shares,” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company, means the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
1.7 “Common Stock Equivalents” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(c)(ii)(C).
1.8 “Current Per Share Market Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.4(a).
1.9 “Current Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(c)(i)(A).
1.10 “Derivative Position” shall mean any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or other security, contract right or derivative position or similar right (including any “swap” transaction with respect to any security, other than a broad based market basket or index), whether or not presently exercisable, that (i) has an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to the value of the Common Shares or a value determined in whole or in part with reference to, or derived in whole or in part from, the value of the Common Shares and that increases in value as the market price or value of the Common Shares increases or that provides an opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase in the value of the Common Shares and (ii) is capable of being settled, in whole or in part, through delivery of Common Shares (whether on a required or optional basis, and whether such settlement may occur immediately or only after the passage of time, the occurrence of conditions, the satisfaction of regulatory requirements or otherwise), in each case regardless of whether (A) it conveys any voting rights in such Common Shares to any Person or (B) any Person (including the holder of such Derivative Position) may have entered into other transactions that hedge its economic effect.
1.11 “Distribution Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
1.12 “Earning Power” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.3.
1.13 “Equivalent Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2.
1.14 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1.15 “Exchange Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.6.
1.16 “Exchange Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.1.
1.17 “Exchange Recipients” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.6.
1.18 “Exempt Person” means any Person that the Board of Directors determines is exempt from this Agreement, which determination shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors; provided, that no Person shall qualify as an Exempt Person unless such determination is made prior to such time as such Person becomes an Acquiring Person; provided, further, that any Person will cease to be an Exempt Person if the Board of Directors makes a contrary determination with respect to such Person regardless of the reason therefor.
1.19 “Exempt Transaction” means any transaction (or series of related transactions) that the Board of Directors determines is exempt from this Agreement, which determination shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors (provided, that no transaction shall qualify as an Exempt Transaction unless such determination is made prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person).
1.20 “Final Expiration Date” means the Close of Business on February 2, 2027.
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1.21 “Grandfathered Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
1.22 “NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Stock Market.
1.23 “Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, business trust, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
1.24 “Preferred Shares” means shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company having such rights and preferences as are set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations set forth as Exhibit A hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time.
1.25 “Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
1.26 “Qualifying Offer” means a tender offer or an exchange offer, or a combination thereof, in each such case for all of the Common Shares then outstanding for the same per share consideration; provided, that the Company and its stockholders have received (and the offeror has publicly disclosed in the applicable offer documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) an irrevocable, legally binding written commitment of the offeror to consummate, as promptly as practicable upon successful completion of the offer, a second step transaction whereby all Common Shares not purchased in the offer will be acquired for the same per share consideration actually paid pursuant to the offer, subject to stockholders’ statutory appraisal rights, if any.
1.27 “Qualifying Offer Expiration Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
1.28 “Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 23.2.
1.29 “Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 23.1.
1.30 “Right Certificate” means a certificate evidencing a Right substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
1.31 “Signature Guarantee” shall mean any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” approved by the Securities Transfer Association or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing.
1.32 “Spread” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(c)(i).
1.33 “Stock Acquisition Date” means the earliest of the date of (i) the public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include a statement on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G filed pursuant to the Exchange Act), (ii) the public disclosure of facts by the Company or an Acquiring Person that reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person or indicating that an Acquiring Person has become an Acquiring Person or (iii) the Board of Directors becoming aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.
1.34 “Subsidiary” of any Person means any Person of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
1.35 “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which a security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
1.36 “Trust” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.6.
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2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as rights agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof (and no implied terms and conditions), and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or desirable (the term “Rights Agent” being used herein to refer, collectively, to the Rights Agent together with any such co-rights agents) upon 10 days’ prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-rights agent. In the event that the Company appoints one or more co-rights agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-rights agent shall be as the Company shall reasonably determine, provided that such duties and determination are consistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that contemporaneously with such appointment, if any, the Company shall notify the Rights Agent and any co-rights agents of any such duties in writing thereof.
3. Issue of Right Certificates.
3.1 Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the 10th day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, in the event that the Board of Directors determines on or before such 10th day to effect an exchange in accordance with Section 24 and determines that a later date is advisable, such later date) and (ii) the Close of Business on the 10th Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such benefit plan or any Exempt Person) of a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the “Distribution Date”) (provided, that if such tender or exchange offer is terminated prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date, then no Distribution Date shall occur as a result of such tender or exchange offer), (A) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates (or other evidence of book-entry or other uncertificated ownership) for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates (provided, that each certificate (or other evidence of book-entry or other uncertificated ownership) representing Common Shares outstanding as of the Close of Business on the Record Date evidencing the Rights shall be deemed to incorporate by reference the terms of this Agreement, as amended from time to time), and (B) the right to receive Right Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, at the expense of the Company and upon receipt of all relevant information, send) by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein; provided, that the Rights may instead be recorded in book-entry or other uncertificated form, in which case such book-entries or other evidence of ownership shall be deemed to be Right Certificates for all purposes of this Agreement; provided, further, that all procedures relating to actions to be taken or information to be provided with respect to such Rights recorded in book-entry or other uncertificated forms, and all requirements with respect to the form of any Right Certificate set forth in this Agreement, may be modified as necessary or appropriate to reflect book-entry or other uncertificated ownership. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
3.2 The Company shall provide the Rights Agent with written notice of the occurrence of the Final Expiration Date or the Qualifying Offer Expiration Date and the Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of the occurrence of the Final Expiration Date or the Qualifying Offer Expiration Date, unless and until it shall have received such written notice.
3.3 Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence of this Section 3.3) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of (i) the Distribution Date, (ii) the Redemption Date (iii) the Qualifying Offer Expiration Date or (iv)the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them a legend in substantially the following form:
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This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights (as defined in the Rights Agreement) as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Empery Digital Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (or any successor rights agent), dated as of February 3, 2026, as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented pursuant to its terms (the “Rights Agreement”), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of Empery Digital Inc. and the office or offices of Computershare Trust Company, N.A. designated for such purpose. The Rights are not exercisable prior to the occurrence of certain events specified in the Rights Agreement. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced separately and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. Empery Digital Inc will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, Rights that are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement)), including such Rights held by a subsequent holder, may become null and void. Notwithstanding this Section 3.3, the omission of a legend shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights. If the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding. Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares issued or disposed of (including upon issuance or reissuance of Common Shares out of authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date, or in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date.
4. Form of Right Certificates. Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (which shall not affect the rights, duties, liabilities, protections or responsibilities of the Rights Agent hereunder), or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the Purchase Price, but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon exercise and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
5. Countersignature and Registration. Right Certificates shall be duly executed on behalf of the Company by any two authorized officers of the Company, including the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Senior Vice President, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature or by other customary means of electronic transmission. Upon written request by the Company, the Right Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature or by other customary means of electronic transmission, by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent, but it shall not be necessary for the same signatory to countersign all of the Right Certificates hereunder. No Right Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned, either manually or by facsimile or by other customary means of electronic transmission. If any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates nevertheless may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the Person that signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person that, at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, is a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, even if at the date of the execution of this Agreement such Person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, and upon receipt by the Rights Agent of written notice to that effect and all other relevant information referred to in this Agreement, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office or offices designated for such purpose, books for registration of the transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates, and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
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6. Transfer, Split-up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
6.1 Subject to the provisions of Section 14, at any time after the Distribution Date, and prior to the earliest of the Redemption Date the Qualifying Offer Expiration Date or and the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate (other than a Right Certificate representing Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 11.1(b) or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of Preferred Shares as the Right Certificate surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender (together with any required form of assignment and certificate duly executed and properly completed) the Right Certificate to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, accompanied by a Signature Guarantee and such other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer, split-up, combination or exchange of any such surrendered Right Certificate until the registered holder shall have properly completed and duly executed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Right Certificate accompanied by a Signature Guarantee and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by such Right Certificate or the Affiliates or Associates thereof, or of any other Person with which such Beneficial Owner or any of such Beneficial Owner’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company, as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request. Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company or the Rights Agent may require payment from the holders of the Right Certificates of a sum sufficient for any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split-up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates. The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such payments have been made.
6.2 Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate (other than any Right Certificate representing Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 11.1(b), that have been redeemed pursuant to Section 23 or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24), the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by such Right Certificate or the Affiliates or Associates thereof, or of any other Person with which such Beneficial Owner or any of such Beneficial Owner’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company, as the Company or the Rights Agent shall request (including a Signature Guarantee and such other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request), and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security satisfactory to them, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and, in case of mutilation, upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate, the Company will make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
7.1 The registered holder of any Right Certificate (other than a holder whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 11.1(b), have been redeemed pursuant to Section 23 or have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24) may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the appropriate form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, accompanied by a Signature Guarantee and such other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request, together with payment of the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right that is exercised is then exercisable and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax or charges required to be paid pursuant to Section 9, prior to the earliest of (i) the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to Section 23, (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 or (iv) the time, which shall not be earlier than the ninetieth (90th) Business Day after the commencement of a Qualifying Offer, at which a Person accepts, pursuant to such Qualifying Offer, for purchase or exchange at the same per share consideration such number of Common Shares as would represent, following such acceptance for purchase or exchange by such Person, more than two-thirds of the Common Shares then outstanding on a fully diluted basis (excluding from the calculation of the number of Common Shares accepted for purchase or exchange by such Person any Common Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person or its Affiliates and Associates immediately prior to such acceptance for purchase or exchange) (the “Qualifying Offer Expiration Date”).
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7.2 The purchase price to be paid upon the exercise of each Right to purchase one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right shall initially be $15.00 (the “Purchase Price”) and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7.3. Each Right shall initially entitle the holder to acquire one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share upon exercise of the Right. The Purchase Price and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities for which a Right is exercisable shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13.
7.3 Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and certificate properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the number of Rights exercised and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 by cash, certified check, cashier’s check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon as soon as practicable (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or from the Company if there shall be no such transfer agent, or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from any depositary agent for the Preferred Shares depositary receipts representing such number of Preferred Shares as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent), and the Company hereby directs any such depositary agent to comply with such request; (ii) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional Preferred Shares in accordance with Section 14 or Section 24; (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated in writing by such holder; and (iv) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this Agreement, and until so received, the Rights Agent shall have no duties or obligations with respect to such securities, cash and/or other assets.
7.4 If the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall properly exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to such holder’s duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14.
7.5 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Right Certificate to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder of Rights or other securities of the Company upon the occurrence of any purported transfer or exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) properly completed and duly executed the certificate contained in the appropriate form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof, as the Company and the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split-up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents (other than the Rights Agent), be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. At the expense of the Company, the Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates which have been canceled by the Rights Agent to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
9. Status and Availability of Preferred Shares.
9.1 The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available, out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 7.
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9.2 The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates (or entry in the book-entry account system of the Company) for such Preferred Shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price and compliance with all other applicable provisions of this Agreement), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable shares.
9.3 The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise, and shall not be required to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or charge shall have been paid (any such tax or charge being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s and the Rights Agent’s reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate (or entry in the book-entry account system of the Company) for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate or book-entry shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions, or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights.
11.1 General.
(a) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (i) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (iii) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving Person), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11.1, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11.1(a) and Section 11.1(b) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11.1(a) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, the adjustment required pursuant to Section 11.1(b) hereof.
(b) Subject to the second paragraph of this Section 11.1(b) and to Section 24, from and after the Stock Acquisition Date, each holder of a Right shall have a right to receive, upon exercise of each Right at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares as shall equal the result obtained by dividing (A) the product of (x) the current Purchase Price and (y) the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable by (B) 50% of the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Company’s Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the Stock Acquisition Date.
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From and after the Stock Acquisition Date, any Rights that are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person), (ii) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes such a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes such a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming an Acquiring Person and who receives such Rights (A) with actual knowledge that the transferor is or was an Acquiring Person or (B) pursuant to either (x) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) has any continuing agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship (whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (y) a transfer which the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) which has as a primary purpose or effect of the avoidance of this Section 11.1(b), (each such Person described in (i)-(iii) above, an “Excluded Person”) shall, in each such case, be null and void, and any holder of such Rights (whether or not such holder is an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right Certificates shall be issued pursuant to Sections 3, 6, 7.4 or 11 or otherwise hereof that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall, upon receipt of written notice directing it to do so, be canceled by the Rights Agent.
(c) If there are not sufficient authorized but unissued Common Shares to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11.1(b) or the exchange of the Rights in accordance with Section 24, or should the Board of Directors so elect, the Company may with respect to such deficiency, (i) determine the excess (the “Spread”) of (A) the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right as provided in Section 11.1(b) (the “Current Value”) over (B) the Purchase Price, and (ii) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for such Common Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, any one or more of the following having an aggregate value determined by the Board of Directors to be equal to the Current Value: (A) cash, (B) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (C) Common Shares or other equity securities of the Company (including shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock which the Board of Directors has determined to have the same value as Common Shares (“Common Stock Equivalents”)), (D) debt securities of the Company or (E) other assets, property or instruments. The Company shall provide the Rights Agent with prompt reasonably detailed written notice of any final determination under the previous sentence.
If the Board of Directors shall determine in good faith that additional Common Shares should be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the Company may suspend the exercisability of the Rights in order to seek any authorization of additional shares, decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made, and determine the value thereof. If the exercisability of the Rights is suspended pursuant to this Section 11.1(c), the Company shall make a public announcement, and shall promptly deliver to the Rights Agent a written statement, stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. When the suspension is no longer in effect, the Company shall make another public announcement, and promptly deliver to the Rights Agent a written statement, so stating. For purposes of this Section 11.1(c), the value of the Common Shares shall be the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4(a)) as of the Stock Acquisition Date, and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date.
11.2 If the Company fixes a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares (“Equivalent Preferred Shares”)) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares at a price per Preferred Share or Equivalent Preferred Share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4(b)) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be adjusted by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be (A) the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus (B) the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares to be offered (or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be offered) would purchase at such Current Per Share Market Price and (ii) the denominator of which shall be (A) the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus (B) the number of additional Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities to be offered are initially convertible); provided, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. If such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
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11.3 If the Company fixes a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving Person) or evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11.2), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4(b)) on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred Share and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4(b)); provided, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the Preferred Shares to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed. If such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
11.4 Current Per Share Market Price.
(a) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Per Share Market Price” of any security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, that if the Current Per Share Market Price of the security is determined during a period (i) following the announcement by the issuer of such security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such security payable in shares of such security or other securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such security, and (ii) prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the Current Per Share Market Price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such security. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price or, if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, in either case as reported by NASDAQ, or, if on any such date the security is not listed on NASDAQ, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the security selected by the Board of Directors. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the security, the fair value of the security on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors shall be used.
(b) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Per Share Market Price” of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11.4(a). If the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded, the “Current Per Share Market Price” of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11.4(a) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof) multiplied by one thousand. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded, “Current Per Share Market Price” means the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
11.5 No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11.5 are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share or one one-thousandth of any other share or security, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11.5, any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than three years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment.
11.6 If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11.1, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares, the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall thereafter be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Sections 11.1 through 11.3, inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
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11.7 All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
11.8 Unless the Company exercises its election as provided in Section 11.9, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11.2 and 11.3, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying the number of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
11.9 The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights in substitution for any adjustment in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of Preferred Shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one one-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. The record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter but, if the Right Certificates have been distributed, shall be at least 10 days after the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been distributed, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11.9, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates to be so distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
11.10 Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of Preferred Shares which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
11.11 Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
11.12 If this Section 11 requires that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may defer, until the occurrence of such event, issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring adjustment.
11.13 Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) combination or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the Current Per Share Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, or (v) issuance of any rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 11.2 made by the Company after the date of this Agreement to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
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11.14 If, at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company (i) declares or pays any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effects a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise other than by payment of dividends in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case (A) the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event upon exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (B) each Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11.14 shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is affected.
12. Certificate of Adjustment. Whenever an adjustment or any event affecting the Rights or their exercisability (including an event that causes Rights to become null and void) occurs or is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, the Company shall promptly (i) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a reasonably detailed statement of the facts, computation, methodology and accounting for such adjustment, (ii) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate, and (iii) if such adjustment occurs following a Distribution Date, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained and shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment, nor shall the Rights Agent be deemed to have knowledge of such an adjustment or any such event, unless and until it shall have received such certificate. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, but without limiting any of the rights or immunities of the Rights Agent, the failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of, or the force or effect of, the requirement for such adjustment. Any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 11 and 13 hereof shall be effective as of the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein and shall have no duty or liability with respect thereto, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment or any such event unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
13. Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.
13.1 If, at any time after a Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company consolidates with, or merges with and into, any other Person; (ii) any Person consolidates with the Company, or merges with and into the Company, and the Company is the continuing or surviving Person of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares are or will be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property; or (iii) the Company sells or otherwise transfers (or one or more of its Subsidiaries sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or Earning Power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or Earning Power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries, then proper provision shall be made so that (A) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein) shall have the right to receive, upon the exercise of each Right at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of such other Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the surviving Person) equal to the result obtained by dividing (I) the product of (x) the then current Purchase Price and (y) the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable by (II) 50% of the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares of such other Person (determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) the issuer of such Common Shares shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term “Company” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such issuer; and (D) such issuer shall take steps (including the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its common stock in accordance with Section 9) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable in relation to the common stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
13.2 The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for such issuer’s compliance with this Section 13. The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind referred to in this Section 13 if, at the time of such transaction, there are any rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.
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13.3 For purposes of this Agreement, the “Earning Power” of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors on the basis of the operating earnings of each business operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the three fiscal years preceding the date of such determination (or, in the case of any business not operated by the Company or any Subsidiary during three full fiscal years preceding such date, during the period such business was operated by the Company or any Subsidiary).
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
14.1 The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company may instead pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14.1, the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11.4(a)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.
14.2 The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights, to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares or to register fractional Preferred Shares in the Company’s share register (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by the Company; provided, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as Beneficial Owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to each registered holder of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share as the fraction of one Preferred Share that such holder would otherwise receive upon the exercise of the aggregate number of rights exercised by such holder. For the purposes of this Section 14.2, the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (pursuant to Section 11.4(a)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
14.3 For purposes of this Section 14, the closing price for any day shall be the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices as reported by NASDAQ, or if on any such date the Rights or Preferred Shares, as applicable, are not listed on NASDAQ, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights or Preferred Shares, as applicable, selected by the Board of Directors. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights or Preferred Shares, as applicable, the fair value of the Rights or Preferred Shares, as applicable, on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors shall be used.
14.4 The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives any right to receive fractional Rights or fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided in this Section 14).
14.5 Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is to be made by the Rights Agent under any section of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and formulas utilized in calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any section of this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares unless and until the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and sufficient monies.
15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates. Any registered holder of any Right Certificate may, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate, on such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement by the Company and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder, of the Company.
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16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
16.1 prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
16.2 after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books maintained by the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer with the appropriate form of certification, properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by a Signature Guarantee and such other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request;
16.3 the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares certificate or, in the case of uncertificated Common Shares, by the book-entry that evidences record ownership of such Common Shares) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate or book-entry made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
16.4 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree, judgment or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation.
17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends, or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, 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, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.
18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in accordance with a fee schedule to be mutually agreed upon, and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, to reimburse the Rights Agent for all of its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, negotiation, administration, execution and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also covenants and agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) that may be paid, incurred or suffered by it, or to which it may become subject, without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in connection with the execution, acceptance and, administration of, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim or liability arising therefrom or in connection therewith, directly or indirectly, or of enforcing its rights under this Agreement. The provisions under this Section 18 and Section 20 below shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent. The reasonable costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company.
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The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in connection with its acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder, in each case in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for Preferred Shares or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, instruction, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, guaranteed, verified or acknowledged by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive notice thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take action in connection therewith, unless and until it has received such notice in writing.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the stock transfer or other stockholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21. The purchase of all or substantially all of the Rights Agent’s assets employed in the performance of transfer agent activities shall be deemed a merger or consolidation for purposes of this Section 19. If, at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned. If, at that time, any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent. In all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
If, at any time, the name of the Rights Agent changes and any of the Right Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned. If, at that time, any of the Right Certificates have not been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name. In all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
20. Rights and Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes to perform only the duties and obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall perform its duties and obligations hereunder upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
20.1 The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected by it (who may be legal counsel for the Company or an employee or legal counsel of the Rights Agent), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of bad faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
20.2 Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of the current market price) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by a Person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be any one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Senior Vice President, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent, and such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to act without such a certificate as set forth in this Section 20.2.
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20.3 The Rights Agent shall be liable to the Company and any other Person hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary but subject to applicable law, any liability of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent (but not including reimbursable expenses) during the 12 months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Rights Agent is being sought.
20.4 The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right Certificates (except as to its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same. All such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
20.5 The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for or be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the legality or validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any determination by the Board of Directors with respect to the Rights or breach by the Company of any covenant or failure by the Company to satisfy any condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be liable or responsible for any modification by or order of any court, tribunal or governmental authority in connection with the foregoing, any change in the exercisability of the Rights or any adjustment or calculation required under the provisions of Sections 11 or 13 or for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment or calculation (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
20.6 The Rights Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or this Agreement, including obligations under applicable regulation or law.
20.7 The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any holder of Rights with respect to any action or default by the Company, including, without limiting any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon the Company.
20.8 The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required or reasonably requested by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
20.9 The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept written instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder and certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from any Person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Senior Vice President, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties under this Agreement, and such advice or instructions shall provide full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the written advice or instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for these instructions. The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and protected in relying upon the most recent advice or instructions received by any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement, and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective, and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in accordance with such proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date, in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent has received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
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20.10 The Rights Agent and any Affiliate, stockholder, director, officer, agent, representative or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company, or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company, or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Rights Agent under this Agreement, in each case in compliance with applicable laws. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
20.11 The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents. The Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect, or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company or any other Person resulting from any such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence or bad faith in the selection and continued employment of such attorneys or agents thereof (which gross negligence or bad faith must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).
20.12 No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if the Rights Agent believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
20.13 The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any fact, condition, event or determination (including any dates or events defined in this Agreement or the designation of any Person as an Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate or whether any Requesting Person has been designated as an Exempt Person) under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, condition, event or determination, and all notices or other instruments required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Rights Agent must, in order to be effective, be received by the Rights Agent as specified in Section 26, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Rights Agent may conclusively assume no such event or condition exists.
20.14 The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company or any holders of the Right Certificates for interest or earnings on any moneys held by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
20.15 If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been properly completed to certify the holder is not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate thereof) and/or the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate were not issued underlying a Derivative Position, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company; provided, however that Rights Agent shall not be liable for any delays arising from the duties under this Section 20.15.
20.16 The Rights Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon (a) Signature Guarantee or (b) any law, act, regulation or any interpretation of the same.
20.17 In the event the Rights Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Rights Agent hereunder, the Rights Agent, may (upon notice to the Company of such ambiguity or uncertainty), in its sole discretion, refrain from taking any action, and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Company or the holder of any Right Certificate or any other Person for refraining from taking such action, unless the Rights Agent receives written instructions signed by the Company which eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of the Rights Agent.
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21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30 days’ notice in writing delivered to the Company. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days’ notice in writing delivered to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent in accordance with Section 26 hereof, as the case may be, and, after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. In the event that the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Rights Agent terminates, the Rights Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties as Rights Agent under this Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by any registered holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder’s Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the incumbent Rights Agent or registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (i) a Person (other than a natural person) organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust, stock transfer or stockholder services powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority, and has, along with its Affiliates, at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million or (ii) an Affiliate of a Person described in clause (i) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed, and the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and shall execute and deliver any reasonable further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose but such predecessor Rights Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing, and shall thereafter be discharged from all duties and obligations hereunder. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares, and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Right Certificates to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors (but which do not affect the rights, duties, liabilities, or responsibilities of the Rights Agent) to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the earliest of the Redemption Date the Qualifying Offer Expiration Date or the Final Expiration Date, the Company may, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.
23. Redemption.
23.1 The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.00001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
23.2 Immediately upon the time of the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights or such earlier time as may be determined by the Board of Directors in the action ordering such redemption (although not earlier than the time of such action) (the “Redemption Date”), and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption (with prompt written notice to the Rights Agent); provided, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10 Business Days after action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail, or cause the Rights Agent to mail (at the expense of the Company), a notice of redemption to the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. If the payment of the Redemption Price is not included with such notice, each such notice shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24, other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
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24. Exchange.
24.1 The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after a Stock Acquisition Date, mandatorily exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which excludes Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11.1(b)) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share represented by a Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the “Exchange Ratio”). From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13.1, any Right that theretofore has not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24 shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant to this Section 24. The exchange of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
24.2 Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 24.1, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give reasonably detailed written notice of any such exchange to the Rights Agent, and shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. Within 10 Business Days after action by the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 24.1, the Company shall mail, or cause the Rights Agent to mail, a notice of any such exchange to the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1(b)) held by each holder of Rights.
24.3 In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Shares or Common Stock Equivalents for Common Shares exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or an appropriate number of Common Stock Equivalents) for each Common Share, as appropriately adjusted.
24.4 If there shall not be sufficient Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Common Stock Equivalents authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to authorize additional Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Common Stock Equivalents for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
24.5 The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares, the Company may instead pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this Section 24.5, the current per share market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11.4(a)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
24.6 Notwithstanding anything in this Section 24 to the contrary, the exchange of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Without limiting the preceding sentence, the Board of Directors may (i) in lieu of issuing Common Shares or any other securities contemplated by this Section 24 to the Persons entitled thereto in connection with the exchange (such Persons, the “Exchange Recipients,” and such shares and other securities, together with any dividends or distributions made on such shares or other securities, the “Exchange Property”) issue, transfer or deposit the Exchange Property to or into a trust or other entity (the “Trust”) created upon such terms as the Board of Directors may determine to hold all or a portion of the Exchange Property for the benefit of the Exchange Recipients, (ii) permit the Trust to exercise all of the rights that a stockholder of record would possess with respect to any shares deposited in the Trust and (iii) direct that all holders of Rights entitled to receive Exchange Property shall be entitled to receive such Exchange Property only from the Trust and only upon compliance with the relevant terms and provisions of the Trust and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Prior to effecting an exchange of Rights, the Company may require (or cause the trustee or other governing body of the Trust to require), as a condition thereof, that any Exchange Recipient provide evidence that it is not an Acquiring Person, including evidence of the identity of the current or former Beneficial Owners thereof and their Affiliates and Associates. If any Person shall fail to comply with any request to provide such evidence, the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the Rights held by such Person to be null and void pursuant to Section 11.1(b) and not transferable or exercisable or exchangeable in connection herewith. In the event that the Board of Directors determines, before the Distribution Date, to effect an exchange, the Board of Directors may delay the occurrence of the Distribution Date to such time as the Board of Directors deems advisable.
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25. Notice of Certain Events.
25.1 If the Company shall after the Distribution Date propose (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend); (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options; (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares); (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or Earning Power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person; (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company; or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate and the Rights Agent, in accordance with Section 26, a reasonably detailed notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares or both, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares or both, whichever shall be the earlier.
25.2 The Company shall, as soon as practicable after a Stock Acquisition Date, give to the Rights Agent and each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26, a notice that describes the transaction in which a Person became an Acquiring Person and the consequences of the transaction to holders of Rights under Section 11.1(b).
26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing and when sent by overnight delivery service or first-class mail, postage prepaid, properly addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Empery Digital Inc.
3121 Eagles Nest Street, Suite 120
Round Rock, TX 78665
Attention:Brett Director
Email:[email protected]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Ropes & Gray LLP
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8704
Attention:
Michael Brueck
Michael Littenberg
Chris Capuzzi
Email:[email protected]
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Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be deemed given upon receipt and shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing when sent by overnight delivery service or registered or certified mail properly addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
150 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Attention: Client Services
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing, when sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to time, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs in writing, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any change to or delete any provision hereof or to adopt any other provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided, that, from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended or supplemented in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall be entitled to adopt and implement such procedures and arrangements (including with third parties) as it may deem necessary or desirable to facilitate the exercise, exchange, trading, issuance or distribution of the Rights (and Preferred Shares) as contemplated hereby and to ensure that an Excluded Person does not obtain the benefits thereof, and amendments in respect of the foregoing shall not be deemed to adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights. Any supplement or amendment authorized by this Section 27 will be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent, subject to written certification by any of the officers of the Company listed in Section 20.2 that any such supplement or amendment complies with this Section 27. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not be required to execute any supplement or amendment to this Agreement that it has reasonably determined would adversely affect its own rights, duties, obligations or immunities hereunder. No supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Rights Agent and the Company.
28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person or entity other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates.
30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, that if such excluded provision shall affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.
31. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within the State of Delaware.
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32. Counterparts. This Agreement 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 Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.
33. Descriptive Headings and Construction. Descriptive headings of the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. In this Agreement, (i) the word “including” (in its various forms) means “including, without limitation,” and (ii) the words “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import are references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
34. Administration. Other than with respect to rights, duties, obligations and immunities of the Rights Agent, the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors) shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer and interpret the provisions of this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or the Company or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement. The Rights Agent is entitled always to assume that the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors) acted in good faith and shall be fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.
35. Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Rights Agent will not have any liability for not performing, or a delay in the performance of, any act, duty, obligation or responsibility by reason of any occurrence beyond the reasonable control of the Rights Agent (including any act or provision or any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God, epidemics, pandemics, war, civil or military disobedience or disorder, riot, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, fire, earthquake, storm, flood, strike, work stoppage, interruptions or malfunctions of computer facilities, loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties, labor dispute, accident or failure or malfunction of any utilities communication or computer services or similar occurrence).
[Signature Pages Follow]
| 24 |
The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
EMPERY DIGITAL INC.
_________________________
By:
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Rights Agreement]
The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
_________________________
By:
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
FORM
of
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
of
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
of
EMPERY DIGITAL INC
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law)
Empery Digital Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) as required by Section 151 of the General Corporation Law on February 3, 2026:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”) be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
1. Designation and Amount. The shares of this series shall be designated as Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 100,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
2. Dividends and Distributions.
2.1 Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”) or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
| A-1 |
2.2 The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph 2.1 of this Section 2 immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
2.3 Dividends due pursuant to paragraph 2.1 of this Section 2 shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
3.1 Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
3.2 Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, including any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
3.3 Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
4. Certain Restrictions.
4.1 Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(a) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(b) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or
| A-2 |
(c) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock.
4.2 The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph 4.1 of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. The Corporation shall take all such actions as are necessary to cause all such shares to become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock that may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, including any Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up.
6.1 Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Series A Liquidation Preference”) equal to an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
6.2 If there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
6.3 Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with another entity nor the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
| A-3 |
8. Amendment. While any Series A Preferred Stock is issued and outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner, including in a merger or consolidation, which would alter, change or repeal the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding-up, junior to all other series of Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its duly authorized officer this 3rd day of February 2026.
EMPERY DIGITAL INC.
_________________________
By:
Name:
Title:
| A-4 |
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
| Certificate No. __________ | _________ Rights |
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE FINAL EXPIRATION DATE OR THE QUALIFYING OFFER EXPIRATION DATE (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION, EXCHANGE OR TERMINATION OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.00001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS THAT ARE OR WERE ACQUIRED OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
Right Certificate
Empery Digital Inc.
This certifies that ___________________________, or his, her or its registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement (as may be amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of February 3, 2026, between Empery Digital Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as rights agent (or any successor rights agent) (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to the Final Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) or earlier under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”), at a purchase price of $15.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by such documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of February 3, 2026, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
From and after the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof, and to which Rights Agreement reference is made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, accompanied by such documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
| B-1 |
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, at the Company’s option, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.00001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company, Preferred Shares, cash, debt securities, or other assets, property or instruments. The shares and other securities transferred as part of the exchange may be transferred to a trust created upon such terms as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, 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, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
| B-2 |
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of _____________________.
EMPERY DIGITAL INC.
______________________________
By:
Name:
Title:
ATTEST:
______________________________
Name:
Title:
Countersigned:
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Rights Agent
______________________________
Name:
Title:
Date of Countersignature:
| B-3 |
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ___________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _______________________________, Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _________________, ______
_______________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:1
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to Common Shares underlying a Derivative Position described in the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).
______________________
1 Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker or savings and loan association with membership in an approved signature medallion program).
| B-4 |
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Right Certificate.)
TO EMPERY DIGITAL INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _______________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert Social Security or other identifying number:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert Social Security or other identifying number:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
Dated: _________________, ______
_______________________________
Signature
(Signature must conform to the holder specified on the Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
| B-5 |
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to Common Shares underlying a Derivative Position described in the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).
| B-6 |
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election to Purchase must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event that the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such assignment or election to purchase will not be honored.
| B-7 |
Exhibit 99.1
Empery Digital Adopts Limited-Duration Shareholder Rights Plan
Board Takes Action in Response to ATG Capital’s Rapid Stock Accumulation
Board Increases Share Repurchase Program
AUSTIN, Texas – February 3, 2026 – Empery Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: EMPD) (the “Company” or “Empery Digital”) today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has adopted a limited-duration shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) to protect the best interests of all Empery Digital shareholders. The Rights Plan is effective immediately and will expire on February 2, 2027. The Board may consider an earlier termination of the Rights Plan if circumstances warrant. Should the Board seek to extend or renew the Rights Plan, it will put such extension or renewal to a shareholder vote at the next annual meeting of stockholders.
The limited-duration Rights Plan was adopted in response to the rapid and significant accumulation of Empery Digital stock by ATG Capital Opportunities Fund LP (together with its affiliates, “ATG Capital”) without any statement, public or private, with respect to its intentions. ATG Capital initially disclosed that it had acquired approximately 5.6% of the Company’s outstanding shares in a securities filing on January 26, 2026. Pursuant to securities filings made on January 28, 2026 and January 30, 2026, ATG Capital disclosed that it had already increased its ownership in the Company beyond 10%.
The Rights Plan, which is designed to allow the Company’s shareholders to realize the long-term value of their investment, reduces the likelihood that any person or group could gain control of the Company through open market or private accumulation of Empery Digital shares without appropriately compensating shareowners for such control or providing management or the Board sufficient time to make informed decisions. The Rights Plan applies equally to all current and future shareholders and is not intended to deter offers or preclude the Board from considering offers that are fair and otherwise in the best interest of the Company’s shareholders. The Rights Plan automatically expires upon the completion of “qualifying offers” for all of the outstanding shares of common stock that are supported by the holders of two-thirds of the Company’s stock. The Rights Plan does not contain any dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future Board of Directors to redeem the rights.
“Adopting this limited-duration rights plan is a prudent step designed to protect the interests of all of our shareholders,” said Ryan Lane, Chairman of the Board. “The Company is committed to engaging in constructive dialogue with all of our investors regarding our plans for the business, including our capital allocation plans and avenues for delivering superior long-term value to our shareholders. As outlined in our press release yesterday, we intend to maximize share repurchases in our continued effort to address the gap between the Company’s enterprise value and its net asset value.”
The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by other publicly traded companies. Pursuant to the Rights Plan, Empery Digital is issuing one right (“Right”) for each share of common stock as of the close of business on February 13, 2026. The Rights will initially trade with Empery Digital common stock and will generally become exercisable only if any person (or any persons acting as a group) acquires 12.5% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, or 20% for certain passive investors (the “triggering percentage”). The Rights Plan does not restrict the ownership of cash-settled derivatives that do not convey voting rights. The Rights Plan does not aggregate the ownership of shareholders “acting in concert” unless and until they have formed a group under applicable securities laws. If the rights become exercisable, all holders of rights (other than any triggering person) will be entitled to acquire shares of common stock at a 50% discount or the Company may exchange each right held by such holders for one share of common stock. Under the Rights Plan, any person which currently owns more than the triggering percentage may continue to own its shares of common stock but may not acquire any additional shares without triggering the Rights Plan. Except as provided in the Rights Plan, the Board is entitled to redeem the rights at $0.00001 per right.
Additionally, the Company today announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the previously authorized share repurchase program from $150 million to $200 million (the “Share Repurchase Program”). As of February 2, 2026, an aggregate of 14,264,933 shares of the Company’s Common Stock have been repurchased by the Company under the Share Repurchase Program at an average purchase price per share of $6.90. Following this increase, approximately $102 million remains available under the Share Repurchase Program. Management remains committed to maximizing shareholder value for its shareholders through accretive share repurchases at prices below net asset value (NAV).
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Further details about these transactions will be contained in a Form 8-K to be filed by Empery Digital with the SEC.
Ropes & Gray LLP is acting as legal advisor to Empery Digital.
About Empery Digital
Empery Digital empowers progress by unlocking the transformative potential of digital asset management through blockchain. The Company employs a bitcoin treasury strategy focused on aggregating bitcoin and maximizing bitcoin per share while working to build a future where blockchain is the foundation of growth through transparency, efficiency, and accountability. As a company they apply themselves relentlessly by making disciplined decisions that drive long-term value for shareholders. For them, Bitcoin is not just another crypto format and blockchain isn’t just another tool, they’re fundamental drivers of progress.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “project,” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements address various matters including statements relating to the operation or effects of the rights plan, statements relating to the sale of bitcoin and use of proceeds for repaying outstanding debt and share repurchases and whether it will increase NAV per share, whether we will be able to continue to generate proceeds from derivative trades and whether we will be able to continue reducing corporate expenses. Each forward-looking statement contained in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to the Company’s operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies; the risk that the Company’s stock price may be highly correlated to the price of the digital assets that it holds; risks related to increased competition in the industries in which the Company does and will operate; risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets generally; risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purpose, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other information the Company has or may file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025.We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.
Empery Digital Contacts
For Sales: [email protected]
For Investors: [email protected]
For Marketing: [email protected]
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