HCWB 8-K
HCW Biologics Inc. (HCWB)
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
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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:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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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.
On February 20, 2025, HCW Biologics Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), entered into an Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Equity Purchase Agreement”) with Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC - Series 4 (the “Investor”), pursuant to which the Company will have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to the Investor, and the Investor will have the obligation to purchase from the Company, up to $20,000,000 (the “Maximum Commitment Amount”) worth of the Company’s shares of common stock, at the Company’s sole discretion, over the next 36 months (the “Put Shares”), subject to certain conditions precedent and other limitations. The Investor has covenanted not to cause or engage in any short sales or hedging transactions with respect to the shares of the Company’s common stock. The Maxim Group LLC acted as the Company’s exclusive Placement Agent in connection with this transaction.
Unless earlier terminated, the Equity Purchase Agreement will remain in effect until the earlier of February 18, 2028 (i.e., the expiry of the 36-month period commencing on the date of the Equity Purchase Agreement) or the date on which the Investor has purchased the Maximum Commitment Amount (the “Commitment Period”). The Company has the right to terminate the Equity Purchase Agreement at any time, subject to certain provisions as set forth in the Equity Purchase Agreement. The Investor has the right to terminate the Equity Purchase Agreement under certain provisions as set forth in the Equity Purchase Agreement, including the continued listing of the Company's common stock on an Eligible Market.
During the Commitment Period, the Company will have the right, but not the obligation, to direct the Investor to make a purchase of the Put Shares by delivering written notice to the Investor (a “Put Notice”) on any trading day (the “Put Date”) to purchase a number of Put Shares pursuant to a formula set forth in the Equity Purchase Agreement. The number of Put Shares that the Company can issue to the Investor from time to time under the Equity Purchase Agreement may not exceed 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares issuable pursuant to a Put Notice.
The per share purchase price for the Put Shares that we elect to sell to the Investor in a Put Notice pursuant to the Equity Purchase Agreement will be equal to 98% of the lowest daily VWAP during the Valuation Period (as defined in the Equity Purchase Agreement), in the case of a Valuation Period ending on the date that is at the end of the third trading day immediately following the applicable Put Date. The Company also agreed to a $150,000 commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”), which shall be in the form of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Investor in accordance with the terms of the Equity Purchase Agreement.
On February 20, 2025, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) an initial registration statement on Form S-1 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) by April 6, 2025 covering the resale of the Commitment Shares, which may have been, or which may from time to time be, issued under the Equity Purchase Agreement for public resale, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC.
The Equity Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement contain customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company and customary conditions to the Investor’s obligation to purchase the Put Shares. Actual sales of shares of our common stock, if any, to the Investor under the Equity Purchase Agreement will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by the Company from time to time, including, among others, market conditions, the trading price of the Company’s common stock and determinations by the Company as to the appropriate sources of funding for the Company and its operations. The net proceeds to us from sales of our common stock to the Investor under the Equity Purchase Agreement, if any, will depend on the frequency and prices at which the Company sells shares to the Investor under the Equity Purchase Agreement. Any proceeds that the Company receives from sales of shares of our common stock to the Investor under the Equity Purchase Agreement will be used to advance our clinical development programs and expand our discovery, research and preclinical activities in the near term and in the future.
The foregoing description of the Equity Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement is a summary of the material terms of each such agreement, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Equity Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, which are filed as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
10.1 |
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10.2 |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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.
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HCW BIOLOGICS INC. |
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Date: |
February 21, 2025 |
By: |
/s/ Hing C. Wong |
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Hing C. Wong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of February 20, 2025 (the “Execution Date”), by and between HCW Biologics Inc., a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC – Series 4, a series limited liability company organized in the State of Delaware (the “Investor”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, the Company shall issue and sell to the Investor, from time to time as provided herein, and the Investor shall purchase from the Company up to Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) of the Company’s Common Stock (as defined below);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investor hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 RECITALS. The parties acknowledge and agree that the recitals set forth above are true and correct and are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement.
Section 1.2 DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings specified or indicated (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
“Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble hereof.
“Available Amount” means, initially, the Maximum Commitment Amount, which amount shall be reduced by the Investment Amount following each successful Closing, each time the Investor purchases Put Shares.
“Average Daily Trading Volume” shall mean the average trading volume of the Common Stock on the applicable Trading Days.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of
debtors.
“Claim Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9.3(a).
“Clearing Costs” shall mean all of the Investor’s broker and Transfer Agent fees and trading commissions, which shall not exceed $0.01 per share.
“Clearing Date” shall be the date on which the Investor receives the Put Shares as DWAC Shares in its brokerage account.
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“Closing” shall mean one of the closings of a purchase and sale of Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.3.
“Closing Certificate” shall mean the closing “Officer’s Certificate” of the Company in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
“Closing Date” shall mean the date of any Closing hereunder.
“Commitment Period” shall mean the period commencing on the Execution Date, and ending on the earlier of (i) the date on which the Investor shall have purchased Put Shares pursuant to this Agreement equal to the Maximum Commitment Amount, (ii) February 20, 2028, (ii) provided that the Registration Statement shall have been previously declared effective by the SEC, the written notice of termination by the Company to the Investor (which shall not occur at any time that the Investor holds any of the Put Shares), or (iii) written notice of termination by the Investor to the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.4.
“Commitment Shares” means Common Stock issued by the Company to the Investor pursuant to Section 6.4.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, having a par value per share of $0.0001, and any shares of any other class of common stock of the Company whether now or hereafter authorized, having the right to participate in the distribution of dividends (as and when declared) and assets (upon liquidation of the Company).
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Company” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Confidential Information” means any information disclosed by either party to this Agreement, or their Affiliates, agents, or representatives, to the other party to this Agreement, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally or by inspection of tangible objects (including, without limitation, documents, formulae, business information, trade secrets, technology, strategies, prototypes, samples, plant, and equipment), which may or may not be designated as “Confidential,” “Proprietary” or some similar designation. Information communicated orally shall be considered Confidential Information. Confidential Information may also include information disclosed by third parties. Confidential Information shall not, however, include any information which (i) was publicly known and made generally available in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure by the disclosing party; (ii) becomes publicly known and made generally available after disclosure by the disclosing party to the receiving party through no fault, action or inaction of the receiving party; (iii) is already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of disclosure by the disclosing party as shown by the receiving party’s files and records immediately prior to the time of disclosure; (iv) is obtained by the receiving party from a third party without a breach of such third party’s obligations of confidentiality; (v) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of or reference to the disclosing party’s Confidential Information, as shown by documents and other competent evidence in the receiving party’s possession; or (vi) is required by law to be disclosed by the receiving party, provided that the receiving party gives the disclosing party prompt written notice of such requirement prior to such disclosure and assistance in obtaining an order protecting the information from public disclosure.
“Current Report” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.
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“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Damages” shall mean any loss, claim, damage, liability, cost, and expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and costs and expenses of expert witnesses and investigation).
“Dispute Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9.3(a).
“Disqualification Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.27.
“DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any successor performing substantially the same function for the Company.
“DTC/FAST Program” shall mean the DTC’s Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program.
“DWAC” shall mean Deposit Withdrawal at Custodian as defined by the DTC.
“DWAC Eligible” shall mean that (a) the Common Stock is eligible at DTC for full services pursuant to DTC’s operational arrangements, including, without limitation, transfer through DTC’s DWAC system, (b) the Company has been approved (without revocation) by the DTC’s underwriting department, (c) the Transfer Agent is approved as an agent in the DTC/FAST Program, (d) the Commitment Shares or Put Shares, as applicable, are otherwise eligible for delivery via DWAC, and (e) the Transfer Agent does not have a policy prohibiting or limiting delivery of the Put Shares or Commitment Shares, as applicable, via DWAC.
“DWAC Shares” means shares of Common Stock that are (i) issued in electronic form, (ii) freely tradable and transferable and without restriction on resale and (iii) timely credited by the Company to the Investor’s or its designee’s specified DWAC account with DTC under the DTC/FAST Program, or any similar program hereafter adopted by DTC performing substantially the same function.
“Eligible Market” means the Principal Market or any nationally recognized exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed.
“Environmental Laws” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.14.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
“Indemnity Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9.3(b).
“Intellectual Property” shall mean all trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, patents, patent applications, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, government authorizations, trade secrets or other intellectual property rights.
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“Investment Amount” shall mean the dollar value equal to the amount of Put Shares referenced in the Put Notice multiplied by the Purchase Price minus the Clearing Costs.
“Investor” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Issuer Covered Person” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.27.
“Lien” means a lien, charge, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right, or any other restriction.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any effect on the business, operations, properties, or financial condition of the Company and/or the Subsidiaries that is material and adverse to the Company and/or the Subsidiaries and/or any condition, circumstance, or situation that would prohibit or otherwise materially interfere with the ability of the Company and/or the Subsidiaries to enter into and/or perform its obligations under any Transaction Document and which shall be deemed to include any investigation of the Company, its directors or its officers by the SEC.
“Maximum Commitment Amount” shall mean up to Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00), which amount shall initially be Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) (the “Initial Amount”), and upon utilizing the entire Initial Amount, the Company shall have the right to an additional amount equal to the lesser of (x) Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) or (y) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Company’s market capitalization as of such date.
“Maximum Put Amount” shall mean the least of (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Average Daily Trading Volume over the five (5) Trading Days preceding the applicable Put Date, (ii) thirty percent (30%) of the daily trading volume on the applicable Put Date, and (iii) the quotient (rounded up or down to the nearest whole number) obtained by dividing (x) Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) by (y) the closing price on the applicable Put Date (in each case to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction during the applicable period).
“Person” shall mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Principal Market” shall mean The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Capital Market.
“Purchase Price” shall mean ninety-eight percent (98%) of the lowest daily VWAP of the Common Stock on the Principal Market during the Valuation Period.
“Put” shall mean the right of the Company to require the Investor to purchase Common Stock at the Purchase Price, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Put Date” shall mean any Trading Day during the Commitment Period that a Put Notice is deemed delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(b).
“Put Notice” shall mean a written notice, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, addressed to the Investor and setting forth the amount of Put Shares which the Company intends to require the Investor to purchase pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Put Shares” shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued, or that the Company shall be entitled to issue, per any applicable Put Notice in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means that agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
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“Registration Statement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.3.
“Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act.
“SEC” or “Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SEC Documents” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.5.
“Securities” means, collectively, the Put Shares and the Commitment Shares.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Stockholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor entity), including, without limitation Rule 5635, from the stockholders of the Company, or board of directors in lieu thereof, with respect to issuance of the Put Shares in excess of 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares.
“Short Sales” shall mean all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act or any hedging transaction that establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock.
“Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means any Person the Company wholly-owns or controls, or in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns a majority of the voting stock or similar voting interest, in each case that would be disclosable pursuant to Item 601(b)(21) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Third Party Claim” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9.3(a).
“Trading Day” means any full trading day (beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York City time) on the Principal Market or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, on such Eligible Market.
“Transaction Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Transfer Agent Instruction Letter, and all schedules and exhibits hereto and thereto.
“Transfer Agent” shall mean Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
“Transfer Agent Instruction Letter” means the letter from the Company to the Transfer Agent which instructs the Transfer Agent to issue the Put Shares and the Commitment Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents, in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto.
“Valuation Period” shall mean the period of three (3) consecutive Trading Days immediately following the applicable Put Date.
“VWAP” means, for the Common Stock as of any Trading Day, the dollar volume-weighted average price for the Common Stock on the Principal Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, on such Eligible Market) during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, or such other time publicly announced by the Principal Market (or by such Eligible Market, as applicable) as the official open (or commencement) of trading on the Principal Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) on such Trading Day, and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York City time, or such other
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time publicly announced by the Principal Market (or by such Eligible Market, as applicable) as the official close of trading on the Principal Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) on such Trading Day, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P. (or, if not reported on Bloomberg, L.P., another reporting service reasonably agreed to by the parties). All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization, or other similar transaction during such period.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK
Section 2.1 PUTS. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including, without limitation, the provisions of Article VII), the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to direct the Investor, to process a Put by its delivery to the Investor of a Put Notice from time to time during the Commitment Period, to purchase Put Shares, provided that notwithstanding any other terms of this Agreement, in each instance unless waived by the Investor in its sole discretion, (i) the Put Shares are not more than the Maximum Put Amount for any Put, (ii) the aggregate Investment Amount of all Puts shall not exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount, (iii) at least one (1) Trading Day has lapsed since the most recent Valuation Period has ended, and (iv) all Common Stock resulting from prior submitted Put Notices for Puts has been delivered.
Section 2.2 MECHANICS.
Section 2.3 CLOSINGS.
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Section 2.4 OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL PUT SHARES. Following the Put Date in respect of any Put, the Company and Investor may agree to increase the amount of Put Shares relating to such Put up to an amount not to exceed Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00). Such mutual agreement, if any, must be made after the relevant Put Notice is delivered but before 4:00 p.m. New York City time on the last Trading Day of the applicable Valuation Period. Following any such agreement, the Company agrees that it shall deliver, or cause to be delivered any such additional Put Shares as DWAC Shares to the Investor on the Trading Day following the date the Company and the Investor shall have agreed to such increase by 9:30 a.m. New York City time. A failure to deliver such additional Put Shares by such time shall entitle the Investor to the rights set forth in Section 2.3(b) in respect of such failure.
Section 2.5 UPSIZED FACILITY OPTION. Upon utilizing the entire Initial Amount, provided that no event of default by the Company has occurred under the Transaction Documents or such event of default has been waived by the Investor, the Company shall have the right to an increase of the amount of the Maximum Commitment Amount by the lesser of (x) Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) or (y) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Company’s market capitalization as of such date (the “Upsized Facility Option”). In the event that the Company exercises the Upsized Facility Option, it shall file an additional registration statement in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement registering the additional Put Shares covered by the Upsized Facility Option.
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF INVESTOR
The Investor represents and warrants to the Company that as of the Execution Date, each date a Put Notice is submitted and at each Closing Date:
Section 3.1 INTENT. The Investor is acquiring the Shares for its own account, for investment purposes and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered under or exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, the Investor does not agree, or make any representation or warranty, to hold any of the Shares for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Shares at any time in accordance with, or pursuant to, a registration statement filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or an applicable exemption under the Securities Act and in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. The Investor does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to sell or distribute any of the Shares.
Section 3.2 NO LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE COMPANY. The Investor acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with its own legal counsel and investment and tax advisors. Except with respect to the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Investor is relying solely on such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
Section 3.3 ACCREDITED INVESTOR. The Investor is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D, and the Investor has such experience in business and financial matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities. The Investor acknowledges that an investment in the Securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk.
Section 3.4 AUTHORITY. The Investor has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action and no further consent or authorization of the Investor is required. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by the Investor, and when delivered by the Investor in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Investor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.
Section 3.5 NOT AN AFFILIATE. To the Investor’s knowledge, the Investor is not an officer, director, or “affiliate” (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) of the Company.
Section 3.6 ORGANIZATION AND STANDING. The Investor is an entity duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation with full right, limited liability company power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
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Section 3.7 ABSENCE OF CONFLICTS. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and compliance with the requirements hereof and thereof, will not (a) violate any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Investor, (b) violate any provision of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which the Investor is a party or is subject, or by which the Investor or any of its assets is bound, or conflict with or constitute a material default thereunder, (c) result in the creation or imposition of any lien pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement, or constitute a breach of any fiduciary duty owed by the Investor to any third party, or (d) require the approval of any third-party (that has not been obtained) pursuant to any material contract, instrument, agreement, relationship or legal obligation to which the Investor is subject or to which any of its assets, operations or management may be subject.
Section 3.8 MANNER OF SALE. At no time was the Investor presented with or solicited by or through any leaflet, public promotional meeting, television advertisement or any other form of general solicitation or advertisement regarding the Securities.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to the Investor that, except as set forth in the disclosure schedules hereto, as of the Execution Date, each date a Put Notice is submitted and at each Closing Date:
Section 4.1 ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is not in violation or default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and no proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.
Section 4.2 AUTHORITY. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its board of directors or stockholders is required. Each of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.
Section 4.3 CAPITALIZATION. As of the Execution Date, the authorized capital stock of the Company is expected to be as set forth on Schedule 4.3. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.3, the Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s
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employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.3, and except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Investor) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under any of such securities. There are no stockholders’ agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.
Section 4.4 LISTING AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the SEC is contemplating terminating such registration. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4, the Company has not, in the twelve (12) months preceding the Execution Date, received notice from the Principal Market to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Principal Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements.
Section 4.5 SEC DOCUMENTS; DISCLOSURE. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the one (1) year preceding the Execution Date (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Documents”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Documents prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and other federal laws, rules and regulations applicable to such SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents when filed contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents comply as to form and substance in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC or other applicable rules and regulations with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (a) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto or (b) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments). The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls appropriate for its size. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is not disclosed by the Company in its financial statements or otherwise that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
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the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided the Investor or its agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or might constitute material, non- public information. The Company understands and confirms that the Investor will rely on the foregoing representation in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
Section 4.6 VALID ISSUANCES. The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable, free, and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company, other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents and under the Securities Act.
Section 4.7 NO CONFLICTS. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Put Shares and the Commitment Shares, do not and will not: (a) result in a violation of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational or charter documents, (b) conflict with, or constitute a material default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a material default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture, instrument or any “lock-up” or similar provision of any underwriting or similar agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or (c) result in a violation of any federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected (except for such conflicts, defaults, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect), nor is the Company otherwise in violation of, conflict with or in default under any of the foregoing. The business of the Company is not being conducted in violation of any law, ordinance, or regulation of any governmental entity. The Company is not required under federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents (other than any SEC, FINRA or state securities filings that may be required to be made by the Company in connection with the issuance of the Commitment Shares or subsequent to any Closing or any registration statement that may be filed pursuant hereto); provided that, for purposes of the representation made in this sentence, the Company is assuming and relying upon the accuracy of the relevant representations and agreements of Investor herein.
Section 4.8 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. No event has occurred that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any Subsidiary that has not been disclosed in subsequent SEC filings.
Section 4.9 LITIGATION AND OTHER PROCEEDINGS. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9, there are no actions, suits, investigations, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, nor has the Company received any written or oral notice of any such action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, which would have a Material Adverse Effect or would require disclosure under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. No judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree or award has been issued by or, to the knowledge of the Company, requested of any court, arbitrator or governmental agency which would have a Material Adverse Effect. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the SEC involving the Company, any Subsidiary, or any current or former director or officer of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Section 4.10 REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.10, no Person (other than the Investor) has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act
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of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Section 4.11 INVESTOR’S STATUS. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Investor is acting solely in the capacity of arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further acknowledges that the Investor is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and any advice given by the Investor or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to the Investor’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to the Investor that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives and advisors.
Section 4.12 NO GENERAL SOLICITATION; NO INTEGRATED OFFERING. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective Affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective Affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the offer and sale of any of the Securities under the Securities Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise.
Section 4.13 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. The Company and each Subsidiary own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all material trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and rights necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted. None of the Company’s, nor any Subsidiary’s Intellectual Property has expired or terminated, or, by the terms and conditions thereof, could expire or terminate within three years from the date of this Agreement if such expiration or termination could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company does not have any knowledge of any infringement by the Company and/or any Subsidiary of any material Intellectual Property of others, or of any such development of similar or identical trade secrets or technical information by others, and there is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought against, or to the Company’s knowledge, being threatened against, the Company and/or any Subsidiary regarding the infringement of any Intellectual Property, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.14 ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and each Subsidiary (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its respective businesses and (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where, in each of the three foregoing clauses, the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.15 TITLE. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company and each Subsidiary has good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by it and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by it that is material to the business of the Company and each Subsidiary, in each case free and clear of all Liens and, except for Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any Subsidiary and Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company or any Subsidiary is held under valid, subsisting, and enforceable leases with which
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the Company is in compliance with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or any Subsidiary.
Section 4.16 INSURANCE. The Company and each Subsidiary is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and each Subsidiary is engaged. Neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and the Company has no reason to believe that it or any Subsidiary will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business or operations of the Company, taken as a whole.
Section 4.17 REGULATORY PERMITS. The Company and each Subsidiary possesses all material certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its businesses, and neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization, or permit.
Section 4.18 TAX STATUS. The Company and each Subsidiary has made or filed all federal and state income and all other material tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject (unless and only to the extent that the Company has set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all unpaid and unreported taxes) and has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company know of no basis for any such claim.
Section 4.19 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary, and to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner, in each case in excess of the lesser of (i) $120,000 or (ii) one percent of the average of the Company’s total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years, other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.
Section 4.20 APPLICATION OF TAKEOVER PROTECTIONS. The Company and its board of directors have taken or will take prior to the Execution Date all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the articles of incorporation or the laws of the state of its incorporation which is or could become applicable to the Investor as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Investor’s ownership of the Securities.
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Section 4.21 FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any Person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
Section 4.22 SARBANES-OXLEY. The Company is in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, which are applicable to it.
Section 4.23 CERTAIN FEES. Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule or in the Company’s SEC filings, no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank, or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Investor shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of any Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section 4.23 that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
Section 4.24 INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Company is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 4.25 ACCOUNTANTS. The Company’s accountants are set forth in the SEC Documents and, to the knowledge of the Company, such accountants are an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act.
Section 4.26 NO MARKET MANIPULATION. Neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary has, and to its knowledge no Person acting on either of their behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.
Section 4.27 NO DISQUALIFICATION EVENTS. None of the Company, any Subsidiary, any of their predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company or any Subsidiary participating in the offering contemplated hereby, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act. The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event.
Section 4.28 MONEY LAUNDERING. The Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with, and has not previously violated, the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001 and all other applicable U.S. and non-U.S. anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the laws, regulations and Executive Orders and sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, including, but not limited, to (i) Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 entitled, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism” (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)); and (ii) any regulations contained in 31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V.
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Section 4.29 ILLEGAL OR UNAUTHORIZED PAYMENTS; POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. Neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary has, nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge (after reasonable inquiry of its officers and directors), any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or other representatives of the Company, any Subsidiary or any other business entity or enterprise with which the Company is or has been affiliated or associated, has, directly or indirectly, made or authorized any payment, contribution or gift of money, property, or services, whether or not in contravention of applicable law, (a) as a kickback or bribe to any Person or (b) to any political organization, or the holder of or any aspirant to any elective or appointive public office except for personal political contributions not involving the direct or indirect use of funds of the Company.
Section 4.30 SHELL COMPANY STATUS. The Company is not currently an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) under the Securities Act, is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, has filed all reports and other materials required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable during the preceding 12 months, and, as of a date at least one year prior to the Execution Date, has filed current “Form 10 information” with the SEC (as defined in Rule 144(i)(3) of the Securities Act) reflecting its status as an entity that is no longer an issuer described in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) of the Securities Act.
Section 4.31 ABSENCE OF SCHEDULES. In the event that on the Execution Date, the Company does not deliver any disclosure schedule contemplated by this Agreement, the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) each such undelivered disclosure schedule shall be deemed to read as follows: “Nothing to Disclose”, and (ii) the Investor has not otherwise waived delivery of such disclosure schedule.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF INVESTOR
Section 5.1 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; TRADING IN SECURITIES. The Investor’s trading activities with respect to the Common Stock will be in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of FINRA and the Principal Market.
Section 5.2 SHORT SALES AND CONFIDENTIALITY. The Investor represents that, as of the Execution Date and for the 60 days prior thereto, it and its Affiliates have not been and are not “short” any Common Stock. Neither the Investor, nor any Affiliate of the Investor acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it, will in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, (i) participate in or execute any Short Sales during the period from the Execution Date to the end of the Commitment Period or (ii) any hedging transaction that would create a net short position with respect to the shares of Common Stock. For the purposes hereof, and in accordance with Regulation SHO, the sale after delivery of a Put Notice of such number of shares of Common Stock reasonably expected to be purchased under a Put Notice shall not be deemed a Short Sale. The Investor shall, until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of this transaction and the information included in the Transaction Documents. The Investor agrees not to disclose any Confidential Information of the Company to any third party, except for attorneys, accountants, advisors who have a need to know such Confidential Information and are bound by confidentiality, and shall not use any Confidential Information for any purpose other than in connection with, or in furtherance of, the transactions contemplated hereby. The Investor acknowledges that the Confidential Information of the Company shall remain the property of the Company and agrees that it shall take all reasonable measures to protect the secrecy of any Confidential Information disclosed by the Company.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
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Section 6.1 LISTING OF COMMON STOCK. The Company shall promptly secure the listing of all of the Put Shares and Commitment Shares to be issued to the Investor hereunder on the Principal Market (subject to official notice of issuance) and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain, so long as the Common Stock shall be so listed, the listing of all such Put Shares and Commitment Shares from time to time issuable hereunder. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to continue the listing and trading of the Common Stock on the Principal Market (including, without limitation, maintaining sufficient net tangible assets) and will comply in all respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of FINRA and the Principal Market.. The Company shall not take any action that would reasonably be expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on the Principal Market. The Company shall promptly, and in no event later than the following Trading Day after receiving such notice, provide to the Investor copies of any notices it receives from any Person regarding the continued eligibility of the Common Stock for listing on the Principal Market. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 6.1. The Company shall take all action necessary to ensure that the Common Stock can be transferred electronically as DWAC Shares. If the Company receives a final non-appealable delisting notice from the Principal Market or if the Common Stock fails to be listed on an Eligible Market, then the Investor may terminate its obligations under this Agreement by written notice to the Company and may deem any outstanding Put Notice as withdrawn.
Section 6.2 OTHER EQUITY LINES. So long as this Agreement remains in effect, the Company covenants and agrees that it will not enter into any other equity line of credit agreement with any other party, without the Investor’s prior written consent, which consent may be granted or withheld in the Investor’s sole and absolute discretion.
Section 6.3 FILING OF CURRENT REPORT AND REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Company agrees that it shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including certain Transaction Documents as exhibits thereto, with the SEC within the time required by the Exchange Act, relating to the transactions contemplated by, and describing the material terms and conditions of, such Transaction Documents (the “Current Report”). The Company shall permit the Investor to review and comment upon the pre-filing draft version of the Current Report at least two (2) Trading Days prior to its filing with the SEC, and the Company shall give reasonable consideration to all such comments. The Investor shall use its reasonable best efforts to comment upon the pre-filing draft version of the Current Report within one (1) Trading Day from the date the Investor receives it from the Company. The Company shall also file with the SEC a new registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”), the timing and terms of which shall be governed by Section 2 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 6.4 COMMITMENT FEE; ISSUANCE OF COMMITMENT SHARES; FAILURE TO INCLUDE IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
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Section 6.5 DUE DILIGENCE; CONFIDENTIALITY; NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION. The Investor shall have the right, from time to time as the Investor may reasonably deem appropriate, to perform reasonable due diligence on the Company during normal business hours. The Company, each Subsidiary and their respective officers and employees shall provide information and reasonably cooperate with the Investor in connection with any reasonable request by the Investor related to the Investor’s due diligence of the Company. The Company agrees not to disclose any Confidential Information of the Investor to any third party, except for attorneys, accountants, advisors who have a need to know such Confidential Information and are bound by confidentiality, and shall not use any Confidential Information for any purpose other than in connection with, or in furtherance of, the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company acknowledges that the Confidential Information of the Investor shall remain the property of the Investor and agrees that it shall take all reasonable measures to protect the secrecy of any Confidential Information disclosed by the Investor. The Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf shall provide the Investor or its agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information, unless a simultaneous public announcement thereof is made by the Company in the manner contemplated by Regulation FD. In the event of a breach of the foregoing covenant by the Company or any Person acting on its behalf (as determined in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Investor), in addition to any other remedy provided herein or in the other Transaction Documents, the Investor, upon the advice of its counsel, shall have the right to make a public disclosure, in the form of a press release, public advertisement or otherwise, of such material, non-public information without the prior approval by the Company; provided the Investor shall have first provided notice to the Company that it believes it has received information that constitutes material, non-public information, and the Company shall have had at least twenty-four (24) hours to publicly disclose such material, non-public information prior to any such disclosure by the Investor, and the Company shall have failed to publicly disclose such material, non-public information within such time period. The Investor shall not have any liability to the Company, any Subsidiary, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders, affiliates, or agents, for any such disclosure. The Company understands and confirms that the Investor shall be relying on the foregoing covenants in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
Section 6.6 PURCHASE RECORDS. The Company shall maintain records showing the Available Amount at any given time and the date, Investment Amount and Put Shares for each Put, contained in the applicable Put Notice.
Section 6.7 TAXES. The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp or similar taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of any shares of Common Stock to the Investor made under this Agreement.
Section 6.8 USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company will use the net proceeds from the offering of Put Shares hereunder for the purposes described in the Registration Statement.
Section 6.9 OTHER TRANSACTIONS. The Company shall not enter into, announce or recommend to its stockholders any agreement, plan, arrangement or transaction in or of which the terms
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thereof would restrict, materially delay, conflict with or impair the ability or right of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Company to deliver the Put Shares and the Commitment Shares to the Investor in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents.
Section 6.10 INTEGRATION. In any case subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, from and after the Execution Date, neither the Company, nor or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates will, and the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to ensure that no Person acting on their behalf will, directly or indirectly, make any offers or sales of any security or solicit any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the offer and sale of any of the Securities under the Securities Act.
Section 6.11 TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS. On the Execution Date, the Company shall deliver to the Investor executed copies of all of the Transaction Documents.
Section 6.12 STANDSTILL. Unless waived by the Investor, notwithstanding any other provisions set forth in the Transaction Documents, the Company hereby covenants and agrees not to issue any shares of Common Stock or other securities (including debt securities) convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock or enter into agreement to sell such securities, including, without limitation, any “at the market” offerings, during each period (each, a “Standstill Period”) beginning (i) upon the submission of any Put Notice that has been accepted in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii) ending upon the later of (a) the Trading Day following the expiration of the applicable Valuation Period relating to such Put Notice, and (ii) close of the Trading Day on which the aggregate trading volume of the Common Stock over the Trading Days since issuance of such Put Notice shall have exceeded Five Hundred percent (500%) of the number of Put Shares sold pursuant to such Put Notice.
Section 6.13 STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. In addition, the Company shall hold a special meeting of stockholders (which may also be at the annual meeting of stockholders) at the earliest practicable date for the purpose of obtaining Stockholder Approval, with the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors that such proposal be approved, and the Company shall solicit proxies from its stockholders in connection therewith in the same manner as all other management proposals in such proxy statement and all management-appointed proxyholders shall vote their proxies in favor of such proposal.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO DELIVERY OF PUT NOTICES AND CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section 7.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF INVESTOR TO PURCHASE PUT SHARES. The obligation of the Investor hereunder to purchase Put Shares is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
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ARTICLE VIII
LEGENDS
Section 8.1 NO RESTRICTIVE STOCK LEGEND. No restrictive stock legend shall be placed on the share certificates representing the Put Shares.
Section 8.2 INVESTOR’S COMPLIANCE. Nothing in this Article VIII shall affect in any way the Investor’s obligations hereunder to comply with all applicable securities laws upon the sale of the Common Stock.
ARTICLE IX
NOTICES; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 9.1 NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, except for Put Notices which shall be delivered via email in accordance with Section 2.2 and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (a) personally served, (b) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (c) delivered by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service with charges prepaid, or (d) transmitted by hand delivery or e-mail as a PDF, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice given in accordance herewith. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (i) upon hand delivery or delivery by e-mail at the address designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if
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delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (ii) on the first business day following the date of mailing by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service or on the fifth business day after deposited in the mail, in each case, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur.
The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
2929 North Commerce Parkway
Miramar, FL 33025
Attention: Hing C. Wong and Nicole Valdivieso, Esq.
E-mail: [email protected]
and
With a mandatory copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Clark Hill
130 East Randolph Street
Suite 3900
Chicago, IL 60601
Attention: James F. Groth
Email: [email protected]
If to the Investor:
Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC – Series 4
40 Wall Street, Floor 28, Suite 2728
New York, NY 10005
E-mail: [email protected]
Attention: Christopher Perugini, Managing Partner
with a mandatory copy to (that shall not constitute notice) to:
Lucosky Brookman LLP
101 Wood Avenue South
Woodbridge, NJ 08830
E-mail: [email protected]
Attention: Seth Brookman
Either party hereto may from time to time change its address or e-mail for notices under this Section 9.1 by giving at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice of such changed address to the other party hereto.
Section 9.2 INDEMNIFICATION. The Company (an “Indemnifying Party”) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor along with its officers, directors, employees, and authorized agents and representatives, and each Person or entity, if any, who controls such party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder (an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all Damages, joint or several, and any and all actions in respect thereof to which the Indemnified Party becomes subject to, resulting from, arising out of or relating to (i) any misrepresentation, breach of warranty or nonfulfillment of or failure to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of the Indemnifying Party contained in this Agreement, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any registration
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statement pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or any post-effective amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, or (iv) any material violation or alleged material violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, as such Damages are incurred, except to the extent such Damages result primarily from the Indemnified Party’s failure to perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or the Indemnified Party’s negligence, recklessness, fraud, willful misconduct or bad faith in performing its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any Damages of an Indemnified Party to the extent, but only to the extent, (a) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made by an Indemnifying Party in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Indemnifying Party by any Indemnified Party expressly for use in the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (b) resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Party (as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of court having jurisdiction over such matter).
Section 9.3 METHOD OF ASSERTING INDEMNIFICATION CLAIMS. All claims for indemnification by any Indemnified Party under Section 9.2 shall be asserted and resolved as follows:
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of law (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction).
Section 10.2 ARBITRATION. Any disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or relating to the Transaction Documents, or the transactions, contemplated thereby, or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this Agreement to arbitrate, shall be referred to and resolved solely and exclusively by binding arbitration to be conducted before JAMS, or its successor pursuant the expedited procedures set forth in the JAMS Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures (the “Rules”), including Rules 16.1 and 16.2 of those Rules. The arbitration shall be held in New York, New York, before a tribunal consisting of three (3) arbitrators each of whom will be selected in accordance with the “strike and rank” methodology set forth in Rule 15. Either party to this Agreement may, without waiving any remedy under this Agreement, seek from any federal or state court sitting in the Southern District of New York any interim or provisional relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that party, pending the establishment of the arbitral tribunal. The costs and expenses of such arbitration shall be paid by and be the sole responsibility of the Company, including but not limited to the Investor’s attorneys’ fees and each arbitrator’s fees. The arbitrators’ decision must set forth a reasoned basis for any award of damages or finding of liability. The arbitrators’ decision and award will be made and delivered as soon as reasonably possibly and in any case within sixty (60) days’ following the conclusion of the arbitration hearing and shall be final and binding on the parties and may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof.
Section 10.3 JURY TRIAL WAIVER. THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR HEREBY WAIVE A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY EITHER OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGAINST THE OTHER IN RESPECT OF ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS.
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Section 10.4 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Investor and their respective successors. Neither this Agreement nor any rights of the Investor or the Company hereunder may be assigned by either party to any other Person.
Section 10.5 NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the Company and the Investor and their respective successors, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as set forth in Article IX.
Section 10.6 TERMINATION. At any time, the Company shall have the option to terminate this Agreement for any reason or for no reason by delivering written notice (a “Company Termination Notice”) to the Investor electing to terminate this Agreement without any liability whatsoever of any party to any other party under this Agreement (except as set forth below). The Company Termination Notice shall not be effective until one business day after it has been received by the Investor, provided that this Agreement cannot be terminated (i) while there is an outstanding Put Notice, the shares of Common Stock under which have yet to be issued and (ii) the Company has not paid all amounts owed to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement. In addition, this Agreement shall automatically terminate on the earlier of (i) the end of the Commitment Period; (ii) the date that the Company sells and the Investor purchases the Maximum Commitment Amount; or (iii) the date that, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, the Company commences a voluntary case or any Person commences a proceeding against the Company, a Custodian is appointed for the Company or for all or substantially all of its property or the Company makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors. Following completion of the Investor’s due diligence review, which shall be no later than ten (10) Trading Days following the Execution Date (the “Due Diligence Period”), or if at any time the Company receives a final delisting notice from the Principal Market or if at any time the Common Stock fails to be listed on an Eligible Market, the Investor may terminate its obligations under this Agreement by written notice to the Company and may deem any outstanding Put Notice as withdrawn. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of termination of this Agreement, the provisions of Articles III, IV, V, VI, IX and the agreements and covenants of the Company and the Investor set forth in this Article X shall survive the termination of this Agreement for the maximum length of time allowed under applicable law.
Section 10.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the Company and the Investor with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.
Section 10.8 FEES AND EXPENSES. Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents or any other writing to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, except for the non-refundable deposit of $30,000 which the Company shall have paid to the Investor prior to the Execution Date in connection with the execution of the Term Sheet entered into between the Company and Square Gate Capital, LLC, or certain affiliates or related parties thereof to be allocated towards the Investor’s due diligence and legal costs. For the avoidance of doubt as provided herein, the Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees, Clearing Costs, stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with any Securities.
Section 10.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which may be executed by less than all of the parties and shall be deemed to be an original instrument which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be delivered to the other parties hereto by e-mail of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the parties so delivering this Agreement.
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Section 10.10 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that such severability shall be ineffective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
Section 10.11 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 10.12 NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
Section 10.13 EQUITABLE RELIEF. Each party acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the other by vitiating the intent and purpose of the transaction contemplated hereby. Accordingly, each party acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the such party of the provisions of this Agreement, that the other party shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.
Section 10.14 TITLE AND SUBTITLES. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for the convenience of reference and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
Section 10.15 AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived by the parties from and after the date that is one (1) Trading Day immediately preceding the initial filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, (i) no provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by a written instrument signed by both parties hereto and (ii) no provision of this Agreement may be waived other than in a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought. No failure or delay in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power, or privilege
Section 10.16 PUBLICITY. The Company and the Investor shall consult with each other in issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and no party shall issue any such press release or otherwise make any such public statement, other than as required by law, without the prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that no prior consent shall be required if such disclosure is required by law, in which such case the disclosing party shall provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of the Investor without the prior written consent of the Investor, except to the extent required by law. The Investor acknowledges that this Agreement and all or part of the Transaction Documents may be deemed to be “material contracts,” as that term is defined by Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K, and that the Company may therefore be required to file such documents as exhibits to reports or registration statements filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The Investor further agrees that the status of such documents and materials as material contracts shall be determined solely by the Company, in consultation with its counsel.
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** Signature Page Follows **
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the Execution Date.
HCW BIOLOGICS INC.
By: /s/ Hing C. Wong_________
Name: Hing C. Wong
Title: Founder and Chief Executive Officer
SQUARE GATE CAPITAL MASTER FUND, LLC – SERIES 4
By: /s/ Christopher Perugini____
Name: Christoper Perugini
Title: Managing Partner
** Signature Page to Equity Purchase Agreement **
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF PUT NOTICE
TO: SQUARE GATE CAPITAL MASTER FUND, LLC – SERIES 4
DATE:
We refer to the Equity Purchase Agreement, dated February 20, 2025 (the “Agreement”), entered into by and between HCW Biologics Inc. and you. Capitalized terms defined in the Agreement shall, unless otherwise defined herein, have the same meaning when used herein.
We hereby:
[__] we require you to purchase Put Shares in an amount equal to _________, which is not in excess of the Maximum Put Amount;
[__] we request that you purchase an amount of Put Shares equal to _________ (the “Excess Purchase Amount”) which is in excess of the Maximum Put Amount but less than or equal to $3,000,000 less the Maximum Put Amount.
If we have requested that you purchase in excess of the Maximum Put Amount, prior to the opening of trading on the Trading Day immediately following the delivery of this Put Notice please confirm if you will purchase the Maximum Put Amount, the Excess Purchase Amount or some amount of Put Shares between the Maximum Put Amount and the Excess Purchase Amount and what amount. Failure to so confirm will be deemed confirmation that you elect to purchase the Maximum Put Amount.
Subsequent to the submission of this Put Notice, the Company and the Investor may agree to increase the amount of Put Shares subject to this Put Notice in accordance with Section 2.4 of the Agreement. In the event of any such increase, following the date of the Valuation Period relating to this Put Notice, the Company will reflect the amount of Put Shares as so increased in the space provided below and resubmit this Put Notice to you for your records.
Total amount of Put Shares following an increase under Section 2.4 of the Agreement: ______
HCW BIOLOGICS INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
OF
HCW BIOLOGICS INC.
Pursuant to Section 7.1(j) of that certain equity purchase agreement, dated February 20, 2025 (the “Agreement”), by and between HCW Biologics Inc. (the “Company”) and Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC – Series 4 (the “Investor”), the undersigned, in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and not in his individual capacity, hereby certifies, as of the date hereof (such date, the “Condition Satisfaction Date”), the following:
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto affixed his hand as ____________.
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTION LETTER
[***]
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[***]
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
[***]
Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 20, 2025 (the “Execution Date”), is entered into by and between HCW Biologics Inc., a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC - Series 4, a series limited liability company organized in the State of Delaware (together with its permitted assigns, the “Buyer”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in that certain Equity Purchase Agreement by and between the parties hereto, dated as of the Execution Date (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Purchase Agreement”).
WHEREAS:
The Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Purchase Agreement, to sell to the Buyer up to Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) of Put Shares, which amount may be increased pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, and to induce the Buyer to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “Securities Act”), and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1
2
3
With respect to a Registration Statement and whenever any Registrable Securities are to be Registered pursuant to Section 2, including on any Other Registration Statement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
4
5
6
7
All reasonable expenses, other than sales or brokerage commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees incurred by the Company, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company (but not counsel for the Investor), shall be paid by the Company.
8
9
To the extent any indemnification by the Company is prohibited or limited by law, the Company agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law.
With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investor to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration (“Rule 144”), the Company agrees, at the Company’s sole expense, to:
10
The Company agrees that damages may be an inadequate remedy for any breach of the terms and provisions of this Section 8 and that Investor shall, whether or not it is pursuing any remedies at law, be entitled to equitable relief in the form of a preliminary or permanent injunctions, without having to post any bond or other security, upon any breach or threatened breach of any such terms or provisions.
The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Buyer. The Buyer, or any Investor, may not assign its rights under this Agreement without the written consent of the Company other than to an affiliate of such Investor.
No provision of this Agreement may be (i) amended other than by a written instrument signed by both parties hereto or (ii) waived other than in a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
If to the Company:
11
2929 North Commerce Parkway
Miramar, FL 33025
Attention: Hing C. Wong and Nicole Valdivieso, Esq.
E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]
With a mandatory copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Clark Hill
130 East Randolph Street
Suite 3900
Chicago, IL 60601
Attention: James F. Groth
Email: [email protected]
If to the Investor:
Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC -Series 4
40 Wall Street
Floor 28, Suite 2728
New York, NY 10005
E-mail: [email protected]
Attention: Christopher Perugini, Managing Partner
with a mandatory copy to (that shall not constitute notice)
Lucosky Brookman LLP
101 Wood Avenue South
Woodbridge, NJ 08830
E-mail: [email protected]
Attention: Seth Brookman
or at such other address and/or email address and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party three (3) business days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s email account containing the time, date, recipient email address, as applicable, and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by email or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
12
13
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the Execution Date.
THE COMPANY:
HCW BIOLOGICS INC.
By: /s/ Hing C. Wong
Name: Hing C. Wong
Title: Founder and Chief Executive Officer
BUYER:
SQUARE GATE CAPITAL MASTER FUND, LLC – SERIES 4
By: /s/ Christopher Perugini
Name: Christopher Perugini
Title: Managing Partner
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EXHIBIT A
TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[ ] [ ], 2025
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
48 Wall St
Floor 23
New York, NY 10005
Re: EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to HCW Biologics Inc., a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Equity Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2025 (the “Purchase Agreement”), entered into by and between the Company and Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC - Series 4 (the “Buyer”) pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue to the Buyer shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), in an amount up to Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00), which amount may be increased pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement (the “Put Shares”), in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement. In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Company has registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission the following shares of Common Stock:
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, of even date with the Purchase Agreement with the Buyer (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the Put Shares and the Commitment Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In connection with the Company’s obligations under the Equity Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, on February 20, 2025, the Company filed a Registration Statement (File No. 333-[ ]) (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the resale of the Put Shares and the Commitment Shares.
In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the SEC’s staff has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the Securities Act at [ ] [A.M./P.M.] on [ ], 2025 and we have no knowledge,
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after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC’s staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Put Shares are available for resale under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Statement and may be issued without any restrictive legend.
Very truly yours, [Company Counsel]
By:
cc: Square Gate Capital Master Fund, LLC - Series 4
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