iSpecimen Inc S-1, filed May 2, 2025
iSpecimen Inc. (ISPC)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2025.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
iSpecimen Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 8731 | 27-0480143 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
8 Cabot Road, Suite 1800
Woburn, MA 01801
(781) 301-6700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Robert Bradley Lim
8 Cabot Road, Suite 1800
Woburn, MA 01801
(781) 301-6700
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Ross D. Carmel, Esq. | Joseph M. Lucosky, Esq. | |
| Barry P. Biggar, Esq. | Steven A. Lipstein, Esq. | |
| Benjamin E. Sklar, Esq. | Lucosky Brookman LLP | |
| Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP | 101 Wood Ave South | |
| 1185 Avenue of the Americas | Woodbridge, NJ 08830 | |
| New York, New York 10036 | (732) 395-4400 | |
| (212) 930-9700 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public:
As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | ||
| Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 2, 2025
UP TO 2,362,205 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS TO PURCHASE UP TO 2,362,205 SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
UP TO 2,362,205 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON THE
EXERCISE OF THE PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS

iSpecimen Inc.
We are offering on an underwritten basis up to 2,362,205 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”), at an assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), on April 30, 2025.
We are also offering to each purchaser of Shares that would otherwise result in the purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% of our outstanding shares of common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering the opportunity to purchase one Pre-Funded Warrant (in lieu of one share of common stock) (each a “Pre-Funded Warrant”). A holder of Pre-Funded Warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Pre-Funded Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, such limit may be increased to up to 9.99%) of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable for one share of common stock. The purchase price of each Pre-Funded Warrant will be equal to the price per Share, minus $0.0001, and the remaining exercise price of each Pre-Funded Warrant will equal $0.0001 per share. The Pre-Funded Warrants will be immediately exercisable (subject to the beneficial ownership cap) and may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. For each Pre-Funded Warrant we sell (without regard to any limitation on exercise set forth therein), the number of Shares we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis.
We are registering the Shares and the shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants hereby.
Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “ISPC”. On April 30, 2025, the reported closing price of our common stock was $1.27 per share. There is no established public trading market for the Pre-Funded Warrants. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Pre-Funded Warrants on any securities exchange or recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Pre-Funded Warrants will be limited.
The public offering price for the Shares in this offering will be determined at the time of pricing and may be at a discount to the then current market price. Therefore, the assumed public offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final offering price. The final public offering price will be determined through negotiation between us and the investors based upon a number of factors, including our history and our prospects, the industry in which we operate, our past and present operating results, the previous experience of our executive officers and the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering.
The Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants, if any, will be offered at a fixed price and are expected to be issued in a single closing. We expect this offering to be completed not later than two business days following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part (the “Registration Statement”), and we will deliver all securities to be issued in connection with this offering delivery versus payment/receipt versus payment upon receipt of investor funds received by us.
| Per
Share of Common Stock | Per Pre-Funded Warrant | Total | ||||||||||
| Price to the public | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Proceeds to us before expenses | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| (1) | In connection with this offering, we have agreed to pay to WestPark Capital, Inc. (the “underwriters”) a cash fee. We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for legal fees and expenses related to the offering in an amount up to $75,000 and other non-accountable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with its engagement as underwriter, in an amount up to $35,000. We refer you to “Underwriting” beginning on page 14 for additional information regarding underwriters’ compensation. |
The offering is being underwritten on a firm commitment basis.
The underwriters expect to deliver the securities to purchasers on or about , 2025.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Sole Book-Runner
WestPark Capital, Inc.
The date of this prospectus is , 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We and the underwriter(s) have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus, and neither we, nor the underwriter(s) take responsibility for any other information others may give you. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, common stock and Pre-Funded warrants only in jurisdictions where such offers and sales are permitted.
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Neither we nor the underwriter have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you and which we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the common stock and Pre-Funded Warrants shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of the date on the front cover of the prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
Market and Industry Data. This prospectus contains estimates and other statistical data made by independent parties relating to our industry and the markets in which we operate, including estimates and statistical data about our market position, market opportunity, and other industry data. These data, to the extent they contain estimates or projections, involve a number of assumptions and limitations and are inherently imprecise, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates or projections. Based on our industry experience, we believe that such data is reliable, the conclusions contained in the publications and reports are reasonable and the third-party information included in this prospectus and in our estimates is accurate and complete.
For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any such free writing prospectus outside the United States.
“iSpecimen,” “ISPC,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” “Company” and “our business” refer to iSpecimen.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected in any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this prospectus, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. You should consult all of the information set forth in this prospectus and the other information set forth from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.
You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
| ● | our ability to enter into contracts with healthcare providers to gain access to specimens, subjects, and data on favorable terms; |
| ● | our ability to obtain new customers and keep existing customers; |
| ● | development of our technology to adequately keep pace to support expansion of our existing line of business or our entry into new lines of businesses; |
| ● | market adoption rate of our marketplace technology; |
| ● | our ability to continue to expand outside of the United States in compliance with local laws and regulations; |
| ● | acceptance of the products and services that we market; |
| ● | the viability of our current intellectual property; |
| ● | government regulations and our ability to comply with government regulations; |
| ● | our ability to retain key employees; |
| ● | adverse changes in general market conditions for biospecimens; |
| ● | our ability to generate cash flow and profitability and continue as a going concern; |
| ● | our future financing plans; and |
| ● | our ability to adapt to changes in market conditions which could impair our operations and financial performance. |
These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that our expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may later be found to be incorrect. Our actual results of operations or the results of other matters that we anticipate could be materially different from our expectations. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could materially affect results.
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This summary highlights, and is qualified in its entirety by, the more detailed information and financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you in making your investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully before making an investment decision.
Unless otherwise noted, the share and per share information in this prospectus reflects a reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock of the Company at a ratio of 1-for-20, which was effected on September 13, 2024.
Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values
iSpecimen’s mission is to accelerate life science research, discovery and development with a global marketplace platform that connects researchers to subjects, specimens, and associated data. Our vision is to create an “Amazon-like” global Marketplace of patients, biospecimens, and data for research to improve the quality of human life. We implement employee programs that foster a company culture predicated on the core values of corporate and individual growth, results and accountability, team before self; a can-do positive attitude, and the perseverance to succeed.
Overview
iSpecimen is a technology-driven company founded to address a critical challenge: how to connect life science researchers who need human biofluids, tissues, and living cells (“biospecimens”) for their research, with the billions of biospecimens available (but not easily accessible) in healthcare provider organizations worldwide. Our ground-breaking iSpecimen Marketplace platform was designed to solve this problem and transform the biospecimen procurement process to accelerate medical discovery.
The iSpecimen Marketplace brings new capabilities to a highly fragmented and inefficient biospecimen procurement market. Our technology consolidates the biospecimen buying experience in a single, online marketplace that brings together healthcare providers who have biospecimens and researchers across industry, academia, and government institutions who need them. We are seeking to transform the world of biospecimen procurement much like the way travel websites changed the consumer buying process for flights, hotels, and rental cars.
The iSpecimen Marketplace Solution
The iSpecimen Marketplace offers single-source access to millions of human biospecimens and patients across a diverse network of specimen providers quickly and compliantly, saving researchers time and money in their specimen procurement process while making it easier and more efficient for providers to get their specimens in the hands of researchers who need them. Our iSpecimen Marketplace technology makes it as easy to find specimens for research as it is to find flights on a travel website. We have adopted many of the same ease-of-use characteristics of these business-to-consumer, or B2C, marketplaces, from simple guided searches to the ability to refine search criteria with sliders and checkboxes, to the ability to add chosen items to a cart in order to purchase them, to online order management. Our two-sided marketplace platform makes it easy for researchers and healthcare providers to connect and transact, introducing efficiencies into what is otherwise a very time- consuming and manual process.
Our iSpecimen Marketplace technology is groundbreaking in the human biospecimen procurement space. In a world where there are thousands of biospecimen providers who typically rely upon e-mail and spreadsheets to communicate with customers to manage the bioprocurement process, our iSpecimen Marketplace offers a more efficient user experience to life science researchers who are looking for better ways to access research subjects, specimens, and data, and to healthcare provider organizations, who are looking to realize their missions of supporting research while augmenting their bottom line.
Planned Developments of our Marketplace
While the iSpecimen Marketplace currently supports our business model of providing access to search, find, and acquire human biospecimens and associated data from “inquiry to invoice” and positions us for future expanded business model exploration, there are a number of areas in which the iSpecimen Marketplace functionality could be enhanced to better support our stakeholders, including our prospects and customers, iSpecimen sales and operations staff, and our supply partners. We believe with additional investment in technology development resources, we could make significant progress in scaling our iSpecimen Marketplace and, in addition to increased patient and specimen data integration, we expect to continue to improve the matchmaking across the platform and have capabilities such as more direct support for our prospective collections, deeper search and workflow capabilities, increased automation, and direct pricing availability in the platform.
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As investment allows, we plan to continue to better connect healthcare researchers with our network of suppliers to enable the acquisition of human biospecimens and data to help accelerate research and expand the impact of our iSpecimen Marketplace platform from “inquiry to invoice” through the following key approaches:
| ● | Enhance the customer experience. By working with our prospects and customers to understand their needs, we strive to provide a platform that more easily enables them to specify and find human biospecimens and data that meet the requirements of their research. |
| ● | Increase our supplier engagement. By continuing to engage with our supply partners to deliver solutions that make their interactions with us more fulfilling, we become more seamlessly integrated into their workflows and daily operations. |
| ● | Improve operational efficiency. By measuring the results of our operational workflows, we endeavor to reduce the friction and manual efforts in our processes and systems. |
We continue to prioritize and release updated versions of the iSpecimen Marketplace platform in alignment with these areas and believe that continuing to focus on these approaches will enable us to scale our business model more effectively. As part of this continued platform evolution, iSpecimen continues to explore adjacencies that leverage the platform including a data as a product model.
Our Technology
Technology Components
The iSpecimen Marketplace technology is comprised of four major functional areas: search; workflow; data; and administrative, compliance and reporting. We continue to invest in the evolution of these areas to improve customer and supplier engagement with the platform; provide operational efficiencies for our suppliers, our customers, and our internal operations; and increase the liquidity of products and services obtained through the platform. Our core business objective is to retain and grow both researcher and supplier usage of our platform to support biospecimen procurement, as well as to position our Company to explore other adjacent business opportunities that can benefit from the use of the iSpecimen Marketplace.
| ● | Search. The primary purpose of the iSpecimen Marketplace is to matchmake between those with access to subjects, specimens, and data, and those with a need for them to power their research. By entering subject and sample selection requests through the iSpecimen Marketplace, researchers can instantly search across the available medical records of large populations within iSpecimen’s healthcare provider network to create customized patient and specimen cohorts. Researchers can specify their criteria and either refine and review results to select specific specimens instantly, or they can request that iSpecimen find patients, specimens, and associated data to satisfy their needs when specimens do not currently exist in our network. Using our own proprietary algorithms, we enable researchers to explore both biospecimens that are currently available and view projections of those that are likely to become available in the future based on historic statistical analysis of data. This allows researchers to quickly and easily determine how we can fulfill their requirements, which is especially useful for project planning and budgeting. |
| ● | Workflow. Our workflow engine supports the unique bioprocurement workflows of our suppliers, customers, and internal iSpecimen operations users. For our suppliers, our ability to easily integrate into their environments and automate key parts of their bioprocurement workflow enables us to maintain a level of engagement and responsiveness necessary to successfully deliver on specimen requests from our research customers. We make it easy for suppliers to list their specimens in our iSpecimen Marketplace by receiving their data in the most commonly used data transmission formats for healthcare data, such as HL7 feeds (a healthcare data interchange standard), JSON files (a standard data interchange format), and CSV files (a comma separated values file used for tabular data), and then by harmonizing this data into standard terminology sets that allows their specimens to be searchable by our research customers. We provide these onboarding services at no charge to our supply partners. Additionally, our iSpecimen Marketplace technology enables suppliers to track and manage all of their specimen requests from feasibility assessment through the ordering and fulfillment process in a single web application, thereby streamlining their bioprocurement workflow. Because the work that we do with our suppliers is often a secondary concern to their primary mission of providing patient care, we believe that seamlessly integrating into their workflow is critical to its use and ongoing success. |
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| ● | Data. We power search and orchestrate the procurement workflow through our ability to acquire, ingest, generate, and use big data from our healthcare provider partners. Working with a global, centralized set of healthcare providers, we receive this data in a variety of different formats and quality levels. We de-identify, normalize, and harmonize our supplier network’s data for usage in our iSpecimen Marketplace, ensuring the highest level of patient privacy and compliance with HIPAA and other applicable regulations that govern the research use of patient specimens and data. |
| ● | Administrative, Compliance, and Reporting. Administrative, compliance, and reporting functions are critical components to enable users to properly evaluate and manage the bioprocurement process. Our administrative capabilities include functions such as user management to assign users and roles and password management to ensure passwords are updated regularly, among other capabilities. Compliance management includes manual and technology-based processes that allow iSpecimen to track and manage unique regulatory and legal requirements across customers and suppliers (such as consent requirements versus consents granted, required specimen and data uses versus allowable specimen and data uses, resale or distribution requirements versus resale or distribution rights) to make sure that customer requirements and supplier requirements match before transferring specimens and data. Additionally, we conduct regular audits of supply sites capabilities and confirm that supply sites have Institutional Review Board (or equivalent) protocols in place where required by law. Our reporting tools turn operational data into useful information by enabling users to view operational data in tables and other visualizations. Together, they help manage and streamline administrative, compliance, and operational functions. |
Technology Development
The iSpecimen Marketplace software was developed over ten years with more than 80 staff years invested in research, development, implementation, maintenance and support. It comprises an orchestration of software as a service, or SaaS, solutions, commercial and open-source components, and custom developed software deployed in the cloud on a third-party hosting platform built and maintained through a combination of full- time staff and outsourced partners. The team uses agile practices to develop and improve the platform. We continue to enhance and improve the performance, functionality, and reliability of the iSpecimen Marketplace platform based on a user-informed roadmap that is actively updated based on internal and external feedback aligned with our goals.
The iSpecimen Marketplace relies on third parties for certain technology to support development, delivery, and operations of the platform including product management, software development, cloud hosting, data processing, content mapping, and security services. iSpecimen uses software (including source code) and other materials that are distributed under a “free,” “open source,” or similar licensing model, including software distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0, The MIT License, Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), GNU General Public License version 2, GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1, Eclipse Public License 1.0 (EPL-1.0), Common Development and Distribution License 1.0. In addition, iSpecimen uses software and services from commercial providers. We do not believe any of them are not generally commercially available to us from other parties. iSpecimen does not have any technology licensing contracts signed within the last two years upon which our business is substantially dependent. We continue to evaluate partners whose capabilities can help us deliver our iSpecimen Marketplace solution in areas such as functionality, efficiency, and security and expect to continue to leverage and consider additional third-party capabilities in our ongoing Marketplace development.
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Our Competitive Advantages
When successfully implemented, online marketplaces are a highly efficient supply chain that offer many advantages to both suppliers and customers, including lower costs, reduced procurement timeframes, increased revenue (for suppliers), increased access to a large and growing supply network (for customers), and reduced risks. While our iSpecimen Marketplace is providing these benefits now, we believe they will become even more apparent when the iSpecimen Marketplace achieves greater capabilities and scale as additional investment is made into the platform.
Our Products and Services
The iSpecimen Marketplace currently supports the supply chain management and bioprocurement process for specimens and associated data. We derive our revenue by procuring specimens from our healthcare provider network and then distributing these annotated biospecimens to our research client base. Revenue flows from the researchers who pay our Company to provide the specimens and we share that revenue back with the healthcare providers who supplied them. Revenue share back to the supplying organization is generally 20% to 50%, depending upon the sample type, collection requirements, and data provided. We are flexible and allow our suppliers to work with us using a number of revenue share constructs, including a fixed percent revenue share arrangement (whereby we share a fixed percentage of the revenue back with them), a fixed pricing schedule (whereby they set their pricing per specimen type), or on a project-based pricing (whereby the supply site sets fees on a per project basis). We have derived substantially all of our revenue from annotated biospecimen procurement and to date, have not charged our customers or suppliers fees for the use of the iSpecimen Marketplace platform, or for marketing, sales, contracting, or compliance functions that we provide as part of the specimen procurement process.
We generally operate in a “just in time” fashion, meaning we procure specimens from our suppliers and distribute specimens to our customers after we obtain an order for specimens from a research client. Generally, we do not speculatively purchase and bank samples in anticipation of future, unspecified needs. We believe our approach offers many advantages over a more traditional inventory-based supplier business model where biorepositories take inventory risks, and where turnover and cash conversion cycles can be lengthy, depending on market demand for certain specimen types.
Currently, we provide access to the following types of human biospecimens from healthy and diseased-state subjects:
| ● | Biofluids — such as whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, sputum, nasopharyngeal material, and cerebral spinal fluid; |
| ● | Solid tissue — such as fresh, fixed, and cryopreserved tissue; and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded blocks, slides, and curls; and |
| ● | Hematopoietic stem and immune cells — such as bone marrow, cord blood, whole blood, or sub- components of these tissues such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (including normal or mobilized leukapheresis collections) and other isolated cell types (CD34+,T cells, NK cells, B cells, and monocytes). |
For each of the biospecimen types, we offer:
| ● | Remnant specimens — specimens collected originally for clinical testing purposes but are no longer needed for clinical care of that patient. These samples typically are sourced from clinical laboratories and pathology laboratories prior to their disposal; and |
| ● | Research use only specimens — specimens collected specifically for research via a direct intervention with a research subject, under a protocol that has been reviewed and approved by an ethics committee such as an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) and with such research subject’s consent. These samples are typically sourced at healthcare providers or commercial partners that are a part of our supply network. |
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The cross product of all these categories (i.e., remnant or research use only and biofluids, tissues, or hematopoietic stem or immune cells) describes the product types we use to track and manage the business. These groupings include:
| ● | Remnant biofluids — These leftover clinical samples are procured from our clinical lab partners and are typically available days after specimen collection. They are generally priced to the researcher per specimen, depending upon specimen type, rarity, and requested data. These specimens contributed to approximately 13% of our revenue in 2023 and 13% of our revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, respectively. |
| ● | Remnant tissue — These leftover anatomic pathology samples are procured from our pathology lab partners and typically are available years after they were first collected for clinical care. They are generally priced depending upon specimen type, rarity, and requested data. |
| ● | Remnant hematopoietic stem and immune cells — Remnant hematopoietic stem and immune cells includes bone marrow, cord blood, whole blood, or their viable cellular components, that are left over from a clinical testing process. These samples may be obtained from clinical and anatomic pathology labs. |
| ● | Next generation sequenced (“NGS”) tissues — NGS tissues include various cancer types that have been fully DNA/RNA sequenced to identify specific biomarkers of interest. The tissues screened are tumor only FFPE specimens. Results are analyzed and paired with clinical annotation to create a robust data package that has some utility even without the need for the specimen itself. Tissues used for the program are a combination of remnant waiver of consent tissue blocks along with RUO fully consented blocks. |
| ● | Research use only biofluids — Research use only biofluids are collected directly from subjects, with their consent, and under an IRB (or equivalent) protocol. We obtain these samples via a variety of sources, including our biorepository and clinical research center partners. They are generally priced to the researcher per collection, depending upon specimen type, rarity, and requested data. These specimens contributed to approximately 39% of our revenue in 2023 and 39% of our revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, respectively. |
| ● | Research use only tissue — Research use only tissues are collected directly from subjects, with their consent, and under an IRB (or equivalent) protocol. They are typically collected during a clinically required surgical procedure. We obtain these specimens from our biorepository partners, anatomic pathology laboratories, or clinical research centers that have relationships with surgical facilities. These samples are priced to the researcher per sample, depending upon specimen type, rarity, and requested data. These specimens contributed to approximately 47% of our revenue in 2023 and 47% of our revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, respectively. |
| ● | Research use only hematopoietic stem and immune cells — Research use only hematopoietic stem and immune cells includes bone marrow, cord blood, whole blood, or their cellular components, which are collected from subjects with their consent and under an IRB (or equivalent) protocol. Some of the aforementioned products are collected from healthy subjects or diagnosed (diseased) subjects and may be offered to researchers in fresh or cryopreserved format. They are prospectively collected primarily from our blood donor center partners or picked from banked inventory maintained by our supply site partners. The collection of these samples may require subjects to undergo apheresis procedures, bone marrow extraction procedures, and/or hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization therapies. These products are generally priced to the researcher per collection depending upon collection type, specimen type, rarity (subject phenotype or attributes selected), required procedures, and requested data. |
For each of these product types, biospecimens may already exist in laboratory archives or banked in our network of biorepositories (“banked”) or may be collected in the future from our network of healthcare providers and commercial specimen providers (“prospectively-collected” or “custom collections”).
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Our Supply Partners
Critical to the success of the iSpecimen Marketplace is the network of healthcare providers who make their patients, samples, and data available to researchers. This supply network was built over a ten-year period and as of December 31, 2024, our supply network consisted of approximately 76 unique healthcare organizations and biospecimen providers under agreement, including healthcare systems, community hospitals, clinics, private practice groups, commercial laboratories, blood centers, commercial biobanks, clinical research sites, and cadaveric donation centers.
Our suppliers are located in eleven (11) countries across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and our cost of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, break out as follows geographically:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Americas | 66.19 | % | 64.87 | % | ||||
| Europe, Middle East and Africa | 27.24 | % | 23.08 | % | ||||
| Asia Pacific | 6.57 | % | 12.05 | % | ||||
There was one supplier that accounted for 11.3% of our total cost of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2024. There was one supplier that accounted for 12.7% of our total cost of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Each supplier organization may give us access to one or more of the following environments within their organization where specimens may be obtained:
| Ø | Clinical labs — This environment provides access to remnant biofluids and is typically found in hospitals, commercial laboratories, clinics, and private practice groups. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 11 of our healthcare supply sites provided us with access to remnant biofluids originating in clinical labs; |
| Ø | Pathology labs — This environment provides access to remnant tissue and remnant hematopoietic stem and immune cells and typically exists within hospitals or commercial laboratories. As of December 31, 2024, approximately two (2) of our healthcare supply sites provided us with access to remnant tissue or cells originating in pathology labs; |
| Ø | Biorepositories — These organizations typically reside within larger healthcare systems or commercial organizations. Generally, they collect and store specimens for unspecified future research purposes. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 16 of our supply sites provided us with access to specimens stored in biorepositories; |
| Ø | Blood donor centers — These organizations typically collect large volumes of blood and derivatives for therapeutic or research purposes. They own and operate donor centers and may manufacture broad selection of isolated cell types (fresh or cryopreserved) from consented donors for research use. As of December 31, 2024, two (2) of our supply sites provided us with access to large volume blood products; |
| Ø | Cadaveric donation centers — These organizations receive whole cadavers and provide access to cadaveric tissues, biofluids, and stem cells, specifically for research purposes. As of December 31, 2024, one (1) of our supply sites provided us with cadaveric tissues and biofluids; and |
| Ø | Clinical research centers — These organizations generally reside within healthcare facilities such as hospitals or clinics, or they operate as standalone entities providing access to subjects for research programs. Subjects may be approached and consented to provide specimens when they are in for healthcare appointments (i.e. patient encounters) or may be called in to specifically participate in research projects. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 44 of our healthcare supply sites provided us with access to patients directly from over thousands hospitals and thousands of clinics and practice groups. |
Supply sites may provide specimens from one or all these environments, depending on their practices and capabilities. Each supply site can select how it will work with our Company.
In addition to obtaining specimens and data directly from healthcare organizations, we work with several commercial biobanks and biospecimen brokers who have their own network of healthcare provider supply partners and wish to make their samples available to our research clients as well. While these organizations are generally considered our competitors, they are willing to work with us because we provide value by acting as both a distribution channel for them and a supply partner to them to increase their revenues. Moreover, the inclusion of competitors’ specimens in our iSpecimen Marketplace platform further strengthens our competitive position and value to our customers by further de- fragmenting our customers’ buying experience.
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Our Customers
Our customer base is primarily comprised of three main segments: biopharmaceutical companies, in vitro diagnostic companies, and government/academic institutions. As of December 31, 2024, we had distributed our specimens to approximately 765 customers, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since entering the regenerative medicine market late 2019, we have acquired 33 customers representing 0.7% of our total revenue both in 2023 and in 2024.
From our inception through December 31, 2024, we had distributed more than 240,000 specimens to 23 countries and our geographical revenues distribution for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Americas | 85.13 | % | 89.93 | % | ||||
| Europe, Middle East and Africa | 12.71 | % | 9.10 | % | ||||
| Asia Pacific | 2.16 | % | 0.97 | % | ||||
During the year ended December 31, 2024, there was one customer that accounted for approximately 29% of our total revenue generated. During the year ended December 31, 2023, there were one customer that accounted for approximately 25% of our total revenue generated. We continuously engage with all customers when we receive inbound requests from them, whether they are within or outside of the Americas. Year-over-year, our top customers have been different because their specimen needs tend to be project-based and depending upon where they are in their research and development cycle, they may not need large numbers of specimens each year. During the year, our customer retention rates are moderate, with 16 of our top 25 customers (64%) in the year ended December 31, 2023 also procuring specimens in the year ended December 31, 2024.
Biospecimens have broad utility within the healthcare and life science industries, as they are collected and used throughout nearly every stage of diagnostic and therapeutic product discovery and development. For diagnostic products, they are used consistently for preclinical discovery, clinical validation, and post-market validation, as well as surveillance. For therapeutic products, these samples are most often used during preclinical research involving drug target identification and validation, compound screening, lead optimization, predictive toxicology, and pharmacokinetic studies. They are also used for biomarker companion diagnostic discovery and development, which has been shown to reduce the costs of drug clinical trials by 30 to 60% according to Ark Research. In the case of regenerative medicine applications, hematologic samples are used for research and development of engineered cell therapies (e.g. CAR-T, CAR-NK), stem cell therapies (e.g. hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells), exosome therapies, identification of cell immunophenotypes for allogeneic therapies, and for developing and scaling-up cell therapy manufacturing processes.
Given recent advances in technology that now allow for the identification of molecular determinants of disease, the role of the patient’s biospecimen has become even more important in all these endeavors and is essential to the development of precision medicine. This pursuit of precision medicine by the healthcare and life science industries has further increased the already high demand for human biospecimens and the clinical data that describe them.
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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As an “emerging growth company” we may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:
| ● | The option to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this prospectus; |
| ● | Not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”); |
| ● | Not being required to comply with any requirements that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis); |
| ● | Reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and |
| ● | Exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. |
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We may take advantage of these provisions until December 31, 2026, which is the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of our initial public offering (“IPO”). However, if any of the following events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, (i) our annual gross revenue exceeds $1.235 billion, (ii) we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, or (iii) we become a “large accelerated filer,” (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period. We will be deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” at such time that we (a) have an aggregate worldwide market value of common equity securities held by non-affiliates of $700.0 million or more as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, (b) have been required to file annual and quarterly reports under the Exchange Act for a period of at least 12 months and (c) have filed at least one annual report pursuant to the Exchange Act. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus and our periodic reports and proxy statements.
We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (the “Registration Statement”) and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act, and have elected to take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies. To the extent that we continue to qualify as a “smaller reporting company” as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, after we cease to qualify as an emerging growth company, certain of the exemptions available to us as an “emerging growth company” may continue to be available to us as a “smaller reporting company,” including exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements pursuant to SOX and reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements. We will continue to be a “smaller reporting company” until we have $250 million or more in public float (based on our common stock) measured as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter or, in the event we have no public float (based on our common stock) or a public float (based on our common stock) that is less than $700 million, annual revenues of $100 million or more during the most recently completed fiscal year.
In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We have elected to take advantage of this extended transition period.
Corporate Information
We were formed as a Delaware corporation in July 2009. Our headquarters are in Woburn, MA, and our principal executive offices are located at 8 Cabot Road, Suite 1800, Woburn, MA 01801, and our telephone number is (781)301-6700. Our website address is www.ispecimen.com. The information contained in, or accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
9
| Securities to be Offered | Up to 2,362,205 Shares, at an assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025. |
| We are also offering to each purchaser, with respect to the purchase of Shares that would otherwise result in the purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% of our outstanding shares of common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase one Pre-Funded Warrant in lieu of one share of common stock. A holder of Pre-Funded Warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Pre-Funded Warrant if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, such limit may be increased to up to 9.99%) of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will be exercisable for one share of common stock. The purchase price per Pre-Funded Warrant will be equal to the price per Share, minus $0.0001, and the exercise price of each Pre-Funded Warrant will equal $0.0001 per share. The Pre-Funded Warrants will be immediately exercisable (subject to the beneficial ownership cap) and may be exercised at any time in perpetuity until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. For more information regarding the Pre-Funded Warrants, you should carefully read the section titled “Description of Our Securities” in this prospectus. | |
| Size of Offering | Up to $3,000,000 of Shares and/or Pre-Funded Warrants. |
| Assumed Subscription Price Per Share | $1.27 (or $0.0001 per Pre-Funded Warrant in lieu of one share of common stock), which was the reported closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025. |
| Common Stock Outstanding Prior to This Offering |
2,496,858 shares (as of April 30, 2025). |
| Common Stock Outstanding after This Offering | Up to 2,362,205 shares (assuming no issuance or exercise of Pre-Funded Warrants) and an assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025. |
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| Use of Proceeds | Assuming that all 2,362,205 Shares are sold in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025, and assuming no issuance of Pre-Funded Warrants, we estimate the net proceeds of the Offering, after the deduction of underwriter fees and expenses and other offering expenses will be approximately $2,770,000.
If we raise $3,000,000 in this offering, we estimate that the net proceeds will be approximately $2,770,000, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. We intend to use approximately $1,000,000 of the net proceeds for marketing and advertising services to be provided by IR Agency LLC. We also intend to use approximately $1,000,000 of the net proceeds to fund the initial milestone payment under a signed term sheet dated April 30, 2025, with Sales Stack Solutions Corp., a British Columbia company, for the acquisition, integration, and maintenance of the SalesStack technology platform. The remaining net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds, and investors will be relying on our judgment regarding the use of such proceeds. If we raise less than the full offering amount, we may be required to adjust the allocation of the net proceeds accordingly. |
| Market for Common Stock | Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “ISPC”. |
| Market for Pre-Funded Warrants | There is no established public trading market for the Pre-Funded Warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply for listing of the Pre-Funded Warrants, if any, on any securities exchange or recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Pre-Funded Warrants, if any, will be limited. |
The number of shares of common stock outstanding prior to this offering and to be outstanding after this offering is based on 1,696,904 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and excludes:
| ● | 407 shares of our common stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock units outstanding under our stock incentive plans and 171 shares of our common stock issued upon vesting of restricted stock units on April 1, 2025; |
| ● | 5,055 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options outstanding under our stock incentive plans, 3,570 of which are currently exercisable, which have a weighted average exercise price of $44.97 per share; and |
| ● | 5,125 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of our outstanding warrants which have a weighted average exercise price of $195.12. |
| ● | 799,631 shares of our common stock issued upon exercise of pre-funded warrants during January 2025. |
Unless otherwise stated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional securities and no sale of any Pre-Funded Warrants in this offering.
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We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $2,770,000 (assuming the sale of all Shares offered hereby at the assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025, and assuming no issuance or exercise of Pre-Funded Warrants), after deducting expenses relating to this offering payable by us estimated at approximately $201,557, including underwriting fees and expenses.
| 100%
of Shares Sold | %
of Total | 50%
of Shares Sold | %
of Total | 25% of Shares Sold | %
of Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Proceeds from Offering | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Use of Proceeds Underwriting Fees and Expenses | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Offering Expenses | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding Debt | % | % | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Development of Technology | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketing and Advertising | % | % | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| General Corporate and Working Capital | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Use of Proceeds | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
We believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least six (6) months following the completion of this offering. This estimate is based on certain assumptions regarding our projected expenses and revenue, which may prove to be inaccurate. As a result, we may need to use our available capital resources sooner than anticipated. If we raise $3,000,000 in this offering, we estimate that the net proceeds will be approximately $2,770,000, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. We intend to use approximately $1,000,000 of the net proceeds for marketing and advertising services to be provided by IR Agency LLC. We also expect to use approximately $1,000,000 of the net proceeds to fund the initial milestone payment to Sales Stack Solutions Corp., a British Columbia company, pursuant to a signed term sheet for the acquisition, integration, and maintenance of the SalesStack technology platform. The remaining net proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Although we currently anticipate that we will use the net proceeds from this offering as described above, there may be circumstances where a reallocation of funds is necessary. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend upon numerous factors, including permits, and the accessibility of rigs and other equipment, our operating costs and other factors. Accordingly, our management will have flexibility in applying the net proceeds from this offering. An investor will not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial or other information on which we base our decisions on how to use the proceeds.
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, by approximately $2,362,205, assuming that the number of Shares and/or Pre-Funded Warrants offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 100,000 Shares and/or Pre-Funded Warrants offered by us at the assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, by approximately $127,000, assuming that the assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the reported closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq on April 30, 2025, stays the same.
Pending these uses, we intend to invest the funds in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing securities. It is possible that, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for us.
If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after the offering. Historical net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding.
The historical net tangible book value of our common stock as of December 31, 2024 was approximately $(2,017,646) million or $(1.19) per share based on 1,696,904 shares of common stock outstanding on such date. Historical net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets reduced by the amount of our total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding.
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After giving further effect to the sale of shares of our common stock and Pre-funded Warrants in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on April 30, 2025 and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and assuming no sale of the Pre-funded Warrants, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value at December 31, 2024 would have been $(339,201) million, or $(0.07) per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $1.12. per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution of $1.34 per share to new investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering.
The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
| Assumed public offering price per share | $ | 1.27 | ||
| Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2024 | $ | (1.19 | ) | |
| Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors in this offering | 1.12 | |||
| Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering | (0.07 | ) | ||
| Dilution per share to new investors in this offering | $ | 1.34 |
A $0.50 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $1.27 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market on April 30, 2025, would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $0.26 per share and the dilution to new investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering by $0.27 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. An increase (decrease) of 500,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $0.13 per share and decrease the dilution to new investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering by $0.13 per share, assuming no change in the assumed public offering price per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.
To the extent that stock options or warrants are exercised, new stock options are issued under our equity incentive plan, or we issue additional common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 1,696,904 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024, assumes no sale of Pre-funded Warrants and excludes:
| ● | 804,756 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $4.22; |
| ● | 5,055 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options with a weighted average exercise price of $34.19; and |
| ● | 578 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units. |
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WestPark Capital, Inc. (“WestPark”) is acting as representative of the underwriters (the “Representative”). Subject to the terms and conditions of an underwriting agreement between us and the Representative, we have agreed to sell to each underwriter named below, and each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants listed next to its name in the following table:
| Name of Underwriter | Number
of Shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants | |||
| WestPark Capital, Inc. | ||||
| Total | ||||
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligation of the underwriters to purchase all of the shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants being offered to the public is subject to specific conditions, including the absence of any material adverse change in our business or in the financial markets and the receipt of certain legal opinions, certificates and letters from us, our counsel and the independent auditors. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may be terminated. Subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters will purchase all of the shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants being offered to the public.
The underwriters are offering the shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
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Discounts and Commissions
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds, before expenses, to us.
| Per Share of Common Stock | Per Pre-Funded Warrant | Total (No Exercise) | Total (Full Exercise) | |||||||||||||
| Public offering price | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Underwriting discounts and commissions (4.0%) | ||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
The underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants offered by us to the public at the public offering price per share of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrant set forth on the cover of this prospectus. In addition, the underwriters may offer some of the shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants to other securities dealers at such price less a concession of $[__] per share of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrant. After the initial offering, the public offering price and concession to dealers may be changed.
We have agreed to pay the underwriters a cash fee equal to four percent (4.0%) of the aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants.
We have agreed to reimburse the Representative for its legal fees and expenses in connection with the offering in an amount up to $75,000. We have also agreed to pay a non-accountable expense allowance to the Representative equal to $35,000. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $201,556.20, all of which are payable by us.
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Determination of Offering Price
The offering price has been negotiated between the representatives of the underwriter and us. In determining the offering price of the securities, the following factors were considered:
| ● | prevailing market conditions; |
| ● | our historical performance and capital structure; |
| ● | estimates of our business potential and earnings prospects; |
| ● | an overall assessment of our management; and |
| ● | the consideration of these factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses. |
Lock-Up Agreements
We have agreed that without the approval of the Representative, not to offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any of our securities for a period of sixty (60) days following the closing of this offering. Each of our officers, directors and holders of 5% of more of our outstanding Common Stock as of the effective date of this prospectus (and all holders of securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock) have agreed to enter into customary “lock-up” agreements in favor of WestPark pursuant to which such persons and entities have agreed, for a period of sixty (60) days from the effective date of this prospectus in the case of our officers and directors and three months in the case of our other holders of 5% or greater shareholders of our outstanding common stock, that they shall neither offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company without WestPark’s prior written consent, including the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of currently outstanding options approved by WestPark.
Tail
We have also agreed to pay the Representative a tail fee equal to the cash compensation payable to the Representative in this offering, if any investor, who was contacted or introduced to us by the Representative following the termination or expiration of the engagement by the Company prior to Closing, provides us with capital in any public or private equity offering or other financing or capital raising transaction during the twelve (12) month period following expiration or termination of our engagement of the Representative, provided, however, that we have the right to terminate its engagement of the underwriter for cause in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(5)(B)(i), which termination for cause eliminates the Company’s obligations with respect to the tail.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.
Other Relationships
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
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Price Stabilization, Short Positions, and Penalty Bids
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our securities. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with this offering by selling more securities than are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. This creates a short position in our securities for its own account. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. The underwriters may also elect to stabilize the price of our securities or reduce any short position by bidding for, and purchasing, securities in the open market.
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter or dealer repays selling concessions allowed to it for distributing a security in this offering because the underwriter repurchases that security in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Finally, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, securities in market making transactions, including “passive” market making transactions as described below.
These activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of our securities at a price that is higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the absence of these activities. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may discontinue any of these activities at any time without notice.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters and selling group members, if any, or their affiliates may engage in passive market making transactions in our Common Stock immediately prior to the commencement of sales in this offering, in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Rule 103 generally provides that:
| ● | a passive market maker may not effect transactions or display bids for our securities in excess of the highest independent bid price by persons who are not passive market makers; |
| ● | net purchases by a passive market maker on each day are generally limited to 30% of the passive market maker’s average daily trading volume in our securities during a specified two-month prior period or 200 shares, whichever is greater, and must be discontinued when that limit is reached; and |
| ● | passive market making bids must be identified as such. |
Electronic Distribution
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by the representatives of the underwriters and may also be made available on a website maintained by other underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives of the underwriters to underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. In connection with the offering, the underwriters or syndicate members may distribute prospectuses electronically. No forms of electronic prospectus other than prospectuses that are printable as Adobe® PDF will be used in connection with this offering.
The underwriters have informed us that they do not expect to confirm sales of shares offered by this prospectus to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter and should not be relied upon by investors.
Offer Restrictions Outside the United States
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
17
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Shares, the ownership, exercise and disposition of Pre- Funded Warrants acquired pursuant to this prospectus and the shares of common stock received upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants. The Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants may be referred to in this summary as the “securities.”
This discussion is limited to certain U.S. federal income tax considerations to beneficial owners of our securities who are initial purchasers of our Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants pursuant to this offering and hold our securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (generally, property held for investment). This discussion assumes that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on the Shares and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. This discussion is a summary only and does not consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities by a prospective investor in light of its particular circumstances or that is subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including, but not limited to:
| ● | banks and other financial institutions or financial services entities; |
| ● | broker-dealers; |
| ● | mutual funds; |
| ● | retirement plans, individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts; |
| ● | taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market tax accounting rules; |
| ● | tax-exempt entities; |
| ● | S-corporations, partnerships or other flow-through entities and investors therein; |
| ● | governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; |
| ● | insurance companies; |
| ● | regulated investment companies; |
| ● | real estate investment trusts; |
| ● | passive foreign investment companies; |
| ● | controlled foreign corporations; |
| ● | qualified foreign pension funds; |
| ● | expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; |
| ● | persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares; |
| ● | persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services; |
| ● | persons required for U.S. federal income tax purposes to conform the timing of income accruals to their financial statements under Section 451 of the Code; |
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| ● | persons subject to the alternative minimum tax; |
| ● | persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; or |
| ● | U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. |
The discussion below is based upon current provisions of the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code (“Treasury Regulations”), judicial decisions and administrative rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly on a retroactive basis. Any such differing interpretations or change could alter the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed below. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any aspect of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift, estate or Medicare contribution tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. tax laws.
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our securities that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source or (iv) a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) it has in effect a valid election under Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.
This discussion does not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities (including branches) or persons who hold our securities through such entities. If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. If you are a partner or a partnership holding our securities, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-UNITED STATES TAX LAWS.
Treatment of Pre-Funded Warrants
Although it is not entirely free from doubt, applicable authority indicates that, and we intend to take the position that, the Pre-Funded Warrants should be treated as a separate class of our shares of common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a U.S. Holder of Pre-Funded Warrants should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of shares of common stock except as described below. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized upon the exercise of a Pre-Funded Warrant and, upon exercise, the holding period of the shares of common stock received upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrant should include the holding period of the Pre-Funded Warrant. The tax basis of the Pre-Funded Warrant should carry over to the shares of common stock received upon exercise, increased by the exercise price of $0.0001 per share. However, such characterization is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may treat the Pre-Funded Warrants as warrants to acquire shares of common stock. If so, the amount and character of a U.S. Holder’s gain with respect to an investment in Pre-Funded Warrants could change. Accordingly, each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the risks associated with the acquisition of a Pre-Funded Warrant pursuant to this prospectus (including potential alternative characterizations). The balance of this discussion generally assumes that the characterization described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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U.S. Holders
Taxation of Distributions
If we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) to U.S. Holders of our shares of common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our shares of common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the shares of our common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants” below.
Dividends we pay to a corporate U.S. Holder generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if certain holding period requirements are met. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder will generally be taxed as qualified dividend income at the preferential tax rate for long-term capital gains.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants
A U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on a sale or other taxable disposition of the Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by a non-corporate U.S. holder are currently eligible to be taxed preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
The amount of gain or loss recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition generally will be equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our shares of common stock so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Shares generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost reduced by any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to “Non-U.S. Holders.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our shares of common stock that is not a U.S. Holder and is not a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such term generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or sale or other disposition of our securities.
Taxation of Distributions
In general, any distributions we make to a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or, if required pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty, are not attributable to a permanent establishment of fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable). Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our shares of common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of our shares of common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants” below. In addition, if we determine that we are or are likely to be classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, including a distribution in redemption of our shares of common stock.
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Dividends that we pay to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with such Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if a tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States) will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants
Subject to the discussion of FATCA and backup withholding below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants, unless:
| ● | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, under certain income tax treaties, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States); or |
| ● | we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. Holder held our shares of common stock, and, in the case where shares of our common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our shares of common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for our shares of common stock. There can be no assurance that our shares of common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose. |
Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will generally be subject to tax at the applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate).
If the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. Holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants will generally be subject to tax at applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident. In addition, a buyer of our Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future. In general, we would be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments with respect to our shares of common stock and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of shares of our common stock or Pre-Funded Warrants may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible United States backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to payments made to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status. Payments made to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding if the Non-U.S. Holder provides certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be credited against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and a holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information. All holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding to them.
FATCA Withholding Taxes
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred to as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally impose withholding of 30% in certain circumstances on payments of dividends and, subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below, on proceeds from sales or other disposition of our securities paid to “foreign financial institutions” (which is broadly defined for this purpose and includes investment vehicles) and certain other non-U.S. entities unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (relating to ownership by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied or an exemption applies (typically certified as to by the delivery of a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN-E). If FATCA withholding is imposed, a beneficial owner that is not a foreign financial institution will be entitled to a refund of any amounts withheld by filing a U.S. federal income tax return (which may entail significant administrative burden). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Similarly, dividends and, subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below, proceeds from sales or other disposition in respect of our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions generally will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has proposed regulations which eliminate the federal withholding tax of 30% applicable to the gross proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our securities. Withholding agents may rely on the proposed Treasury Regulations until final regulations are issued. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible effects of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER’S PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, ESTATE, NON-U.S. AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND TAX TREATIES AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN U.S. OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
We incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained herein or by information contained in documents filed with or furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed or furnished, as applicable, with the SEC:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 14, 2025; |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until we have sold all of the securities to which this prospectus relates or the offering is otherwise terminated; provided, however, that we are not incorporating any information furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any current report on Form 8-K. These documents may include, among others, Annual Reports on Form 10- K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements.
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP, New York, New York. The underwriter is being represented by Lucosky Brookman LLP, Woodbridge, New Jersey.
The financial statements of the Company, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 have been audited by Bush & Associates CPA LLC (“Bush & Associates”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2024, and the financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been audited by Wolf & Company, P.C., our former independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements), and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act can also be accessed free of charge through the Internet. These filings will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. You may also access these filings through our website at https://www.ispecimen.com/.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement, at prescribed rates, from the SEC at the address listed above. The registration statement, along with our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as other filings that we make with the SEC, are also available on our Internet website, https://www.ispecimen.com/. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.
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UP TO 2,362,205 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
2,362,205 PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS TO PURCHASE UP TO 2,362,205 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
UP TO 2,362,205 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF THE PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS

iSpecimen Inc.
PROSPECTUS
WestPark Capital, Inc.
, 2025
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The following table sets forth the expenses in connection with this registration statement excluding underwriting discounts and advisory fees. All of such expenses are estimates, other than the filing fees payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission and to FINRA.
| Description | Amount to be Paid | |||
| Filing Fee – Securities and Exchange Commission | $ | 460.00 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | 75,000.00 | |||
| Filing Fee – FINRA | 1,250.00 | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 75,000.00 | |||
| Transfer agent’s and registrar fees and expenses | 5,000.00 | |||
| Printing fees and expenses | 12,000.00 | |||
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses | 32,234.50 | |||
| Total | $ | 200,944.50 | ||
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law also provides that expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending an action may be paid by a corporation in advance of the final disposition of an action if the director or officer undertakes to repay the advanced amounts if it is determined such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Our second amended and restated bylaws provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall indemnify and hold harmless any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that such person, or the person for whom he is the legally representative, is or was a director or officer of ours, against all liabilities, losses, expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its Certificate of Incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we shall, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time under the law of the State of Delaware, indemnify and upon request shall advance expenses to any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or claim, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was or has agreed to be a director or officer of ours or while a director or officer is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with the investigation, preparation to defend or defense of such action, suit, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not require us to indemnify or advance expenses to any person in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or claim initiated by or on behalf of such person or any counterclaim against us initiated by or on behalf of such person. Such indemnification shall not be exclusive of other indemnification rights arising under any by-law, agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of such person. Any person seeking indemnification shall be deemed to have met the standard of conduct required for such indemnification unless the contrary shall be established. Any repeal or modification of our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of ours with respect to any acts or omissions of such director or officer occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
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Our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation and second amended and restated bylaws provide we shall, to the fullest extent permitted under the laws of the State of Delaware, as amended and supplemented from time to time, indemnify each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such party is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of ours, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request, as a director, officer or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including any employee benefit plan, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such party or on such party’s behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom.
Expenses incurred by such a person in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of ours, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request, as a director, officer or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including any employee benefit plan, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity shall be paid by us in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by us as authorized by relevant sections of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we shall not be required to advance such expenses to a person who is a party to an action, suit or proceeding brought by us and approved by a majority of our Board of Directors that alleges willful misappropriation of corporate assets by such person, disclosure of confidential information in violation of such person’s fiduciary or contractual obligations to us or any other willful and deliberate breach in bad faith of such person’s duty to us or our stockholders.
We shall not indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless the initiation thereof was approved by our Board of Directors.
The indemnification rights provided in our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation and second amended and restated bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any by-law, agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, continue as to such person who has ceased to be a director or officer, and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to expand further the indemnification permitted to indemnitees, then we shall indemnify such persons to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.
We may, to the extent authorized from time to time by our Board of Directors, grant indemnification rights to other employees or agents of ours or other persons serving us and such rights may be equivalent to, or greater or less than, those set forth in our second amended and restated bylaws.
Our obligation to provide indemnification under our second amended and restated bylaws shall be offset to the extent of any other source of indemnification or any otherwise applicable insurance coverage under a policy maintained by us or any other person.
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To assure indemnification under our second amended and restated bylaws of all directors, officers, employees or agents who are determined by us or otherwise to be or to have been “fiduciaries” of any employee benefit plan of ours that may exist from time to time, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law shall, for the purposes of our second amended and restated bylaws, be interpreted as follows: an “other enterprise” shall be deemed to include such an employee benefit plan, including without limitation, any plan of ours that is governed by the Act of Congress entitled “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,” as amended from time to time; we shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to us also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; and excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to such Act of Congress shall be deemed “fines.”
Our second amended and restated bylaws shall be deemed to be a contract between us and each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that person is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of ours, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request, as a director, officer or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including any employee benefit plan, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, at any time while this bylaw is in effect, and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts.
The indemnification provision of our second amended and restated bylaws does not affect directors’ responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
We may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of ours, or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify him against liability under the provisions of this section. We currently maintain such insurance. The right of any person to be indemnified is subject to our right, in lieu of such indemnity, to settle any such claim, action, suit or proceeding at our expense of by the payment of the amount of such settlement and the costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered herewith, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
On February 13, 2024, the Company entered into certain warrant repurchase and termination agreements (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with certain holders (each, the “Warrant Holder”) of Warrants, and the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants were registered under an effective Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File Number: 333-261640), filed by the Company.
Pursuant to the Repurchase Agreement, the Company agreed to repurchase from the Warrant Holders, who agreed to sell and transfer to the Company, the Warrants for an amount in cash equal to $0.04 multiplied by the total maximum number of shares of common stock issuable to the Warrant Holders upon the full exercise of the Warrants. In addition, upon full payment for the Warrants sold under the Repurchase Agreement, the Warrants and any warrants agreements or any other agreements, documents or instruments relating to the Warrants (including that certain Securities Purchase Agreements, dated November 28, 2021, by and between the Company and the Warrant Holders, that certain Registration Rights Agreements, dated November 28, 2021 by and between the Company and the Warrant Holders) (collectively, the “Warrant Documentation”) would terminate, and all past, current and future obligations of the Company relating to the Warrants and Warrant Documentation would be released, discharged and of no further force or effect.
The sale and the issuance of the foregoing securities were offered and sold in reliance upon exemptions from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act (“Regulation D”). We made this determination based on the representations of each investor which included, in pertinent part, that each such investor was either (a) an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D or (b) a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and upon such further representations from each investor that (i) such investor acquired the securities for his, her or its own account for investment and not for the account of any other person and not with a view to or for distribution, assignment or resale in connection with any distribution within the meaning of the Securities Act, (ii) such investor agreed not to sell or otherwise transfer the purchased securities unless they are registered under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or an exemption or exemptions from such registration are available, (iii) such investor had knowledge and experience in financial and business matters such that he, she or it was capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in us, (iv) such investor had access to all of our documents, records, and books pertaining to the investment and was provided the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers regarding the terms and conditions of the offering and to obtain any additional information which we possessed or were able to acquire without unreasonable effort and expense, and (v) such investor had no need for the liquidity in its investment in us and could afford the complete loss of such investment. In addition, there was no general solicitation or advertising for securities issued in reliance upon these exemptions.
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| * | Filed herewith. |
| + | Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Items 601(a)(5) and 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request. |
| # | Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
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(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that: Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(3) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Woburn, State of Massachusetts, on the 2nd day of May 2025.
| iSPECIMEN INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Robert Bradley Lim | |
| Robert Bradley Lim | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Robert Bradley Lim with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead, and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this registration statement, any related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any or all pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or any substitute or substitutes for each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities set forth opposite their names.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Robert Bradley Lim | Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and Director | May 2, 2025 | ||
| Robert Bradley Lim | ||||
| /s/ Siyun Yang | Director | May 2, 2025 | ||
| Siyun Yang | ||||
| /s/ John L. Brooks III | Director | May 2, 2025 | ||
| John L. Brooks III | ||||
| /s/ Richard J. Paolone | Director | May 2, 2025 | ||
| Richard J. Paolone | ||||
| /s/ Avtar Dhaliwal | Director | May 2, 2025 | ||
| Avtar Dhaliwal |
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Exhibit 1.1
ISPECIMEN INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[*], 2025
WestPark Capital, Inc.
1800 Century Park East, Suite 220
Los Angeles, CA 90067
As Representative of the
Several underwriters, if any, named in Schedule I hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, ISPECIMEN INC., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with the several underwriters (such underwriters, including the Representative (as defined below), the “Underwriters” and each an “Underwriter”) named in Schedule I hereto, for which WestPark Capital, Inc. (“WestPark”) is acting as a representative to the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representative”), on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.
1.1. Securities.
1.1.1. Nature and Purchase of Securities.
(i) The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of shares (“Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and/or pre-funded warrants (“Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.0001 per share until such time as the Pre-Funded Warrant is exercised in full and subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The aforesaid shares of Common Stock and/or Pre-Funded Warrants in lieu thereof are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.” The offering and sale of the Securities is hereinafter referred to as the “Offering.”
(ii) Each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per Security of $ (96% of the per Security public offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof)) from the Company the respective number of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.
1.1.2. Securities Payment and Delivery.
(i) Delivery and payment for the Securities shall be made at the offices of Lucosky Brookman LLP (“LB”), or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first (second, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, or at such other place (or remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Securities is called the “Closing Date.”
(ii) Payment for the Securities shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of certificates or electronic book entry receipts (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Securities (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Securities shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Securities except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all of the Securities. The term “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York, New York.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Date, as follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration Statement.
2.1.1. Pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333- [*]), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the sale of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Regulations”) and Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) of the Securities Act Regulations. The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is herein called the “Rule 430A Information.” Such registration statement, including the amendments thereto, the exhibits thereto and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including the Rule 430A Information, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act Regulations is herein called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” and, after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “Preliminary Prospectus.” The Preliminary Prospectus, subject to completion, dated [*], 2025, that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.” The final prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act Regulations) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities, is herein called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”).
“Applicable Time” means 8:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement.
“Pricing Disclosure Package” means the Pricing Prospectus and the information included in Schedule II-A hereto, all considered together.
2.2 No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute, any proceedings with respect to such an order. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. (As used herein, “knowledge of the Company or the Company’s knowledge” or any other similar knowledge qualification, means the actual or constructive knowledge of any director or officer of the Company, after due inquiry.)
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2.3 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.3.1. Compliance with Securities Act and 10b-5 Representation.
(i) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and no Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists solely of the following disclosure contained in the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus: the information under the subsection “Other Relationships” (such information, the “Underwriter Information”).
(ii) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.
(iii) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the Offering has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and as of the Closing Date will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and did not, as of the applicable effective date, and will not, as of the Closing Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus (including the Prospectus as amended and supplemented, as applicable) complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information.
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2.3.2. Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained or incorporated by reference therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement or to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, that have not been so described or filed or incorporated by reference. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company or any Subsidiary (as defined below) is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company or any Subsidiary, and none of the Company, any Subsidiary nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company or any Subsidiary of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, ordinance, judgment, order or decree of any governmental or regulatory agency, body, authority or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any of its assets or businesses (each, a “Governmental Entity”), including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.3.3. Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any Person(s) (as defined below) controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Preliminary Prospectus. “Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
2.3.4. Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and all foreign regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and no other such regulations are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which are not so disclosed.
2.3.5. No Other Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the Offering other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and other materials, if any, permitted under the Securities Act and consistent with Section 3.2 below.
2.4 Commission Reporting Status. Since January 1, 2025, the Company has made all filings with the Commission required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”). None of the Company’s filings with the Commission contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the time of filing of the Registration Statement, the Company was a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act Regulations.
2.5 Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
2.6 Independent Accountants. To the knowledge of the Company, Bush & Associates CPA LLC (the “2024 Auditor”) and Wolf & Company, P.C. (the “2023 Auditor”), whose reports are filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are each an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. During the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, all auditing services and non-audit services provided to the Company by the 2023 Auditor and the 2024 Auditor were preapproved by the Company’s Board of Directors as and to the extent required by Section 10A(g) - (i) of the Exchange Act.
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2.7 Financial Statements, etc. The consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not contain all footnotes required by GAAP); and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Except as included or incorporated by reference therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. The as adjusted financial information and the related notes, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations and present fairly the information shown therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission), if any, comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. Each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company and its Subsidiaries with unconsolidated entities or other Persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (ii)the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, (iii) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, other than in the course of business, any grants under any stock compensation plan, and (iv) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt. The Company is not currently contemplating to amend or restate any of the consolidated financial statements (including, without limitation, any notes or any letter of the independent accountants of the Company with respect thereto), nor is the Company currently aware of facts or circumstances which would require the Company to amend or restate any of such financial statements, in each case, in order for any of the consolidated financial statements to be in compliance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the Commission. The Company has not been informed by its independent accountants that they recommend that the Company amend or restate any of the consolidated financial statements or that there is any need for the Company to amend or restate any of the consolidated financial statements.
2.8 Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and its 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 described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the articles of incorporation, certificate or articles of association, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents (“Charter Documents”) of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries comply with the requirements of applicable laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and are in full force and effect. 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 have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations (including results thereof), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary, individually or taken as a whole, (ii) the transactions contemplated hereby or in any other agreements or instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith or (iii) the authority or ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to perform any of their respective obligations under this Agreement or in any other agreements or instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith. Other than the Persons set forth on Exhibit B hereto, the Company has no Subsidiaries. As used in this Agreement, “Subsidiaries” means any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, (i) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and each of the foregoing, is individually referred to herein as a “Subsidiary.”
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2.9 Subsidiaries. All of the equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, are fully paid in accordance with its articles of association and non-assessable and are free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, pledges, security interests, encumbrances, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights or other restrictions (“Liens”). None of the outstanding share capital or equity interest in any Subsidiary was issued in violation of preemptive or similar rights of any security holder of such Subsidiary. Apart from the Subsidiaries, the Company has no direct or indirect subsidiaries or any other company over which it has direct or indirect effective control. Other than the Subsidiaries, the Company does not directly or indirectly control any entity through contractual arrangements or otherwise such that the entity would be deemed a consolidated affiliated entity whose financial results would be consolidated under GAAP with the financial results of the Company on the consolidated financial statements of the Company, regardless of whether the Company directly or indirectly owns less than a majority of the equity interests of such Person.
2.10 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.10.1. Conduct of Business. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all Governmental Entities that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.10.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, all exhibits and schedules hereto, and each of the other agreements and instruments entered into or delivered by any of the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, as may be amended from time to time (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Company’s Board of Directors or the Company’s shareholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Company is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) have been or will be prior to the Closing Date, as the case may be, duly executed and delivered by the Company, and each constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
2.10.3. Consents. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications (i) as have been obtained or made, or (ii) as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities laws or “Blue Sky” laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.
2.11 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s Charter Documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any Governmental Entity to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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2.12 No Defaults; Violations. No material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents, or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Entity.
2.13 No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material change in the share capital (other than the issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection with share-based awards pursuant to the existing equity incentive plans described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt, net current assets or net assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of its share capital, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into or assumed any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred, assumed or acquired any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or acquired or disposed of or agreed to acquire or dispose of any business or other asset, that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or agreed to take any of the foregoing actions; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case of (i) to (iii) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.14 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company there is not pending or contemplated, any action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary, or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.
2.15 Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had, at the date or dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth therein. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted authorized, issued and outstanding stock capitalization set forth therein.
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2.16 Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.16.1. Outstanding Securities. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share of which, [*] shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding. In addition, the Company presently has outstanding, subject to exercise or conversion, [*] pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock, warrants to purchase [*] shares of Common Stock, notes convertible into [*] shares of Common Stock, and [*] restricted stock units issued under the Company’s 2021 Stock Incentive Plan and 2013 Stock Incentive Plan. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized shares of Common Stock conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such Shares, exempt from such registration requirements. In addition, (i) none of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s shares, interests or capital stock is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or Liens suffered or permitted by the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, on the effective date of the Registration Statement (“Effective Date”), as of the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares, interests or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Securities Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company; (iv) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (v) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; and (vi) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement.
2.16.2. Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Pre-Funded Warrants to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and enforceable in accordance with their terms. The shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”) have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants against payment of the exercise price set forth therein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable. The issuance of the Warrant Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The Common Stock and the Pre-Funded Warrants each conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. No holder of Shares or Warrant Shares will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.
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2.17 Insurance. The Company and each Subsidiary carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks which the Company believes are adequate, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any Subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
2.18 D&O Questionnaires. All information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as supplemented by all information concerning the Company’s directors, officers and principal shareholders as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as well as in the Lock-Up Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24 below), provided to the Underwriters, is complete, true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to become materially incomplete, inaccurate or incorrect.
2.19 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.19.1. Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.19.2. Payments within Twelve (12) Months. Except as described in the Company’s Commission filings, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any Person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such Person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company Persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any Person that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve (12) months prior to the Effective Date, other than the payment to the Underwriters as provided hereunder in connection with the Offering.
2.19.3. Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.19.4. FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no (i) officer or director of the Company, (ii) beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180-day period immediately preceding the date that the Registration Statement was initially filed with the Commission that is an affiliate or associated Person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).
2.19.5. Information. All information provided by the Company in its FINRA questionnaire to LB specifically for use by LB in connection with its Public Offering System filings (and related disclosure) with FINRA is true, correct and complete in all material respects.
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2.20 Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, acting in their capacity as such, nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any employee, representative, agent, affiliate or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken, or will make or take, an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment, giving of money, property, gifts, benefit or anything else of value to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any Person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office, in order to influence official action or secure an improper advantage; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit; or (v) will directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities by the Company hereunder in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment, giving of money, property, gifts, benefit or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law. The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their business in compliance with applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and have instituted, maintained and enforced, and will continue to maintain and enforce adequate policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. No investigation, action, suit or proceedings by or before any Governmental Entity or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
2.21 No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director or officer, thereof, nor, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any employee, representative, agent, affiliate or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union (including under Council Regulation (EC) No. 194/2008), or other relevant sanctions or governmental authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or engaged in any activities sanctionable under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, the Iran Sanctions Act, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, or any applicable executive order, nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country, region or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of Sanctions including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Crimea (each a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with, or to finance any investments in, or make any payments to, any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions; (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business or transactions in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not engaged in, are not now engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was, or whose government is or was, the subject or target of Sanctions, or with any Sanctioned Country. None of the issue and sale of the Securities, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the consummation of any other transaction contemplated hereby, or the provision of services contemplated by this Agreement to the Company will result in a violation of any Sanctions. The Company and its Subsidiaries further covenant not to engage, directly or indirectly, in any other activities that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise, except that in relation to any of the foregoing, the Company makes no covenant with respect to the Underwriters’ commissions after such commissions have been paid to the Underwriters).
2.22 Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including, as applicable, those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and all the other applicable money laundering laws, rules and regulations of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries conducts business, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity, including, without limitation, Title 18 U.S. Code section 1956 and 1957, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and the Bank Secrecy Act, all as amended, and any executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any employee, representative, agent, affiliate or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has violated any Anti-Money Laundering Laws.
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2.23 Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to LB shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.24 Lock-Up Agreements. Schedule III contains a complete and accurate list of the Company’s officers, directors and each owner of at least 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock) (collectively, the “Lock-Up Parties”). The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Representative an executed Lock-Up Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), prior to the execution of this Agreement.
2.25 Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any Subsidiary or any other Person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
2.26 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the Company’s Board of Directors comply with the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Regulations, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) applicable to the Company and the listing rules of the Exchange. At least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Exchange”). In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Company’s Board of Directors qualify as “independent,” as defined under the listing rules of the Exchange.
2.27 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance.
2.27.1. Disclosure Controls. The Company has developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures that comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations, and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents.
2.27.2. Compliance. The Company is in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefor) with all of the material provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
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2.28 Internal Controls. The Company maintains systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, its respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are known to the Company’s management and that have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’ ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud known to the Company’s management, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
2.29 No Investment Company Status. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.30 Labor Relations. No labor dispute or governmental investigation or proceedings exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to labor law compliance or any of the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. No executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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2.31 Intellectual Property Rights. To the knowledge of the Company, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries necessary for the conduct of its business as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement, fee or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect (i) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary in or to any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.31, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company or any Subsidiary have not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company or any Subsidiary is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.31, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) there is no pending or, to the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any Subsidiary infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others, the Company or any Subsidiary has not received any written notice of such claim and the Company or any Subsidiary is unaware of any other facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.31, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (v) to the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, no employee of the Company or any Subsidiary is in or has ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company or any Subsidiary and could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, all material technical information developed by and belonging to the Company or any Subsidiary which has not been patented has been kept confidential. The Company or any Subsidiary is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described therein. The Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus contain in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence. None of the technology employed by the Company or any Subsidiary has been obtained or is being used by the Company or any Subsidiary in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any Persons.
2.32 Cybersecurity; Data Protection. The Company and its Subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, and other malware. The Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except in each case that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other Person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or Governmental Entity, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except in each case that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.33 Taxes. (i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all national, local, federal, state and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases where failure to file or pay would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or except for taxes currently being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been made in the financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which has had (nor does the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its Subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect. (ii) Any unpaid material income and corporation tax liability of the Company for any years not finally determined have been accrued on the Company’s financial statements in accordance with the GAAP.
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2.34 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries: (i) is and at all times has been in compliance with all statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, judgments, orders and decrees of all Governmental Entities applicable to the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ business (“Applicable Laws”), except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) has not received any warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from any other Governmental Entity alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, consents, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits, orders and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws (“Authorizations”); (iii) possesses all material Authorizations and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (iv) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, inquiry, arbitration or other action from any Governmental Entity or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Entity or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (v) has not received notice that any Governmental Entity has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Entity is considering such action; (vi) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, filings, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission); and (viii) has not, either voluntarily or involuntarily, initiated, conducted, or issued or caused to be initiated, conducted or issued, any recall, market withdrawal or replacement, safety alert, post-sale warning, or other notice or action relating to the alleged lack of safety or efficacy of any product or any alleged product defect or violation and, to the Company’s knowledge, no third party has initiated, conducted or intends to initiate any such notice or action.
2.35 Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries, (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, national, federal, state and local laws and regulations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all applicable laws and regulations of the United States) relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws, except for those that would, singly or in the aggregate, not have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.36 Title to Real and Personal Property. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property which are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all Liens and defects that do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.
2.37 Contracts Affecting Capital. There are no transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for their capital resources required to be described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which have not been described or incorporated by reference as required.
2.38 Loans to Directors or Officers. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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2.39 Integration. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the Offering to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would require the registration of any such securities issued in such prior offerings under the Securities Act.
2.40 No Broker’s Fees. There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company or its Subsidiaries and any Person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the Offering, or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuance with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, sponsors, partners, employees, affiliates or other Person acting on their behalf that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation as determined by the FINRA.
2.41 Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
2.42 Third-party Data. Any statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes to be reliable and accurate or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived, and the Company has obtained the written consent for the use of such data from such sources to the extent required.
2.43 Confidentiality and Non-Competition. To the Company’s knowledge, no director, officer, key employee or consultant of the Company is subject to any confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer that could reasonably be expected to materially affect his ability to be and act in his respective capacity of the Company or be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
2.44 Termination of Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or agreements specifically referred to or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the best knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, by any other party to any such contract or agreement.
2.44 Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not (i) alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the written consent of the Representative and with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company confirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule II-B hereto. As of the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the Offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, no individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
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2.45 Margin Securities. The Company owns no “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and none of the proceeds of Offering will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the shares of Common Stock to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
2.47 Nasdaq Deficiencies. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. There is no action pending by the Company or the Exchange to delist the Common Stock from the Exchange and all notifications from the Exchange regarding the Company’s deficiencies with regard to the Exchange’s listing rules have been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Preliminary Prospectus. When issued, the Shares shall be listed on the Exchange.
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company shall deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2 Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1. Compliance. The Company, subject to Section 3.2.2, shall comply with the requirements of Rule 430A of the Securities Act Regulations, and will notify the Representative promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed; (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the Offering of the Securities. The Company shall effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and shall take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
3.2.2. Continued Compliance. The Company shall comply with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (i) give the Representative notice of such event; (ii) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (iii) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company proposes to file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus for any other reason, the Company will (i) give the Representative notice of such event; (ii) a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement; and (iii) not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object, unless in the opinion of the Company’s outside legal counsel the filing of such amendment or supplement is necessary to correct a material misstatement or is necessary to make the statements included therein not misleading. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time. The Company shall give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time until the Closing Date and will furnish the Representative with copies of the related document(s) a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
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3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration. For a period of five (5) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the shares of Common Stock under the Exchange Act, and the Company shall not voluntarily deregister the shares of Common Stock under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2.4. Testing-the-Waters Communications. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly notify the Representative and shall promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
3.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Registration Statements. The Company has delivered or made available or shall deliver or make available to the Representative and counsel for the Representative, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
3.4 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered or made available or will deliver or make available to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
3.5 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus until nine (9) months from the Applicable Time, and will notify the Underwriters immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the cessation of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.5 that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
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3.6 Review of Financial Statements. For a period of five (5) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the three fiscal quarters immediately preceding the announcement of any quarterly financial information.
3.7 Listing. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of the shares of Common Stock (including the Shares) on the Exchange, and shall not voluntarily delist the shares of Common Stock (including the Shares) on the Exchange without the prior written consent of the Representative, in each case for at least five (5) years from the date of this Agreement. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the shares of Common Stock traded on any of the following markets or exchange, including the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing) (each “Other Trading Market”), it will then include in such application all of the Securities, and will take such other action as is necessary to cause all of such securities to be listed or quoted on such Other Trading Market as promptly as possible. The Company will then take all action reasonably necessary to continue the listing and trading of its shares of Common Stock on such Other Trading Market and will comply in all respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of such Other Trading Market. The Company agrees to maintain the eligibility of the shares of Common Stock for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation, including, without limitation, by timely payment of fees to the Depository Trust Company or such other established clearing corporation in connection with such electronic transfer.
3.8 Non-accountable Expense Allowance. The Company agrees that on the Closing Date it will pay to the Representative a non-accountable expense allowance equal to $35,000.
3.9 Reports to the Representative.
3.9.1. Periodic Reports, etc. For a period of five (5) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall furnish or make available to the Representative copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities and also promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission under the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K prepared and filed by the Company; (iv) five copies of each registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act; and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request in writing; provided the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and LB in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.9.1.
3.9.2. Transfer Agent; Transfer Sheets. For a period of five (5) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and registrar acceptable to the Representative (the “Transfer Agent”) and shall furnish to the Representative at the Representative’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s securities as the Representative may reasonably request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and DTC. Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions LLC is acceptable to the Representative to act as Transfer Agent for the shares of Common Stock.
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3.9.3. Trading Reports. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall provide to the Representative, at the Company’s expense, such reports published by Exchange relating to price trading of the shares of Common Stock, as the Representative shall reasonably request. Documents made freely available by the Exchange through its website shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.9.3.
3.10 Payment of Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay on the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of the shares of Common Stock to be sold in the Offering with the Commission; (b) all Public Filing System filing fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (c) all fees and expenses relating to the listing of such Securities on the Exchange and such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Representative together determine, including any fees charged by DTC for new securities; (d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of the Company’s officers and directors; (e) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of the Securities under the “Blue Sky” laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees); (f) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of the Securities under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate; (g) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the Underwriting Agreement, any Blue Sky Surveys and, if appropriate, any Agreement Among Underwriters, Selected Dealers’ Agreement, Underwriters’ Questionnaire and Power of Attorney), Registration Statements, Prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final Prospectuses as the Representative may reasonably deem necessary; (h) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering certificates representing the Securities; (i) fees and expenses of the transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock; (j) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; (k) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (l) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives; (m) fees and expenses of the Representative’s legal counsel and (n) the Company’s actual “road show” expenses for the Offering. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, all such out-of-pocket fees, expenses and disbursements (including legal fees and expenses) of Underwriters incurred as a result of providing services related to the Offering to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters ($[*] of which has been paid prior to the date of this Agreement and will be reimbursed to the extent not offset by actual expenses), up to a maximum aggregate expense allowance of $75,000.
3.11 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application thereof described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
3.12 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth (15th) full calendar month following the date of this Agreement, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent registered public accounting firm unless required by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning after the date of this Agreement. If such earnings statement is available on EDGAR, whether via filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or otherwise, it shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.12.
3.13 Stabilization. Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or shall take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under Regulation M of the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
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3.14 Internal Controls. The Company shall maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.15 Accountants. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company shall retain an independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative, and the Company shall continue to retain a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm for a period of at least five (5) years after the date of this Agreement. The Representative acknowledges that the 2024 Auditor is acceptable to the Representative.
3.16 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is or becomes aware that (i) any officer or director of the Company, (ii) any beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the one hundred eighty (180) days immediately preceding the initial filing of the Registration Statement is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).
3.17 No Fiduciary Duties. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s-length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other Person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company hereby further confirms its understanding that no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including, without limitation, any negotiation related to the pricing of the Securities; and the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
3.18 Company Lock-Up Agreements.
3.18.1. Restriction on Sales of Capital Stock. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, for a period of sixty (60) days after the date set forth on the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company except for a registration statement on Form S-8 in connection with the registration of shares of Common Stock issuable under any employee equity-based compensation plan, incentive plan, stock plan, dividend reinvestment plan adopted and approved by the Company’s Board of Directors; or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
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The restrictions contained in this Section 3.18.1 shall not apply to (i) the shares of Common Stock to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of the Warrant Shares or of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of a stock option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof, of which the Representative have been advised in writing or which is disclosed in the Registration Statement, provided that such options, warrants, and securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with automatic price resets, share splits, adjustments or combinations as set forth in such securities) or to extend the term of such securities, or (iii) the issuance by the Company of stock options or shares of capital stock of the Company under any equity compensation plan of the Company, duly adopted for such purpose, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Company; or (iv) the issuance of securities pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith, and provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equity holders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities, provided that, in each of (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, the underlying shares shall be restricted from sale during the entire Lock-Up Period.
3.19 Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company shall use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, if necessary, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
3.20 Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and Exchange Act Regulations. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Securities as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act Regulations.
3.21 D&O Insurance. On the date of this Agreement, the Company shall maintain officers’ and directors’ insurance for each of the officers and directors of the Company in the aggregate amount of no less than $1,000,000.
3.22 Board Composition and Board Designations. The Company shall ensure that: (i) the qualifications of the persons serving as members of the Company’s Board of Directors and the overall composition of the Company’s Board of Directors comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, with the Exchange Act and with the listing rules of the Exchange or any Other Trading Market, as the case may be, in the event the Company seeks to have its Securities listed on such Other Trading Market, and (ii) if applicable, at least one member of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and the listing rules of the Exchange.
3.23 Prohibition on Press Releases and Public Announcements. At the request of the Representative, by 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the first trading day after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the Offering. The Company and the Representative shall consult with each other in issuing any press releases with respect to the Offering, and neither the Company nor any Underwriter shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any other press release of such Underwriter, or without the prior consent of such Underwriter, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication.
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3.24 Research Independence. The Company acknowledges that each Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments, if any, are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriter’s research analysts may hold and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of its investment bankers. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against such Underwriter with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriter’s investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Representative is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short position in debt or equity securities of the Company.
3.25 Tail Financing. Following the Closing Date, for a period of twelve (12) months after such Closing Date, the Representative shall be entitled to a cash fee equal to four percent (4.0%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of any equity, debt and/or equity derivative instruments to any investor actually introduced by the Representative to the Company provided that such Tail Financing is by a party actually introduced to the Company in an offering in which the Company has direct knowledge of such party’s participation, and provided further that in the event Representative’s services are terminated by the Company for cause, the Tail Financing shall not survive such termination in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(5).
4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities, as provided herein, shall be subject to (i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date; (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations, covenants and agreements hereunder; and (iv) the following conditions:
4.1 Regulatory Matters.
4.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information. The Registration Statement has become effective not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at each of the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated by the Commission. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. The Prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.
4.1.2. FINRA Clearance. On or before the date of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.2 Company Counsel Matters.
4.2.1. Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP, counsel to the Company, and a written statement providing certain “10b-5” negative assurances, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and LB.
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4.3 Comfort Letters.
4.3.1. Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed you shall have received a cold comfort letter from each of the 2023 Auditor and the 2024 Auditor, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ comfort letters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to you and LB, dated as of the date of this Agreement.
4.3.2. Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a letter from each of the 2023 Auditor and the 2024 Auditor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you and LB, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the 2023 Auditor and the 2024 Auditor reaffirms the statements made in the letters furnished pursuant to Section 4.3.1.
4.4 Officers’ Certificates.
4.4.1. Officers’ Certificate. The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer stating that (i) such officers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, in their opinion, the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of the respective date thereof and as of the Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, (ii) since the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects, and except for those representations and warranties which refer to facts existing at a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such date) and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Company, or any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change or a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company, except as set forth in the Prospectus, and (v) with respect to such other matters as the Representative may reasonably require.
4.4.2. Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date, certifying: (i) that each of the Charter and Bylaws is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; and (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
4.5 No Material Adverse Changes. No event or condition of a type described in Section 2.13 hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
4.6 Delivery of Agreements.
4.6.1. Lock-Up Agreements. On or before the date of this Agreement, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Lock-Up Agreements from each of the Persons listed in Schedule III hereto.
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4.7 Good Standing. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in its respective jurisdiction of organization in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate Governmental Entity of such jurisdictions as of a date no earlier than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, or, for any such jurisdiction in which evidence of good standing may not be obtained from appropriate Governmental Entities, in the form of an opinion of counsel licensed in the applicable jurisdiction.
4.8 Additional Documents. At the Closing Date, Representative shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and LB.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by written notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 3 (with respect to the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable, bona fide expenses actually incurred by the Representative) and Section 5 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
5. Indemnification.
5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and its partners, members and affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, and each Person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any loss, claim, damage, liability, litigation, investigation, suit, action or proceeding (whether or not such Indemnified Person (as defined below) is a party thereto), whether commenced or threatened, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above, in each case, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented), any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the Offering, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or any application or other document or written communication executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, the Exchange or any other national securities exchange, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of Underwriter Information.
5.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, the Underwriters’ Information.
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5.3 Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representative and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
5.4 Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Person under Section 5.1 or 5.2 in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person shall, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the Offering of the Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
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5.5 Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 5.4. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 5.4 shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute an amount in excess of $500,000 as a result of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
5.6 Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in Sections 5.1 through 5.5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
5.7 Representations, Warranties, Agreements to Survive. The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 and the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter, or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.
6. Default by an Underwriter.
If on the Closing Date, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares, which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company), the Representative, or if the Representative is the defaulting Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters, shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the Shares, which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours the Representative shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Shares, as the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then:
6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Shares. If the aggregate number of the Shares with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Shares covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Shares which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase.
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Shares. If the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Shares covered hereby, the Company or the Representative will have the right to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company except to the extent provided in Section 5 hereof.
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6.3 Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Shares to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the non-defaulting Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” includes any Person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Nothing contained in this Section 6 shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
7. Termination.
7.1 Termination Right. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in your opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities; or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority; or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets; or (vi) if, the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in your opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Securities; or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or (viii) if, aside from the Company’s receipt of a delisting notification from Nasdaq and provided that the Company has timely submitted its request for a hearing before a Nasdaq Hearings Panel and payment of the requisite $20,000 hearing fee, the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Securities.
7.2 Expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, except in the case of a default by the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 6.2 above, in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Representative their actual and accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable ($[*] of which has been paid prior to the date hereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any advance received by the Representative will be reimbursed to the Company to the extent not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A).
8. Miscellaneous.
8.1 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the email address set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the next Business Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the e-mail address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, (iii) the second (2nd) Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto.
8.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
8.3 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
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8.4 Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
8.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that all other terms and conditions of that certain engagement letter between the Company and the Representative, dated November 25, 2024, shall remain in full force and effect.
8.6 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives, heirs and assigns, and no other Person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from any of the Underwriters.
8.7 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
8.8 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| ISPECIMEN INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Robert Bradley Lim | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Address for Notice:
iSpecimen Inc.
8 Cabot Road
Woburn, MA 02420
Facsimile: [*]
Email: [*]
Attention: [*]
Copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Facsimile: N/A
Email: [*]
Attention: [*]
[SIGNATURE PAGE]
ISPECIMEN – UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
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Confirmed as of the date first written above mentioned, on behalf of itself and as Representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto:
| WESTPARK CAPITAL, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Richard Rappaport | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Address for Notice:
1800 Century Park East, Suite 220
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Facsimile:
Email:
Attention: Rick Rappaport
Copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Lucosky Brookman LLP
101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor
Woodbridge, NJ 08330
Fax No.:
E-Mail:
Attention: Joseph M. Lucosky, Esq.
[SIGNATURE PAGE]
ISPECIMEN – UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
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SCHEDULE I
| Underwriter |
Number of Shares |
Number of Pre-Funded Warrants |
Purchase Price (after discounts) ($) |
|||||||||
| WestPark Capital, Inc. | ||||||||||||
| TOTAL | ||||||||||||
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SCHEDULE II-A
Pricing Information
Number of Shares:
Number of Pre-Funded Warrants:
Public Offering Price per Share: $
Public Offering per Pre-Funded Warrant: $
Underwriting Discount per Share: $
Underwriting Discount per Pre-Funded Warrant: $
Proceeds to Company per Share: $
Proceeds to Company per Pre-Funded Warrant (before expenses): $
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SCHEDULE II-B
Written Testing-the-Waters Communications
[None.]
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SCHEDULE III
List of Lock-Up Parties
Robert Bradley Lim
Yuying Liang
Katharyn Field
Siyun Yang
John L. Brooks III
Richard Paolone
Avtar Dhaliwal
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EXHIBIT A
Lock-Up Agreement
[*], 2025
WestPark Capital, Inc.
1800 Century Park East, Suite 220
Los Angeles, CA 90077
As Representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement referenced below
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you, as representative (the “Representative”), propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) on behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to such agreement (collectively, the “Underwriters”), with iSpecimen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for a public offering (the “Public Offering”) of shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and/or Pre-Funded Warrants in lieu thereof (collectively, the “Securities”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In consideration of the agreement by the Underwriters to offer and sell the Securities, and of other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees that, during the period beginning from the date of this agreement (this “Lock-Up Agreement”) and continuing to and including the date 60 days after the date set forth on the final prospectus (the “Prospectus”) used to sell the Securities in the Public Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned shall not, and shall not cause or direct any of its affiliates to, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Company (such options, warrants or other securities, collectively, “Derivative Instruments”), including without limitation any such shares or Derivative Instruments now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned, (ii) engage in any hedging or other transaction or arrangement (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition (whether by the undersigned or someone other than the undersigned), or transfer of any of the economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any shares of Common Stock of the Company or Derivative Instruments, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any such sale, loan, pledge or other disposition, or transfer of economic consequences, a “Transfer”), (iii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or Derivative Instruments or (iv) otherwise publicly announce any intention to engage in any of the foregoing. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned is not, and has not caused or directed any of its affiliates to be or become, currently a party to any agreement or arrangement that provides for, is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in any Transfer during the Lock-Up Period.
If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), other than a natural person, entity or “group” (as described above) that has executed a Lock-Up Agreement in substantially the same form as this Lock-Up Agreement, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may (a) transfer any of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock without the consent of the Representative:
| (i) | in transactions consisting of shares of Common Stock or such Derivative Instruments that the undersigned may purchase (A) from the Underwriters in the Public Offering or (B) in open market transactions after the date set forth on the cover of the Prospectus; |
| (ii) | as a bona fide gift or charitable contribution; |
| (iii) | to an immediate family member or a trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or such immediate family member of the undersigned; |
| (iv) | by will or intestacy; provided that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and, if required, any public report or filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the transfer of shares by will or intestacy; |
| (v) | pursuant to a domestic relations order, divorce decree or court order; provided that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and, if required, any public report or filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the transfer of shares pursuant to a domestic relations order, divorce decree or court order; |
| (vi) | if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership), or (B) as part of a distribution to members or shareholders of the undersigned; |
| (vii) | if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust; |
| (viii) | to the Company in connection with the repurchase of the undersigned’s shares in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment with the Company pursuant to contractual agreements with the Company; provided that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and, if required, any public report or filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the transfer of shares from the repurchase of the undersigned’s shares in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment with the Company pursuant to contractual agreements with the Company; |
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| (ix) | through the disposition or forfeiture of the undersigned’s shares to the Company to satisfy any income, employment or tax withholding and remittance obligations of the undersigned or the employer of the undersigned in connection with the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units or other incentive awards settled in shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned; provided that such restricted stock, restricted stock units or other incentive awards were granted under a stock incentive plan, stock purchase plan or pursuant to a contractual employment arrangement described in the Prospectus; provided further that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and, if required, any public filing, report or announcement, including under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the transfer of shares through the disposition or forfeiture of the undersigned’s shares to the Company to satisfy any income, employment or tax withholding and remittance obligations of the undersigned or the employer of the undersigned in connection with the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units or other incentive awards settled in shares held by the undersigned; provided further that any underlying Common Stock or Derivative Instruments shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement; |
| (x) | to the Company through the exercise of a stock option granted under a stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan or a warrant described in the Prospectus by the undersigned, and the receipt by the undersigned from the Company of shares of Common Stock upon any such exercise; provided that the underlying shares shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement; provided further that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and, if required, any public filing, report or announcement, including under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the exercise of a stock option or warrant; |
| (xi) | pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer for all outstanding Common Stock of the Company, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction involving a Change of Control of the Company and approved by the Company’s board of directors; provided that, if such Change of Control transaction is not completed, this clause (a)(xi) shall not be applicable and the undersigned’s shares shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Lock-Up Agreement; or |
| (xii) | in connection with any reclassification, repurchase, redemption, conversion or exchange of the Common Stock or outstanding preferred stock; provided that any securities of the Company received by the undersigned as a result will be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement; |
or (b) establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock; provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of shares during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and, if required, such public announcement, report or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock or Derivative Instruments may be made under such plan during the Lock-Up Period.
In addition, provided in the case of clauses (a)(ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) above, it shall be a condition to such transfer that each transferee, donee or distributee sign and deliver a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this Lock-Up Agreement, except in the case of clauses (a)(iv) and (v) where a court of competent jurisdiction requires such transfer or distribution be made without such a restriction; provided further that in the case of clauses (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (vi) and (vii) above, no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (other than a required Form 5 filing that includes a statement indicating the reason for such transfer and is filed no earlier than 120 days following the date set forth on the Prospectus) or other public announcement, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period; provided further in the case of clauses (a)(ii), (a)(iii), (a)(iv), (a)(vi) and (a)(vii), any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value.
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For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin and “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an Underwriter pursuant to the Public Offering), of the Company’s voting securities if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold more than 50% of the voting power represented by the outstanding securities of the Company (or the surviving entity). For the avoidance of doubt, the Public Offering is not a Change of Control. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock of the Company except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that none of the Underwriters has made any recommendation or provided any investment or other advice to the undersigned with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement or the subject matter hereof, and the undersigned has consulted its own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory, tax and other advisors with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement and the subject matter hereof to the extent the undersigned has deemed appropriate. The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this Lock-Up Agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Lock-Up Agreement will automatically terminate and the undersigned will be released from all of his, her or its obligations hereunder upon the earliest to occur, if any, of (i) prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company advises the Representative in writing that it has determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) the Company files an application to withdraw the registration statement related to the Public Offering, (iii) the Underwriting Agreement is executed but is terminated (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) prior to payment for and delivery of the Securities to be sold thereunder, and (iv) [*], 2025, if the Underwriting Agreement has not been executed by such date.
The undersigned and the Representative hereby consent to receipt of this Lock-Up Agreement in electronic form and understand and agree that this Lock-Up Agreement may be signed electronically. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or otherwise by electronic transmission evidencing an intent to sign this Lock-Up Agreement (including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com), such facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic transmission shall create a valid and binding obligation of the undersigned with the same force and effect as if such signature were an original. Execution and delivery of this Lock-Up Agreement by facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic transmission is legal, valid and binding for all purposes.
This Lock-Up Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
[Signature page follows]
38
Very truly yours,
| IF AN INDIVIDUAL: | IF AN ENTITY: | |||
| (duly authorized signature) | (please print complete name of entity) | |||
| Name: | By: | |||
| (please print full name) | (duly authorized signature) | |||
| Name: | ||||
| (please print full name) | ||||
| Title: | ||||
| (please print full title) | ||||
| Address: | Address: | |||
| E-mail: | E-mail: | |||
39
EXHIBIT B
Subsidiaries
| Name of Subsidiaries | Jurisdiction | |
40
Exhibit 4.5
PRE-FUNDED COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
ISPECIMEN INC.
| Warrant Shares: _______ | Issue Date: ______, 2025 |
| Initial Exercise Date: _______, 2025 |
THIS PRE-FUNDED COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, _____________ or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date set forth above (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and until this Warrant is exercised in full (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from iSpecimen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to ______ shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock (as defined herein). The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).
Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the OTCQB Venture Market (“OTCQB”) or the OTCQX Best Market (“OTCQX”) is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed on or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the Pink Open Market (“Pink Market”) (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“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.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Registration Statement” means the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[*]).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Subsidiary” means the subsidiaries of the Company set forth on Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed is open for trading.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York, NY 11717, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
“Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement, dated as of _________, 2025, among the Company and WestPark Capital, Inc. as representative of the underwriters named therein, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the Pink Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“Warrants” means this Pre-Funded Warrant and other Common Stock purchase warrants issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement.
2
Section 2. Exercise.
a) Exercise of Warrant. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant Shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. The Company shall have no obligation to inquire with respect to or otherwise confirm the authenticity of the signature(s) contained on any Notice of Exercise nor the authority of the person executing such Notice of Exercise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and this Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Trading Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no circumstance that would require the Company to net cash settle this Warrant.
b) Exercise Price. The aggregate exercise price of this Warrant, except for a nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per Warrant Share, was pre-funded to the Company on or prior to the Initial Exercise Date and, consequently, no additional consideration (other than the nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per Warrant Share) shall be required to be paid by the Holder to the Company to effect any exercise of this Warrant. The Holder shall not be entitled to the return or refund of all, or any portion, of such pre-paid aggregate exercise price under any circumstance or for any reason whatsoever, including in the event this Warrant shall not have been exercised prior to the Termination Date. The remaining unpaid exercise price per Warrant Share under this Warrant shall be $0.0001, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).
c) Cashless Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
| (A) | = | as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
| (B) | = | the Exercise Price, as adjusted hereunder; and |
| (X) | = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
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If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the registered characteristics of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c), except to the extent required by applicable law, rules or regulations.
d) Mechanics of Exercise.
i. Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. Subject to Section 2(e), the Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) this Warrant is being exercised via cashless exercise, and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate representing the Warrant Shares to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise or by book-entry, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise by the date that is the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (assuming the aggregate Exercise Price has been delivered to the Company, whether or in cash or by cashless exercise), (ii) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Company, and (iii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received within the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent (which may be the Transfer Agent) that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Notice(s) of Exercise delivered on or prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Initial Exercise Date, which may be delivered at any time after the time of execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agrees to deliver, or cause to be delivered, the Warrant Shares subject to such notice(s) by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Initial Exercise Date and the Initial Exercise Date shall be the Warrant Share Delivery Date for purposes hereunder, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by such Warrant Share Delivery Date. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time will be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise by delivering written notice to the Company at any time prior to the delivery of such Warrant Shares (in which case any liquidated damages payable under Section 2(d)(i) shall no longer be payable).
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iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date (other than any such failure that is solely due to any action or inaction by the Holder with respect to such exercise), and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the Warrant Shares so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of this Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases shares of Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of Warrant Shares with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share of Common Stock.
vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
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e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with (i) the Holder’s Affiliates, (ii) any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates, and (iii) any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Holder’s for the purposes of determination of beneficial ownership pursuant to Section 13(d) and Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of Warrant Shares which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination and shall have no liability for exercises of this Warrant that are not in compliance with the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, except to the extent the Holder has detrimentally relied on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock that was provided in writing by the Company. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination and shall have no liability for exercises of this Warrant that are not in compliance with the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, except to the extent the Holder relies on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock that was provided by the Company. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written request of a Holder, the Company shall within two (2) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% (or, upon election by a Holder prior to the issuance of any Warrants, 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant. To the extent that this Warrant is unexercisable as a result of the Holder’s Beneficial Ownership Limitation, no alternate consideration is owing to the Holder.
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Section 3. Certain Adjustments.
a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Warrant Shares issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time while this Warrant is outstanding the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all of the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to all of the holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
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d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person in which the Company is not the surviving entity, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of greater than 50% of the outstanding Common Stock or greater than 50% of the voting power of the common equity of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires greater than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or greater than 50% of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(d) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall be succeed and be substituted for (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) with the same effect as if such Successor Entity or Successor Entities had been named as the Company herein.
e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
f) Notice to Holder.
i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company may satisfy this notice requirement in this Section 3(f) by filing such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If, while this Warrant is outstanding (A) the Company declares a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company declares a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company authorizes the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company is required in connection with a Fundamental Transaction, or (E) the Company authorizes the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least three calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein; and provided, further, that no notice shall be required if the information is disseminated in a press release or a document filed with the Commission.
g) Par Value. Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant to the contrary, no adjustment shall be made to the Exercise Price to the extent such adjustment would reduce the Exercise Price below the then-current par value of the Warrant Shares.
Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.
a) Transferability. Subject to compliance with applicable securities law, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. This Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
b) New Warrants. Subject to compliance with applicable securities law, this Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.
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Section 5. Miscellaneous.
a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) or Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of this Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.
d) Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that, during the period this Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of the Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment (it being understood that this Warrant shall not in any case prevent the Company from effecting any such amendment, reorganization, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issuance or sale). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
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e) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereof or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of the Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at, Attention: [*], email address: [*], or such other email address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.
i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
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k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holder, on the other hand.
m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
********************
(Signature Page Follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.
| ISPECIMEN INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Robert Bradley Lim | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
TO: ISPECIMEN INC.
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ in lawful money of the United States; or
☐ if permitted, the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).
(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
_______________________________
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity: ________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to exercise the Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
| Name: | ||
| (Please Print) | ||
| Address: | ||
| (Please Print) | ||
| Phone Number: | ||
| Email Address: | ||
| Dated: _______________ __, ______ | ||
| Holder’s Signature: | ||
| Holder’s Address: |
Exhibit 5.1
May 2, 2025
iSpecimen Inc.
8 Cabot Road, Suite 1800
Woburn, MA 08101
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-1 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for iSpecimen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-[*]) (the “Registration Statement”), including a related prospectus filed with the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), covering a firm commitment underwritten offering of up to $3,000,000 worth of 2,362,205 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and/or pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”, and each share of Common Stock underlying a Pre-Funded Warrant, a “Pre-Funded Warrant Share”) to purchase one share of Common Stock. The Shares, the Pre-Funded Warrants, and the Pre-Funded Warrant Shares are to be sold in connection with an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the underwriter.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of (i) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as currently in effect, (ii) the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws as currently in effect, (iii) the Registration Statement and related Prospectus, (iv) the form of underwriting agreement, (v) the form of Pre-Funded Warrant, and (vi) such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials or of officers and representatives of the Company, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to certain questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company and have not sought to independently verify such facts.
Based on the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the qualifications, limitations, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, having been issued and sold in exchange for payment in full to the Company of all consideration required therefor as applicable, including with regard to the Shares, the Pre-Funded Warrants, and the Pre-Funded Warrant Shares as described in the Registration Statement:
| (i) | Shares, when issued against payment therefor, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock; |
| (ii) | The Pre-Funded Warrants, when issued against payment therefor, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except that (A) such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and (B) the remedies of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of injunctive relief may be subject to equitable defenses; and |
| (iii) | The Pre-Funded Warrant Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when issued, sold and delivered by the Company pursuant to the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants against payment therefor, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock. |
The opinion expressed herein is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law and, with respect to the enforceability of the Pre-Funded Warrants, the laws of the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We assume no obligation to update or supplement any of our opinions to reflect any changes of law or fact that may occur. We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consents, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP
Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP
Exhibit 10.45

CONSULTING AGREEMENT
IR Agency LLC (the “Consultant” or “IR Agency”) is pleased to provide certain consulting services to iSpecimen Inc (“you,” “Client” or “Company”) as more fully described in this agreement (the “Agreement”). This Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which Company engages Consultant to provide such services.
| 1. | Consulting Services. |
| (a) | Commencing on 5/5/2025 Consultant will provide marketing and advertising services (“Advertising” or “Services”) to communicate information about the Company (trading symbol: ISPC to the financial community including, but not limited to, creating company profiles, media distribution and building a digital community with respect to the Company. |
| (b) | Consultant does not make any representation about and assumes no responsibility for the response by the market, if any, to the public release of Advertising for the Company. For avoidance of doubt, Client acknowledges that Consultant assumes no responsibility for and does not make any representation, guarantee or promise that in response to the public release of Advertising for the Company, the trading volume will increase or the trading price of [ISPC] will rise, or in the event of a increase in trading volume or rise in price, the amount or duration of any such increase in trading volume or rise in price |
| (c) | Client acknowledges that Consultant carries no professional licenses. Consultant will not participate in discussions or negotiations with potential investors. Consultant will not solicit orders, make recommendations or give investment advice. Consultant will not effect transactions of securities for potential investors or anyone else. Consultant and Client agree that Consultant is not being engaged for, and is not permitted to engage in, activities that would give rise to Consultant being required to register federally or in any state or other jurisdiction as a broker or an investment advisor. If a financial intermediary expresses interest in the Company to Consultant, Consultant will refer the intermediary to the Company. In providing services under the Agreement, Consultant agrees to comply in all materials respects with all applicable U.S. securities laws. Client acknowledges and agrees that (a) it and its affiliates each have relied and will continue to rely on the advice of its own legal, regulatory, and securities law advisors for all matters and (b) neither Client nor any of its affiliates has received, or has relied upon, the advice of Consultant or any of its affiliates or their counsel regarding legal, regulatory, or securities law matters. |
| (d) | The Services of Consultant shall not be exclusive to Client, and Client acknowledges that Consultant will be performing similar Services for other clients and Consultant shall be free to perform Services for such other persons. |
| 2. | Independent Contractor. Client and Consultant agree that Consultant shall perform its duties under this Agreement as an independent contractor. Nothing contained herein shall be considered as creating a relationship of agent-principal, employer-employee or joint venturers between Consultant and either Client. |
| 3. | Compensation. |
| (a) | As consideration for the performance of the Services hereunder, upon the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Client shall pay to Consultant the sum of One Million Dollars by 5/01/2025 in cash via Bank Wire Transfer for providing the Services for a 3 Month term starting on 5/5/205. Such consideration shall be deemed earned in full upon receipt. |
| (b) | Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all other services, including out-of- scope assignments, rendered by Consultant shall be subject to additional compensation under a separate agreement between Consultant and Company. Consultant shall be responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred or paid in connection with its performance of the Services hereunder. |
| 4. | Term and Termination. |
| (a) | The term of this Agreement shall commence on the start date and continue for a period of 3 Months (the “Term”) unless otherwise extended by mutual agreement of the parties (the “Extended Term”). This Agreement may be terminated, with or without cause, by either Client or Consultant at any time by written notice to the other Party. If the Agreement is terminated by Client during the Term for any reason, Client will not be entitled to return of any of the compensation. If Client files for bankruptcy, becomes insolvent or is in material breach of this Agreement (“Cause”), Consultant may terminate the Agreement and Client will not be entitled to the return of any of the compensation. If Consultant terminates the Agreement without Cause, then Consultant must return the unused portion (if any) of the Compensation. Within ten days after the termination or expiration of this Agreement, each party shall return to the other all Proprietary or Confidential Information (defined below) of the other party (and any copies thereof) in the party’s possession or, with the approval of the other party, destroy all such Proprietary or Confidential Information. |
| (b) | In the event Client elects to purchase and Consultant agrees to supply additional Services during the Term or the Extended Term of this Agreement, the terms and condition of this Agreement will apply to such additional Services. |
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| 5. | Information. |
| (a) | In connection with Consultant’s performance of its Services, Consultant will rely on Company’s press releases and Company’s most recent reports, if any, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (collectively, the “Company Information”). In this regard, Company agrees to make all filings required by the exchange act and all other applicable laws, in each case on a timely basis in accordance with such laws. Client hereby grants to Consultant the right to use the name and service marks of Company in its Services. Company will be entitled to require that certain or all materials created by Consultant in performing its Services be submitted to Company for its review and approval, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. |
| (b) | Client hereby acknowledges and agrees that, in performing its Services hereunder, Consultant will be using and relying on the Company Information without independent verification thereof. Consultant will also be under no obligation to determine whether there have been, or to investigate any changes in, such information. Consultant will be entitled to submit any materials created by Consultant to Company for its review and approval, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed. Client represents and warrants that that the Company Information and all information provided by Company or its affiliate or representatives to Consultant shall, at the time provided, not contain any untrue statement or material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. |
| (c) | Client, by its authorization or approval of the Advertisement, represents and warrants to Consultant that, to its knowledge, the Advertisement is complete and correct in all material respects and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Client agrees to promptly notify Consultant upon the occurrence of any material adverse change in the business or affairs of the Company or upon the occurrence of any event which causes Client to believe that the Advertisement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. |
| 6. | Securities Laws. Client represents and warrants that the Company Information and all information provided by Company or its affiliates or representatives complies in all respects with the U.S. federal and applicable state securities laws, and are not and will not be or constitute a part of any activity that is or may be deemed to be illegal under the U.S. federal or applicable state securities laws, including, without limitation, being a part of any illegal offering, illegal pump-and-dump, illegal scalping, illegal touting schemes, or an effort to assist with a violation of any court order including, but not limited to, any order banning or limiting a person’s involvement in the securities markets. |
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| 7. | Work Product. All information and materials produced for Client shall be the property of Consultant, free and clear of all claims thereto by Client, and Client shall have no claim of authorship therein. Consultant shall retain all right, title, and interest in and to, including any intellectual property rights with respect to, any data, designs, processes, specifications, software, applications, course, code, object code, utilities, methodologies, know-how, materials, information and skills (and any derivative works, modifications and enhancements thereto) owned, acquired or developed by or for Consultant’s databases. |
| 8. | Confidentiality. The parties agree to hold each other's Proprietary or Confidential Information in strict confidence. “Proprietary or Confidential Information” shall include, but is not limited to, written or oral contracts, trade secrets, know-how, business methods, business policies, memoranda, reports, records, computer retained information, notes, or financial information. Proprietary or Confidential Information shall not include any information which: (i) is or becomes generally known to the public by any means other than a breach of the obligations of the receiving party; (ii) was previously known to the receiving party or rightly received by the receiving party from a third party; (iii) is independently developed by the receiving party; or (iv) is subject to disclosure under court order or other lawful process. The parties agree not to make each other's Proprietary or Confidential Information available in any form to any third party or to use each other's Proprietary or Confidential Information for any purpose other than as specified in this Agreement. Each party's Proprietary or Confidential Information shall remain the sole and exclusive property of that party. The parties agree that in the event of use or disclosure by the other party other than as specifically provided for in this Agreement, the non-disclosing party may be entitled to equitable relief. Notwithstanding termination or expiration of this Agreement, the parties acknowledge and agree that their obligations of confidentiality with respect to Proprietary or Confidential Information shall continue in effect for a total period of three (3) years from the termination date. |
| 9. | Non-Public Material Information. Consultant acknowledges that to prepare appropriate Advertising in a timely manner it may be made aware of price sensitive or confidential information that has not been publicly disclosed yet. Consultant confirms that it is fully aware of its obligations in relation to such information and will ensure that the confidentiality of such information is maintained at all times and that it, and its employees and contractors, are all fully aware of and comply with, all appropriate securities laws and regulations in relation to insider trading and related matters. |
| 10. | Covenant Not to Sue. Client agrees that it will not file any suit, claim, proceeding or complaint against Consultant arising out of or based on the failure of the trading volume of the stock to increase or price to rise, or to maintain any increase in trading volume or rise in stock price as may be occur, as a result of or in response to the public release of Advertising for the Company or Consultant’s provision of services under this Agreement. |
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| 11. | Limitation of Liability. Consultant shall not be liable to Client or any other person for any damages in connection with the provision of services under the Agreement, whether because of Consultant’s negligence or otherwise, and regardless of the form of action, except in the event of Consultant’s deliberate fault or gross negligence. Nevertheless, regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, Consultant shall not be liable to Client for any lost profits, business interruption, or for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement, nor shall Consultant’s aggregate liability for any damages arising out of this Agreement exceed the compensation paid by Client to Consultant. |
| 12. | Indemnification. Client shall indemnify and hold Consultant harmless from and against any and all actions, claims, investigations (including but not limited to any formal or informal investigations brought by any state or federal regulator and any subpoenas or requests for documents, information or testimony issued in connection therewith), liabilities, losses, or damages arising from the preparation, presentation or dissemination of any Advertising covered by this Agreement including, but limited to, the costs of defense and attorneys’ fees. You will also indemnify Consultant from and against all losses, expenses (including costs and attorneys’ fees) and all manner of actions, claims and judgments sustained by or made against Consultant in connection with your use or misuse of the Service, any medium used with the Service, violation of this Agreement, or based upon any alleged violation of any statute, ordinance, code, or regulation. |
| 13. | Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given to either party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given to such party at such party’s address set forth below or such other address as such party may hereafter specify by notice in writing to the other party. Any such notice or other communication shall be addressed as aforesaid and given by (a) certified mail, return receipt requested, with first class postage prepaid, (b) hand delivery, or (c) via electronic communication (i.e., e-mail) or (d) reputable overnight courier. Any notice or other communication will be deemed to have been duly given (i) on the fifth (5) day after mailing, provided receipt of delivery is confirmed, if mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, with first class postage prepaid, (ii) on the date of Service if served personally or (iii) on the business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or by sending of an electronic communication, provided the notifying party specifies next day delivery and receipt of delivery has been confirmed: |
If to the Client:
Email:
If to Consultant:
IR Agency LLC
23 Downing Street, Newark NJ 07105
E-mail: [Raf@ir.agency]
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| 14. | Waiver of Breach. Any waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by any party. |
| 15. | Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party, which will not be delayed or withheld unreasonably; provided that Client shall not be required to consent to any assignment by Consultant of its cash and compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement. Any assignment without such consent, when required, shall have no legal validity; subject to the foregoing, this Agreement and all of the provisions hereof will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns. |
| 16. | Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed and construed under New Jersey law. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in New Jersey, to hear and determine any dispute that may arise under this Agreement. |
| 17. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the complete agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior proposals, understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral. |
| 18. | Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. |
| 19. | Waiver and Modification. Any waiver, alteration, or modification of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be valid only if made in writing through an amendment of this Agreement and signed by the parties hereto. |
| 20. | Acceptance. Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with Company’s understanding by signing and returning this Agreement, which will thereupon constitute a binding Agreement between the Company and IR Agency, LLC as of the date of your execution. The undersigned officers of IR Agency, LLC and Company represent that they have the authority to bind IR Agency and Company, respectively. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and with electronic or facsimile signatures. |
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| IR Agency LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Print Name: | Rafael Pereira | |
| iSpecimen Inc | ||
| By: | ||
| Print Name: | ||
| Position: | ||
| Date: | ||
IR Agency wire Instructions
Capital One Bank
Account Beneficiary- IR Agency LLC
Address: 23 Downing Street, Newark NJ 07105
Wire Acct #: 7057541044
Wire Routing #- 021407912
SWIFT# HIBKUS44
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Exhibit 10.46
BETWEEN:
iSpecimen Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of business at 8 Cabot Road, Woburn MA 01801 (the “Purchaser”)
AND:
Sales Stack Solutions Corp., a British Columbia Company, with a registered address at 25th Floor – 700 West Georgia Street, Vancouver B.C. V7Y 1K8 (the “Vendor”)
WHEREAS:
| 1. | The Purchaser has recently experienced technological challenges associated with the maintenance and use of its existing proprietary marketplace technology platform (the “Marketplace”). |
| 2. | The Purchaser intends to purchase and the Vendor seeks to sell a technology software known as “SalesStack” which shall be built, integrated, customized and maintained by the Vendor for the purpose of improving and addressing issues within the Marketplace. |
NOW THEREFORE the Parties Agree to the following terms:
| 1. | Scope of Work |
The Vendor’s obligations shall include the following:
| a) | Build and Install: Build and install SalesStack and perform technical integration into the Purchaser’s Marketplace. |
| b) | Integration: Fully integrate SalesStack into all operational areas of the Marketplace, ensuring end-to-end functional compatibility. |
| c) | Customization: Customize SalesStack to address and accommodate the Purchaser’s specified functional, operational, and business requirements. |
| d) | Support and Maintenance: Provide ongoing support, troubleshooting, and maintenance services for SalesStack and the Marketplace for a period of one (1) month following the completion of the Customization phase. |
| 2. | Payment Terms |
The Purchaser shall pay the Vendor a total amount of Two Million Four Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars (USD $2,400,000.00) according to the following milestone schedule:
| Milestone | Description | Payment Amount (USD) | ||||
| Milestone 1 | Completion of the building and installation of SalesStack into the Marketplace. | $ | 1,000,000.00 | |||
| Milestone 2 | Completion of the full integration of SalesStack into all operational areas of the Marketplace. | $ | 700,000.00 | |||
| Milestone 3 | Completion of Customization of SalesStack for the Purchaser’s needs, and the completion of one (1) month of support and maintenance services. | $ | 700,000.00 | |||
All payments shall be due within fifteen (15) calendar days of Purchaser’s written confirmation of the achievement of each applicable milestone.
| 3. | Ownership and Intellectual Property |
| a) | Upon final payment of all amounts owed under this Term Sheet and the definitive agreement, all right, title, and interest in SalesStack, including any enhancements, customizations, and derivatives created for the Purchaser, shall vest in and be owned exclusively by the Purchaser. |
| b) | Vendor shall retain no rights to SalesStack except as otherwise expressly agreed upon in the definitive agreement. |
| 4. | Definitive Agreement |
The parties agree to work in good faith to negotiate and execute a mutually acceptable definitive Software Purchase and Services Agreement incorporating the terms set forth herein and containing such additional terms, warranties, indemnities, representations, and covenants as are customary for transactions of this type.
| 5. | Governing Law |
This Term Sheet, and any definitive agreement entered into by the parties, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
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| 6. | Non-Binding Nature |
Except for Sections 3 (Ownership and Intellectual Property), 5 (Governing Law), and 6 (Non- Binding Nature), this Term Sheet is intended as a statement of mutual intentions and does not constitute a binding obligation on either party. Binding obligations will arise only upon the execution and delivery of the definitive agreement.
| 7. | Miscellaneous |
| a) | Costs: Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Term Sheet and any definitive agreement. |
| b) | Confidentiality: The existence and terms of this Term Sheet shall remain confidential except as required by applicable law. |
| 8. | Execution |
Executed as of April 30th, 2025
| Purchaser | Vendor | |||
| iSpecimen Inc. | Sales Stack Solutions Corp. | |||
| By: | /s/ Robert Lim | By: | /s/ Jacob Shao | |
| Name: | Robert Lim | Name: | Jacob Shao | |
| Title: | CEO | Title: | CTO | |
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Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 and related Prospectus of iSpecimen Inc. of our report dated March 13, 2024, except Note 1, Reverse Stock Split and Note 13, as to which the date is April 14, 2025, relating to the financial statements of iSpecimen Inc., appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of iSpecimen Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2024.
We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.
/s/ Wolf & Company, P.C.
Boston, Massachusetts
May 2, 2025
Exhibit 23.2
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Bush & Associates CPA |
To Whom It May Concern:
We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated April 15, 2025, relating to the financial statements of iSpecimen, Inc., which is contained in that Prospectus (and of our report dated April 15, 2025, relating to the schedules, which are contained in the Registration Statement).
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Bush & Associates CPA LLC
Bush & Associates CPA LLC (PCAOB 6797)
Henderson, Nevada
May 2, 2025
179 N. Gibson Rd., Henderson, NV 89014 ● 702.703.5979 ● www.bushandassociatescpas.com
2024 CCH Incorporated and/or Its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
COR-919
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