UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Introductory Note
This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 29, 2025 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among OceanFirst Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (“OceanFirst”), Apollo Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of OceanFirst (“Merger Sub”), and Flushing Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Flushing”).
Effective as of June 1, 2026 (the “Closing Date”), OceanFirst consummated its previously announced transaction with Flushing (the “Closing”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on the Closing Date, (a) Merger Sub merged with and into Flushing (the “First-Step Merger”) at the effective time (the “Effective Time”), with Flushing continuing as the surviving entity, (b) immediately following the First-Step Merger, OceanFirst caused Flushing to merge with and into OceanFirst, with OceanFirst continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Second-Step Merger” and together with the First-Step Merger, the “Mergers”). On the day immediately following the Closing Date, Flushing Bank, a New York-chartered non-member bank and, prior to the Second-Step Merger, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flushing (“Flushing Bank”) will merge with and into OceanFirst Bank, National Association, a national banking association and a wholly-owned subsidiary of OceanFirst (the “Bank”), with the Bank continuing as the surviving bank (the “Surviving Bank” and such merger, the “Bank Merger”).
Merger Consideration
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Flushing (“Flushing Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, subject to certain exceptions, was converted into the right to receive 0.85 of a share (the “Exchange Ratio”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of OceanFirst (“OceanFirst Common Stock” and such consideration, the “Merger Consideration”). At the Effective Time, holders of Flushing Common Stock also became entitled to receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of OceanFirst Common Stock.
Treatment of Flushing Equity Awards
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each outstanding restricted stock unit award (each, a “Flushing RSU Award”) granted under the Flushing Financial Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan or the Flushing Financial Corporation 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Flushing Stock Plan”) that was not an Assumed Flushing RSU Award (as defined below), became fully vested and was cancelled and converted into the right to receive (a) a number of shares of OceanFirst Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Flushing Common Stock subject to such Flushing RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (assuming achievement of the target level of performance for any Flushing RSU Award that was subject to performance-based vesting conditions for which the applicable performance period had not ended as of the Effective Time and the actual level of performance achieved for any Flushing RSU Award that was subject to performance-based vesting conditions for which the applicable performance period had ended prior to the Effective Time), multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, and (b) an amount in cash equal to the accrued dividend equivalent payments (if any) with respect to such Flushing RSU Award.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each outstanding Flushing RSU Award granted under the Flushing Stock Plan after December 29, 2025, including any such Flushing RSU Award that was subject to performance-based vesting conditions (each, an “Assumed Flushing RSU Award”), was, at the Effective Time, converted into a service-based restricted stock unit award of OceanFirst (each, an “OceanFirst RSU Award”), subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to such Assumed Flushing RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, including with respect to service-based vesting conditions, “double-trigger” change in control accelerated vesting, and dividend equivalents, but not any performance conditions or performance-based vesting. The number of shares of OceanFirst Common Stock subject to each OceanFirst RSU Award equaled the product of (a) the number of shares of Flushing Common Stock subject to such Assumed Flushing RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (assuming, in the case of any Assumed Flushing RSU Award that was subject to performance-based vesting, that performance was achieved at the target level of performance), multiplied by (b) the Exchange Ratio.
The foregoing description of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
The total number of shares of OceanFirst Common Stock issuable as Merger Consideration (including with respect to the converted Flushing restricted stock awards as described above) is approximately 29.30 million shares of OceanFirst Common Stock. The issuances of shares of OceanFirst Common Stock in connection with the Mergers were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-293282) filed by OceanFirst with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 6, 2026, as amended on February 23, 2026, and declared effective by the SEC on February 25, 2026 (the “S-4 Registration Statement”).
| Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
The information set forth in Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K under the heading “Registration Rights Agreement” is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
| Item 2.01. | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.
| Item 2.03. | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
At the effective time of the Second-Step Merger (the “Second Effective Time”), in connection with the Closing, OceanFirst assumed Flushing’s obligations with respect to an aggregate principal amount of $251,857,000 of subordinated debt and junior subordinated debt securities, which were previously issued by Flushing, comprising of (a) $125,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 3.125% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031, (b) $65,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032, (c) $20,619,000 in aggregate principal amount of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2037, (d) $20,619,000 in aggregate principal amount of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2037, and (e) $20,619,000 in aggregate principal amount of unsecured Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes due 2037.
The supplemental indentures and assignment and assumption agreements, pursuant to which OceanFirst assumed the obligations with respect to the subordinated notes, as well as the original indentures, pursuant to which the subordinated notes were issued, have not been filed herewith pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. OceanFirst agrees to furnish a copy of such documents to the SEC upon request.
| Item 3.02. | Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities. |
Investment Agreement
On the Closing Date, OceanFirst (a) issued and sold to affiliates of funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC (“Warburg”), for an aggregate purchase price of $225 million, approximately (i) 9.5 million shares of OceanFirst Common Stock, at $19.76 per share of OceanFirst Common Stock and (ii) 1,812 shares of a new class of OceanFirst non-voting, common-equivalent stock (“NVCE Stock”) representing the economic equivalent of approximately 1.8 million shares of OceanFirst Common Stock, at $19,760 per share of NVCE Stock and (b) issued to Warburg a warrant to purchase approximately 11.4 million shares of NVCE Stock with an exercise price of $19,760 per share of NVCE Stock (the “Warrant” and together with clause (a), the “Investment”). The Warrant carries a term of seven years and can be exercised voluntarily following the third anniversary of the Investment Closing. The Warrant can also be voluntarily exercised prior to the third anniversary of the Investment Closing, (A) in the event the market price of OceanFirst Common Stock reaches or exceeds $30 per share at the closing of any trading day or (B) in connection with certain change of control transactions involving OceanFirst. The Warrant is subject to mandatory exercise, at any time, in the event the market price of OceanFirst Common Stock reaches or exceeds $30 per share for a certain number
of trading days over a specified period. In the event of a change of control transaction where less than 90% of the consideration in such transaction is comprised of equity securities traded on the NASDAQ or NYSE, Warburg will be entitled to receive additional shares if it exercises the Warrant in connection with such transaction. The issuance and sale were made pursuant to the investment agreement, dated December 29, 2025, entered into by OceanFirst and Warburg (such agreement, the “Investment Agreement”).
The estimated total number of shares of OceanFirst Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Closing, giving effect to the issuance and sale under the Investment Agreement described above, is approximately 96.7 million shares, which includes approximately (a) 29.30 million shares issued to Flushing stockholders and (b) 9.5 million shares issued to Warburg.
From and after the closing of the Investment (the “Investment Closing”), Warburg is prohibited from transferring any securities acquired pursuant to the Investment Agreement to certain activist investors, competitors of OceanFirst or sanctioned parties, subject to certain exceptions.
OceanFirst’s offering and sale of shares of OceanFirst Common Stock, the NVCE Stock and Warrant were made in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Registration Rights Agreement
On the Closing Date, OceanFirst entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Warburg (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which OceanFirst agreed to provide customary registration rights to Warburg and its affiliates and certain permitted transferees with respect to the shares of OceanFirst Common Stock purchased under the Investment Agreement, and the shares of OceanFirst Common Stock issued upon the conversion of shares of the NVCE Stock purchased under the Investment Agreement or issued upon the exercise of the Warrant. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, Warburg is entitled to customary S-3 shelf registration rights, “demand” registrations and “piggyback” registration rights, in each case, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Investment Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Warrant and the transactions contemplated thereby are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Investment Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Registration Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the Warrant, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and in each case incorporated by reference herein.
| Item 3.03. | Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders. |
In connection with the consummation of the Investment, OceanFirst filed a Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Secretary”) for the purpose of creating the NVCE Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”). The Certificate of Designations was filed on May 29, 2026.
The foregoing summaries and referenced descriptions of the terms of the NVCE Stock are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Designations, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.
The information set forth under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Board of Directors
As previously disclosed on OceanFirst’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2025, at the Second Effective Time and in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, (a) the following six former directors of Flushing were appointed to serve as directors on the board of directors of OceanFirst (the “OceanFirst Board”), effective as of the Effective Time: John R. Buran, Alfred DelliBovi, Steven D’Iorio, Louis C. Grassi, Sam S. Han, and Caren C. Yoh (the “Flushing Directors”), and (b) Todd Schell, designated by Warburg, was appointed to serve as a director of OceanFirst, pursuant to the Investment Agreement (such director, collectively with the Flushing Directors, the “New Directors”). Other than the Merger Agreement and, in the case of Todd Schell, the Investment Agreement, there are no arrangements between the New Directors and any other person pursuant to which the New Directors were selected as directors. There are no transactions in which any New Director has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. The New Directors join the following 10 directors of OceanFirst who will continue their service as directors of OceanFirst: Christopher D. Maher, Anthony R. Coscia, Jack M. Farris, Robert C. Garrett, Nicos Katsoulis, Joseph J. Lebel, Steven M. Scopellite, Grace C. Torres, Patricia L. Turner and Dalila Wilson-Scott.
As a result of the Mergers and effective as of the Effective Time, each John F. Barros, Kimberly M. Guadagno and Joseph M. Murphy, Jr., ceased to serve as a member of the OceanFirst Board. The departures did not result, in whole or in part, from any disagreement with OceanFirst or its management.
Accordingly, effective as of the Effective Time on June 1, 2026, the OceanFirst Board had the following members:
Christopher D. Maher, Anthony R. Coscia, Jack M. Farris, Robert C. Garrett, Nicos Katsoulis, Joseph J. Lebel, Steven M. Scopellite, Grace C. Torres, Patricia L. Turner, Dalila Wilson-Scott, John R. Buran, Alfred DelliBovi, Steven D’Iorio, Louis C. Grassi, Sam S. Han, Caren C. Yoh, and Todd Schell.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective as of the effective time of the Bank Merger, each of the members of the OceanFirst Board were appointed to the board of directors of OceanFirst Bank (the “OceanFirst Bank Board”) and John R. Buran was appointed as Chairman of the OceanFirst Bank Board.
Biographical Information
Biographical information related to the Flushing Directors can be found in the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed by Flushing with the SEC on April 17, 2025.
Todd Schell is a Managing Director at Warburg, where he focuses on financial services. He chairs the firm’s U.S. Fintech effort and serves on the boards of ECN Capital Corp., IntraFi, Facet Wealth and PayJoy. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus LLC, Mr. Schell covered financial institutions in the Investment Banking division at Barclays Capital. Mr. Schell received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Amherst College.
Chairman of the Board
Effective as of the Second Effective Time, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, John R. Buran was appointed as the Non-Executive Chairman of the OceanFirst Board. At the Closing, Christopher D. Maher, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of OceanFirst, ceased serving as Chairman of the OceanFirst Board. Mr. Buran will continue to serve as the Non-Executive Chairman for two years following the Closing. Following John Buran’s term, Mr. Maher will be re-appointed Chairman of the OceanFirst Board for a term not exceeding one year. Thereafter, the OceanFirst board will appoint a Chairman of the OceanFirst Board in its discretion. Mr. Buran will also be nominated to the OceanFirst Board at each of the five annual meetings of stockholders of OceanFirst following the Merger Closing.
| Item 5.03. | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
In connection with the consummation of the Mergers, OceanFirst filed a Certificate of Designations with the Delaware Secretary for the purpose of fixing the designations, conversion or other rights, voting powers and limitations of the NVCE Stock.
Information set forth under Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing summary and referenced description of the Certificate of Designations do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Designations, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 7.01. | Regulation FD Disclosure |
On June 1, 2026, OceanFirst issued a press release announcing the completion of the Mergers. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.4 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in this Item 7.01, as well as Exhibit 99.4 referenced herein, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(a) Financial statements of businesses or funds acquired.
The financial statements of Flushing Financial Corporation required by Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K are filed as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report and incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(a).
(b) Pro forma financial information.
The pro forma financial information required by Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K is filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report and incorporated by reference into this Item 9.01(b).
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference:
| * | Pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K, certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted. The registrant hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the SEC upon request. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. | ||||||
| Date: June 1, 2026 | ||||||
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/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos | |||||
| Steven J. Tsimbinos | ||||||
| Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||||
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
NON-VOTING COMMON EQUIVALENT STOCK
OF
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Sections 103, 141 and 151 thereof, does hereby certify that:
In accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation and applicable law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), duly adopted the following resolution on December 29, 2025, creating a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation designated as “Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock”.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Charter and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, the Board hereby establishes a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation and fixes and determines the designation, powers, preferences, redemption rights, qualifications, privileges, limitations, restrictions and special or relative rights thereof as follows:
Section I. Designation and Amount.
A series of Preferred Stock designated as the “Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock” (“NVCE Stock”) is hereby established. The total number of authorized shares of NVCE Stock shall be 13,500.
Section II. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:
“Adjustment Event” has the meaning specified in Section VII(a).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person (as used in this definition, the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise).
“Applicable Conversion Rate” means, for each share of NVCE Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (a) one thousand (1,000) multiplied by (b) the quotient of (i) the Base Price divided by (ii) the then-applicable Conversion Price, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section VII for any applicable event occurring subsequent to the initial determination of the Applicable Conversion Rate.
“Base Price” means $19.76.
“BHC Act” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (as amended) and its implementing regulations.
“BHCA Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the city of New York, New York are required or authorized by Law to be closed.
“Certificate of Designations” means this Certificate of Designations of NVCE Stock of the Corporation, dated May 29, 2026.
“Charter” means the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, supplemented and/or restated from time to time.
“Class of Voting Security” shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with how “class of voting shares” is defined in 12 C.F.R. Section 225.2(q)(3) or any successor provision.
“Closing Date” means the date that any shares of NVCE Stock are first issued.
“Closing Price” of the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) on any date of determination means the closing sale price or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price of the shares of the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) on the NASDAQ on such date. If the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) is not traded on the NASDAQ on any date of determination, the Closing Price of the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) on such date of determination means the closing sale price as reported in the composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) is so listed or quoted, or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) is so listed or quoted, or if the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) is not so listed or quoted on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) in the over-the-counter market as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization, or, if that bid price is not available, the market price of the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) on that date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by the Corporation for this purpose.
For purposes of this Certificate of Designations, all references herein to the “Closing Price” and “last reported sale price” of the Common Stock (or other relevant capital stock or equity interest) on the NASDAQ shall be such closing sale price and last reported sale price as reflected on the website of the NASDAQ (http://www.nasdaq.com) and as reported by Bloomberg Professional service; provided that in the event that there is a discrepancy between the closing sale price or last reported sale price as reflected on the website of the NASDAQ and as reported by Bloomberg Professional service, the closing sale price and last reported sale price on the website of the NASDAQ shall govern.
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“Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Corporation authorized by the Corporation on or after the date hereof.
“Conversion Date” means the date on which any shares of NVCE Stock shall become convertible into any shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section III(a); provided, however, that if a Conversion Date would otherwise occur on or after an Ex-Date for an issuance, dividend or distribution that results in an adjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to Section VII and on or before the Record Date for such issuance, dividend or distribution, such Conversion Date shall instead occur on the first calendar day after the Record Date for such issuance, dividend or distribution.
“Conversion Price” means, for each share of NVCE Stock, the Base Price, as the same may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Certificate of Designations; provided that the Conversion Price for shares of NVCE Stock issued pursuant to the Warrant shall at the time of issuance also be adjusted for the cumulative effect of all events occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to such time of issuance for which no adjustment was made in accordance with the terms of this Certificate of Designations to the Conversion Price for shares of NVCE Stock outstanding at the time of such event(s) (including amounts for which no adjustment was made pursuant to Section VII(f)(i)).
“Convertible Transfer” means a transfer by the Holder that is both (i) to a Person who is a Non-BHCA Affiliate and (ii) (A) to the Corporation; (B) in a widespread public distribution; (C) in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) would receive two percent (2%) or more of the outstanding securities of any Class of Voting Securities of the Corporation; or (D) to a purchaser that would control more than fifty percent (50%) of every Class of Voting Securities of the Corporation without any transfer from the Holder.
“Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Current Market Price” means, on any date, the average of the daily Closing Price per share of the Common Stock or other securities on each of the five consecutive Trading Days preceding the earlier of the day before the date of the issuance, dividend or distribution in question and the day before the Ex-Date with respect to the issuance or distribution, giving rise to an adjustment to the Conversion Price pursuant to Section VII.
“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Property” has the meaning specified in Section VII(i).
“Ex-Date” means, when used with respect to any issuance, dividend or distribution giving rise to an adjustment to the Conversion Price pursuant to Section VII, the first date on which the applicable Common Stock or other securities trade without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution.
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“Government Entity” means any (a) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; (b) governmental entity of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, committee or entity and any court or other tribunal), whether foreign or domestic; or (c) body exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature, whether foreign or domestic, including any arbitral tribunal and self-regulatory organizations.
“Holder” means the Person in whose name any shares of NVCE Stock are registered, which may be treated by the Corporation as the absolute owner of such shares of NVCE Stock for the purpose of making payment and settling conversion and for all other purposes.
“Investment Agreement” means that certain Investment Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2025, as it may be amended from time to time, by and among the Corporation, WPGG 14 Orion L.P. and WPFS II Orion L.P.
“Law” means, with respect to any Person, any legal, regulatory and administrative laws, statutes, rules, Orders and regulations applicable to such Person.
“Liens” means any and all liens, charges, security interests, options, claims, mortgages, pledges, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, obligations, understandings or arrangements, or other restrictions on title or transfer of any nature whatsoever.
“NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
“Non-BHCA Affiliate” means a Person that is both (a) not the initial Holder of the instrument and (b) not a BHCA Affiliate of (i) the Holder of the instrument or (ii) a Person described in clause (a).
“NVCE Stock” has the meaning specified in Section I.
“NVCE Dividend Amount” has the meaning specified in Section IV(a).
“Order” means any applicable order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, or writ of any Government Entity.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
“Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.
“Record Date” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of the Common Stock have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of the Common Stock entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board or by Law, contract or otherwise).
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“Reorganization Event” has the meaning specified in Section VII(i)(ii).
“Subject NVCE Share” has the meaning set forth in Section III(a)(i).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the shares of Common Stock:
(i) are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of business; and
(ii) have traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of the Common Stock.
“Warrant” has the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreement.
Section III. Conversion.
(a) Conversion upon Convertible Transfer.
(i) The shares of NVCE Stock shall not be convertible into any other class of capital stock of the Corporation, except in accordance with this Section III. On the terms and in the manner set forth in this Section III, but subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 of the Investment Agreement, upon the consummation of any Convertible Transfer of shares of NVCE Stock, each outstanding share of NVCE Stock subject to such Convertible Transfer (each, a “Subject NVCE Share”) shall automatically convert into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Applicable Conversion Rate.
(ii) On the Conversion Date, the Corporation shall effect the conversion of the Subject NVCE Shares by delivering the shares of Common Stock so converted pursuant to Section III(a)(i).
(b) Prior to the close of business on any applicable Conversion Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any shares of NVCE Stock pursuant to Section III(a)(i) shall not be deemed outstanding for any purpose, and the Holders shall have no rights with respect to the Common Stock (including voting rights, rights to respond to tender offers for the Common Stock, and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on the Common Stock) by virtue of holding shares of NVCE Stock, except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Certificate of Designations.
(c) Effective immediately prior to the close of business on any applicable Conversion Date, the rights of the Holders with respect to the shares of the NVCE Stock so converted shall cease and the Persons entitled to receive shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of such shares of NVCE Stock shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record and beneficial owners of such shares of Common Stock. In the event that the Holders that acquired NVCE Stock in a Convertible Transfer shall not by written notice to the Corporation designate the name in which shares of Common Stock and/or cash, securities or other property (including payments of cash in lieu of fractional shares) to be issued or paid upon conversion of shares of NVCE Stock acquired in a Convertible Transfer should be registered or paid or the manner in which such shares should be delivered, the Corporation shall be entitled to register and deliver such shares, and make such payment, in the name of the Holders and in the manner shown on the records of the Corporation.
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(d) No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon any conversion of shares of NVCE Stock. If more than one share of NVCE Stock shall be surrendered for conversion at any one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of shares of NVCE Stock so surrendered. Instead of any fractional shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon conversion of any Subject NVCE Share, the Corporation shall pay an amount in cash (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the fractional share of Common Stock that otherwise would be issuable hereunder, multiplied by the Closing Price of the Common Stock determined as of the second Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Conversion Date.
(e) All shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion of the shares of NVCE Stock will, upon issuance by the Corporation, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions imposed under applicable securities Laws) and not issued in violation of any preemptive right or Law.
(f) Effective immediately prior to the Conversion Date, dividends or distributions shall no longer be declared on any Subject NVCE Shares and such shares shall cease to be outstanding, in each case, subject to the rights of a Holder to receive any declared and unpaid dividends or distributions on such shares and any other payments to which they are otherwise entitled pursuant to Section IV or Section VII.
Section IV. Dividend Rights.
(a) From and after the Closing Date to (but excluding) the applicable Conversion Date, (i) the Holders shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board or any duly authorized committee of the Board (but only out of assets legally available therefor under the DGCL) all cash dividends or distributions (including regular quarterly dividends or distributions) declared and paid or made in respect of the shares of Common Stock, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, in an amount per share of NVCE Stock equal to the product of (x) the Applicable Conversion Rate then in effect and (y) any per share dividend or distribution, as applicable, declared and paid or made in respect of each share of Common Stock (the “NVCE Dividend Amount”), and (ii) the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof may not declare and pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution in respect of Common Stock unless the Board or any duly authorized committee of the Board declares and pays to the Holders, at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock, the NVCE Dividend Amount per share of NVCE Stock. Notwithstanding any provision in this Section IV(a) to the contrary, no Holder of a share of NVCE Stock shall be entitled to receive any dividend or distribution made with respect to the Common Stock where the Record Date for determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend or distribution occurs prior to the date of issuance of such share of NVCE Stock. The foregoing shall not limit or modify the rights of any Holder to receive any dividend or other distribution pursuant to Section VII.
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(b) Each dividend or distribution declared and paid pursuant to Section IV(a) will be payable to Holders of record of shares of NVCE Stock as they appear in the records of the Corporation at the close of business on the same day as the Record Date for the corresponding dividend or distribution to the holders of shares of Common Stock.
(c) Except as set forth in this Certificate of Designations, the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of shares of NVCE Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends or distributions at any time, including with respect to dividends or distributions with respect to Common Stock or any class or series of authorized Preferred Stock. To the extent the Corporation declares dividends or distributions on the NVCE Stock and on any Common Stock but does not make full payment of such declared dividends or distributions, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a pro rata basis among the holders of the shares of NVCE Stock and the holders of any Common Stock then outstanding. For purposes of calculating the allocation of partial dividend payments, the Corporation will allocate dividend payments on a pro rata basis among the Holders and the holders of any Common Stock so that the amount of dividends or distributions paid per share on the shares of NVCE Stock and such Common Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that payable dividends or distributions per share on the shares of the NVCE Stock and such Common Stock (but without, in the case of any noncumulative Preferred Stock, accumulation of dividends or distributions for prior dividend periods) bear to each other. The foregoing right shall not be cumulative and shall not in any way create any claim or right in favor of Holders in the event that dividends or distributions have not been declared or paid in respect of any prior calendar quarter.
(d) No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on shares of NVCE Stock or on such Common Stock that may be in arrears.
(e) Holders shall not be entitled to any dividends or distributions, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends or distributions (if any) declared and payable on shares of NVCE Stock as specified in this Certificate of Designations.
(f) Notwithstanding any provision in this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, Holders shall not be entitled to receive any dividends or distributions on any shares of NVCE Stock on or after the applicable Conversion Date in respect of such shares of NVCE Stock that have been converted as provided herein, except to the extent that any such dividends or distributions have been declared by the Board or any duly authorized committee of the Board and the Record Date for such dividend occurs prior to such applicable Conversion Date.
Section V. Voting.
(a) Notwithstanding any stated or statutory voting rights, except as set forth in Section V(b), the Holders shall not be entitled to vote (in their capacity as Holders) on any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
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(b) So long as any shares of NVCE Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the written consent or affirmative vote, given in person or by proxy, at a meeting called for that purpose by holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of NVCE Stock, voting as a single and separate class, amend, alter or repeal (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than a Reorganization Event pursuant to which the NVCE Stock is treated in accordance with Section VII(i)) any provision of (i) this Certificate of Designations or (ii) the Charter, in either case, that would alter, modify or change the preferences, rights, privileges or powers of the NVCE Stock so as to, or in a manner that would, significantly and adversely affect the preferences, rights, privileges or powers of the NVCE Stock; provided, that neither (x) any increase in the amount of the authorized or issued NVCE Stock or any securities convertible into NVCE Stock nor (y) the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into Preferred Stock, ranking equal with and/or junior to the NVCE Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and/or the distribution of assets upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, in either case, will, in and of itself, be deemed to significantly and adversely affect the preferences, rights, privileges or powers of the NVCE Stock and no Holders will have any right to vote their shares of NVCE Stock or consent to such action solely by reason of such an increase, creation or issuance.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not, without the written consent or affirmative vote, given in person or by proxy, at a meeting called for that purpose by the unanimous consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of NVCE Stock, amend, alter or repeal (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than a Reorganization Event pursuant to which the NVCE Stock is treated in accordance with Section VII(i)) the definitions of Base Price, Conversion Price or Applicable Conversion Rate under this Certificate of Designations.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holders shall not have any voting rights set out in Section V(b) if, at or prior to the effective time of the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required, all outstanding shares of NVCE Stock shall have been converted into shares of Common Stock.
Section VI. Liquidation.
(a) Subject to the terms hereof, the NVCE Stock shall, consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. Section 217.20(b)(1) (or any successor regulation) with respect to common equity tier 1 capital, rank equally with, and have identical rights, preferences and privileges as, the Common Stock with respect to dividends or distributions (including regular quarterly dividends) declared by the Board and rights upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding up or similar proceeding of the Corporation, as provided in the Charter; provided, that, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of the NVCE Stock shall be entitled to receive, in preference to the holders of the Common Stock, in addition to the foregoing amount, an amount per share equal to $0.0001.
(b) For purposes of this Section VI, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall be deemed not to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or Person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination of any other corporation or Person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
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Section VII. Adjustments.
(a) The Conversion Price shall be subject to the adjustments described in this Section VII (each such event set forth in Section VII(b) through Section VII(i), an “Adjustment Event”).
(b) Stock Dividends and Distributions. If the Corporation pays dividends or other distributions on the Common Stock in shares of Common Stock, then the Conversion Price will be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution by the following fraction:
| OS0 |
| OS1 |
Where,
| OS0 |
= | the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution. | ||
| OS1 |
= | the sum of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution, plus (y) the total number of shares of Common Stock issued in such dividend or distribution. | ||
The adjustment pursuant to this Section VII(b) shall become effective at 9:00 a.m., New York City time on the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution. For the purposes of this Section VII(b), the number of shares of Common Stock at the time outstanding shall not include shares held in treasury by the Corporation. If any dividend or distribution described in this Section VII(b) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board publicly announces its decision not to make such dividend or distribution, to such Conversion Price that would be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.
(c) Subdivisions, Splits and Combinations of Common Stock. If the Corporation subdivides, splits or combines the shares of Common Stock, then the Conversion Price will be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Trading Day immediately prior to the effective date of such share subdivision, split or combination by the following fraction:
| OS0 |
| OS1 |
Where,
| OS0 |
= | the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such share subdivision, split or combination. | ||
| OS1 |
= | the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the opening of business on the effective date of such share subdivision, split or combination. | ||
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The adjustment pursuant to this Section VII(c) shall become effective at 9:00 a.m., New York City time on the effective date of such subdivision, split or combination. For the purposes of this Section VII(c), the number of shares of Common Stock at the time outstanding shall not include shares held in treasury by the Corporation. If any subdivision, split or combination described in this Section VII(c) is announced but the outstanding shares of Common Stock are not subdivided, split or combined, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board publicly announces its decision not to subdivide, split or combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, to such Conversion Price that would be in effect if such subdivision, split or combination had not been announced.
(d) Issuance of Stock Purchase Rights. If the Corporation issues to all or substantially all holders of the shares of Common Stock rights or warrants (other than rights or warrants issued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan or share purchase plan or other similar plans) entitling them, for a period of up to 45 days from the date of issuance of such rights or warrants, to subscribe for or purchase the shares of Common Stock at less than the Current Market Price on the date immediately preceding the Ex-Date for such issuance, then the Conversion Price will be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Ex-Date for such issuance by the following fraction:
| OS0 + Y |
| OS0 + X |
Where,
| OS0 |
= | the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Ex-Date for such distribution. | ||
| X |
= | the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights or warrants. | ||
| Y |
= | the number of shares of Common Stock equal to (a) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights or warrants divided by (b) the Current Market Price on the date immediately preceding the Ex-Date for the issuance of such rights or warrants. | ||
Any adjustment pursuant to this Section VII(d) shall become effective immediately prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Ex-Date for such issuance. For the purposes of this Section VII(d), the number of shares of Common Stock at the time outstanding shall not include shares held in treasury by the Corporation. The Corporation shall not issue any such rights or warrants in respect of shares of the Common Stock held in treasury by the Corporation. In the event that such rights or warrants described in this Section VII(d) are not so issued, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board publicly announces its decision not to issue such rights or warrants, to the Conversion Price that would then be in effect if such issuance had not been declared. To the extent that such rights or warrants are not exercised prior to their expiration or shares of Common Stock are otherwise not delivered pursuant to such rights or warrants upon the exercise of such rights or warrants, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted to such Conversion Price that would then be in effect had the adjustment made upon the issuance of
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such rights or warrants been made on the basis of the delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. In determining the aggregate offering price payable for such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights or warrants and the value of such consideration (if other than cash, to be reasonably determined by the Board).
(e) Debt or Asset Distributions. If the Corporation distributes to all or substantially all holders of shares of Common Stock evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital stock, securities, cash or other assets (excluding any dividend or distribution referred to in Section VII(b), any dividend or distribution paid exclusively in cash, any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, and any dividend of shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit in the case of certain spin-off transactions as described below), then the Conversion Price will be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Ex-Date for such distribution by the following fraction:
| SP0 – FMV |
| SP0 |
Where,
| SP0 |
= | the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on such date. | ||
| FMV |
= | the fair market value of the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock on such date as reasonably determined by the Board; provided that, if “FMV” as set forth above is equal to or greater than “SP0” as set forth above, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall receive on the date on which such distribution is made to holders of Common Stock, for each share of NVCE Stock, the amount of such distribution such Holder would have received had such holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Applicable Conversion Rate on the Ex-Date for such distribution. | ||
In a “spin-off”, where the Corporation makes a distribution to all holders of shares of Common Stock consisting of capital stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests of, or relating to, a subsidiary or other business unit, if a Holder did not participate in such distribution with respect to such shares of NVCE Stock as provided for in Section IV, the Conversion Price with respect to such share held by such Holder will be adjusted on the 15th Trading Day after the effective date of the distribution by multiplying such Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such 15th Trading Day by the following fraction:
| MP0 |
| MP0+ MPs |
Where,
| MP0 |
= | the average of the Closing Prices of the Common Stock over the first 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the fifth Trading Day following the effective date of such distribution. |
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| MPs |
= | the average of the Closing Prices of the capital stock or equity interests representing the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock over the first 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the fifth Trading Day following the effective date of such distribution, or, if not traded on a national or regional securities exchange or over-the-counter market, the fair market value of the capital stock or equity interests representing the portion of the distribution applicable to one share of Common Stock on such date as reasonably determined by the Board. |
Any adjustment pursuant to this Section VII(e) shall become effective immediately prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Ex-Date for such distribution. In the event that such distribution described in this Section VII(e) is not so paid or made, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board publicly announces its decision not to pay or make such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Price that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.
(f) Cash Distributions. If the Corporation makes a distribution consisting exclusively of cash to all holders of Common Stock, excluding any (i) cash dividend on the Common Stock to the extent a corresponding cash dividend is paid on the NVCE Stock pursuant to Section IV(a), (ii) cash that is distributed in a Reorganization Event or as part of a “spin-off” referred to in Section VII(e), (iii) dividend or distribution in connection with the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, and (iv) consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, then in each event, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the Ex-Date for such distribution will be multiplied by the following fraction:
| SP0 – DIV |
| SP0 |
Where,
| SP0 |
= | the Closing Price per share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date. | ||
| DIV |
= | the amount per share of Common Stock of the cash distribution, as determined pursuant to the introduction to this Section VII(f). | ||
In the event that any distribution described in this Section VII(f) is not so made, the Conversion Price shall be readjusted, effective as of the date the Board publicly announces its decision not to pay such distribution, to the Conversion Price which would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “DIV” as set forth above is equal to or greater than “SP0” as set forth above, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have the right to receive on the date on which the relevant cash dividend or distribution is distributed to holders of Common Stock, for each share of NVCE Stock, the amount of cash such Holder would have received had such holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Applicable Conversion Rate on the Ex-Date for such distribution.
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(g) Self-Tender Offers and Exchange Offers. If the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries successfully completes a tender or exchange offer for the Common Stock where the cash and the value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of the Common Stock exceeds the Closing Price per share of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange offer, then the Conversion Price will be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect at 5:00 p.m., New York City time prior to the commencement of the offer by the following fraction:
| OS0 x SP0 |
| AC + (SP0 x OS1) |
Where,
| SP0 |
= | the Closing Price per share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately succeeding the commencement of the tender or exchange offer. | ||
| OS0 |
= | the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the expiration of the tender or exchange offer, including any shares validly tendered and not withdrawn. | ||
| OS1 |
= | the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the expiration of the tender or exchange offer (after giving effect to such tender offer or exchange offer). | ||
| AC |
= | the aggregate cash and fair market value of the other consideration payable in the tender or exchange offer, as reasonably determined by the Board. | ||
Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section VII(g) shall become effective immediately prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately following the expiration of the tender or exchange offer. In the event that the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries is obligated to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to any such tender offer or exchange offer, but the Corporation or such subsidiary is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases, or all such purchases are rescinded, then the Conversion Price shall be readjusted to be such Conversion Price that would then be in effect if such tender offer or exchange offer had not been made.
(h) Rights Plans. To the extent that the Corporation has a rights plan in effect with respect to the Common Stock on any Conversion Date, upon conversion of any shares of the NVCE Stock, the Holders will receive, in addition to the shares of Common Stock, the rights under the rights plan, unless, prior to such Conversion Date, the rights have separated from the shares of Common Stock, in which case the Conversion Price will be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Corporation had made a distribution to all holders of Common Stock as described in Section VII(e), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.
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(i) Reorganization Events.
(i) Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event prior to an applicable Conversion Date, each share of NVCE Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization Event shall, without the consent of Holders, automatically convert into the types and amounts of securities, cash, and other property that is or was receivable in such Reorganization Event by a holder (other than the counterparty to the Reorganization Event or an Affiliate of such other party) of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of NVCE Stock was convertible immediately prior to such Reorganization Event in exchange for such shares of NVCE Stock (such securities, cash, and other property, the “Exchange Property”); provided that, to the extent receipt of any Exchange Property would be prohibited by Law or would require the Holder to obtain any consent, authorization, approval, license or permit of any Governmental Entity to acquire or hold the Exchange Property, then the portion of the NVCE Stock of such Holder that such Holder is prohibited by Law or requires such action to acquire or hold shall instead either (A) convert into a substantially identical non-voting security (with commensurate voting powers and conversion rights as the NVCE Stock hereunder) of the entity surviving such Reorganization Event or other entity in which holders of shares of Common Stock receive securities in connection with such Reorganization Event or (B) if proper provision is not made to give effect to the foregoing subclause (A), remain outstanding without any alterations to the terms thereof and be convertible into the Exchange Property.
(ii) A “Reorganization Event” shall mean:
(1) any consolidation, merger, conversion or other similar business combination of the Corporation with or into another Person, in each case, pursuant to which all or substantially all of the Common Stock outstanding will be converted into cash, securities, or other property of the Corporation or another Person;
(2) any sale, transfer, lease, or conveyance to another Person of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case pursuant to which all of the Common Stock outstanding will be converted into cash, securities, or other property of the Corporation or another Person;
(3) any reclassification of the Common Stock into securities other than the Common Stock; or
(4) any statutory exchange of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock for securities of another Person (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition).
(iii) In the event that holders of the shares of the Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such Reorganization Event, the Corporation shall ensure that the Holders have the same opportunity to elect the form of consideration in accordance with the same procedures and pro ration mechanics that apply to the election to be made by the holders of the Common Stock. The amount of Exchange Property receivable upon conversion of any NVCE Stock shall be determined based upon the Conversion Price in effect on the date on which such Reorganization Event is consummated.
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(iv) The provisions of this Section VII(i) shall similarly apply to successive Reorganization Events or any series of transactions that results in a Reorganization Event and the provisions of Section VII(i) shall apply to any shares of capital stock of the Corporation (or any successor) received by the holders of the Common Stock in any such Reorganization Event.
(v) The Corporation (or any successor) shall, at least twenty (20) days prior to the occurrence of any Reorganization Event, use reasonable best efforts to provide written notice to the Holders of the anticipated occurrence of such event and of the type and amount of the cash, securities or other property that constitutes the Exchange Property. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the operation of this Section VII.
(vi) The Corporation shall not enter into any agreement for a transaction constituting a Reorganization Event unless such agreement provides for the conversion of the NVCE Stock into the Exchange Property in a manner that is consistent with and gives effect to this Section VII(i).
(j) No adjustment to the Conversion Price shall be made with respect to a share of NVCE Stock if the Holder thereof has participated in the transaction that would otherwise give rise to an adjustment with respect to such share of NVCE Stock, as a result of holding such share of NVCE Stock at the time of such transaction (including pursuant to Section IV), without having to convert such share of NVCE Stock, as if they held the full number of shares of Common Stock into which each such share of the NVCE Stock held by them may then be converted.
(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, an Adjustment Event shall not allow the Holder to acquire a higher percentage of any Class of Voting Securities of the Corporation than the Holder (together with its affiliates for purposes of the BHC Act) beneficially owned immediately prior to such Adjustment Event.
Section VIII. Reports as to Adjustments.
Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of the NVCE Stock are convertible is adjusted as provided in Section VII, the Corporation shall promptly, but in any event within ten days thereafter, compute such adjustment and furnish to the Holders a notice stating the number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of the NVCE Stock is convertible as a result of such adjustment, a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment and the computation thereof and when such adjustment will become effective. Amounts resulting from any calculation hereunder will be rounded to the nearest 1/10,000th.
Section IX. Reservation of Stock.
(a) The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of NVCE Stock as provided in this Certificate of Designations, free from any preemptive or other similar rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of NVCE Stock then outstanding.
(b) The Corporation hereby covenants and agrees that, for so long as shares of the Common Stock are listed on the NASDAQ or any other national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Corporation will, if permitted by the rules of such exchange or automated quotation system, list and keep listed that number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of shares of all the NVCE Stock.
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Section X. Exclusion of Other Rights.
The shares of NVCE Stock shall not have any voting powers except as expressly described herein, and, except as may otherwise be required by Law, shall not have any preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, other than those specifically set forth herein (as this Certificate of Designations may be amended from time to time) and in the Charter. The shares of NVCE Stock shall have no preemptive or subscription rights.
Section XI. Severability of Provisions.
If any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the NVCE Stock and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof set forth in this Certificate of Designations (as this Certificate of Designations may be amended from time to time) are invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of Law, all other voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of NVCE Stock and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof set forth in this Certificate of Designations (as so amended) which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights of NVCE Stock and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect, and no voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights of NVCE Stock or qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof herein set forth shall be deemed dependent upon any other such voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights of NVCE Stock or qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof unless so expressed herein.
Section XII. Cancellation of NVCE Stock.
Any shares of NVCE Stock that have been duly converted in accordance with this Certificate of Designations, or reacquired by the Corporation, shall be cancelled promptly thereafter and revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series. Such shares may be designated or redesignated and issued or reissued, as the case may be, as part of any series of Preferred Stock. The Corporation may from time to time take such appropriate action as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of NVCE Stock solely in accordance with the foregoing.
Section XIII. Additional Authorized Shares.
Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Charter or this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, the Board or any authorized committee of the Board, without the vote of the Holders, may increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of NVCE Stock or other stock ranking junior or senior to, or on parity with, the NVCE Stock as to dividends and the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
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Section XIV. Determinations.
The Corporation shall have the sole right to make all calculations called for hereunder. Absent fraud or manifest error, such calculations shall be final and binding on all Holders. The Corporation shall have the power to resolve any ambiguity and its action in so doing, as evidenced by a resolution of the Board, shall be final and conclusive unless clearly inconsistent with the intent hereof. Amounts resulting from any calculation will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one ten-thousandth, with five one-hundred thousandths being rounded upwards.
The NVCE Stock is intended to qualify as common equity tier 1 capital for purposes of 12 C.F.R. Section 217.20(b)(1) (or any successor regulation), and the terms of this Certificate of Designation shall be interpreted, construed and applied to achieve such regulatory capital treatment.
Section XV. No Redemption.
The Corporation may not, at any time, redeem the outstanding shares of the NVCE Stock, other than as otherwise expressly set forth in Section VII and with the prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to the extent required by law or regulation.
Section XVI. Maturity.
The NVCE Stock shall be perpetual, unless converted in accordance with this Certificate of Designations.
Section XVII. Repurchases.
Subject to the limitations imposed herein, the Corporation may purchase and sell shares of NVCE Stock from time to time to such extent, in such manner, and upon such terms as the Board or any duly authorized committee of the Board may determine; provided that any repurchase of shares of NVCE Stock by the Corporation shall require prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to the extent required by law or regulation.
Section XVIII. No Sinking Fund.
Shares of NVCE Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.
Section XIX. Notices.
All notices, demands or other communications to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally to the recipient, or if by email, upon delivery (provided that no auto-generated error or non-delivery message is generated in response thereto), (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to (i) if to the Corporation, OceanFirst Financial Corp., 110 West Front Street, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, Email: [email protected]; with a copy to: General Counsel, Email: [email protected] or (ii) if to any Holder or holder of Common Stock, as the case may be, to such Holder or holder at the address listed in the stock record books of the Corporation, or, in each case, such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
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Section XX. Taxes.
(a) The Corporation and each Holder shall bear their own costs, fees and expenses in connection with any conversion contemplated by Section III(a)(i), except that the Corporation shall pay any and all transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, documentary taxes, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any issuance or delivery of shares of NVCE Stock or Common Stock or other securities issued on account of NVCE Stock pursuant hereto, including in connection with any conversion contemplated by Section III(a)(i); provided that the Corporation shall not be required to pay any such tax that may be payable in connection with any conversion contemplated by Section III(a)(i) to the extent such tax is payable because a registered holder of NVCE Stock requests Common Stock to be registered in a name other than such registered holder’s name and no such Common Stock will be so registered unless and until the registered holder making such request has paid such taxes to the Corporation or has established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such taxes have been paid or are not payable.
(b) The Corporation and each Holder agree that (i) it is intended that the NVCE Stock not constitute “preferred stock” within the meaning of Section 305 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) except to the extent otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code, neither the Corporation nor any Holder shall treat the NVCE Stock as such for United States federal income tax or withholding tax purposes or otherwise take any position inconsistent with such treatment.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration otherwise payable on or with respect to the NVCE Stock such amounts as it is required to deduct or withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or any other applicable tax Law; provided that the Corporation shall provide each Holder a reasonable opportunity to provide such forms or other documentation that would eliminate or reduce any such deduction or withholding. If any amounts are so deducted or withheld and subsequently paid to the applicable Government Entity, such deducted or withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes hereunder as having been paid to the person to which such amounts would have otherwise been payable.
Section XXI. No Stock Certificates.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Designations, no shares of NVCE Stock shall be issued in physical, certificated form. All shares of NVCE Stock shall be evidenced by book-entry on the record books maintained by the Corporation or its transfer agent.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by the undersigned on this first day of May 29, 2026.
| OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Christopher D. Maher | |
| Name: Christopher D. Maher | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
[Signature Page to Certificate of Designations]
Exhibit 4.1
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS (I) A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS EFFECTIVE UNDER THE ACT AND IS QUALIFIED UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR (II) THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT AND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UNDER THIS INSTRUMENT ARE SUBJECT TO TRANSFER AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IN AN INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 29, 2025, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER.
WARRANT
to purchase
7,629.05
Shares of Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock
of
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
a Delaware Corporation
| No. 01 |
Issue Date: June 1, 2026 |
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||||
| 1. | DEFINITIONS |
1 | ||||
| 2. | NUMBER OF SHARES; PERSONS ENTITLED TO EXERCISE WARRANT |
4 | ||||
| 3. | EXERCISE OF WARRANT; TERM |
5 | ||||
| 4. | LIMITATION OF EXERCISE |
6 | ||||
| 5. | COVENANTS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE COMPANY |
8 | ||||
| 6. | ISSUANCE OF SHARES; AUTHORIZATION; LISTING |
9 | ||||
| 7. | COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS |
9 | ||||
| 8. | NO FRACTIONAL SHARES OR SCRIP |
10 | ||||
| 9. | NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS; TRANSFER BOOKS |
10 | ||||
| 10. | TRANSFER |
10 | ||||
| 11. | REGISTRY OF WARRANT |
11 | ||||
| 12. | LOSS, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF WARRANT |
11 | ||||
| 13. | SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, HOLIDAYS, ETC. |
11 | ||||
| 14. | RULE 144 INFORMATION |
11 | ||||
| 15. | ADJUSTMENTS AND OTHER RIGHTS |
12 | ||||
| 16. | BUSINESS COMBINATIONS |
17 | ||||
| 17. | EXERCISE OF WARRANT IN CONNECTION WITH A DESIGNATED EVENT |
17 | ||||
| 18. | ATTORNEYS’ FEES |
19 | ||||
| 19. | TAX TREATMENT OF CASHLESS EXERCISE |
19 | ||||
| 20. | TRANSFER TAXES |
20 | ||||
| 21. | NOTICES |
20 | ||||
| 22. | MISCELLANEOUS |
21 | ||||
i
Index of Defined Terms
| Page | ||||
| ACT | i | |||
| affiliate | 1 | |||
| Applicable Price | 1 | |||
| Applicable Restrictions | 7 | |||
| Appraisal Procedure | 1 | |||
| Business Combination | 1 | |||
| business day | 1 | |||
| Cash Designated Event | 19 | |||
| Certificate of Designations | 2 | |||
| Certificate of Incorporation | 2 | |||
| Company | 4 | |||
| Convertible Transfer | 2 | |||
| Designated Event | 2 | |||
| Designated Price | 2 | |||
| Effective Date | 17 | |||
| Exchange Act | 7 | |||
| Excluded Stock | 2 | |||
| Exercise Price | 3 | |||
| Expiration Date | 5 | |||
| Fair Market Value | 3 | |||
| Group | 3 | |||
| Investment Agreement | 3 | |||
| Issue Date | 3 | |||
| Mandatory Exercise Price | 3 | |||
| Notice of Exercise | 4 | |||
| NVCE Stock | 4 | |||
| Ownership Limitation | 7 | |||
| Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration | 19 | |||
| person | 4 | |||
| SEC | 11 | |||
| Share Recipient | 9 | |||
| Shares | 4 | |||
| Subject Record Date | 15 | |||
| Trading Day | 4 | |||
| Transfer | 4 | |||
| Warrant | 4 | |||
| Warrant Certificate | 4 | |||
| Warrantholder | 4 | |||
| Warrantholder Group | 7 | |||
| Warrantholder Person | 7 | |||
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1. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following terms shall have the meanings indicated. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Investment Agreement.
“affiliate” of a specified person is any person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person; provided that if the Warrantholder is controlled by a private equity sponsor or similar investment firm, “affiliate” shall not include any “portfolio company” (as such term is customarily used in the private equity industry), or any investment fund or vehicle (other than any such fund or vehicle with a direct or indirect interest in Investor), of or related to or affiliated with or managed by such sponsor or firm. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Applicable Price” means the applicable Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), as adjusted from time to time pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.
“Appraisal Procedure” means a procedure whereby two independent appraisers, one chosen by the Company and one chosen by the Warrantholder, shall mutually agree upon the determinations then the subject of appraisal. Each party shall deliver a notice to the other appointing its appraiser within fifteen (15) days after the Appraisal Procedure is invoked. If within thirty (30) days after appointment of the two appraisers they are unable to mutually agree upon the amount in question, a third independent appraiser shall be chosen within ten (10) days thereafter by the mutual agreement of such first two appraisers or, if such first two appraisers fail to agree upon the appointment of a third appraiser, such appointment shall be made by the American Arbitration Association, or any organization successor thereto, from a panel of arbitrators having experience in the appraisal of the subject matter to be appraised. The decision of the third appraiser so appointed and chosen shall be given within thirty (30) days after the selection of such third appraiser. If three appraisers shall be appointed and the determination of one appraiser is disparate from the middle determination by more than twice the amount by which the other determination is disparate from the middle determination, then the determination of such appraiser shall be excluded, the remaining two determinations shall be averaged and such average shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Warrantholder; otherwise, the average of all three determinations shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Warrantholder. The costs of conducting any Appraisal Procedure shall be borne by the Company; provided that, if the final determination of the appraisers is less than the fair market value determination of the Board of Directors, then such costs shall be borne solely by the Warrantholder.
“Business Combination” means, whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions, a merger, division, consolidation, share exchange, reorganization, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another person or similar transaction (which may include a reclassification) involving the Company (other than the Mergers).
“business day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized by Law to be closed.
“Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations of the Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 29, 2026, effective as of May 29, 2026.
“Certificate of Incorporation” means the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as amended by the Certificate of Designations, and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).
“Convertible Transfer” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.
“Designated Event” means a single transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which: (i) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) has become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Voting Common Stock representing 50% or more of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of the Company’s voting stock; (ii) the Company consolidates with, effects a binding share exchange with, or merges with or into, another person or the Company sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event, other than any transaction or series of related transactions: (A) pursuant to which the persons that “beneficially owned,” directly or indirectly, a majority of the total voting power of the shares of the Voting Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction “beneficially own,” directly or indirectly, shares of voting stock representing a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of voting stock of the surviving, resulting or transferee person, or of the parent entity of such surviving or transferee person, and such holders’ proportional voting power immediately after such transaction vis-à-vis each other with respect to the securities they receive in such transaction shall be in substantially the same proportions as their respective voting power vis-à-vis each other immediately prior to such transaction; or (B) which is effected solely to change jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company and results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of the Voting Common Stock solely into equivalent shares of common stock of the surviving entity; or (iii) the holders of the Company’s capital stock approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
“Designated Price” means, for any Designated Event, (i) if the consideration paid to holders of Voting Common Stock in connection with such Designated Event consists exclusively of cash, the Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which such NVCE Stock is then convertible, and (ii) in all other cases, the ten (10) Trading Day average of the Market Price of the Shares ending on the Trading Day prior to the Effective Date of such Designated Event.
“Excluded Stock” means (1) shares of Voting Common Stock issued by the Company as a stock dividend payable in shares of Voting Common Stock, or upon any subdivision or split-up of the outstanding shares of Voting Common Stock, in each case, which is subject to Section VII(b) of the Certificate of Designations, or upon conversion of securities (but not the issuance of such securities convertible or exchangeable into Voting Common Stock which will be subject to the provision of Section 15(b)), (2) shares of Voting Common Stock to be issued in good faith to directors, officers, employees, consultants or other agents of the Company or its Subsidiaries
2
pursuant to options, restricted stock units, other equity-based awards or other compensatory arrangements approved by the Board of Directors in the ordinary course of providing equity compensation awards, (3) any shares of Voting Common Stock issued upon conversion of the NVCE Stock, (4) any shares issued upon the conversion of the Shares issued under this Warrant, (5) any shares of Voting Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (6) any other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Voting Common Stock issued and outstanding on the Issue Date; provided that, in the case of this clause (6), such securities have not been amended subsequent to the issuance of this Warrant to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities or to extend the term of such securities, and (7) any shares of capital stock issued or sold to the Warrantholder or any of its Affiliates.
“Exercise Price” means $19,760; provided, that the foregoing shall be subject to adjustment as expressly set forth herein.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any security or other property, the fair market value of such security or other property as determined by the Board of Directors, acting in good faith in reliance on advice received by the Board of Directors from a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by the Company for the purpose of determining the fair market value of shares of the NVCE Stock and certified in a resolution to the Warrantholder. If the Warrantholder does not accept the Board of Director’s calculation of fair market value and, thereafter, the Warrantholder and the Company are unable to agree on fair market value, then the Appraisal Procedure shall be used to determine fair market value.
“Group” means a group as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Investment Agreement” means that certain Investment Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2025, as it may be amended from time to time, by and among the Company, WPGG 14 Orion L.P. and WPFS II Orion L.P.
“Issue Date” means the date first set forth above opposite the heading Issue Date.
“Mandatory Exercise Price” means $30.00; provided, that the foregoing shall be subject to adjustment as expressly set forth herein.
“Market Price” means, with respect to (1) the NVCE Stock, on any given day, (a) the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, of the shares of the NVCE Stock on the principal exchange or market on which the NVCE Stock is so listed or quoted, (b) if the NVCE Stock is not so publicly traded, the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, of the shares of the Voting Common Stock on the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted multiplied by the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which such NVCE Stock is then convertible or (c) if neither the foregoing clause (a) nor clause (b) applies, the Fair Market Value of a share of the NVCE Stock and (2) the Voting Common Stock, on any given day, (a) the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, of the shares of the Voting Common Stock on the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted or (b) if the foregoing clause (a) does not apply, the Fair Market Value of a share of the Voting Common Stock. “Market Price” shall be determined without reference to after-hours or extended-hours trading.
3
“Notice of Exercise” means a duly completed and executed Notice of Exercise, the form of which is annexed hereto.
“NVCE Stock” means Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
“person” means any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or nature.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the shares of Voting Common Stock (1) are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of business; and (2) have traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of the Voting Common Stock.
“Transfer” means to sell, transfer, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of or interest in or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any rights hereunder; provided, however, that a pledge or other encumbrance of this Warrant or any rights hereunder that creates a mere security interest in this Warrant or any rights hereunder shall not constitute a Transfer.
“Warrant” means this Warrant issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement.
“Warrant Certificate” means this certificate evidencing this Warrant.
“Warrantholder” means the person who shall from time to time own this Warrant, including any transferee thereof.
2. Number of Shares; Persons Entitled to Exercise Warrant. On the terms and subject to the conditions, requirements and procedures set forth herein, OceanFirst Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, unless this Warrant has been earlier redeemed, surrendered, cancelled or exercised in full, for value received, this Warrant is exercisable in whole at any time or in part from time to time, for, in the aggregate, 7,629.05 duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and nonassessable shares of NVCE Stock (“Shares”), as such number may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions imposed under the Investment Agreement, this Warrant or applicable securities Laws), by the Warrantholder. The number of Shares issuable hereunder, the Exercise Price and the Mandatory Exercise Price are subject to adjustment as provided herein and in the Certificate of Designations, and all references to “Shares,” “Exercise Price” and “Mandatory Exercise Price” herein shall be deemed to include any such adjustment or series of adjustments. If this Warrant is transferred in a Convertible Transfer to any person for whom the underlying NVCE Stock would automatically convert into Voting Common Stock pursuant to Section III(a) of the Certificate of Designations if transferred directly, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Warrant, this Warrant shall be exercisable by such person in whole at any time or in part
4
from time to time for the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which the Shares would be convertible pursuant to the Certificate of Designations at the time of exercise (including any cumulative adjustment pursuant to the proviso in the definition of Conversion Price in the Certificate of Designations), and the remaining terms of this Warrant shall apply to such exercise mutatis mutandis.
3. Exercise of Warrant; Term.
(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions, requirements and procedures set forth herein, prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the seven (7) year anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Expiration Date”):
(i) this Warrant may be exercised by the Warrantholder, in whole or in part, from time to time, at any time after 9:00 a.m., New York City time, (1) during the period beginning on the third anniversary of the Closing and ending on the Expiration Date or (2) prior to such third anniversary (x) at any time after the Market Price of the Voting Common Stock equals or exceeds the Mandatory Exercise Price at the close of any Trading Day of NASDAQ (or, if NASDAQ is not the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted, such other principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted) or (y) in connection with a Designated Event as contemplated by Section 17, in each case of clause (1) or (2), by (x) the delivery by the Warrantholder to the Company of a Notice of Exercise and (y) if applicable, payment by the Warrantholder to the Company of the Exercise Price for the Shares specified in such Notice of Exercise pursuant to Section 3(b); and
(ii) this Warrant shall be automatically exercised in full for Shares in the event the Market Price of the Voting Common Stock equals or exceeds the Mandatory Exercise Price for twenty (20) or more Trading Days during any thirty (30)-consecutive Trading Day period of NASDAQ (or, if NASDAQ is not the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted, such other principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted), and the Warrantholder shall remit to the Company the Exercise Price for the Shares pursuant to Section 3(b).
(b) Payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares in any exercise pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be effected by the Company withholding, from the Shares that would otherwise be delivered to the Warrantholder upon such exercise, an amount of Shares (but for the avoidance of doubt not more than the number of Shares that would be otherwise deliverable) equal in value to the aggregate Exercise Price in respect of the Shares as to which this Warrant is so exercised, based on, in the case of an exercise pursuant to (i) Section 3(a)(i), the ten (10) Trading Day average of the Market Price of the Shares ending on the second Trading Day prior to the date on which this Warrant is exercised or (ii) Section 3(a)(ii), the ten (10) Trading Day average of the Market Price of the Shares commencing on the second Trading Day following the date on which this Warrant is automatically exercised (provided that in the case of a Cash Designated Event such calculation shall be based on the Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which such NVCE Stock is then convertible) (“Net Share Settlement”); provided that, if the Company and the Warrantholder mutually agree in writing otherwise, payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares in any exercise pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be made by the Warrantholder delivering to the Company cash in an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company.
5
(c) If the Warrantholder exercises a portion (but not all) of this Warrant pursuant to Section 3(a)(i), the Warrantholder will, at the option of the Warrantholder, be entitled to receive from the Company, within a reasonable time, and in any event not exceeding three (3) business days after notice thereof to the Company, a new Warrant Certificate in substantially identical form to this Warrant Certificate, but for the purchase of that number of Shares that remain issuable pursuant to this Warrant.
(d) If the Warrantholder does not elect to receive a new Warrant Certificate in accordance with Section 3(c), then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Warrantholder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until this Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Warrantholder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) business days after the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in the issuance of a portion of the total number of Shares issuable hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Shares issuable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Shares issued upon such partial exercises hereof. The Warrantholder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Shares issued upon partial exercises hereof and the date of such issuances. The Company shall inform the Warrantholder if a Notice of Exercise has not been duly completed within three (3) business days of receipt of such notice, but shall not refuse or object to the issuance of the Shares upon receipt of, and pursuant to, a duly completed Notice of Exercise. The Warrantholder, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledges and agrees that, by reason of the provisions of this Section 3, following the exercise of a portion of this Warrant, the number of Shares issuable hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if an exercise of any portion of this Warrant is to be made in connection with a public offering or a sale of the Company (pursuant to a merger, sale of stock, or otherwise), such exercise may, at the election of the Warrantholder (as set forth in the applicable Notice of Exercise), be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case, such exercise shall not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction.
(f) Following the close of business on the Expiration Date, this Warrant shall terminate and the Warrantholder shall have no right to acquire any shares pursuant hereto, other than settlement of any exercise pursuant to Section 3(a) that properly occurred prior to the Expiration Date.
4. Limitation of Exercise.
(a) The Warrantholder shall have no right to exercise this Warrant, and the Company shall have no obligation to effect any exercise of this Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to any exercise of this Warrant, such exercise would or would reasonably be expected to (i) cause the Warrantholder, its affiliates or any of their partners or principals to (A) “control” the Company or be required to become a bank holding company, in each case, pursuant to the Bank Holding
6
Company Act of 1956 (the “BHC Act”) , or own or be deemed to control one-third or more of the Company’s “total equity” (as interpreted and calculated in accordance with 12 CFR 225.34 or any successor or similar regulation or interpretation); or (B) serve as a source of financial strength to the Company pursuant to the BHC Act; or (ii) require the Warrantholder, its affiliates or any of their partners or principals to have made any advance filing with, obtained any approval, authorization consent, permit or license of, or provided notice to, any Governmental Entity under Law (which such filing has not been made, or approval, authorization, consent, permit or license has not been obtained or such notice has not been duly provided), including the expiration of any waiting periods associated therewith (including any extensions thereof). In the event that the limitation in this Section 4(a) becomes applicable as a result upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant Section 3(a)(ii), such automatic exercise shall apply only to the portion of the Shares permitted to be delivered in accordance with this Section 4(a) and this Warrant shall remain outstanding with respect to any remaining Shares underlying this Warrant but for purposes of any subsequent exercise of this Warrant the Market Price will be deemed to be the Market Price in effect as of the initial automatic exercise pursuant Section 3(a)(ii) (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 15 to preserve the value intended economic effect of the automatic exercise) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, giving effect to any cumulative adjustment pursuant to the proviso in the definition of Conversion Price in the Certificate of Designations). This Warrant shall be automatically exercised at such subsequent time(s) when, but in each case only to the extent, permitted pursuant this Section 4(a).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Warrant, but subject to the following sentence, no Shares will be issued or delivered upon any exercise of this Warrant, and the Warrantholder will not be entitled to receive Shares upon any such exercise, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such issuance or delivery would result in (i) the Warrantholder, or a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”)) that includes the Warrantholder (a “Warrantholder Group”), beneficially owning in excess of 4.5% of the then-outstanding shares of Voting Common Stock (determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) or (ii) the Warrantholder, such Warrantholder Group or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of the Warrantholder or such Warrantholder Group (the Warrantholder, such Warrantholder Group or any such person, a “Warrantholder Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders that are, in each case, applicable to ownership of shares of Voting Common Stock (“Applicable Restrictions”), owning, beneficially owning, constructively owning, controlling, holding the power to vote or otherwise meeting a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of shares of Voting Common Stock equal to (x) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Warrantholder Person, and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received, in each case minus (y) 0.1% of the then-outstanding shares of Voting Common Stock (the restrictions set forth in this sentence, the “Ownership Limitation”). If any Shares (and cash in lieu of fractional Shares) otherwise due upon the exercise of the Warrant is not delivered as a result of the Ownership Limitation, then the Company’s obligation to deliver such Shares (and cash in lieu of fractional Shares) will not be extinguished and will remain in full force and effect, provided that the Company will deliver such Shares (for the avoidance of doubt, giving effect to any cumulative adjustment pursuant to the proviso in the definition of Conversion Price in the
7
Certificate of Designations through the date of delivery) (and cash in lieu of fractional Shares) as soon as reasonably practicable after (and to the extent that) the Warrantholder provides written notice to the Company that such delivery will not contravene the Ownership Limitation. Subject to the preceding sentence, any purported delivery of Shares upon exercise of this Warrant will be void and have no effect to the extent, and only to the extent, that such delivery would contravene the Ownership Limitation. Upon the reasonable written request of the Warrantholder, the Company shall within three (3) Trading Days confirm orally or in writing to the Warrantholder the number of shares of Voting Common Stock then outstanding, including by virtue of any prior conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities into Voting Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 4(b), other than the immediately preceding sentence, shall not apply to the initial Warrantholder to which this Warrant was originally issued and affiliates of such initial Warrantholder.
5. Covenants and Representations of the Company. The Company hereby represents, covenants and agrees, as applicable:
(a) Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Warrantholder, the Company shall not by any action, including 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 intentionally seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but shall 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 Warrantholder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment.
(b) The Company shall (i) not increase the par value of any Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) issue duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Shares upon the proper exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) use reasonable best efforts to (x) obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents required of the Company from any Governmental Entity as may be necessary to enable the Company to perform its express obligations under this Warrant and (y) take all necessary actions so that the Shares may be issued without violation of Law or any requirement of any securities exchange on which the Shares or the Voting Common Stock are listed or traded.
(c) Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, and take all such corporate action, as may be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable Shares at the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price as so adjusted.
(d) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, solely for the purpose of providing for the exercise of this Warrant, that number of shares of (i) NVCE Stock sufficient for issuance upon exercise of this Warrant and (ii) Voting Common Stock sufficient for issuance of shares of Voting Common Stock upon conversion of shares of such shares of NVCE Stock in accordance with their terms.
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6. Issuance of Shares; Authorization; Listing. In the event of any exercise of this Warrant in accordance with and on the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, any Shares issued pursuant to such exercise, if applicable, shall be issued in such name(s) as the Warrantholder may designate and shall be delivered by the Company to such named person(s) within three (3) business days after the date on which this Warrant has been duly exercised in accordance with the terms of this Warrant; provided that, the Shares to be delivered upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant Section 3(a)(ii) shall instead be delivered within three (3) business days after the last day of the ten (10)-day period contemplated in Section 3(b)(ii); provided, further that if the Company and the Warrantholder agree for a cash payment to be made pursuant to Section 3(b), the Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver the Shares to such named person prior the first (1st) business day following full satisfaction of the cash payment obligation of the Warrantholder pursuant to Section 3(b). Any such delivery shall be made via book-entry transfer crediting the account of the Warrantholder through the Company’s transfer agent and registrar for the NVCE Stock. The Company hereby represents and warrants that any Shares issued upon the exercise of this Warrant in accordance with Section 3 shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, issued without violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any stockholder of the Company, and free and clear of all Liens (other than (a) transfer restrictions imposed hereunder, under the Investment Agreement or Law or (b) Liens created by the Warrantholder occurring prior to, or contemporaneously with, such exercise). The Company agrees that the Shares so issued shall be deemed to have been issued if this Warrant is exercised pursuant to Section 2 (the person to whom such Shares shall be deemed to have been so issued in accordance with Section 2, the “Share Recipient”) as of the close of business on the date on which the Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price are delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms hereof (it being agreed that payment of the Exercise Price by net settlement pursuant to Section 3(b) shall be deemed to occur by delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise), notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of the Company may then be closed or certificates representing such Shares may not be actually delivered on such date. The Company shall (i) procure, at its sole expense, the listing of the Shares and other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (solely to the extent they are shares of Common Stock), subject to issuance or notice of issuance on all stock exchanges on which the Common Stock is then listed or traded, and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of such Shares after issuance. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Shares may be issued without violation of any applicable law or regulation or of any requirement of any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded.
7. Compliance with Securities Laws.
(a) The Warrantholder, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges that the offer and sale of this Warrant and any Shares to be issued upon exercise hereof have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any U.S. state security Law and are being acquired pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act solely for the Warrantholder’s own account, and not as a nominee for any other party, and for investment with no present intention to distribute this Warrant (or any Shares issuable upon exercise hereof) to any person in violation of the Securities Act or any U.S. state securities Law, and that the Warrantholder shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Shares to be issued upon exercise hereof except pursuant to an effective registration statement, or an exemption from registration, under the Securities Act and any U.S. state securities Law.
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(b) Except as provided in Section 7(c), this Warrant and any Shares issued upon exercise hereof shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the form (which, in the case of the Shares, shall be in the form of an appropriate book entry notation) set forth in Section 4.6(a) of the Investment Agreement.
(c) The Company shall promptly cause clause (i) of such legend to be removed from any certificate or other instrument for this Warrant or the Shares and the Company shall deliver all necessary documents to the transfer agent in connection therewith without charge as to this Warrant or any Shares upon request of (x) the Warrantholder, upon receipt by the Company of an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act and applicable state laws, or (y) the Warrantholder in connection with a sale or transfer of the Warrant or the Shares at a time when this Warrant or the Shares have been registered under the Securities Act (unless subject to any transfer restrictions under Rule 144 for affiliates) or may otherwise be transferred pursuant to any applicable rules thereunder, including eligibility to be transferred if Rule 144 under the Securities Act is available for the sale of this Warrant or the Shares without volume and manner of sale restrictions. The Company shall, whether or not requested by Warrantholder, cause clause (ii) of the legend to be removed upon the Transfer of this Warrant or the Shares to be Transferred upon exercise hereof to a person that is not (and will not, in connection with such Transfer) be a party to the Investment Agreement (or bound by the terms thereof).
(d) The Company and the Warrantholder acknowledge that the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, including the Voting Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Shares, shall be entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or supplemented from time to time.
8. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional Shares or scrip representing fractional Shares shall be issued upon any exercise of this Warrant. In lieu of any fractional Share to which the Share Recipient would otherwise be entitled, the Share Recipient shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Market Price of the Shares on the last business day preceding the date of exercise less the portion of the Exercise Price attributable to such fractional share; provided that, if the making of a cash payment in lieu of the issuance of a fractional share is prohibited by Law or contract, the number of shares issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant shall be rounded to the nearest whole share.
9. No Rights as Stockholders; Transfer Books. This Warrant does not entitle the Warrantholder to any rights of a holder of NVCE Stock prior to the date of exercise hereof. Effective immediately prior to the close of business on such date of exercise, the Share Recipient shall have any rights as a holder of NVCE Stock. The Company will at no time close its transfer books against Transfer of this Warrant in any manner which interferes with the timely exercise of this Warrant.
10. Transfer.
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(a) Subject to compliance with Section 10(b) and Law, without obtaining the consent of the Company to assign or transfer this Warrant, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon the books of the Company by the registered holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, or by means of electronic transmission, and a new warrant shall be made and delivered by the Company, of the same tenor and date as this Warrant but registered in the name of the transferee, upon surrender of this Warrant, duly endorsed, to the office or agency of the Company described in Section 2, and delivery of the form of assignment annexed hereto, duly completed and executed. All expenses (other than stock transfer taxes) and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the new warrants certificate pursuant to this Section 10 shall be paid by the Company.
(b) The Warrantholder shall be entitled to Transfer this Warrant only (i) in compliance with Section 4.2 of the Investment Agreement or (ii) to any person with the prior written consent of the Company.
11. Registry of Warrant. The Company shall maintain a registry in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall register Warrant Certificates (showing the name and address of the Warrantholder as the registered holder of this Warrant) and exchanges and transfers thereof. This Warrant may be surrendered for exchange or exercise, in accordance with its terms, and the Company shall be entitled to rely in all respects upon such registry, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, except any Transfer of the Warrant effected in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant, including Section 10.
12. Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of the Warrant Certificate and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of the Warrant Certificate, the Company shall execute and deliver, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, less the number of Shares previously issued upon any exercise of this Warrant pursuant to Section 3.
13. 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 business day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding day that is a business day.
14. Rule 144 Information. The Company covenants that it will use reasonable best efforts to timely file all reports and other documents that may be required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, it will, upon the request of any Warrantholder, make publicly available such information as may be necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144), and it will use reasonable best efforts to take such further action as any Warrantholder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell the Warrants without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the written request of any Warrantholder, the Company will deliver to such Warrantholder a written statement that it has complied with such requirements.
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15. Adjustments and Other Rights. The Exercise Price, the Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows; provided that if more than one section or subsection of this Section 15 is applicable to a single event, the section or subsection shall be applied that produces the largest adjustment and no single event shall cause an adjustment under more than one section or subsection of this Section 15 so as to result in duplication.
(a) Stock Splits, Subdivisions, Reclassifications or Combinations. If the Company shall (i) declare, order, and pay or make a dividend or make a distribution on its NVCE Stock payable in shares of NVCE Stock (which shall not include any shares of NVCE Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) split, subdivide or reclassify the outstanding shares of NVCE Stock into a greater number of shares or (iii) combine or reclassify the outstanding shares of NVCE Stock into a smaller number of shares, in each case, then the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant at the time of the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such split, subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the Warrantholder immediately after such record date or effective date, as applicable, upon exercise of this Warrant, shall be entitled to purchase the number of shares of NVCE Stock which such holder would have been entitled to receive in respect of the Shares after such date had this Warrant been exercised in full immediately prior to such record date or effective date, as applicable. In such event, the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such split, subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be adjusted to the number obtained by dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant before such adjustment determined pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, multiplied by (2) the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price (as applicable) in effect immediately prior to the record or effective date, as applicable, with respect to the dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reclassification or combination giving rise to this adjustment by (y) the new number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in full determined pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.
(b) Voting Common Stock Issued at Less than the Applicable Price.
(i) If the Company issues or sells, or agrees to issue or sell, any Voting Common Stock or other securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for (or are otherwise linked to) Voting Common Stock (in each case, other than Excluded Stock) for consideration per share less than the Applicable Price, then the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to each such issuance or sale will immediately (except as provided below) be reduced to the price determined by multiplying the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, as applicable, in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which shall be (1) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale, plus (2) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock which the aggregate consideration received by the Company for the total number of such additional shares of Voting Common Stock so issued or sold would purchase at the Applicable Price absent the adjustments contemplated by this clause (b)(i), and (y) the
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denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Voting Common Stock outstanding immediately after such issuance or sale. In such event, the number of shares of NVCE Stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be increased to the number obtained by dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant before such adjustment and (2) the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, as applicable, in effect immediately prior to the issuance or sale giving rise to this adjustment, by (y) the new Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, as applicable, determined in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, no increase in the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price or reduction in the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made pursuant to this subclause (i) of this Section 15(b), other than as would be contemplated by Section 15(b)(ii)(3)(D).
(ii) For the purposes of any adjustment of the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 15(b), the following provisions shall be applicable:
| (1) | In the case of the issuance or sale of equity or equity-linked securities for cash, the amount of the consideration received by the Company shall be deemed to be the amount of the cash paid therefor before deducting therefrom any discounts, commissions or placement fees allowed, paid or incurred by the Company for any underwriter, placement agent or otherwise in connection with the issuance and sale thereof. |
| (2) | In the case of the issuance or sale of equity or equity-linked securities (otherwise than upon the conversion of securities of the Company) for a consideration in whole or in part other than cash, including securities acquired in exchange therefor (other than securities by their terms so exchangeable), the consideration other than cash shall be deemed to be the Fair Market Value, before deducting therefrom any discounts, commissions or placement fees allowed, paid or incurred by the Company for any underwriter, placement agent or otherwise in connection with the issuance and sale thereof. |
| (3) | In the case of the issuance of (x) options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire equity or equity-linked securities (whether or not at the time exercisable) or (y) securities by their terms convertible into or exchangeable for equity or equity-linked securities (whether or not at the time so convertible or exchangeable) or options, warrants or rights to purchase such convertible or exchangeable securities (whether or not at the time exercisable): |
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| (A) | The aggregate maximum number of shares of securities deliverable upon exercise of such options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire equity or equity-linked securities shall be deemed to have been issued at the time such options, warrants or rights are issued and for a consideration equal to the consideration (determined in the manner provided in Section 15(b)(i) and (ii)), if any, received by the Company upon the issuance or sale of such options, warrants or rights, plus the minimum purchase price provided in such options, warrants or rights for the equity or equity-linked securities covered thereby. |
| (B) | The aggregate maximum number of shares of equity or equity-linked securities deliverable upon conversion of or in exchange for any such convertible or exchangeable securities, or upon the exercise of options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire such convertible or exchangeable securities and the subsequent conversion or exchange thereof, shall be deemed to have been issued at the time such securities were issued or such options, warrants or rights were issued and for a consideration equal to the consideration, if any, received by the Company for any such securities and related options, warrants or rights (excluding any cash received on account of accrued interest or accrued dividends), plus the additional consideration (in each case, determined in the manner provided in Section 15(b)(i) and (ii)), if any, to be received by the Company upon the conversion or exchange of such securities, or upon the exercise of any related options, warrants or rights to purchase or acquire such convertible or exchangeable securities and the subsequent conversion or exchange thereof. |
| (C) | On any change in the number of shares of equity or equity-linked securities deliverable upon exercise of any such options, warrants or rights or conversion or exchange of such convertible or exchangeable securities or any change in the consideration to be received by the Company upon such exercise, conversion or exchange, but excluding changes resulting from the anti-dilution provisions thereof (to the extent comparable to (or less favorable than) the anti-dilution provisions contained herein), the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant as then in effect shall forthwith be readjusted to such Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and number of Shares as would have been obtained had an adjustment been made upon the issuance or sale of such options, warrants or rights not exercised prior to such change, or of such convertible or exchangeable securities not converted or exchanged prior to such change, upon the basis of such change. |
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| (D) | Upon the expiration of any options, warrants or rights to purchase equity or equity-linked securities, in each case, which shall not have been exercised and for which any adjustment was made pursuant to this Section 15(b) upon the issuance or sale thereof, the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant as then in effect hereunder shall, upon such expiration, be recomputed to such Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price and number of Shares as would have been obtained had an adjustment been made upon the issuance or sale of such options, warrants or rights on the basis of the issuance of only the number of shares of Voting Common Stock actually issued upon the exercise of such options, warrants or rights. |
| (E) | If the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall have been adjusted upon the issuance or sale of any such options, warrants, rights or convertible or exchangeable securities, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made for the actual issuance of NVCE Stock upon the exercise, conversion or exchange hereof. |
(c) Rounding of Calculations; Minimum Adjustments. All calculations under this Section 15 shall be made to the nearest one-hundredth (1/100th) of a cent or to the nearest one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share, as the case may be. No adjustment in the Exercise Price, the Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be made if the amount of such adjustment would be less than $0.01 or one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of NVCE Stock, but any such amount shall be carried forward and an adjustment with respect thereto shall be made at the time of and together with any subsequent adjustment which, together with such amount and any other amount or amounts so carried forward, shall aggregate $0.01 or one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of NVCE Stock or more.
(d) Timing of Issuance of Additional NVCE Stock Upon Certain Adjustments. In any case in which (i) the provisions of this Section 15 shall require that an adjustment shall become effective immediately after a record date (the “Subject Record Date”) for an event, and (ii) the Warrantholder exercises this Warrant after the Subject Record Date and before the consummation of such event, the Company may defer until the consummation of such event, (1) issuing to the Warrantholder or Share Recipient (as applicable) the additional shares of NVCE Stock issuable upon such exercise by reason of the adjustment required by such event and (2) paying to such Warrantholder or Share Recipient (as applicable) any amount of cash in lieu of a fractional share of NVCE Stock; provided, however, that the Company upon request shall deliver to such Warrantholder or Share Recipient a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such Warrantholder’s or Share Recipient’s right to receive such additional shares, and such cash, upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
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(e) Statement Regarding Adjustments. Whenever the Exercise Price, Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be adjusted as provided in Section 15, the Company shall cause a statement setting forth in reasonable detail such adjustment and the facts upon which it is based and certifying the calculation thereof to be delivered the Warrantholder as promptly as practicable after the event giving rise to such adjustment at the address appearing in the Warrant registry.
(f) Notice of Adjustment Event. In the event that the Company shall propose to take any action of the type described in this Section 15 (but only if the action of the type described in this Section 15 would result in an adjustment in the Exercise Price, the Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable or a change in the type of securities or property to be delivered upon exercise of this Warrant), the Company shall provide written notice to the Warrantholder, which notice shall specify the record date, if any, with respect to any such action and the approximate date on which such action is to take place. Such notice shall also set forth the facts with respect thereto as shall be reasonably necessary to indicate the effect on the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price and the number, kind or class of shares or other securities or property which shall be deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant. In the case of any action that would require the fixing of a record date, such notice shall be given at least 10 days prior to the date so fixed, and in case of all other action, such notice shall be given at least 15 days prior to the taking of such proposed action. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of any such action.
(g) Adjustment Rules. Any adjustments pursuant to this Section 15 shall be made successively whenever an event referred to herein shall occur. If an adjustment in Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price made hereunder would reduce the Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price to an amount below par value of the NVCE Stock, then such adjustment in Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price made hereunder shall reduce the Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price to the par value of the NVCE Stock.
(h) Prohibited Actions.
(i) The Company agrees that it will not take any action which would entitle the Warrantholder to an adjustment of the Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price if the total number of shares of NVCE Stock issuable after such action upon exercise of this Warrant, together with all shares of NVCE Stock then outstanding and all shares of NVCE Stock then issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding options, warrants, conversion and other rights, would exceed the total number of shares of NVCE Stock then authorized by its Certificate of Incorporation.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment to the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares shall be permitted to the extent that such adjustment would or would be reasonably expected to (a) cause the Warrantholder (together with its affiliates or any other party with which the Warrantholder may be aggregated for purposes of the BHC Act) to own or be deemed to control one-third or more of
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the Company’s “total equity” (as interpreted and calculated in accordance with 12 CFR 225.34 or any successor or similar regulation or interpretation) or (b) cause the Warrantholder to be deemed a bank holding company for purposes of the BHC Act. Any adjustment not made pursuant to the preceding sentence will be carried forward and made at such future time as such adjustment would be permitted under the preceding sentence.
16. Business Combinations. In case of any Business Combination, the Warrantholder’s right to receive Shares upon exercise of this Warrant shall be converted, effective upon the occurrence of such Business Combination, into the right to acquire the number of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) that a holder of the number of Shares immediately prior to such Business Combination would have been entitled to receive upon consummation of such Business Combination (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of this Warrant). In determining the kind and amount of stock, securities or the property (including cash) receivable upon the occurrence of such Business Combination, if the holders of Voting Common Stock have the right to elect the kind or amount of consideration receivable upon consummation of such Business Combination, then the Warrantholder shall have the right at the same time to make the same election with respect to the number of shares of stock or other securities or property which the Warrantholder would have been entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant by providing a written notice of such election to the Company.
17. Exercise of Warrant in Connection with a Designated Event.
(a) Increase in Number of Shares Deliverable Upon Designated Event.
(i) If a Designated Event occurs prior to the Expiration Date, the Company shall provide written notice to the Warrantholder of the anticipated date for the consummation of such Designated Event (the “Effective Date”) not less than fourteen (14) days prior to such Effective Date. If the Warrantholder elects to exercise this Warrant after delivery of such notice and through the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Effective Date of the relevant Designated Event (such period the “Designated Event Exercise Period”) by providing written notice to the Company of such election, such exercise shall be deemed to be “in connection with” such Designated Event and the Company will increase the number of shares of NVCE Stock to which the Warrantholder is entitled with respect to such exercise as provided in this Section 17. If the Warrantholder does not elect to exercise this Warrant during the Designated Event Exercise Period, the terms of this Section 17 shall continue to apply with respect to any subsequent Designated Event.
(ii) Notwithstanding Section 17(a), the number of shares of NVCE Stock shall not be increased in the case of any Designated Event if at least 90% of the consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in a transaction otherwise constituting a Designated Event consists of shares of common stock, depositary receipts or other certificates representing common equity interests traded on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ (or any of their respective successors), or will be so traded immediately following such transaction, and as a result of such transaction such Warrants become exercisable solely for such consideration or NVCE Stock convertible into such consideration.
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(b) Notice of Designated Event. The Company shall notify the Warrantholders of the Effective Date of any Designated Event and issue a press release through Dow Jones & Company, Inc. or Bloomberg Business News or other similarly broad public medium that is customary for such press releases (and make the press release available on the Company’s website) announcing such Effective Date no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date. The Company will also use commercially reasonable efforts to give notice to Warrantholders of the anticipated Effective Date for a Designated Event (and issue a press release announcing same) not less than five Trading Days prior to the anticipated Effective Date to the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances. The failure to deliver such notice or issue such press release shall not affect the validity of such transaction.
(c) Additional Shares.
(i) The number of additional shares of NVCE Stock to which a Warrantholder is entitled upon exercise of a Warrant in connection with any Designated Event shall be determined by reference to the table below in Section 17(c)(iii) and shall be based on the Effective Date of, and the Designated Price for, such Designated Event.
(ii) The designated price set forth in the first row of the table below (i.e., the column headers) shall each be adjusted at the same time and in the manner as the Exercise Price is adjusted as set forth in Section 15
(iii) The following table sets forth the number of additional shares of NVCE Stock to be delivered per share of NVCE Stock underlying this Warrant for the given Designated Price and Effective Dates:
| Designated Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective |
$5,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $14,000 | $16,000 | $18,000 | $20,000 | $22,000 | $24,000 | $26,000 | $28,000 | $30,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2025 |
0.1000 | 0.2000 | 0.2292 | 0.2521 | 0.2713 | 0.2872 | 0.2885 | 0.2100 | 0.1446 | 0.0888 | 0.0414 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2026 |
0.0780 | 0.1800 | 0.2117 | 0.2379 | 0.2594 | 0.2778 | 0.2815 | 0.2045 | 0.1408 | 0.0869 | 0.0404 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2027 |
0.0560 | 0.1560 | 0.1900 | 0.2193 | 0.2444 | 0.2661 | 0.2720 | 0.1977 | 0.1358 | 0.0838 | 0.0389 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2028 |
0.0340 | 0.1270 | 0.1633 | 0.1957 | 0.2244 | 0.2494 | 0.2595 | 0.1882 | 0.1292 | 0.0796 | 0.0371 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2029 |
0.0160 | 0.0920 | 0.1283 | 0.1636 | 0.1969 | 0.2267 | 0.2410 | 0.1745 | 0.1196 | 0.0738 | 0.0343 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2030 |
0.0040 | 0.0510 | 0.0842 | 0.1193 | 0.1563 | 0.1911 | 0.2120 | 0.1523 | 0.1038 | 0.0638 | 0.0296 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2031 |
0.0000 | 0.0120 | 0.0300 | 0.0571 | 0.0919 | 0.1311 | 0.1600 | 0.1105 | 0.0733 | 0.0442 | 0.0204 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6/29/2032 |
0.0000 | 0.0010 | 0.0067 | 0.0200 | 0.0450 | 0.0811 | 0.1130 | 0.0705 | 0.0433 | 0.0250 | 0.0114 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2032 |
0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(iv) If the exact Designated Price and/or Effective Date are not set forth in the table above, then:
| (1) | if the actual Designated Price is between two Designated Prices in the table or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table, the number of additional shares of NVCE Stock to be delivered per Warrant shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of additional shares of NVCE Stock set forth for the higher and lower Designated Prices and/or the earlier and later Effective Dates in the table, based on a 365-day year, as applicable; |
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| (2) | if the actual Designated Price is in excess of $30,000 per share (subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 15), no additional shares of NVCE Stock shall be delivered upon exercise of any Warrant in connection with the relevant Designated Event; and |
| (3) | if the Designated Price is less than $5,000 per share (subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 15), no additional shares of NVCE Stock shall be delivered upon exercise of any Warrant in connection with the relevant Designated Event. |
(d) Cash Designated Event Settlement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 17, the Company will settle exercise of the Warrant exercised in connection with a Designated Event in accordance with Section 3; provided, however, that with respect to a Designated Event in connection with which (x) all holders of NVCE Stock receive only cash consideration for their shares of NVCE Stock and (y) all holders of Voting Common Stock receive only cash consideration for their shares of Voting Common Stock (such Designated Event, a “Cash Designated Event”) the Company will settle the Warrant, which shall be automatically exercised upon such event, by delivering, on the third Business Day after the date the Warrant is exercised, an amount of Cash equal to (i) the sum of (A) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which the NVCE Stock deliverable to the Warrantholder as a result of the Net Share Settlement calculation as of the Effective Date for the Cash Designated Event as described in Section 3(b) herein are convertible plus (B) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which the additional shares of NVCE Stock described in this Section 17 are convertible multiplied by (ii) the per-share amount of cash consideration paid in such Designated Event (the “Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration”).
(e) The Company shall not effect any Designated Event in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving parent corporation or transfers, conveys or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, in each such case, unless proper provision shall have been made so that the appropriate successors, assigns or transferees assume and give effect to the obligations set forth herein.
18. Attorneys’ Fees. In any litigation, arbitration or court proceeding between the Company and the Warrantholder as the holder of this Warrant relating hereto, the prevailing party (as determined in a final and non-appealable order of a court, arbitrator of other Governmental Entity) shall be entitled to reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
19. Tax Treatment of Cashless Exercise. If payment of the Exercise Price is effected pursuant to Section 3(b) by the Company withholding Shares from the amount of Shares that would otherwise be delivered to the Warrantholder, the Company and the Warrantholder shall treat such payment as a nontaxable event in which no gain is realized on the withheld Shares for all federal, state, and local income tax purposes, except as otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” (as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) or any similar provision of state or local law.
19
20. Transfer Taxes. The Company shall bear and pay any and all transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, documentary taxes, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any issuance or delivery of this Warrant or any shares of NVCE Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any such tax that may be payable in connection with any exercise of this Warrant to the extent such tax is payable because the registered holder of this Warrant requests NVCE Stock to be registered in a name other than such registered holder’s name and no such NVCE Stock will be so registered unless and until the registered holder making such request has paid such taxes to the Company or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such taxes have been paid or are not payable. The Company and the Warrantholder shall reasonably cooperate to avoid or minimize the imposition of transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, documentary taxes, or other similar taxes on the transactions described in the first sentence of this Section 20.
21. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given on (a) the date of delivery if delivered personally, (b) upon delivery if delivered by email (provided that no auto-generated error or non-delivery or similar message (except for any “out of office” message) is generated in response thereto), (c) the first (1st) business day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (d) the earlier of confirmation of receipt or the fifth (5th) business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
| (a) | if to the Company, to: |
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
110 West Front Street
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701
Attention: Christopher D. Maher
Email: [email protected]
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: Sven Mickisch; Matthew Nemeroff; Makala Kaupalolo
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]
and
20
| (b) | if to the Warrantholder, to: |
c/o Warburg Pincus LLC
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: General Counsel
Email: [email protected]
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 W 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Mark F. Veblen
Email: [email protected]
22. Miscellaneous. The provisions of Article VI of the Investment Agreement (other than Section 6.4) are hereby incorporated by reference into this Warrant, mutatis mutandis, as if they were restated in full, with each reference to “this Agreement” in such sections of the Investment Agreement being deemed a reference to this Warrant.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by a duly authorized officer as of June 1, 2026.
| OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Christopher D. Maher | |
| Name: Christopher D. Maher | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Address: 110 W. Front St. Red Bank, NJ 07701 | ||
| Attest: | ||
| By: | /s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos | |
| Name: Steven J. Tsimbinos | ||
| Title: Senior Executive Vice President | ||
| & General Counsel | ||
[Signature Page to Warrant]
| Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
| WPGG 14 ORION INVESTMENTS L.P. | ||
| By: WPGG 14 Orion Investments GP, Ltd, its general partner | ||
| By: | /s/ Todd Schell | |
| Name: | Todd Schell | |
| Title: | Authorised Representative | |
[Signature Page to Warrant]
[Form of Notice of Exercise]
Date: ______________
| TO: | [__________] |
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
RE: Election to Subscribe for and Purchase NVCE Stock
The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant, hereby exercises the Warrant for the number of shares of the NVCE Stock set forth below and directs the Company to issue such shares of NVCE Stock to the Share Recipient set forth below. The undersigned, in accordance with Section 3(b) of the Warrant, hereby agrees to pay the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares of NVCE Stock in the manner pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Warrant. A new warrant evidencing the remaining shares of NVCE Stock covered by such Warrant, but not yet subscribed for and purchased, if any, should be issued in the name set forth below.
Share Recipient(s): _______________
Number of Shares of NVCE Stock Exercised: _______________
Number of Shares of NVCE Stock to be Delivered After Application of Net Settlement Provisions of Section 3(b): _______________
Name and Address of Person to be Issued New Warrant: ________________________________
| Holder: |
| |
| By: |
| |
| Name: |
| |
| Title: |
| |
[Form of Notice of Exercise]
[Form of Assignment to be Executed if Warrantholder
Desires to Transfer Warrants Evidenced Hereby]
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
|
|
| |
| (Please print name) identifying | (Please insert social security or other number) | |
|
|
||
| Address | ||
|
|
||
| (City, including zip code) | ||
the Warrant represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _______________ as attorney to transfer said Warrant Certificate with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Signature |
| (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant Certificate and must bear a signature guarantee by a bank, trust company or member broker of the New York, Midwest or Pacific Stock Exchange) |
| Signature Guaranteed |
[Form of Assignment]
Exhibit 4.2
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS (I) A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS EFFECTIVE UNDER THE ACT AND IS QUALIFIED UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR (II) THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT AND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UNDER THIS INSTRUMENT ARE SUBJECT TO TRANSFER AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IN AN INVESTMENT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 29, 2025, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER.
WARRANT
to purchase
3,757.59
Shares of Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock
of
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
a Delaware Corporation
| No. 01 |
Issue Date: June 1, 2026 |
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||||
| 1. |
DEFINITIONS |
1 | ||||
| 2. |
NUMBER OF SHARES; PERSONS ENTITLED TO EXERCISE WARRANT |
4 | ||||
| 3. |
EXERCISE OF WARRANT; TERM |
5 | ||||
| 4. |
LIMITATION OF EXERCISE |
6 | ||||
| 5. |
COVENANTS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE COMPANY |
8 | ||||
| 6. |
ISSUANCE OF SHARES; AUTHORIZATION; LISTING |
9 | ||||
| 7. |
COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS |
9 | ||||
| 8. |
NO FRACTIONAL SHARES OR SCRIP |
10 | ||||
| 9. |
NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS; TRANSFER BOOKS |
10 | ||||
| 10. |
TRANSFER |
11 | ||||
| 11. |
REGISTRY OF WARRANT |
11 | ||||
| 12. |
LOSS, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF WARRANT |
11 | ||||
| 13. |
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, HOLIDAYS, ETC. |
11 | ||||
| 14. |
RULE 144 INFORMATION |
11 | ||||
| 15. |
ADJUSTMENTS AND OTHER RIGHTS |
12 | ||||
| 16. |
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS |
17 | ||||
| 17. |
EXERCISE OF WARRANT IN CONNECTION WITH A DESIGNATED EVENT |
17 | ||||
| 18. |
ATTORNEYS’ FEES |
19 | ||||
| 19. |
TAX TREATMENT OF CASHLESS EXERCISE |
19 | ||||
| 20. |
TRANSFER TAXES |
20 | ||||
| 21. |
NOTICES |
20 | ||||
| 22. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
21 | ||||
i
Index of Defined Terms
| Page | ||
| ACT |
i | |
| affiliate |
1 | |
| Applicable Price |
1 | |
| Applicable Restrictions |
7 | |
| Appraisal Procedure |
1 | |
| Business Combination |
1 | |
| business day |
1 | |
| Cash Designated Event |
19 | |
| Certificate of Designations |
2 | |
| Certificate of Incorporation |
2 | |
| Company |
4 | |
| Convertible Transfer |
2 | |
| Designated Event |
2 | |
| Designated Price |
2 | |
| Effective Date |
17 | |
| Exchange Act |
7 | |
| Excluded Stock |
2 | |
| Exercise Price |
3 | |
| Expiration Date |
5 | |
| Fair Market Value |
3 | |
| Group |
3 | |
| Investment Agreement |
3 | |
| Issue Date |
3 | |
| Mandatory Exercise Price |
3 | |
| Notice of Exercise |
4 | |
| NVCE Stock |
4 | |
| Ownership Limitation |
7 | |
| Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration |
19 | |
| person |
4 | |
| SEC |
11 | |
| Share Recipient |
9 | |
| Shares |
4 | |
| Subject Record Date |
15 | |
| Trading Day |
4 | |
| Transfer |
4 | |
| Warrant |
4 | |
| Warrant Certificate |
4 | |
| Warrantholder |
4 | |
| Warrantholder Group |
7 | |
| Warrantholder Person |
7 | |
ii
1. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following terms shall have the meanings indicated. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Investment Agreement.
“affiliate” of a specified person is any person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person; provided that if the Warrantholder is controlled by a private equity sponsor or similar investment firm, “affiliate” shall not include any “portfolio company” (as such term is customarily used in the private equity industry), or any investment fund or vehicle (other than any such fund or vehicle with a direct or indirect interest in Investor), of or related to or affiliated with or managed by such sponsor or firm. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Applicable Price” means the applicable Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), as adjusted from time to time pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.
“Appraisal Procedure” means a procedure whereby two independent appraisers, one chosen by the Company and one chosen by the Warrantholder, shall mutually agree upon the determinations then the subject of appraisal. Each party shall deliver a notice to the other appointing its appraiser within fifteen (15) days after the Appraisal Procedure is invoked. If within thirty (30) days after appointment of the two appraisers they are unable to mutually agree upon the amount in question, a third independent appraiser shall be chosen within ten (10) days thereafter by the mutual agreement of such first two appraisers or, if such first two appraisers fail to agree upon the appointment of a third appraiser, such appointment shall be made by the American Arbitration Association, or any organization successor thereto, from a panel of arbitrators having experience in the appraisal of the subject matter to be appraised. The decision of the third appraiser so appointed and chosen shall be given within thirty (30) days after the selection of such third appraiser. If three appraisers shall be appointed and the determination of one appraiser is disparate from the middle determination by more than twice the amount by which the other determination is disparate from the middle determination, then the determination of such appraiser shall be excluded, the remaining two determinations shall be averaged and such average shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Warrantholder; otherwise, the average of all three determinations shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and the Warrantholder. The costs of conducting any Appraisal Procedure shall be borne by the Company; provided that, if the final determination of the appraisers is less than the fair market value determination of the Board of Directors, then such costs shall be borne solely by the Warrantholder.
“Business Combination” means, whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions, a merger, division, consolidation, share exchange, reorganization, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another person or similar transaction (which may include a reclassification) involving the Company (other than the Mergers).
“business day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized by Law to be closed.
“Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations of the Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 29, 2026, effective as of May 29, 2026.
“Certificate of Incorporation” means the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as amended by the Certificate of Designations, and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).
“Convertible Transfer” shall have the meaning set forth in the Certificate of Designations.
“Designated Event” means a single transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which: (i) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) has become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Voting Common Stock representing 50% or more of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of the Company’s voting stock; (ii) the Company consolidates with, effects a binding share exchange with, or merges with or into, another person or the Company sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event, other than any transaction or series of related transactions: (A) pursuant to which the persons that “beneficially owned,” directly or indirectly, a majority of the total voting power of the shares of the Voting Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction “beneficially own,” directly or indirectly, shares of voting stock representing a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of voting stock of the surviving, resulting or transferee person, or of the parent entity of such surviving or transferee person, and such holders’ proportional voting power immediately after such transaction vis-à-vis each other with respect to the securities they receive in such transaction shall be in substantially the same proportions as their respective voting power vis-à-vis each other immediately prior to such transaction; or (B) which is effected solely to change jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company and results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of the Voting Common Stock solely into equivalent shares of common stock of the surviving entity; or (iii) the holders of the Company’s capital stock approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
“Designated Price” means, for any Designated Event, (i) if the consideration paid to holders of Voting Common Stock in connection with such Designated Event consists exclusively of cash, the Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which such NVCE Stock is then convertible, and (ii) in all other cases, the ten (10) Trading Day average of the Market Price of the Shares ending on the Trading Day prior to the Effective Date of such Designated Event.
“Excluded Stock” means (1) shares of Voting Common Stock issued by the Company as a stock dividend payable in shares of Voting Common Stock, or upon any subdivision or split-up of the outstanding shares of Voting Common Stock, in each case, which is subject to Section VII(b) of the Certificate of Designations, or upon conversion of securities (but not the issuance of such securities convertible or exchangeable into Voting Common Stock which will be subject to the provision of Section 15(b)), (2) shares of Voting Common Stock to be issued in good faith to directors, officers, employees, consultants or other agents of the Company or its Subsidiaries
2
pursuant to options, restricted stock units, other equity-based awards or other compensatory arrangements approved by the Board of Directors in the ordinary course of providing equity compensation awards, (3) any shares of Voting Common Stock issued upon conversion of the NVCE Stock, (4) any shares issued upon the conversion of the Shares issued under this Warrant, (5) any shares of Voting Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (6) any other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Voting Common Stock issued and outstanding on the Issue Date; provided that, in the case of this clause (6), such securities have not been amended subsequent to the issuance of this Warrant to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities or to extend the term of such securities, and (7) any shares of capital stock issued or sold to the Warrantholder or any of its Affiliates.
“Exercise Price” means $19,760; provided, that the foregoing shall be subject to adjustment as expressly set forth herein.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any security or other property, the fair market value of such security or other property as determined by the Board of Directors, acting in good faith in reliance on advice received by the Board of Directors from a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by the Company for the purpose of determining the fair market value of shares of the NVCE Stock and certified in a resolution to the Warrantholder. If the Warrantholder does not accept the Board of Director’s calculation of fair market value and, thereafter, the Warrantholder and the Company are unable to agree on fair market value, then the Appraisal Procedure shall be used to determine fair market value.
“Group” means a group as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Investment Agreement” means that certain Investment Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2025, as it may be amended from time to time, by and among the Company, WPGG 14 Orion L.P. and WPFS II Orion L.P.
“Issue Date” means the date first set forth above opposite the heading Issue Date.
“Mandatory Exercise Price” means $30.00; provided, that the foregoing shall be subject to adjustment as expressly set forth herein.
“Market Price” means, with respect to (1) the NVCE Stock, on any given day, (a) the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, of the shares of the NVCE Stock on the principal exchange or market on which the NVCE Stock is so listed or quoted, (b) if the NVCE Stock is not so publicly traded, the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, of the shares of the Voting Common Stock on the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted multiplied by the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which such NVCE Stock is then convertible or (c) if neither the foregoing clause (a) nor clause (b) applies, the Fair Market Value of a share of the NVCE Stock and (2) the Voting Common Stock, on any given day, (a) the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, of the shares of the Voting Common Stock on the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted or (b) if the foregoing clause (a) does not apply, the Fair Market Value of a share of the Voting Common Stock. “Market Price” shall be determined without reference to after-hours or extended-hours trading.
3
“Notice of Exercise” means a duly completed and executed Notice of Exercise, the form of which is annexed hereto.
“NVCE Stock” means Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
“person” means any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or nature.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the shares of Voting Common Stock (1) are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of business; and (2) have traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of the Voting Common Stock.
“Transfer” means to sell, transfer, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of or interest in or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any rights hereunder; provided, however, that a pledge or other encumbrance of this Warrant or any rights hereunder that creates a mere security interest in this Warrant or any rights hereunder shall not constitute a Transfer.
“Warrant” means this Warrant issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement.
“Warrant Certificate” means this certificate evidencing this Warrant.
“Warrantholder” means the person who shall from time to time own this Warrant, including any transferee thereof.
2. Number of Shares; Persons Entitled to Exercise Warrant. On the terms and subject to the conditions, requirements and procedures set forth herein, OceanFirst Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, unless this Warrant has been earlier redeemed, surrendered, cancelled or exercised in full, for value received, this Warrant is exercisable in whole at any time or in part from time to time, for, in the aggregate, 3,757.59 duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and nonassessable shares of NVCE Stock (“Shares”), as such number may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions imposed under the Investment Agreement, this Warrant or applicable securities Laws), by the Warrantholder. The number of Shares issuable hereunder, the Exercise Price and the Mandatory Exercise Price are subject to adjustment as provided herein and in the Certificate of Designations, and all references to “Shares,” “Exercise Price” and “Mandatory Exercise Price” herein shall be deemed to include any such adjustment or series of adjustments. If this Warrant is transferred in a Convertible Transfer to any person for whom the underlying NVCE Stock would automatically convert into Voting Common Stock pursuant to Section III(a) of the Certificate of Designations if transferred directly, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Warrant, this Warrant shall be exercisable by such person in whole at any time or in part from time to time for the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which the Shares would be convertible pursuant to the Certificate of Designations at the time of exercise (including any cumulative adjustment pursuant to the proviso in the definition of Conversion Price in the Certificate of Designations), and the remaining terms of this Warrant shall apply to such exercise mutatis mutandis.
4
3. Exercise of Warrant; Term.
(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions, requirements and procedures set forth herein, prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the seven (7) year anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Expiration Date”):
(i) this Warrant may be exercised by the Warrantholder, in whole or in part, from time to time, at any time after 9:00 a.m., New York City time, (1) during the period beginning on the third anniversary of the Closing and ending on the Expiration Date or (2) prior to such third anniversary (x) at any time after the Market Price of the Voting Common Stock equals or exceeds the Mandatory Exercise Price at the close of any Trading Day of NASDAQ (or, if NASDAQ is not the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted, such other principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted) or (y) in connection with a Designated Event as contemplated by Section 17, in each case of clause (1) or (2), by (x) the delivery by the Warrantholder to the Company of a Notice of Exercise and (y) if applicable, payment by the Warrantholder to the Company of the Exercise Price for the Shares specified in such Notice of Exercise pursuant to Section 3(b); and
(ii) this Warrant shall be automatically exercised in full for Shares in the event the Market Price of the Voting Common Stock equals or exceeds the Mandatory Exercise Price for twenty (20) or more Trading Days during any thirty (30)-consecutive Trading Day period of NASDAQ (or, if NASDAQ is not the principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted, such other principal exchange or market on which the Voting Common Stock is so listed or quoted), and the Warrantholder shall remit to the Company the Exercise Price for the Shares pursuant to Section 3(b).
(b) Payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares in any exercise pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be effected by the Company withholding, from the Shares that would otherwise be delivered to the Warrantholder upon such exercise, an amount of Shares (but for the avoidance of doubt not more than the number of Shares that would be otherwise deliverable) equal in value to the aggregate Exercise Price in respect of the Shares as to which this Warrant is so exercised, based on, in the case of an exercise pursuant to (i) Section 3(a)(i), the ten (10) Trading Day average of the Market Price of the Shares ending on the second Trading Day prior to the date on which this Warrant is exercised or (ii) Section 3(a)(ii), the ten (10) Trading Day average of the Market Price of the Shares commencing on the second Trading Day following the date on which this Warrant is automatically exercised (provided that in the case of a Cash Designated Event such calculation shall be based on the Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration multiplied by the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which such NVCE Stock is then convertible) (“Net Share Settlement”); provided that, if the Company and the Warrantholder mutually agree in writing otherwise, payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares in any exercise pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be made by the Warrantholder delivering to the Company cash in an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company.
5
(c) If the Warrantholder exercises a portion (but not all) of this Warrant pursuant to Section 3(a)(i), the Warrantholder will, at the option of the Warrantholder, be entitled to receive from the Company, within a reasonable time, and in any event not exceeding three (3) business days after notice thereof to the Company, a new Warrant Certificate in substantially identical form to this Warrant Certificate, but for the purchase of that number of Shares that remain issuable pursuant to this Warrant.
(d) If the Warrantholder does not elect to receive a new Warrant Certificate in accordance with Section 3(c), then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Warrantholder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until this Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Warrantholder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) business days after the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in the issuance of a portion of the total number of Shares issuable hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Shares issuable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Shares issued upon such partial exercises hereof. The Warrantholder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Shares issued upon partial exercises hereof and the date of such issuances. The Company shall inform the Warrantholder if a Notice of Exercise has not been duly completed within three (3) business days of receipt of such notice, but shall not refuse or object to the issuance of the Shares upon receipt of, and pursuant to, a duly completed Notice of Exercise. The Warrantholder, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledges and agrees that, by reason of the provisions of this Section 3, following the exercise of a portion of this Warrant, the number of Shares issuable hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if an exercise of any portion of this Warrant is to be made in connection with a public offering or a sale of the Company (pursuant to a merger, sale of stock, or otherwise), such exercise may, at the election of the Warrantholder (as set forth in the applicable Notice of Exercise), be conditioned upon the consummation of such transaction, in which case, such exercise shall not be deemed to be effective until immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction.
(f) Following the close of business on the Expiration Date, this Warrant shall terminate and the Warrantholder shall have no right to acquire any shares pursuant hereto, other than settlement of any exercise pursuant to Section 3(a) that properly occurred prior to the Expiration Date.
4. Limitation of Exercise.
(a) The Warrantholder shall have no right to exercise this Warrant, and the Company shall have no obligation to effect any exercise of this Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to any exercise of this Warrant, such exercise would or would reasonably be expected to (i) cause the Warrantholder, its affiliates or any of their partners or principals to (A) “control” the Company or be required to become a bank holding company, in each case, pursuant to the Bank Holding
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Company Act of 1956 (the “BHC Act”) , or own or be deemed to control one-third or more of the Company’s “total equity” (as interpreted and calculated in accordance with 12 CFR 225.34 or any successor or similar regulation or interpretation); or (B) serve as a source of financial strength to the Company pursuant to the BHC Act; or (ii) require the Warrantholder, its affiliates or any of their partners or principals to have made any advance filing with, obtained any approval, authorization consent, permit or license of, or provided notice to, any Governmental Entity under Law (which such filing has not been made, or approval, authorization, consent, permit or license has not been obtained or such notice has not been duly provided), including the expiration of any waiting periods associated therewith (including any extensions thereof). In the event that the limitation in this Section 4(a) becomes applicable as a result upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant Section 3(a)(ii), such automatic exercise shall apply only to the portion of the Shares permitted to be delivered in accordance with this Section 4(a) and this Warrant shall remain outstanding with respect to any remaining Shares underlying this Warrant but for purposes of any subsequent exercise of this Warrant the Market Price will be deemed to be the Market Price in effect as of the initial automatic exercise pursuant Section 3(a)(ii) (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 15 to preserve the value intended economic effect of the automatic exercise) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, giving effect to any cumulative adjustment pursuant to the proviso in the definition of Conversion Price in the Certificate of Designations). This Warrant shall be automatically exercised at such subsequent time(s) when, but in each case only to the extent, permitted pursuant this Section 4(a).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Warrant, but subject to the following sentence, no Shares will be issued or delivered upon any exercise of this Warrant, and the Warrantholder will not be entitled to receive Shares upon any such exercise, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such issuance or delivery would result in (i) the Warrantholder, or a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”)) that includes the Warrantholder (a “Warrantholder Group”), beneficially owning in excess of 4.5% of the then-outstanding shares of Voting Common Stock (determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) or (ii) the Warrantholder, such Warrantholder Group or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of the Warrantholder or such Warrantholder Group (the Warrantholder, such Warrantholder Group or any such person, a “Warrantholder Person”) under any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders that are, in each case, applicable to ownership of shares of Voting Common Stock (“Applicable Restrictions”), owning, beneficially owning, constructively owning, controlling, holding the power to vote or otherwise meeting a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of shares of Voting Common Stock equal to (x) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Warrantholder Person, and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received, in each case minus (y) 0.1% of the then-outstanding shares of Voting Common Stock (the restrictions set forth in this sentence, the “Ownership Limitation”). If any Shares (and cash in lieu of fractional Shares) otherwise due upon the exercise of the Warrant is not delivered as a result of the Ownership Limitation, then the Company’s obligation to deliver such Shares (and cash in lieu of fractional Shares) will not be extinguished and will remain in full force and effect, provided that the Company will deliver such Shares (for the avoidance of doubt, giving effect to any cumulative adjustment pursuant to the proviso in the definition of Conversion Price in the
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Certificate of Designations through the date of delivery) (and cash in lieu of fractional Shares) as soon as reasonably practicable after (and to the extent that) the Warrantholder provides written notice to the Company that such delivery will not contravene the Ownership Limitation. Subject to the preceding sentence, any purported delivery of Shares upon exercise of this Warrant will be void and have no effect to the extent, and only to the extent, that such delivery would contravene the Ownership Limitation. Upon the reasonable written request of the Warrantholder, the Company shall within three (3) Trading Days confirm orally or in writing to the Warrantholder the number of shares of Voting Common Stock then outstanding, including by virtue of any prior conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities into Voting Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 4(b), other than the immediately preceding sentence, shall not apply to the initial Warrantholder to which this Warrant was originally issued and affiliates of such initial Warrantholder.
5. Covenants and Representations of the Company. The Company hereby represents, covenants and agrees, as applicable:
(a) Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Warrantholder, the Company shall not by any action, including 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 intentionally seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but shall 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 Warrantholder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment.
(b) The Company shall (i) not increase the par value of any Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) issue duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Shares upon the proper exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) use reasonable best efforts to (x) obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents required of the Company from any Governmental Entity as may be necessary to enable the Company to perform its express obligations under this Warrant and (y) take all necessary actions so that the Shares may be issued without violation of Law or any requirement of any securities exchange on which the Shares or the Voting Common Stock are listed or traded.
(c) Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, and take all such corporate action, as may be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable Shares at the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price as so adjusted.
(d) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, solely for the purpose of providing for the exercise of this Warrant, that number of shares of (i) NVCE Stock sufficient for issuance upon exercise of this Warrant and (ii) Voting Common Stock sufficient for issuance of shares of Voting Common Stock upon conversion of shares of such shares of NVCE Stock in accordance with their terms.
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6. Issuance of Shares; Authorization; Listing. In the event of any exercise of this Warrant in accordance with and on the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, any Shares issued pursuant to such exercise, if applicable, shall be issued in such name(s) as the Warrantholder may designate and shall be delivered by the Company to such named person(s) within three (3) business days after the date on which this Warrant has been duly exercised in accordance with the terms of this Warrant; provided that, the Shares to be delivered upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant Section 3(a)(ii) shall instead be delivered within three (3) business days after the last day of the ten (10)-day period contemplated in Section 3(b)(ii); provided, further that if the Company and the Warrantholder agree for a cash payment to be made pursuant to Section 3(b), the Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver the Shares to such named person prior the first (1st) business day following full satisfaction of the cash payment obligation of the Warrantholder pursuant to Section 3(b). Any such delivery shall be made via book-entry transfer crediting the account of the Warrantholder through the Company’s transfer agent and registrar for the NVCE Stock. The Company hereby represents and warrants that any Shares issued upon the exercise of this Warrant in accordance with Section 3 shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, issued without violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any stockholder of the Company, and free and clear of all Liens (other than (a) transfer restrictions imposed hereunder, under the Investment Agreement or Law or (b) Liens created by the Warrantholder occurring prior to, or contemporaneously with, such exercise). The Company agrees that the Shares so issued shall be deemed to have been issued if this Warrant is exercised pursuant to Section 2 (the person to whom such Shares shall be deemed to have been so issued in accordance with Section 2, the “Share Recipient”) as of the close of business on the date on which the Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price are delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms hereof (it being agreed that payment of the Exercise Price by net settlement pursuant to Section 3(b) shall be deemed to occur by delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise), notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of the Company may then be closed or certificates representing such Shares may not be actually delivered on such date. The Company shall (i) procure, at its sole expense, the listing of the Shares and other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (solely to the extent they are shares of Common Stock), subject to issuance or notice of issuance on all stock exchanges on which the Common Stock is then listed or traded, and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of such Shares after issuance. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Shares may be issued without violation of any applicable law or regulation or of any requirement of any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded.
7. Compliance with Securities Laws.
(a) The Warrantholder, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges that the offer and sale of this Warrant and any Shares to be issued upon exercise hereof have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any U.S. state security Law and are being acquired pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act solely for the Warrantholder’s own account, and not as a nominee for any other party, and for investment with no present intention to distribute this Warrant (or any Shares issuable upon exercise hereof) to any person in violation of the Securities Act or any U.S. state securities Law, and that the Warrantholder shall not offer, sell or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Shares to be issued upon exercise hereof except pursuant to an effective registration statement, or an exemption from registration, under the Securities Act and any U.S. state securities Law.
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(b) Except as provided in Section 7(c), this Warrant and any Shares issued upon exercise hereof shall be stamped or imprinted with a legend in substantially the form (which, in the case of the Shares, shall be in the form of an appropriate book entry notation) set forth in Section 4.6(a) of the Investment Agreement.
(c) The Company shall promptly cause clause (i) of such legend to be removed from any certificate or other instrument for this Warrant or the Shares and the Company shall deliver all necessary documents to the transfer agent in connection therewith without charge as to this Warrant or any Shares upon request of (x) the Warrantholder, upon receipt by the Company of an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act and applicable state laws, or (y) the Warrantholder in connection with a sale or transfer of the Warrant or the Shares at a time when this Warrant or the Shares have been registered under the Securities Act (unless subject to any transfer restrictions under Rule 144 for affiliates) or may otherwise be transferred pursuant to any applicable rules thereunder, including eligibility to be transferred if Rule 144 under the Securities Act is available for the sale of this Warrant or the Shares without volume and manner of sale restrictions. The Company shall, whether or not requested by Warrantholder, cause clause (ii) of the legend to be removed upon the Transfer of this Warrant or the Shares to be Transferred upon exercise hereof to a person that is not (and will not, in connection with such Transfer) be a party to the Investment Agreement (or bound by the terms thereof).
(d) The Company and the Warrantholder acknowledge that the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, including the Voting Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Shares, shall be entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or supplemented from time to time.
8. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional Shares or scrip representing fractional Shares shall be issued upon any exercise of this Warrant. In lieu of any fractional Share to which the Share Recipient would otherwise be entitled, the Share Recipient shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Market Price of the Shares on the last business day preceding the date of exercise less the portion of the Exercise Price attributable to such fractional share; provided that, if the making of a cash payment in lieu of the issuance of a fractional share is prohibited by Law or contract, the number of shares issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant shall be rounded to the nearest whole share.
9. No Rights as Stockholders; Transfer Books. This Warrant does not entitle the Warrantholder to any rights of a holder of NVCE Stock prior to the date of exercise hereof. Effective immediately prior to the close of business on such date of exercise, the Share Recipient shall have any rights as a holder of NVCE Stock. The Company will at no time close its transfer books against Transfer of this Warrant in any manner which interferes with the timely exercise of this Warrant.
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10. Transfer.
(a) Subject to compliance with Section 10(b) and Law, without obtaining the consent of the Company to assign or transfer this Warrant, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon the books of the Company by the registered holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, or by means of electronic transmission, and a new warrant shall be made and delivered by the Company, of the same tenor and date as this Warrant but registered in the name of the transferee, upon surrender of this Warrant, duly endorsed, to the office or agency of the Company described in Section 2, and delivery of the form of assignment annexed hereto, duly completed and executed. All expenses (other than stock transfer taxes) and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the new warrants certificate pursuant to this Section 10 shall be paid by the Company.
(b) The Warrantholder shall be entitled to Transfer this Warrant only (i) in compliance with Section 4.2 of the Investment Agreement or (ii) to any person with the prior written consent of the Company.
11. Registry of Warrant. The Company shall maintain a registry in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall register Warrant Certificates (showing the name and address of the Warrantholder as the registered holder of this Warrant) and exchanges and transfers thereof. This Warrant may be surrendered for exchange or exercise, in accordance with its terms, and the Company shall be entitled to rely in all respects upon such registry, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, except any Transfer of the Warrant effected in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant, including Section 10.
12. Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of the Warrant Certificate and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of the Warrant Certificate, the Company shall execute and deliver, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, less the number of Shares previously issued upon any exercise of this Warrant pursuant to Section 3.
13. 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 business day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding day that is a business day.
14. Rule 144 Information. The Company covenants that it will use reasonable best efforts to timely file all reports and other documents that may be required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, it will, upon the request of any Warrantholder, make publicly available such information as may be necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144), and it will use reasonable best efforts to take such further action as any Warrantholder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell the Warrants without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the written request of any Warrantholder, the Company will deliver to such Warrantholder a written statement that it has complied with such requirements.
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15. Adjustments and Other Rights. The Exercise Price, the Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows; provided that if more than one section or subsection of this Section 15 is applicable to a single event, the section or subsection shall be applied that produces the largest adjustment and no single event shall cause an adjustment under more than one section or subsection of this Section 15 so as to result in duplication.
(a) Stock Splits, Subdivisions, Reclassifications or Combinations. If the Company shall (i) declare, order, and pay or make a dividend or make a distribution on its NVCE Stock payable in shares of NVCE Stock (which shall not include any shares of NVCE Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) split, subdivide or reclassify the outstanding shares of NVCE Stock into a greater number of shares or (iii) combine or reclassify the outstanding shares of NVCE Stock into a smaller number of shares, in each case, then the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant at the time of the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such split, subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the Warrantholder immediately after such record date or effective date, as applicable, upon exercise of this Warrant, shall be entitled to purchase the number of shares of NVCE Stock which such holder would have been entitled to receive in respect of the Shares after such date had this Warrant been exercised in full immediately prior to such record date or effective date, as applicable. In such event, the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such split, subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be adjusted to the number obtained by dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant before such adjustment determined pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, multiplied by (2) the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price (as applicable) in effect immediately prior to the record or effective date, as applicable, with respect to the dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reclassification or combination giving rise to this adjustment by (y) the new number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in full determined pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.
(b) Voting Common Stock Issued at Less than the Applicable Price.
(i) If the Company issues or sells, or agrees to issue or sell, any Voting Common Stock or other securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for (or are otherwise linked to) Voting Common Stock (in each case, other than Excluded Stock) for consideration per share less than the Applicable Price, then the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to each such issuance or sale will immediately (except as provided below) be reduced to the price determined by multiplying the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, as applicable, in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which shall be (1) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale, plus (2) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock which the aggregate consideration received by the Company for the total number of such additional shares of Voting Common Stock so issued or sold would purchase at the Applicable Price absent the adjustments contemplated by this clause (b)(i), and (y)
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the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Voting Common Stock outstanding immediately after such issuance or sale. In such event, the number of shares of NVCE Stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be increased to the number obtained by dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant before such adjustment and (2) the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, as applicable, in effect immediately prior to the issuance or sale giving rise to this adjustment, by (y) the new Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price, as applicable, determined in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, no increase in the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price or reduction in the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made pursuant to this subclause (i) of this Section 15(b), other than as would be contemplated by Section 15(b)(ii)(3)(D).
(ii) For the purposes of any adjustment of the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 15(b), the following provisions shall be applicable:
| (1) | In the case of the issuance or sale of equity or equity-linked securities for cash, the amount of the consideration received by the Company shall be deemed to be the amount of the cash paid therefor before deducting therefrom any discounts, commissions or placement fees allowed, paid or incurred by the Company for any underwriter, placement agent or otherwise in connection with the issuance and sale thereof. |
| (2) | In the case of the issuance or sale of equity or equity-linked securities (otherwise than upon the conversion of securities of the Company) for a consideration in whole or in part other than cash, including securities acquired in exchange therefor (other than securities by their terms so exchangeable), the consideration other than cash shall be deemed to be the Fair Market Value, before deducting therefrom any discounts, commissions or placement fees allowed, paid or incurred by the Company for any underwriter, placement agent or otherwise in connection with the issuance and sale thereof. |
| (3) | In the case of the issuance of (x) options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire equity or equity-linked securities (whether or not at the time exercisable) or (y) securities by their terms convertible into or exchangeable for equity or equity-linked securities (whether or not at the time so convertible or exchangeable) or options, warrants or rights to purchase such convertible or exchangeable securities (whether or not at the time exercisable): |
| (A) | The aggregate maximum number of shares of securities deliverable upon exercise of such options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire equity or equity-linked |
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| securities shall be deemed to have been issued at the time such options, warrants or rights are issued and for a consideration equal to the consideration (determined in the manner provided in Section 15(b)(i) and (ii)), if any, received by the Company upon the issuance or sale of such options, warrants or rights, plus the minimum purchase price provided in such options, warrants or rights for the equity or equity-linked securities covered thereby. |
| (B) | The aggregate maximum number of shares of equity or equity-linked securities deliverable upon conversion of or in exchange for any such convertible or exchangeable securities, or upon the exercise of options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire such convertible or exchangeable securities and the subsequent conversion or exchange thereof, shall be deemed to have been issued at the time such securities were issued or such options, warrants or rights were issued and for a consideration equal to the consideration, if any, received by the Company for any such securities and related options, warrants or rights (excluding any cash received on account of accrued interest or accrued dividends), plus the additional consideration (in each case, determined in the manner provided in Section 15(b)(i) and (ii)), if any, to be received by the Company upon the conversion or exchange of such securities, or upon the exercise of any related options, warrants or rights to purchase or acquire such convertible or exchangeable securities and the subsequent conversion or exchange thereof. |
| (C) | On any change in the number of shares of equity or equity-linked securities deliverable upon exercise of any such options, warrants or rights or conversion or exchange of such convertible or exchangeable securities or any change in the consideration to be received by the Company upon such exercise, conversion or exchange, but excluding changes resulting from the anti-dilution provisions thereof (to the extent comparable to (or less favorable than) the anti-dilution provisions contained herein), the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant as then in effect shall forthwith be readjusted to such Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and number of Shares as would have been obtained had an adjustment been made upon the issuance or sale of such options, warrants or rights not exercised prior to such change, or of such convertible or exchangeable securities not converted or exchanged prior to such change, upon the basis of such change. |
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| (D) | Upon the expiration of any options, warrants or rights to purchase equity or equity-linked securities, in each case, which shall not have been exercised and for which any adjustment was made pursuant to this Section 15(b) upon the issuance or sale thereof, the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant as then in effect hereunder shall, upon such expiration, be recomputed to such Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price and number of Shares as would have been obtained had an adjustment been made upon the issuance or sale of such options, warrants or rights on the basis of the issuance of only the number of shares of Voting Common Stock actually issued upon the exercise of such options, warrants or rights. |
| (E) | If the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall have been adjusted upon the issuance or sale of any such options, warrants, rights or convertible or exchangeable securities, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made for the actual issuance of NVCE Stock upon the exercise, conversion or exchange hereof. |
(c) Rounding of Calculations; Minimum Adjustments. All calculations under this Section 15 shall be made to the nearest one-hundredth (1/100th) of a cent or to the nearest one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share, as the case may be. No adjustment in the Exercise Price, the Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be made if the amount of such adjustment would be less than $0.01 or one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of NVCE Stock, but any such amount shall be carried forward and an adjustment with respect thereto shall be made at the time of and together with any subsequent adjustment which, together with such amount and any other amount or amounts so carried forward, shall aggregate $0.01 or one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of NVCE Stock or more.
(d) Timing of Issuance of Additional NVCE Stock Upon Certain Adjustments. In any case in which (i) the provisions of this Section 15 shall require that an adjustment shall become effective immediately after a record date (the “Subject Record Date”) for an event, and (ii) the Warrantholder exercises this Warrant after the Subject Record Date and before the consummation of such event, the Company may defer until the consummation of such event, (1) issuing to the Warrantholder or Share Recipient (as applicable) the additional shares of NVCE Stock issuable upon such exercise by reason of the adjustment required by such event and (2) paying to such Warrantholder or Share Recipient (as applicable) any amount of cash in lieu of a fractional share of NVCE Stock; provided, however, that the Company upon request shall deliver to such Warrantholder or Share Recipient a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such Warrantholder’s or Share Recipient’s right to receive such additional shares, and such cash, upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
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(e) Statement Regarding Adjustments. Whenever the Exercise Price, Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be adjusted as provided in Section 15, the Company shall cause a statement setting forth in reasonable detail such adjustment and the facts upon which it is based and certifying the calculation thereof to be delivered the Warrantholder as promptly as practicable after the event giving rise to such adjustment at the address appearing in the Warrant registry.
(f) Notice of Adjustment Event. In the event that the Company shall propose to take any action of the type described in this Section 15 (but only if the action of the type described in this Section 15 would result in an adjustment in the Exercise Price, the Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable or a change in the type of securities or property to be delivered upon exercise of this Warrant), the Company shall provide written notice to the Warrantholder, which notice shall specify the record date, if any, with respect to any such action and the approximate date on which such action is to take place. Such notice shall also set forth the facts with respect thereto as shall be reasonably necessary to indicate the effect on the Exercise Price and Mandatory Exercise Price and the number, kind or class of shares or other securities or property which shall be deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant. In the case of any action that would require the fixing of a record date, such notice shall be given at least 10 days prior to the date so fixed, and in case of all other action, such notice shall be given at least 15 days prior to the taking of such proposed action. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of any such action.
(g) Adjustment Rules. Any adjustments pursuant to this Section 15 shall be made successively whenever an event referred to herein shall occur. If an adjustment in Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price made hereunder would reduce the Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price to an amount below par value of the NVCE Stock, then such adjustment in Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price made hereunder shall reduce the Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price to the par value of the NVCE Stock.
(h) Prohibited Actions.
(i) The Company agrees that it will not take any action which would entitle the Warrantholder to an adjustment of the Exercise Price or the Mandatory Exercise Price if the total number of shares of NVCE Stock issuable after such action upon exercise of this Warrant, together with all shares of NVCE Stock then outstanding and all shares of NVCE Stock then issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding options, warrants, conversion and other rights, would exceed the total number of shares of NVCE Stock then authorized by its Certificate of Incorporation.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment to the Exercise Price or Mandatory Exercise Price or the number of Shares shall be permitted to the extent that such adjustment would or would be reasonably expected to (a) cause the Warrantholder (together with its affiliates or any other party with which the Warrantholder may be aggregated for purposes of the BHC Act) to own or be deemed to control one-third or more of
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the Company’s “total equity” (as interpreted and calculated in accordance with 12 CFR 225.34 or any successor or similar regulation or interpretation) or (b) cause the Warrantholder to be deemed a bank holding company for purposes of the BHC Act. Any adjustment not made pursuant to the preceding sentence will be carried forward and made at such future time as such adjustment would be permitted under the preceding sentence.
16. Business Combinations. In case of any Business Combination, the Warrantholder’s right to receive Shares upon exercise of this Warrant shall be converted, effective upon the occurrence of such Business Combination, into the right to acquire the number of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) that a holder of the number of Shares immediately prior to such Business Combination would have been entitled to receive upon consummation of such Business Combination (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the exercisability of this Warrant). In determining the kind and amount of stock, securities or the property (including cash) receivable upon the occurrence of such Business Combination, if the holders of Voting Common Stock have the right to elect the kind or amount of consideration receivable upon consummation of such Business Combination, then the Warrantholder shall have the right at the same time to make the same election with respect to the number of shares of stock or other securities or property which the Warrantholder would have been entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant by providing a written notice of such election to the Company.
17. Exercise of Warrant in Connection with a Designated Event.
(a) Increase in Number of Shares Deliverable Upon Designated Event.
(i) If a Designated Event occurs prior to the Expiration Date, the Company shall provide written notice to the Warrantholder of the anticipated date for the consummation of such Designated Event (the “Effective Date”) not less than fourteen (14) days prior to such Effective Date. If the Warrantholder elects to exercise this Warrant after delivery of such notice and through the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Effective Date of the relevant Designated Event (such period the “Designated Event Exercise Period”) by providing written notice to the Company of such election, such exercise shall be deemed to be “in connection with” such Designated Event and the Company will increase the number of shares of NVCE Stock to which the Warrantholder is entitled with respect to such exercise as provided in this Section 17. If the Warrantholder does not elect to exercise this Warrant during the Designated Event Exercise Period, the terms of this Section 17 shall continue to apply with respect to any subsequent Designated Event.
(ii) Notwithstanding Section 17(a), the number of shares of NVCE Stock shall not be increased in the case of any Designated Event if at least 90% of the consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in a transaction otherwise constituting a Designated Event consists of shares of common stock, depositary receipts or other certificates representing common equity interests traded on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ (or any of their respective successors), or will be so traded immediately following such transaction, and as a result of such transaction such Warrants become exercisable solely for such consideration or NVCE Stock convertible into such consideration.
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(b) Notice of Designated Event. The Company shall notify the Warrantholders of the Effective Date of any Designated Event and issue a press release through Dow Jones & Company, Inc. or Bloomberg Business News or other similarly broad public medium that is customary for such press releases (and make the press release available on the Company’s website) announcing such Effective Date no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date. The Company will also use commercially reasonable efforts to give notice to Warrantholders of the anticipated Effective Date for a Designated Event (and issue a press release announcing same) not less than five Trading Days prior to the anticipated Effective Date to the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances. The failure to deliver such notice or issue such press release shall not affect the validity of such transaction.
(c) Additional Shares.
(i) The number of additional shares of NVCE Stock to which a Warrantholder is entitled upon exercise of a Warrant in connection with any Designated Event shall be determined by reference to the table below in Section 17(c)(iii) and shall be based on the Effective Date of, and the Designated Price for, such Designated Event.
(ii) The designated price set forth in the first row of the table below (i.e., the column headers) shall each be adjusted at the same time and in the manner as the Exercise Price is adjusted as set forth in Section 15
(iii) The following table sets forth the number of additional shares of NVCE Stock to be delivered per share of NVCE Stock underlying this Warrant for the given Designated Price and Effective Dates:
| Designated Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective |
$5,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $14,000 | $16,000 | $18,000 | $20,000 | $22,000 | $24,000 | $26,000 | $28,000 | $30,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2025 |
0.1000 | 0.2000 | 0.2292 | 0.2521 | 0.2713 | 0.2872 | 0.2885 | 0.2100 | 0.1446 | 0.0888 | 0.0414 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2026 |
0.0780 | 0.1800 | 0.2117 | 0.2379 | 0.2594 | 0.2778 | 0.2815 | 0.2045 | 0.1408 | 0.0869 | 0.0404 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2027 |
0.0560 | 0.1560 | 0.1900 | 0.2193 | 0.2444 | 0.2661 | 0.2720 | 0.1977 | 0.1358 | 0.0838 | 0.0389 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2028 |
0.0340 | 0.1270 | 0.1633 | 0.1957 | 0.2244 | 0.2494 | 0.2595 | 0.1882 | 0.1292 | 0.0796 | 0.0371 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2029 |
0.0160 | 0.0920 | 0.1283 | 0.1636 | 0.1969 | 0.2267 | 0.2410 | 0.1745 | 0.1196 | 0.0738 | 0.0343 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2030 |
0.0040 | 0.0510 | 0.0842 | 0.1193 | 0.1563 | 0.1911 | 0.2120 | 0.1523 | 0.1038 | 0.0638 | 0.0296 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2031 |
0.0000 | 0.0120 | 0.0300 | 0.0571 | 0.0919 | 0.1311 | 0.1600 | 0.1105 | 0.0733 | 0.0442 | 0.0204 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6/29/2032 |
0.0000 | 0.0010 | 0.0067 | 0.0200 | 0.0450 | 0.0811 | 0.1130 | 0.0705 | 0.0433 | 0.0250 | 0.0114 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/29/2032 |
0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(iv) If the exact Designated Price and/or Effective Date are not set forth in the table above, then:
| (1) | if the actual Designated Price is between two Designated Prices in the table or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table, the number of additional shares of NVCE Stock to be delivered per Warrant shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of additional shares of NVCE Stock set forth for the higher and lower Designated Prices and/or the earlier and later Effective Dates in the table, based on a 365-day year, as applicable; |
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| (2) | if the actual Designated Price is in excess of $30,000 per share (subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 15), no additional shares of NVCE Stock shall be delivered upon exercise of any Warrant in connection with the relevant Designated Event; and |
| (3) | if the Designated Price is less than $5,000 per share (subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 15), no additional shares of NVCE Stock shall be delivered upon exercise of any Warrant in connection with the relevant Designated Event. |
(d) Cash Designated Event Settlement. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 17, the Company will settle exercise of the Warrant exercised in connection with a Designated Event in accordance with Section 3; provided, however, that with respect to a Designated Event in connection with which (x) all holders of NVCE Stock receive only cash consideration for their shares of NVCE Stock and (y) all holders of Voting Common Stock receive only cash consideration for their shares of Voting Common Stock (such Designated Event, a “Cash Designated Event”) the Company will settle the Warrant, which shall be automatically exercised upon such event, by delivering, on the third Business Day after the date the Warrant is exercised, an amount of Cash equal to (i) the sum of (A) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which the NVCE Stock deliverable to the Warrantholder as a result of the Net Share Settlement calculation as of the Effective Date for the Cash Designated Event as described in Section 3(b) herein are convertible plus (B) the number of shares of Voting Common Stock into which the additional shares of NVCE Stock described in this Section 17 are convertible multiplied by (ii) the per-share amount of cash consideration paid in such Designated Event (the “Per Share Cash Designated Event Consideration”).
(e) The Company shall not effect any Designated Event in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving parent corporation or transfers, conveys or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, in each such case, unless proper provision shall have been made so that the appropriate successors, assigns or transferees assume and give effect to the obligations set forth herein.
18. Attorneys’ Fees. In any litigation, arbitration or court proceeding between the Company and the Warrantholder as the holder of this Warrant relating hereto, the prevailing party (as determined in a final and non-appealable order of a court, arbitrator of other Governmental Entity) shall be entitled to reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
19. Tax Treatment of Cashless Exercise. If payment of the Exercise Price is effected pursuant to Section 3(b) by the Company withholding Shares from the amount of Shares that would otherwise be delivered to the Warrantholder, the Company and the Warrantholder shall treat such payment as a nontaxable event in which no gain is realized on the withheld Shares for all federal, state, and local income tax purposes, except as otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” (as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) or any similar provision of state or local law.
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20. Transfer Taxes. The Company shall bear and pay any and all transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, documentary taxes, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any issuance or delivery of this Warrant or any shares of NVCE Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant; provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any such tax that may be payable in connection with any exercise of this Warrant to the extent such tax is payable because the registered holder of this Warrant requests NVCE Stock to be registered in a name other than such registered holder’s name and no such NVCE Stock will be so registered unless and until the registered holder making such request has paid such taxes to the Company or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such taxes have been paid or are not payable. The Company and the Warrantholder shall reasonably cooperate to avoid or minimize the imposition of transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, documentary taxes, or other similar taxes on the transactions described in the first sentence of this Section 20.
21. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given on (a) the date of delivery if delivered personally, (b) upon delivery if delivered by email (provided that no auto-generated error or non-delivery or similar message (except for any “out of office” message) is generated in response thereto), (c) the first (1st) business day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (d) the earlier of confirmation of receipt or the fifth (5th) business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
| (a) | if to the Company, to: |
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
110 West Front Street
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701
Attention: Christopher D. Maher
Email: [email protected]
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017 Attention: Sven Mickisch; Matthew Nemeroff; Makala Kaupalolo
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]
and
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| (b) | if to the Warrantholder, to: |
c/o Warburg Pincus LLC
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: General Counsel
Email: [email protected]
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 W 52nd Street New York, NY 10019
Attention: Mark F. Veblen
Email: [email protected]
22. Miscellaneous. The provisions of Article VI of the Investment Agreement (other than Section 6.4) are hereby incorporated by reference into this Warrant, mutatis mutandis, as if they were restated in full, with each reference to “this Agreement” in such sections of the Investment Agreement being deemed a reference to this Warrant.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by a duly authorized officer as of June 1, 2026.
| OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Christopher D. Maher | |
| Name: Christopher D. Maher | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Address: 110 W. Front St. Red Bank, NJ 07701 | ||
| Attest: | ||
| By: | /s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos | |
| Name: Steven J. Tsimbinos | ||
| Title: Senior Executive Vice President & General Counsel | ||
[Signature Page to Warrant]
| Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
| WPFS II ORION INVESTMENTS L.P. | ||
| By: WPFS II Orion Investments GP, LLC, its general partner | ||
| By: | /s/ Todd Schell | |
| Name: Todd Schell | ||
| Title: Authorised Representative | ||
[Signature Page to Warrant]
[Form of Notice of Exercise]
Date: ______________
| TO: | [__________] |
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
RE: Election to Subscribe for and Purchase NVCE Stock
The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant, hereby exercises the Warrant for the number of shares of the NVCE Stock set forth below and directs the Company to issue such shares of NVCE Stock to the Share Recipient set forth below. The undersigned, in accordance with Section 3(b) of the Warrant, hereby agrees to pay the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares of NVCE Stock in the manner pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Warrant. A new warrant evidencing the remaining shares of NVCE Stock covered by such Warrant, but not yet subscribed for and purchased, if any, should be issued in the name set forth below.
Share Recipient(s): _______________
Number of Shares of NVCE Stock Exercised: _______________
Number of Shares of NVCE Stock to be Delivered After Application of Net Settlement Provisions of Section 3(b): _______________
Name and Address of Person to be Issued New Warrant: ________________________________
| Holder: |
||
| By: |
||
| Name: |
||
| Title: |
||
[Form of Notice of Exercise]
[Form of Assignment to be Executed if Warrantholder
Desires to Transfer Warrants Evidenced Hereby]
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
|
|
| |
| (Please print name) identifying | (Please insert social security or other number) | |
| Address | ||
| (City, including zip code) | ||
the Warrant represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _______________ as attorney to transfer said Warrant Certificate with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Signature |
| (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant Certificate and must bear a signature guarantee by a bank, trust company or member broker of the New York, Midwest or Pacific Stock Exchange) |
| Signature Guaranteed |
|
|
[Form of Assignment]
Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and among
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
and
WPGG 14 ORION INVESTMENTS L.P.
WPFS II ORION INVESTMENTS L.P.
Dated as of June 1, 2026
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||||
| Section 1. Definitions | 1 | |||||
| Section 2. Registration Rights | 5 | |||||
| (a) Shelf Registration Statement |
5 | |||||
| (b) Right to Request Shelf Take-Down |
6 | |||||
| (c) Demand Registration Statement if Shelf Registration Statement Unavailable |
7 | |||||
| (d) Limitations on Shelf Take-Downs and Demand Registrations |
7 | |||||
| (e) Piggyback Registration |
8 | |||||
| (f) Selection of Underwriters; Right to Participate |
8 | |||||
| (g) Priority of Securities Offered Pursuant to Demand Registrations and Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs |
9 | |||||
| (h) Priority of Securities Offered Pursuant to Piggyback Registration |
9 | |||||
| (i) Postponement; Suspensions; Blackout Period |
10 | |||||
| (j) Supplements and Amendments |
11 | |||||
| (k) Subsequent Holder Notice |
11 | |||||
| Section 3. Registration Procedures | 12 | |||||
| (a) Filing and Other Procedures |
12 | |||||
| (b) Conditions to Registration Rights |
16 | |||||
| Section 4. Indemnification | 17 | |||||
| (a) Indemnification by the Company |
17 | |||||
| (b) Indemnification by the Shareholders |
17 | |||||
| (c) Notices of Claims, etc. |
18 | |||||
| (d) Contribution |
19 | |||||
| (e) No Exclusivity |
19 | |||||
| Section 5. Covenants Relating to Rule 144 | 19 | |||||
| Section 6. Termination; Survival | 20 | |||||
| Section 7. Miscellaneous | 20 | |||||
| (a) Governing Law |
20 | |||||
| (b) Waiver of Jury Trial |
21 | |||||
| (c) Entire Agreement |
21 | |||||
| (d) Amendments and Waivers |
21 | |||||
| (e) Successors and Assigns |
21 | |||||
| (f) Expenses |
22 | |||||
| (g) Counterparts, Execution |
22 | |||||
| (h) Severability |
22 | |||||
| (i) Notices |
22 | |||||
|
|
(j) Specific Performance |
23 | ||||
| (k) Interpretation |
23 | |||||
| (l) Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights |
24 | |||||
| (m) Further Assurances |
24 | |||||
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 1, 2026 (this “Agreement”), is by and among OceanFirst Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned parties listed as “Purchaser” on the signature pages hereto (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company issued to the Purchasers an aggregate of (i) 9,574,639 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Voting Common Stock”), and (ii) 1,812 shares of Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock”), having the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations (as defined below), convertible into shares of Voting Common Stock in accordance with the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations, issued pursuant to that certain Investment Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2025, between the Company and each Purchaser (the “Investment Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, pursuant to the Investment Agreement, the Company issued to the Purchasers warrants to purchase up to 11,386.64 shares of Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock (the “Warrants”), in accordance with the terms set forth in the applicable Warrant; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers are entering into this Agreement in order to grant certain registration rights described herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable considerations, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such other Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities by contract or otherwise, provided that “Affiliate” shall not include any portfolio company of any investment fund affiliated with or managed by such Person. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Shareholder, on the other, shall not be considered Affiliates.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
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“As-Converted Basis” means, at any time, the applicable number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, counting as shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, without duplication, all shares of Common Stock (A) issued and outstanding, (B) into which shares of Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock issued and outstanding are convertible, (C) into which the Warrants may be converted or exchanged (including through the conversion of Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock issuable thereunder) and (D) into which shares of preferred stock of the Company that are issued and outstanding are convertible or exchangeable.
“Common Stock” means shares of Voting Common Stock.
“Block Trade” means a registered securities offering in which an underwriter agrees to purchase Registrable Securities at an agreed price or pricing formula without a prior public marketing process (also may be commonly referred to as an overnight transaction).
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, including, unless the context otherwise requires, any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized by Law or executive order to be closed.
“Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations of the Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 29, 2026, effective as of May 29, 2026.
“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale and issuance of (a) shares of (i) Voting Common Stock and (ii) if applicable, Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, and (b) the Warrants, in each case, pursuant to the Investment Agreement.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).
“Demand Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).
“End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(i)(i).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Governmental Entity” means any court, administrative agency, commission, regulatory agency or other federal, state, local or foreign governmental authority or instrumentality or any applicable self-regulatory organization.
“Investment Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
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“Law” means any applicable law, statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, requirement, policy or order of any Governmental Entity.
“Minimum Amount” means $30 million.
“Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Permitted Reg Rights Holders” means (a) the Purchasers and their respective Affiliates and (b) any Person to whom Registrable Securities representing at least 2% of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock (on an As-Converted Basis) are transferred in accordance with the terms of the applicable Investment Agreement, as applicable, other than in a transaction pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 that results in such securities ceasing to be Registrable Securities.
“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a limited liability company, a Governmental Entity, a trust or other entity or organization.
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e).
“Piggyback Shareholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e).
“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement or any issuer free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Public Offering” means a public offering and sale of equity securities for cash pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
“Registrable Securities” means (a) any shares of Voting Common Stock issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement and (b) any shares of Voting Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of shares of Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock (i) issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement or (ii) issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants, as applicable, including, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), any securities acquired as a result of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of such shares of Common Stock, or any stock dividend or stock distribution in respect of such share of Common Stock; provided, however, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the earliest to occur of (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been sold in accordance with Rule 144 and the restrictive legend shall have been removed; (C) such securities shall have been transferred in a transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement
3
are not assigned to the transferee of the securities in accordance with the terms hereof; (D) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates or book entries credits for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; or (E) such securities have ceased to be outstanding.
“Registration Expenses” means all expenses incurred in effecting any registration or any offering and sale pursuant hereto or otherwise incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement, whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold under a Registration Statement in connection therewith, including registration, qualification, listing and filing fees (including all SEC, stock exchange and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filing fees, as applicable), word processing, printing and copying expenses, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, all transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses, fees and disbursements of all law firms of the Company and all accountants and other persons retained by the Company (including the expenses of any opinions, audits/reviews or comfort letters and updates thereof required by or incident to such performance), any reasonable fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, all fees and expenses of any special experts or other persons retained by the Company in connection with any registration, all expenses related to the “road show” for any underwritten offering, including all travel, meals and lodging, and any blue sky (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to any underwriter incurred in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities as may be set forth in any underwriting agreement) and other securities Laws fees and expenses, as well as all internal fees and expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties) and any other fees and disbursements customarily paid by the issuers of securities. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Registration Expenses shall not include Selling Expenses. In addition, in connection with any registration or underwritten offering pursuant hereto, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Shareholders for the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of one (1) nationally recognized law firm, chosen by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or underwritten offering (or, in the case of a Block Trade, the Shareholder that initiated such Block Trade), as their counsel, including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with any Demand Registration, Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, Piggyback Registration and filing of a Shelf Registration Statement; provided that the Company shall not be responsible for any such fees and expenses that exceed $225,000 for the first Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down and $100,000 for any subsequent Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, in each case, pursuant hereto. Nothing in this definition shall impact any agreement on expenses solely between the Company and any underwriter.
“Registration Statement” means any registration statement (including any Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement) of the Company under the Securities Act which permits the Public Offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions hereof, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
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“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts and selling commissions associated with effecting any sales of Registrable Securities under any Registration Statement by the Shareholders and all stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale or transfer by the Shareholders of Registrable Securities to the underwriter(s) pursuant hereto.
“Shareholders” means the Purchasers and any other Permitted Reg Rights Holder that holds Registrable Securities.
“Shelf Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Shelf Take-Down” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Special Registration” means the registration (a) in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (b) for an exchange offer, as part of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction or for an offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (c) for an offering solely of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, or (d) for a dividend reinvestment plan.
“Suspension” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(i)(i).
“Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(i)(i).
“Underwritten Shelf Take-Down” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Voting Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Section 2. Registration Rights.
(a) Shelf Registration Statement. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC on the date of the Closing, and in no event later than five (5) days following the Closing, an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (or successor form) pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or a post-effective amendment or prospectus
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supplement to an existing well-known seasoned issuer shelf registration statement on Form S-3), if the Company is eligible to use such Form S-3 (or successor form), or if the Company is not a well-known seasoned issuer, a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (or successor form), if the Company is eligible to use such form (a “Shelf Registration Statement”), relating to the offer and resale of all Registrable Securities then held by the Shareholders (including naming the Shareholders as selling shareholders, at any time and from time to time following the date on which the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Plan of Distribution section of the Shelf Registration Statement (which shall include the sale of Registrable Securities by pledgees and assignees of the Shareholders)). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared, or otherwise become, effective on the date of the Closing, and in no event later than five (5) days following the Closing. The Shelf Registration Statement may also cover any other securities of the Company and other holders of the Company’s securities; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such other holders shall not be entitled to the rights of “Shareholders” hereunder. For so long as the Company is eligible to use Form S-3 (or successor form), the Company, in each case, subject to the qualifications above, shall maintain the continuous effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement for the maximum period permitted by SEC rules, subject to any Suspension that may occur as described in Section 2(i). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly replace any Shelf Registration Statement at or before expiration, if applicable, with a successor effective Shelf Registration Statement to the extent any Registrable Securities remain outstanding (such period during which a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, the “Shelf Period”).
(b) Right to Request Shelf Take-Down. At any time and from time to time during the Shelf Period, one or more of the Shareholders may, by written notice to the Company, request an offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement of all or part of the Registrable Securities held by the Shareholders (a “Shelf Take-Down”). Any Shareholder may, after any Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective, deliver a written notice to the Company (the “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice”) specifying that a Shelf Take-Down is intended to be conducted through an underwritten offering (including by means of a Block Trade) (such underwritten offering, an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”), which notice shall specify the number and type of Registrable Securities intended to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof; provided, however, that the Shareholders may not, without the Company’s prior written consent, request an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down the reasonably anticipated aggregate gross proceeds of which shall be less than the Minimum Amount, unless the number of Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering represents all of such Shareholder’s remaining Registrable Securities. The Company and the Shareholders participating in an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down will enter into an underwriting agreement (including a customary lock-up, not to exceed ninety (90) days, if requested by the managing underwriter(s) (it being understood that any such lock-up will permit Permitted Transfers (as defined in the Investment Agreement)) in customary form with the managing underwriter(s) selected for such offering. The Company may include in any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (other than a Block Trade) pursuant to this Section 2(b) any additional securities of the same class without the prior written consent of the Shareholders participating in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, subject to the Shareholders’ priority position set forth herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (A) if a Shareholder wishes to engage in (i) a Shelf Take-Down in the form of a Block Trade, (1) such Shareholder shall notify the Company of
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the Block Trade not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the day such Block Trade is to commence, (2) Persons other than such demanding Shareholder shall not be entitled to make a demand for, receive notice of, or elect to participate in, such Block Trade and (3) such demanding Shareholder engaging in such Block Trade shall not be required to notify any other Person of such Block Trade or permit any other Person to participate in such Block Trade, or (ii) a Shelf Take-Down that is not an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, (1) such Shelf Take-Down may be made for less than the Minimum Amount, (2) Persons other than the Shareholder initiating such Shelf Take-Down shall not be entitled to make a demand for, receive notice of, or elect to participate in, such Shelf Take-Down and (3) the Shareholder initiating such Shelf Take-Down shall not be required to notify any other Person of such Shelf Take-Down or permit any other Person to participate in such Shelf Take-Down, and (B) any Shareholder not included in a Block Trade shall not be subject to any underwriter lock-up or be required to enter into or sign any lock-up in connection with such Block Trade. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company will not be in breach of this Agreement if an underwriter will not agree to the lock-up terms required by this Section 2(b).
(c) Demand Registration Statement if Shelf Registration Statement Unavailable. If the Company is ineligible to file with the SEC a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (or successor form) in accordance with Section 2(a), upon the written request of one or more Shareholders (a “Demand Registration”), the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to file as promptly as practicable a registration statement on Form S-1 (or successor form) (a “Demand Registration Statement”) registering for resale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Demand Registration Statement by such Shareholders and have the Demand Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable; provided that the reasonably anticipated aggregate gross proceeds of an underwritten offering conducted pursuant to such Demand Registration Statement (including a Block Trade) must equal or exceed the Minimum Amount, unless the number of Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering represents all of such Shareholder’s remaining Registrable Securities. After any Demand Registration Statement has become effective, subject to the filing of any post-effective amendment to the Demand Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Demand Registration Statement continuously effective until all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration Statement have been sold in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth therein or are no longer outstanding. The Demand Registration Statement may also cover any other securities of the Company and other holders of the Company’s securities; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such other holders shall not be entitled to the rights of “Shareholders” hereunder.
(d) Limitations on Shelf Take-Downs and Demand Registrations. Following the date of the Closing, the Shareholders shall be entitled to request a maximum of four (4) per year (i) Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs (including Block Trades) pursuant to Section 2(b), (ii) Demand Registrations pursuant to Section 2(c) or (iii) a combination thereof; provided that there shall be no more than an aggregate of two (2) marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs or Demand Registrations in total; provided further the Company shall not be obligated to effect any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down or Demand Registration (including a Block Trade) within ninety (90) days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or the pricing date of a previous Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, in each case, that is a marketed offering (for the
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avoidance of doubt, excluding a Block Trade). Any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down or Demand Registration (including a Block Trade) must be for at least the Minimum Amount, unless the number of Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering represents all of such Shareholder’s remaining Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Shareholders shall be entitled to an unlimited number of Shelf Take-Downs that are not Underwritten Shelf-Take Downs and such Shelf Take-Downs may be made for less than the Minimum Amount (for the avoidance of doubt, in case of such non-Underwritten Shelf-Take Downs, the Company shall not be required to perform the obligations applicable to underwritten offerings as set forth in Section 3).
(e) Piggyback Registration. If, at any time after the date of the Closing, the Company proposes or is required to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Common Stock or similar common equity securities of the Company, or the Company proposes a Shelf Take-Down (other than (i) a Block Trade, (ii) an at-the-market offering, or (iii) a Shelf Take-Down by a Shareholder that is not an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down), whether or not for its own account or for the account of one or more securityholders of the Company, on a form and in a manner that would permit registration of the Registrable Securities, which shall exclude any Special Registration, the Company shall give written notice as promptly as practicable, but not later than ten (10) days prior to the anticipated date of filing of such Registration Statement, or in the case of a shelf take-down, no later than five (5) days prior to the anticipated take-down, to the Shareholders of its intention to effect such registration or shelf take-down and, in the case of each Shareholder, shall include in such registration or take-down all of such Shareholder’s Registrable Securities (subject to Section 2(h)) with respect to which the Company has received a written request from such Shareholder for inclusion therein within three (3) days after the Company’s notice is given to such Shareholder (a “Piggyback Registration” and any such requesting Shareholder that has not withdrawn its Registrable Securities from such Piggyback Registration, a “Piggyback Shareholder” with respect to such Piggyback Registration). In the event that a Shareholder makes such written request, such Shareholder may withdraw its Registrable Securities from such Piggyback Registration by giving written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter(s), if any, at any time at least two (2) Business Days prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to such Piggyback Registration or the date of the launch of the shelf take-down. The Company may postpone (provided that Piggyback Shareholders are given the option to withdraw their Registrable Securities from such postponed Piggyback Registration), terminate or withdraw any Piggyback Registration under this Section 2(e), whether or not any Shareholder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration. No Piggyback Registration shall count as a Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to which the Shareholders are entitled.
(f) Selection of Underwriters; Right to Participate. The Shareholders delivering the Demand Registration request or the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice shall (as determined by holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down) have the right to select the managing underwriter(s) to administer an offering pursuant to a Demand Registration Statement or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down; provided that such managing underwriter(s) are reasonably acceptable to the Company. If a Piggyback Registration under Section 2(e) hereof is proposed to be underwritten, the Company shall so advise the Shareholders as a part of the written notice given
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pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof. In such event, the managing underwriter(s) to administer the offering shall be chosen solely by the Company. A Shareholder may participate in a registration or offering hereunder only if such Shareholder (i) agrees to sell such Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting agreement with the underwriter(s) and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up agreements and other documents reasonably requested by the Company or the managing underwriter(s) under the terms of such underwriting arrangements customary for selling Shareholders to enter into in secondary underwritten public offerings; provided, however, that the Shareholders shall only be required to make representations and warranties to the Company or the underwriters that are customary for such offerings under the circumstances (in no event, however, will the Shareholders be required to represent to the accuracy of the Company’s disclosure, other than information specifically related to such Shareholder’s ownership position, the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Shareholder and the name and address of such Shareholder). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any underwriting agreement shall contain such representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of the Shareholders as are customarily made by issuers to selling Shareholders in secondary underwritten public offerings.
(g) Priority of Securities Offered Pursuant to Demand Registrations and Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs. If the managing underwriter(s) of an offering pursuant to a Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall advise the Company and the Shareholders in writing that, in its good faith opinion, the total number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock requested to be included in such offering pursuant to Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down exceeds the number or dollar amount that can be sold in such offering without having an adverse effect on such offering, including the price at which such shares can be sold, then the Company shall include in such offering pursuant to Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down the maximum number of shares that such underwriter advises can be so sold without having such adverse effect, allocated (i) first, to Registrable Securities requested by the Shareholders to be included in such offering pursuant to Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, pro rata among all such Shareholders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities held by such Shareholders, and (ii) second, if subclause (i) above is satisfied, to any securities requested to be included therein by any other Persons (including the Company), allocated among such Persons on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as they may agree.
(h) Priority of Securities Offered Pursuant to Piggyback Registration. If the managing underwriter(s) of a registration of shares of Common Stock giving rise to a right to Piggyback Registration shall advise the Company and the Piggyback Shareholders with respect to such Piggyback Registration in writing that, in its good faith opinion, the total number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold in such offering and Registrable Securities requested by such Piggyback Shareholders to be included therein, in the aggregate, exceeds the number or dollar amount that can be sold in such offering without having an adverse effect on such offering, including the price at which such shares can be sold, then the Company shall include in such registration the maximum number of shares that such underwriter advises can be so sold without having such adverse effect, allocated, if the Piggyback Registration is initiated as an underwritten:
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(i) primary offering for the account of the Company: (x) first, to shares of Common Stock to be included by the Company, (y) second, if subclause (x) above is satisfied, among the Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by the Shareholders and securities requested to be included therein by other securityholders with applicable registration rights under a Permitted Agreement, pro rata among such Persons on the basis of the number of shares requested to be included therein by each of them, and (z), if subclauses (x) and (y) above are satisfied, among the securities requested to be included therein by other securityholders, pro rata among such Persons on the basis of the number of shares requested to be included therein by each of them or in such other manner as they may agree; and
(ii) offering for the account of holder(s) of the Company’s securities other than the Company: (x) first, among the securities requested to be included therein by such holder who initiated the Piggyback Registration, Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by the Shareholders and securities requested to be included therein by other securityholders with applicable registration rights under a Permitted Agreement, pro rata among such Persons on the basis of the number of shares requested to be included therein by each of them, and (y) second, if subclause (x) is satisfied, to any securities requested to be included therein by any other Persons (including the Company), allocated among such Persons on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as they may agree.
(i) Postponement; Suspensions; Blackout Period.
(i) The Company may postpone the filing or the effectiveness of a Demand Registration Statement or commencement of a Shelf Take-Down (or suspend the continued use of an effective Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement), including requiring the Shareholders to suspend any offerings of Registrable Securities pursuant hereto (a “Suspension”), (A) during the pendency of a stop order issued by the SEC suspending the use of any registration statement of the Company or proceedings initiated by the SEC with respect to any such registration statement under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act or (B) if, based on the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, such postponement or suspension is necessary in order to avoid materially detrimental disclosure of material non-public information that the Board of Directors, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, has in good faith determined (1) would be required to be made in any Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement so that such Registration Statement does not contain 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, (2) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing or continued use of such Registration Statement, and (3) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly, and the Company delivers to the Shareholders participating in such registration notice (a “Suspension Notice”) of the Company’s determination to postpone or suspend use of the Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable; provided, however, in each case, that the Shareholders requesting a Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Take-Down shall be entitled, at any time after receiving a Suspension Notice or similar notice and before such Demand Registration Statement becomes effective or before such
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Shelf Take-Down is commenced, to withdraw such request and, if such request is withdrawn, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the Shareholders, including fees of legal counsel (subject to the caps contained herein), in connection with such withdrawn registration and such Demand Registration or Shelf Take-Down shall not count against the number of Demand Registrations or Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs permitted pursuant to Section 2(d). If Shareholders otherwise withdraw a request for a Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Take-Down, other than following the receipt of a Suspension Notice, the Shareholders shall pay all expenses incurred by the Shareholders, including fees of legal counsel, in connection with such withdrawn registration and such Demand Registration or Shelf Take-Down shall not count as a Demand Registration or an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down; provided that, at the option of the Shareholders, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the Shareholders, including fees and legal counsel (subject to the caps contained herein), in connection with such withdrawn registration if such Demand Registration or Shelf Take-Down counts against the number of Demand Registrations or Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs pursuant to Section 2(d). The Company shall provide prompt written notice to the Shareholders (an “End of Suspension Notice”) of (x) the fact that the circumstances giving rise to such Suspension no longer exist, (y) the Company’s decision to file or seek effectiveness of such Demand Registration Statement or commence such Shelf Take-Down following such Suspension and (z) the effectiveness of such Demand Registration Statement or commencement of such Shelf Take-Down. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2(i)(i), with respect to Section 2(i)(i)(B), the Company shall not effect any Suspension(s) more than two (2) times during any 12-month period or for a period in the aggregate exceeding ninety (90) days in any 12-month period. No Shareholder shall effect any sales of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice. The Company may not file or effect any other Registration Statement during the term of any Suspension.
(ii) Each Shareholder agrees that, except as required by Law, it shall treat as confidential the receipt of any Suspension Notice; provided, however, that in no event shall such Suspension Notice contain any material nonpublic information of the Company (other than the existence of such Suspension Notice).
(j) Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall supplement and amend any Shelf Registration Statement if required by the Securities Act or the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement.
(k) Subsequent Holder Notice. If a Person becomes entitled to the benefits of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7 after a Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, following delivery of written notice to the Company of a request for such Person’s name to be included as a selling securityholder in the prospectus related to the Shelf Registration Statement:
(i) if required and permitted by Law, file with the SEC a supplement to the related prospectus or a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement so that such Person is named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Person to deliver a prospectus to the purchaser of the Registrable Securities in accordance with Law;
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(ii) if, pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii), the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement that is not automatically effective, use its reasonable best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to become promptly effective under the Securities Act; and
(iii) promptly notify such Permitted Reg Rights Holder after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to file more than one (1) post-effective amendment or supplement to the related prospectus pursuant to this Section 2(k) for any fiscal quarter.
(l) Certain Restrictions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not have the right to participate in any marketed offering initiated by the Shareholder without the Shareholder’s prior written consent (in its sole discretion).
Section 3. Registration Procedures.
(a) Filing and Other Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required to use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 2, the Company shall effect such registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall cooperate in the sale of the securities and shall, as promptly as practicable:
(i) prepare and file with the SEC (as promptly as reasonably practicable, but no later than sixty (60) days after a request for a Demand Registration and no later than ten (10) days after a request for an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, subject to the postponement provisions herein) the Demand Registration Statement (including a Prospectus therein and any supplement thereto and all exhibits and financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith) to effect such registration and, subject to the efforts standard herein, cause such Registration Statement to become effective, and provide copies of all such documents proposed to be filed or furnished to (x) counsel of the Shareholders, and provide such legal counsel a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such documents (other than Exchange Act reports incorporated by reference thereto not related to such offering), and (y) the other representative(s) on behalf of the Shareholders included in such Registration Statement (to be chosen by the Shareholders) and any managing underwriter(s), and the representative(s) and the managing underwriter(s) and their respective counsel shall have the reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon, and the Company will make such changes and additions thereto as may reasonably be requested by such counsel and the representative(s) and the managing underwriter(s) and their respective counsel prior to such filing, unless the Company reasonably objects to such changes or additions;
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(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such pre- and post-effective amendments and supplements to a Shelf Registration Statement or Demand Registration Statement, and the Prospectus used in connection therewith or any free writing prospectus (as defined in SEC rules) as may be required by applicable securities Laws or reasonably requested by the Shareholders or any managing underwriter(s) to maintain the effectiveness of such registration and to comply with the provisions of applicable securities Laws with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during the period in which such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective, and before filing such amendments or supplements, provide copies of all such documents proposed to be filed or furnished to counsel of such Shareholders, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel (other than Exchange Act reports incorporated by reference thereto not related to such offering);
(iii) furnish to each Shareholder of the securities being registered and each managing underwriter without charge, such reasonable number of conformed copies of such Registration Statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits other than those which are being incorporated into such Registration Statement by reference and that are publicly available), such reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement and any other Prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents, as the Shareholders and any managing underwriter(s) may reasonably request;
(iv) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify all Registrable Securities under such other securities or “blue sky” Laws of such jurisdictions as the Shareholders and any managing underwriter(s) may reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign company in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3, or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction, or to be subject to any tax obligation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(v) as promptly as reasonably practicable, notify the Shareholders and any managing underwriter(s) at any time when the Company becomes aware that a Prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made, and, to, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, prepare and furnish without charge to the Shareholders and any managing underwriter(s) a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchaser of such securities, such Prospectus shall 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 in the light of the circumstances under which they were made;
(vi) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
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(vii) use its reasonable best efforts to list all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement on the principal securities exchange on which any such class of securities is then listed and cause to be satisfied all requirements and conditions of such securities exchange to the listing of such securities that are reasonably within the control of the Company;
(viii) notify each Shareholder and any managing underwriter(s), as soon as is reasonably practicable after it shall receive notice thereof, of the time when such Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, shall have become effective, after it shall receive notice thereof;
(ix) to make available to each Shareholder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement and any managing underwriter(s) as soon as reasonably practicable after the same is prepared and distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company, an executed copy of each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC (or other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction, including any domestic or foreign securities exchange), and any item of correspondence received from the SEC or the staff of the SEC (or other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction, including any domestic or foreign securities exchange), in each case relating to such Registration Statement, it being understood that each Shareholder receiving such material from the Company that is confidential shall and shall cause its Affiliates and representatives to keep such materials confidential. The Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable (A) notify the Shareholders and any managing underwriter(s) of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or the filing of the prospectus supplement contemplated herein, (B) respond reasonably and completely to any and all comments received from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, with a view towards causing such Registration Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable, and (C) file an acceleration request following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable, following notification by the SEC that any such Registration Statement or any amendment thereto will not be subject to review;
(x) advise each Shareholder and any managing underwriter(s), promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of (A) the issuance of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement should be issued, (B) the suspension of the registration of the subject shares of the Registrable Securities in any state jurisdiction and (C) the removal of any such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement or proceeding or the lifting of any such suspension;
(xi) in connection with a customary due diligence review, make available for inspection by one representative on behalf of each Shareholder whose Registrable Securities are included in such registration statement and any managing underwriter(s), and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by, or other representative of, any such Shareholder or underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records and corporate documents of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors
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and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Shareholder, underwriter(s), attorney, accountant or agent to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act that is customary for a participant in a securities offering in connection with such registration statement; provided, however, that the foregoing investigation and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of such parties by one (1) firm of counsel designated by and on behalf of such parties, and that any information that is not generally publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such parties pursuant to customary confidentiality agreements;
(xii) if requested by any Shareholder or any managing underwriter(s), as promptly as is reasonably practicable, incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Shareholder or managing underwriter(s) reasonably requests to be included therein, including with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold by such Shareholder, the purchase price being paid therefor by any underwriter(s) and with respect to any other terms of an underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering, and as promptly as is reasonably practicable, make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(xiii) reasonably cooperate with each Shareholder and any managing underwriter(s) participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;
(xiv) in the case of an underwritten offering, (1) enter into such customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form), (2) take all such other customary actions as the managing underwriter(s) reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including causing senior management and other Company personnel to reasonably cooperate with the Shareholder(s) whose Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement and the underwriter(s) in connection with performing customary due diligence and the customary marketing of such offering, including management presentations, investor calls and road show presentations, subject to the limitations on marketed offerings contained herein) and (3) cause its counsel to issue opinions of counsel addressed and delivered to the underwriter(s) in form, substance and scope as are customary in underwritten offerings, subject to customary limitations, assumptions and exclusions;
(xv) if requested by the managing underwriter(s) of an underwritten offering, use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered, upon the pricing of any underwritten offering, and at the time of closing of a sale of Registrable Securities pursuant thereto, “comfort” letters from the Company’s independent registered public accountants addressed to the underwriter(s), and otherwise in customary form and covering such financial and accounting matters as are customarily covered by “comfort” letters of the independent registered public accountants delivered at pricing or closing, as applicable, in connection with primary underwritten public offerings; provided, however, that such recipients furnish such written representations or acknowledgements as are customarily required to receive such comfort letters; and
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(xvi) the Company agrees not to file or make any amendment to any Registration Statement with respect to any Registrable Securities, or any amendment of or supplement to the prospectus, or any free writing prospectus, which amendment refers to any Shareholder covered thereby by name, or otherwise identifies such Shareholder, without the consent of such Shareholder, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, unless such disclosure is required by Law, in which case the Company shall provide written notice to such Shareholders no less than two (2) Business Days prior to the filing.
(b) Conditions to Registration Rights.
(i) Subject to the last sentence of this Section 3(b)(i), as a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to file any Registration Statement, each Shareholder shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding such Shareholder (and any of its Affiliates), the Registrable Securities to be sold and the intended method of distribution of such Registrable Securities reasonably requested by the Company as is reasonably necessary for inclusion in the Registration Statement relating to such offering pursuant to the Securities Act; provided that the Company shall only use such information in connection with such registration or related offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will any party be required to disclose to any other party any personally identifiable information or personal financial information in respect of any individual.
(ii) Each Shareholder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in (x) Section 3(a)(v), such Shareholder shall forthwith discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement relating to such Registrable Securities until such Shareholder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(v); (y) clause (A) of Section 3(a)(x), such Shareholder shall discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement until such Shareholder’s receipt of the notice described in clause (C) of Section 3(a)(x); and (z) clause (B) of Section 3(a)(x), such Shareholder shall discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement in the applicable state jurisdiction(s) until such Shareholder’s receipt of the notice described in clause (C) of Section 3(a)(x). The length of time that any registration statement is required to remain effective shall be extended by any period of time that such registration statement is unavailable for use pursuant to this paragraph; provided, however, in no event shall any Registration Statement be required to remain effective after the date on which all Registrable Securities cease to be Registrable Securities.
(iii) If requested by the managing underwriter(s), each Shareholder that (A) beneficially owns at least 5% of the Common Stock (on an As-Converted Basis) and (B) was offered the opportunity to participate in a marketed underwritten offering, shall enter into a customary lockup agreement not to exceed ninety (90) days in respect of such underwritten offering by the Company (it being understood that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such lockup agreement to permit Permitted Transfers (as defined in the Investment Agreement)); provided that the Company shall cause each of its executive officers and directors and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any other holders of Common Stock that beneficially own at least 5% of the Common Stock (on an As-Converted Basis) (excluding any passive investors), to enter into lockup agreements that contain restrictions that are no less restrictive than the restrictions contained in the lockup agreements executed by the Shareholders;
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provided, further, that if such lockup agreement is released or waived for any of the Company’s executive officers or directors or other holders of Common Stock that beneficially own at least 5% of the Common Stock (on an As-Converted Basis), the Shareholders shall receive a comparable release or waiver on a pro rata basis. The Shareholders acknowledge that (i) the Company may be subject to a lock-up with the managing underwriter(s) in connection with any underwritten offering by the Company, whether or not a Shareholder participated in the last Underwritten Shelf Take-Down or Demand Registration, and (ii) the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause itself not to be subject to any lock-up with the requesting underwriter(s) in a Block Trade.
Section 4. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, each Shareholder, its Affiliates, partners, officers, directors, employees, advisors, representatives and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Shareholder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any and all losses, penalties, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses, joint or several (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and any expenses and reasonable and documented costs of investigation) (“Losses”), as incurred, to which the Shareholders or any such indemnitees may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered and sold under the Securities Act, any Prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, any such Prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information about a Shareholder that is furnished to the Company by such Shareholder or its authorized representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Shareholder for any purpose of this Agreement (including Section 4(b)) consists of the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such Shareholder, the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Shareholder and the name and address of such Shareholder proposing to sell or (ii) any violation (or alleged violation) by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities laws or any rule or regulation thereunder in connection with any registration or offering hereunder. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Shareholder or any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Shareholder.
(b) Indemnification by the Shareholders. Each Shareholder agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse, to the fullest extent permitted by Law (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section 4(a)), the Company, its Affiliates, officers, directors, and each Person, if any, who controls any of the foregoing within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue
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statement of a material fact in or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact from such Registration Statement, any Prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information about such Shareholder furnished to the Company by such Shareholder or its authorized representative expressly for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Shareholder consists of the information described as such in Section 4(a); provided, however, that a Shareholder shall not be liable for any amounts in excess of the net proceeds received by such Shareholder from sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement to which the claims relate; provided, further, that the obligations of the Shareholders shall be several and not joint and several. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by the Company.
(c) Notices of Claims, etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding involving a claim referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 4, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action or proceeding; provided, however, that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 4, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action or proceeding is brought against an indemnified party, unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, such indemnified party shall permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (i) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the person entitled to indemnification hereunder or (iii) in the indemnified party’s reasonable judgment (based upon advice of its counsel) there may be material legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party or a conflict of interest may exist between it or other indemnified parties and the indemnifying party with respect to any such claim. If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party as permitted hereunder, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent. If such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party pursuant to the provisions hereof, such indemnifying party shall not settle or otherwise compromise the applicable claim unless (x) such settlement or compromise contains a full and unconditional release of all indemnified parties of all liability in respect to such claim or litigation, does not contain any statement of wrongdoing or fault on the party of any indemnified party and is paid in full by the indemnifying party or (y) the indemnified party otherwise consents in writing. An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party
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with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party, a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such additional counsel or counsels. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its prior written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(d) Contribution. If the foregoing indemnity is held by a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to the Company or any Shareholder, or is insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of the Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, and the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No indemnified party guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any indemnifying party who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In connection with any registration statement filed with the SEC by the Company, the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party 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 indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, and by such party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, no Shareholder shall be required to contribute an amount greater than the net proceeds received by such Shareholder from sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement to which the claims relate (after taking into account the amount of damages which such Shareholder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any and all untrue or alleged untrue statements of material fact or omissions or alleged omissions of material fact made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto related to such sale of Registrable Securities).
(e) No Exclusivity. The remedies provided for in this Section 4 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may be available to any indemnified party at Law or in equity or pursuant to any other agreement.
Section 5. Covenants Relating to Rule 144. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (x) timely file all reports and other documents required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder (provided, that if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Shareholder, make publicly available such information as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act), and (y) take such further action as any Shareholder may reasonably request in writing, in each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Shareholder to, if permitted by the terms of this Agreement, the applicable Investment Agreement and the Registrable Securities, transfer such Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 or
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Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the written request of any Shareholder, the Company will deliver to such Shareholder a written statement that it has complied with such requirements, subject to its compliance with such requirements. The Company shall, upon any request by a Shareholder in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition by any Shareholder of any Registrable Securities permitted by Rule 144, (i) use its reasonable best efforts to promptly (and in no event longer than five (5) Business Days after such request) cause the removal of any restrictive legend or similar restriction on the Registrable Securities, and, in the case of book-entry shares, make or cause to be made appropriate notifications on the books of the Company’s transfer agent for such number of shares and registered in such names as the Shareholders may reasonably request and (ii) provide a customary opinion of counsel and instruction letter required by the Company’s transfer agent in connection with such sale, transfer or disposition of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the taking of such action by the Company is conditioned on the Company receiving all information and documentation reasonably necessary to support such actions and make a determination that such transfer applies with Law.
Section 6. Termination; Survival. The rights of each Shareholder hereunder shall terminate upon the date that all of the Registrable Securities held by such Shareholder cease to be Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the parties under Sections 4, 5 and 7 and this Section 6 shall survive the termination hereof.
Section 7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement, and all matters arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal Laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any Laws of the State of Delaware that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. The parties hereto (i) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware, or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located in the State of Delaware in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions hereof and of any related agreement, certificate or other document delivered in connection herewith, (ii) waive, and agree not to assert, any defense in any action for the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement and any related agreement, certificate or other document delivered in connection herewith that they are not subject to such jurisdiction or that such action may not be brought or is not maintainable in such courts or that this Agreement may not be enforced in or by such courts, that the action is brought in an inconvenient forum, or that the venue of the action is improper, (iii) agrees that service in person or by certified or by nationally recognized overnight courier to its address set forth in Section 7(i) shall constitute valid in personam service upon such party and its successors and assigns in any action commenced pursuant to this Section 7(a) and (iv) acknowledges that this is a commercial transaction, that the foregoing provisions for service of process and the following provisions for waiver of jury trial have been read, understood and voluntarily agreed to by each party and that by agreeing to such provisions each party is waiving important legal rights.
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(b) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY CLAIM, ACTION, HEARING, CHARGE, DISPUTE, SUIT, INVESTIGATION, AUDIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (iv) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
(c) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein), together with the Investment Agreement, the Warrants and the documents referenced herein and therein, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior discussions, negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings, and agreements (including any draft agreements) with respect thereto, whether written or oral, none of which shall be used as evidence of the parties’ intent.
(d) Amendments and Waivers. No amendment of any provision hereof shall be valid and binding unless it is in writing and signed by the Company and the Shareholders representing at least fifty percent (50%) (by number) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding(with each share of Voting Common Stock issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement, and each share of Voting Common Stock to be received upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock issued or issuable (A) pursuant to the Investment Agreement and (B) upon exercise of the Warrants, in each case, counting as one Registrable Security for this purpose (whether or not then convertible or exercisable)). No waiver of any right or remedy hereunder, to the extent legally allowed, shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the party making such waiver. No waiver by any party of any breach or violation of, default under, or inaccuracy in any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent breach, violation, default of, or inaccuracy in, any such representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. No delay or omission on the part of any party in exercising any right, power, or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendments may be made hereto that adversely affect the rights of any Shareholder hereunder without the prior written consent of such Shareholder.
(e) Successors and Assigns. The Shareholders may transfer or assign all or any portion of their respective rights provided in this Agreement in connection with the transfer of shares of Voting Common Stock, Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock or any Warrant issued under the Investment Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Investment Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company; provided that reasonably promptly following any such
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transfer or assignment, (i) the Shareholder provides a written notice to the Company stating the name and address of such transferee and identifying the amount of Registrable Securities with respect to which the rights under this Agreement are being transferred and the nature of the rights so transferred, and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by this Agreement as fully as if it were an initial signatory hereto pursuant to a written instrument in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, and any such transferee may thereafter make corresponding assignments in accordance with this Section 7(e); provided, further, that in no event shall any rights under this Agreement be assigned to any Person that is not a Permitted Reg Rights Holder.
(f) Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth herein (including under Section 2(i)), (i) all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any Registration Statement under this Agreement shall be borne by the Company, (ii) all Selling Expenses relating to securities registered on behalf of the Shareholders shall be borne by the Shareholders of the Registrable Securities included in such registration and (iii) the obligation of the Company to bear the expenses provided for in this Section 7(f) shall apply irrespective of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, is withdrawn or suspended, or converted to any other form of registration and irrespective of when any of the foregoing shall occur.
(g) Counterparts, Execution. For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile, email or electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or other Law (e.g., www.docusign.com or by .pdf signature) by any party and such signature shall be deemed binding for all purposes hereof without delivery of an original signature being thereafter required.
(h) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person (including the officers and directors of the parties hereto) or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the parties.
(i) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly delivered (i) four (4) Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (ii) one (1) Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service or (iii) when sent, if delivered by email (provided that no “error message” or other notification of non-delivery is generated), in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:
If to a Purchaser, at such Purchaser’s address referenced in Schedule A.
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If to the Company, as follows:
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
110 West Front Street
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701
Attention: Christopher D. Maher
Email: [email protected]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: Matthew Nemeroff; Edgar Lewandowski
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Any party may, from time to time, by written notice to the other parties, designate a different address, which shall be substituted for the one specified above for such party.
(j) Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedies to which they are entitled at Law or equity. Each of the parties hereto hereby further waives any (i) defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate and (ii) requirement under Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
(k) Interpretation.
(i) The parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
(ii) The table of contents and headings contained herein are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation hereof.
(iii) Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(iv) References to “the date hereof” mean the date of this Agreement.
(v) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Company nor Purchaser nor any of their respective subsidiaries shall be required to take any action that is prohibited by Law or inconsistent with any requirement or directive of any Governmental Entity.
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(vi) Any reference herein to any statute, includes all amendments thereto and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(vii) All references to “dollars” or “$” herein are to United States dollars.
(viii) The definitions contained herein are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neutral genders of such term.
(ix) The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.”
(l) Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of holders a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, enter into any agreement (a “Permitted Agreement”) with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company giving such holder or prospective holder any registration rights the terms of which are senior to or on parity with, or otherwise conflict with, the registration rights granted to the Shareholders hereunder or any other provision hereof, including, for clarity, allowing any other holder of Common Stock to have registration rights in the nature or substantially in the nature of those set forth in this Agreement that would have priority over or be pari passu with the Registrable Securities with respect to the inclusion of such securities in any registration statement.
(m) Further Assurances. From and after the Closing, subject to the terms of the applicable Warrants and the Certificate of Designations, the Company will take such actions as reasonably necessary to effect any exercise or conversion of the Warrants or Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, as applicable, upon the reasonable request of the applicable Purchaser in connection with any registration or any offering and sale pursuant hereto involving the Voting Common Stock underlying such Warrants or Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock, as applicable, it being understood that the Company shall have no obligation to register the Non-Voting Common Equivalent Stock or the Warrants.
(n) Other Agreements. If requested by any Shareholder in connection with any transaction involving any Registrable Securities (including any sale or other transfer of such securities without registration under the Securities Act, any Back Leverage (as defined in the Investment Agreement) with respect to such securities, any hedging transaction and any pledge of such securities and any hedging transaction), the Company agrees to provide such Shareholder with customary and reasonable assistance to facilitate such transaction, including, without limitation, (i) such action as such Shareholder may reasonably request from time to time to enable such Shareholder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act and (ii) entering into an “issuer’s agreement” in connection with any Back Leverage and providing such other cooperation and assistance as may be reasonably necessary in connection with such Back Leverage, including as set forth in the Investment Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Christopher D. Maher | |
| Name: Christopher D. Maher | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
PURCHASERS:
WPGG 14 ORION INVESTMENTS L.P.
By: WPGG 14 Orion Investments GP, Ltd,
its general partner
| By: | /s/ Todd Schell | |
| Name: | Todd Schell | |
| Title: | Authorised Representative | |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
WPFS II ORION INVESTMENTS L.P.
By: WPFS II Orion Investments GP, LLC,
its general partner
| By: | /s/ Todd Schell | |
| Name: | Todd Schell | |
| Title: | Authorised Representative | |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Schedule A
| Purchaser | Address | |
| WPGG 14 Orion Investments L.P. WPFS II Orion Investments L.P.
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 51 West 52nd Street New York, New York 10019 Attn: Mark F. Veblen Email: [email protected] |
c/o Warburg Pincus LLC 450 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10017 Attention: General Counsel Email: [email protected] |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s Current Report on Form 8-K of our reports dated March 6, 2026, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Flushing Financial Corporation (the Company) appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
/s/ BDO USA, P.C.
New York, New York
June 1, 2026
Exhibit 99.3
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X and presented to illustrate the estimated effects of the accounting for the mergers and equity financing based on the historical consolidated financial statements and accounting records of OceanFirst Financial Corp. (“OceanFirst”) and Flushing Financial Corporation (“Flushing”).
The accounting for the mergers depicted in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined consolidated financial information has been prepared using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations and the equity financing has been accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 505, Equity, ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC Subtopic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should be read in conjunction with the transaction accounting adjustments described in the accompanying notes. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information assumes that the assets and liabilities of Flushing will be recorded by OceanFirst at their respective fair values as of the date the mergers are completed.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined consolidated balance sheet combines the historical consolidated balance sheets of OceanFirst and Flushing as of March 31, 2026, giving effect to the mergers and equity financing as if the mergers and equity financing had occurred on March 31, 2026. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and for the year ended December 31, 2025 combined the historical consolidated statements of income of OceanFirst and Flushing for such periods, giving effect to the mergers and equity financing as if the transactions had occurred on January 1, 2025. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not indicate the financial position or results of operations of the combined company that would have been realized had the mergers been completed on the aforementioned dates.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, (i) the OceanFirst historical financial statements previously filed with the SEC and (ii) the Flushing historical financial statements included or incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the following historical financial statements and accompanying notes:
| • | the historical audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of OceanFirst as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025 (included in OceanFirst’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025), as previously filed with the SEC; |
| • | the historical unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of OceanFirst as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2026 (included in OceanFirst’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026), as previously filed with the SEC; |
| • | the historical audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of Flushing as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025 (included in Flushing’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025), which are included or incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K; and |
| • | the historical unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of Flushing as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2026 (included in Flushing’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026), which are included or incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K. |
In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should also be read together with other financial data included elsewhere or incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.
1
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is for informational purposes only. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is not necessarily, and should not be assumed to be, an indication of the results that would have been achieved had the mergers been completed as of the dates indicated or that may be achieved in the future. The pro forma adjustments are preliminary and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and as additional analysis is performed. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also does not consider any expense efficiencies, increased revenue or other potential financial benefits of the mergers. In addition, as explained in more detail in the accompanying notes, the preliminary allocation of the pro forma purchase price reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is subject to adjustments and may vary materially from the actual purchase price allocation that will be recorded upon completion of the mergers. The pro forma adjustments and unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included herein are preliminary and based on information currently available as of the time of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The final purchase price allocation may differ materially from the estimates reflected in this pro forma presentation.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should not be considered indicative of the market value of OceanFirst common stock or the actual or future results of operations of OceanFirst for any period. Changes in the estimated fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, changes in Flushing’s equity between March 31, 2026, and the closing date, or changes in the assumed OceanFirst stock price used to measure the fair value of the consideration, may result in material differences in the amounts ultimately recorded, including the amount of goodwill or bargain purchase gain.
2
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF MARCH 31, 2026
| (in thousands) | OceanFirst Historical |
Flushing Historical, as Reclassified (Note 4) |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments (Note 7) |
Pro Forma Combined |
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| Assets |
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| Cash and due from banks |
$ | 136,981 | $ | 158,707 | $ | 212,092 | (a), (b) | $ | 507,780 | |||||||||||||
| Debt securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value |
1,181,087 | 1,628,587 | — | 2,809,674 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Debt securities held-to-maturity, net of allowance for securities credit losses |
852,917 | 49,853 | (4,641 | ) | (c) | 898,129 | ||||||||||||||||
| Equity investments |
88,239 | — | — | 88,239 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted equity investments, at cost |
119,503 | 18,520 | (1 | ) | — | 138,023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan credit losses |
11,059,275 | 6,517,080 | (263,687 | ) | (d), (e), (f) | 17,312,668 | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest and dividends receivable |
49,588 | 60,418 | — | 110,006 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other real estate owned |
10,393 | — | — | 10,393 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Premises and equipment, net |
112,066 | 17,193 | — | 129,259 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bank owned life insurance |
271,650 | 228,881 | — | 500,531 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill |
517,481 | — | 11,992 | (m) | 529,473 | |||||||||||||||||
| Intangibles |
8,198 | 696 | 49,304 | (g) | 58,198 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other assets |
148,958 | 182,914 | (2 | ) | 38,876 | (n) | 370,748 | |||||||||||||||
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| Total assets |
$ | 14,556,336 | $ | 8,862,849 | $ | 43,936 | $ | 23,463,121 | ||||||||||||||
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| Liabilities |
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| Deposits |
$ | 11,155,916 | $ | 7,484,146 | $ | (8,765 | ) | (h) | $ | 18,631,297 | ||||||||||||
| Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances |
1,180,179 | 172,185 | (3 | ) | — | 1,352,364 | ||||||||||||||||
| Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with customers |
67,249 | — | — | 67,249 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other borrowings |
255,518 | 244,314 | (3 | ) | (25,092 | ) | (i) | 474,740 | ||||||||||||||
| Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance |
25,851 | 96,242 | (4 | ) | — | 122,093 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other liabilities |
202,255 | 168,554 | (5 | ) | 18,676 | (j) | 389,485 | |||||||||||||||
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| Total liabilities |
$ | 12,886,968 | $ | 8,165,441 | $ | (15,181 | ) | $ | 21,037,228 | |||||||||||||
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| Stockholders’ Equity |
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| Common stock |
629 | 387 | 20 | (b), (k), (l) | 1,036 | |||||||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital |
1,121,646 | 325,789 | 446,778 | (b), (k), (l) | 1,894,213 | |||||||||||||||||
| Retained earnings |
671,657 | 470,540 | (486,989 | ) | (j), (k), (n) | 655,208 | ||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(4,573 | ) | (2,659 | ) | 2,659 | (k) | (4,573 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Less: Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan |
(991 | ) | — | — | (991 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock |
(119,000 | ) | (96,649 | ) | 96,649 | (k) | (119,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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| OceanFirst Financial Corp. stockholders’ equity |
$ | 1,669,368 | $ | 697,408 | $ | 59,117 | $ | 2,425,893 | ||||||||||||||
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| Total stockholders’ equity |
1,669,368 | 697,408 | 59,117 | 2,425,893 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ | 14,556,336 | $ | 8,862,849 | $ | 43,936 | $ | 23,463,121 | ||||||||||||||
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See notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
3
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2026
| (in thousands, except per share amount) | OceanFirst Historical |
Flushing Historical, as Reclassified (Note 4) |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments (Note 7) |
Pro Forma Combined |
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| Interest Income: |
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| Loans |
$ | 145,324 | $ | 91,643 | $ | 7,954 | (a) | $ | 244,921 | |||||||||||||||
| Debt securities |
19,810 | 19,560 | 290 | (b) | 39,660 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity investments and other |
3,157 | 2,172 | (1 | ) | — | 5,329 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Total interest income |
$ | 168,291 | $ | 113,375 | $ | 8,244 | $ | 289,910 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Interest Expense |
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| Deposits |
53,695 | 52,823 | — | 106,518 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowed funds |
18,149 | 4,993 | (2 | ) | 1,568 | (d) | 24,710 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Total interest expense |
$ | 71,844 | $ | 57,816 | $ | 1,568 | $ | 131,228 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Net interest income |
$ | 96,447 | $ | 55,559 | $ | 6,676 | $ | 158,682 | ||||||||||||||||
| Provision for credit losses |
2,738 | 2,011 | — | 4,749 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Net interest income after provision |
$ | 93,709 | $ | 53,548 | $ | 6,676 | $ | 153,933 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Other Income (loss): |
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| Bankcard services revenue |
1,629 | 1,868 | (3 | ) | — | 3,497 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Trust and asset management revenue |
433 | — | — | 433 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees and service charges |
2,813 | — | — | 2,813 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain (loss) on sales of loans |
(28 | ) | 94 | — | 66 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain (loss) on equity investments |
(354 | ) | (3,560 | ) | (4 | ) | — | (3,914 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net gain (loss) from other real estate operations |
(164 | ) | (49 | ) | (5 | ) | — | (213 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Income from bank owned life insurance |
1,874 | 2,301 | (6 | ) | — | 4,175 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other |
545 | 717 | — | 1,262 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Total other income |
$ | 6,748 | $ | 1,371 | — | $ | 8,119 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Operating Expenses |
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| Compensation and employee benefits |
39,484 | 26,610 | — | 66,094 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and Equipment |
6,753 | 5,878 | (7 | ) | — | 12,631 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Federal deposit insurance and regulatory assessments |
3,215 | 1,001 | — | 4,216 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Data processing |
7,052 | 1,835 | — | 8,887 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional fees |
3,222 | 4,332 | — | 7,554 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangibles |
848 | 77 | (8 | ) | 2,602 | (e) | 3,527 | |||||||||||||||||
| Merger related expenses |
4,150 | — | — | 4,150 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges |
128 | — | — | 128 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating expense |
8,551 | 6,993 | (8 | ) | — | 15,544 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
$ | 73,403 | $ | 46,726 | $ | 2,602 | $ | 122,731 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Income before income taxes |
$ | 27,054 | $ | 8,193 | $ | 4,074 | $ | 39,321 | ||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
6,548 | 2,360 | 1,079 | (h) | 9,987 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Net income |
$ | 20,506 | $ | 5,833 | $ | 2,995 | $ | 29,334 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Net income attributable to non-controlling interest |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Net income (loss) attributable to OceanFirst Financial Corp. |
20,506 | 5,833 | 2,995 | 29,334 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Net income available to common stockholders |
$ | 20,506 | $ | 5,833 | $ | 2,995 | $ | 29,334 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Basic earnings per share |
$ | 0.36 | $ | 0.17 | $ | (0.23 | ) | $ | 0.30 | |||||||||||||||
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| Diluted earnings per share |
$ | 0.36 | $ | 0.17 | $ | (0.23 | ) | $ | 0.30 | |||||||||||||||
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| Average basic shares outstanding |
57,043 | 40,664 | (i) | 97,707 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average diluted shares outstanding |
57,048 | 40,664 | (i) | 97,712 | ||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
4
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025
| (in thousands, except per share amount) | OceanFirst Historical |
Flushing Historical, as Reclassified (Note 4) |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments (Note 7) |
Pro Forma Combined |
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| Interest Income: |
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| Loans |
$ | 556,894 | $ | 377,431 | $ | 33,225 | (a) | $ | 967,550 | |||||||||||||||
| Debt securities |
72,057 | 80,856 | 1,160 | (b) | 154,073 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity investments and other |
13,503 | 9,805 | (1 | ) | — | 23,308 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Total interest income |
$ | 642,454 | $ | 468,092 | $ | 34,385 | $ | 1,144,931 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Interest Expense |
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| Deposits |
216,180 | 228,527 | 8,765 | (c) | 453,472 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowed funds |
66,051 | 22,170 | (2 | ) | 6,273 | (d) | 94,494 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Total interest expense |
$ | 282,231 | $ | 250,697 | $ | 15,038 | $ | 547,966 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Net interest income |
$ | 360,223 | $ | 217,395 | $ | 19,347 | $ | 596,965 | ||||||||||||||||
| Provision for credit losses |
16,171 | 12,788 | 28,959 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Net interest income after provision |
$ | 344,052 | $ | 204,607 | $ | 19,347 | $ | 568,006 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Other Income (loss): |
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| Bankcard services revenue |
6,534 | 7,455 | (3 | ) | — | 13,989 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Trust and asset management revenue |
1,514 | — | — | 1,514 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees and service charges |
17,865 | — | — | 17,865 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain (loss) on sales of loans |
3,686 | 3,719 | — | 7,405 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain (loss) on equity investments |
916 | (1,604 | ) | (4 | ) | — | (688 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net gain (loss) from other real estate operations |
(285 | ) | (1,139 | ) | (5 | ) | — | (1,424 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Income from bank owned life insurance |
7,753 | 8,765 | — | 16,518 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other |
6,718 | 3,202 | — | 9,920 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Total other income (loss) |
$ | 44,701 | $ | 20,398 | $ | 65,099 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Operating Expenses |
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| Compensation and employee benefits |
159,353 | 96,448 | — | 255,801 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and Equipment |
26,471 | 21,865 | (7 | ) | — | 48,336 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Federal deposit insurance and regulatory assessments |
11,599 | 5,628 | — | 17,227 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Data processing |
27,723 | 7,349 | — | 35,072 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional fees |
15,090 | 17,166 | — | 32,256 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangibles |
3,634 | 350 | (8 | ) | 12,150 | (e) | 16,134 | |||||||||||||||||
| Merger related expenses |
4,253 | — | 18,676 | (f) | 22,929 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges |
11,526 | — | — | 11,526 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment of goodwill |
— | 17,636 | (17,636 | ) | (g) | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other operating expense |
36,588 | 24,044 | (8 | ) | — | 60,632 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Total operating expenses |
$ | 296,237 | $ | 190,486 | $ | 13,190 | $ | 499,913 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Income (loss) before income taxes |
$ | 92,516 | 34,519 | 6,157 | 133,192 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
21,489 | 15,639 | (378 | ) | (h) | 36,750 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Net income (loss) |
$ | 71,027 | $ | 18,880 | $ | 6,535 | $ | 96,442 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Net income attributable to non-controlling interest |
49 | — | — | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Net income (loss) attributable to OceanFirst Financial Corp. |
70,978 | 18,880 | 6,535 | 96,393 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dividends on preferred shares |
2,008 | — | — | 2,008 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on redemption of preferred stock |
1,842 | — | — | 1,842 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Net income (loss) available to common stockholders |
$ | 67,128 | $ | 18,880 | $ | 6,535 | $ | 92,543 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Basic earnings per share |
$ | 1.17 | $ | 0.54 | $ | (0.77 | ) | $ | 0.94 | |||||||||||||||
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| Diluted earnings per share |
$ | 1.17 | $ | 0.54 | $ | (0.77 | ) | $ | 0.94 | |||||||||||||||
| Average basic shares outstanding |
57,419 | 40,664 | (i) | 98,083 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average diluted shares outstanding |
57,425 | 40,664 | (i) | 98,089 | ||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
5
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Note 1 – Basis of Pro Forma Presentation
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented after giving effect to the mergers. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2026 gives effect to the mergers as if the transaction had occurred on March 31, 2026. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and year ended December 31, 2025, give effect to the mergers as if the transaction had occurred on January 1, 2025.
The mergers will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting; accordingly, the difference between the purchase price as compared to the estimated fair value of the assets acquired (including identifiable intangible assets) and liabilities assumed will be recorded as goodwill or a bargain purchase gain.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information includes estimated adjustments to record the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of Flushing at their respective fair values and represents management’s estimates based on the information available at the time of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The pro forma adjustments included herein may be revised as additional information becomes available and as additional analysis is performed. The final allocation of the purchase price will be determined after the mergers are completed and after completion of a final analysis to determine the fair values of Flushing’s tangible, and identifiable intangible assets and liabilities as of the closing date.
All adjustments reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet and unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income are transaction accounting adjustments as defined in Article 11-02(a)(6); no autonomous or management’s adjustments are included.
Note 2 – Recently Issued Accounting Standard
In November 2025, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2025-08, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326). ASU 2025-08 expands the use of the gross-up method to certain acquired loans, including purchased seasoned loans (“PSL”), which are loans acquired in a business combination or otherwise purchased after origination that do not meet the definition of purchased credit deterioration (“PCD”) assets. Under ASU 2025-08, the gross-up method also applies to acquired non-PCD loans that qualify as PSL. This eliminates the recognition of day 1 credit loss expense and instead increases the amortized cost basis of such loans, affecting the pattern of interest income recognized in subsequent periods.
ASU 2025-08 is effective for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and is applied prospectively. The Company early adopted this standard as of December 31, 2025, described in Footnote 1 of OceanFirst’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2026. Accordingly, the pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in conformity with ASU 2025-08 and the Company’s accounting policies in effect as of March 31, 2026.
Note 3 – Accounting Policies
Upon completion of the mergers, OceanFirst will perform a comprehensive review of Flushing’s accounting policies. As a result of this review, management may identify differences between the accounting policies of OceanFirst and Flushing, which when conformed, could have a material impact on the financial statements of the combined company. As part of preparing the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, OceanFirst conducted a preliminary review of the accounting policies of Flushing to determine if differences in accounting policies would result in material differences on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. Based on this initial review, OceanFirst did not identify any material adjustments to conform the accounting policies used to produce Flushing’s historical financial statements to those of OceanFirst.
6
In an effort to present the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information in a manner that the combined company believes is clear and most useful for the potential users of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, OceanFirst has presented the values contained herein in thousands (unless otherwise stated).
Note 4 – Reclassification Adjustments
During the preparation of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, management performed a preliminary analysis of Flushing’s financial information to identify differences in financial statement presentation as compared to those of OceanFirst. As a result, certain reclassification adjustments have been made to conform Flushing’s historical financial statement presentation to OceanFirst’s historical financial statement presentation. Following the completion of the mergers, or as more information becomes available, OceanFirst will finalize the review of accounting policies and reclassifications, which could be materially different from the amounts set forth in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented herein.
Reclassification adjustments to conform Flushing’s historical financial statement presentation to OceanFirst’s historical financial statement presentation included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2026
| 1. | To reclassify $18.5 million from Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost to restricted equity investments, at cost. |
| 2. | To reclassify $51.0 million from right-of-use assets to other assets. |
| 3. | To reclassify $172.2 million from Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings to Federal Home Loan Bank advances. To reclassify $189.2 million from subordinated debentures and $55.1 million from junior subordinated debentures, at fair value to other borrowings. |
| 4. | To reclassify $96.2 million from mortgagors’ escrow deposits to advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance. |
| 5. | To reclassify $51.9 million from operating lease liability to other liabilities. |
Reclassification adjustments to conform Flushing’s historical financial statement presentation to OceanFirst’s historical financial statement presentation included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and year ended December 31, 2025
| 1. | To reclassify $365 thousand and $1.9 million from Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock dividends, $1.8 million and $7.8 million from other interest income, and $25 thousand and $111 thousand from dividends to equity investments and other for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| 2. | To reclassify $5.0 million and $22.2 million from other interest expense to borrowed funds for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| 3. | To reclassify $1.9 million and $7.5 million from banking services fee income to bankcard services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| 4. | To reclassify $3.6 million and $2.3 million from net gain (loss) from fair value adjustments to net gain (loss) on equity investments for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. To reclassify $708 thousand from net gain (loss) on sale of securities to net gain (loss) on equity investments for the year ended December 31, 2025. |
| 5. | To reclassify $49 thousand and $1.1 million from other real estate owned / foreclosure expense to net gain (loss) from other real estate operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| 6. | To reclassify $99 thousand from life insurance proceeds to income from bank owned life insurance for the three months ended March 31, 2026. |
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| 7. | To reclassify $1.3 million and $5.3 million from depreciation and amortization of bank premises and equipment to occupancy and equipment for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| 8. | To reclassify $77 thousand and $350 thousand from other operating expenses to amortization of intangibles for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
Note 5 – Preliminary Estimated Consideration Transferred
Under the terms of the merger agreement, in the first merger, Flushing stockholders will be entitled to receive 0.85 of a share of OceanFirst common stock for each share of Flushing common stock they own. The preliminary estimated consideration transferred is valued at approximately $560.9 million. This preliminary estimate is based on the price of shares of OceanFirst common stock as of May 26, 2026, which was $19.02, as well as the estimated settlement of Flushing’s employee awards that will fully vest upon closing. Given the range of prices of shares of OceanFirst common stock since the announcement of the transaction, the consideration transferred of the transaction at closing may differ materially from the consideration transferred included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
In addition to the aforementioned consideration transferred, fractional shares will be settled in cash. OceanFirst and Flushing acknowledge that payment of such cash consideration in lieu of issuing fractional shares is not separately bargained-for consideration and instead represents an operational expedient for purposes of avoiding the expense and inconvenience that would otherwise be caused by the issuance of fractional shares. The total amount of this cash settlement is expected to be immaterial. Therefore, an estimate for the cash settlement of fractional shares has not been reflected in the calculation of consideration transferred for the purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented.
Consideration transferred for the mergers is included in the transaction accounting adjustments as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
| Number of shares of Flushing’s stock outstanding as of May 26, 2026 |
33,883,626 | |||
| Stock based compensation to be exchanged |
559,939 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total shares exchanged |
34,443,565 | |||
| Exchange ratio |
0.85 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Estimated OceanFirst common shares to be issued |
29,277,030 | |||
| OceanFirst’s closing stock price on May 26, 2026 |
$ | 19.02 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Total equity consideration |
$ | 556,849 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Flushing employee awards fully vested and settled at closing |
$ | 2,752 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Total cash consideration |
$ | 2,752 | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Unvested Flushing employee awards attributable to precombination vesting |
1,282 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total consideration transferred |
$ | 560,882 | ||
|
|
|
The consideration transferred will depend on the market price of shares of OceanFirst common stock as of the date the first merger is consummated. OceanFirst believes that a 10% fluctuation in the market price of shares of OceanFirst common stock is reasonably possible based on historic volatility, and the potential effect on the consideration transferred would be:
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| Company’s Share Price |
Consideration Transferred |
Estimated Goodwill (Bargain Purchase Gain) |
||||||||||
| As presented |
$ | 19.02 | $ | 560,882 | $ | 11,992 | ||||||
| 10% increase |
20.92 | 616,567 | 67,677 | |||||||||
| 10% decrease |
17.12 | 505,197 | (43,693 | ) | ||||||||
Note 6 – Preliminary Estimated Allocation of Consideration Transferred
The transaction accounting adjustments include the purchase accounting entries to record the transaction. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. Estimated fair value of net assets acquired, net of deferred taxes included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are based upon available information, and certain assumptions considered reasonable, and may be revised as additional information becomes available. For purposes of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, fair value adjustments are amortized/accreted on either a straight-line basis or under the sum-of-the-years’ digits method over their estimated average remaining lives. Tax expense related to the net fair value adjustments is calculated using an estimated effective tax rate of 27%, which represents the estimated combined effective tax rate which includes the statutory tax rate of 21% for federal income tax purposes plus the net effect of state income taxes and adjustments. In addition, OceanFirst estimated the deductibility of certain transaction expenses for tax purposes.
Included in the transaction accounting adjustments are estimated core deposit intangibles of $50.0 million. The core deposit intangibles are amortized under the sum-of-the-years’ digits method over an estimated average remaining life of seven (7) years (with an estimated $12.5 million, $10.7 million, $8.9 million, $7.1 million, and $5.4 million of amortization expense recognized in year one (1) through five (5), respectively). When the actual amount of core deposit intangibles is determined as of the date of acquisition, which may be more or less than the estimated amount, the sum-of-the-years’ digits method will be used to record amortization over the intangibles’ actual lives.
The following table summarizes the allocation of the preliminary consideration transferred of $560.9 million. The allocation of consideration transferred reflected herein is preliminary and incomplete. The final allocation may differ materially from the amounts presented.
| (in thousands) | Amount | |||
| Assets acquired |
||||
| Cash and due from banks |
$ | 158,707 | ||
| Debt securities available-for-sale |
1,628,587 | |||
| Debt securities held-to-maturity |
45,212 | |||
| Restricted equity investments |
18,520 | |||
| Loans receivable |
6,253,393 | |||
| Interest and dividends receivable |
60,418 | |||
| Premises and equipment, net |
17,193 | |||
| Bank owned life insurance |
228,881 | |||
| Intangibles |
50,000 | |||
| Other assets |
219,563 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total assets |
$ | 8,680,474 | ||
| Liabilities assumed |
||||
| Deposits |
7,475,381 | |||
| FHLB advances |
172,185 | |||
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| Other borrowings |
219,222 | |||
| Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance |
96,242 | |||
| Other liabilities |
168,554 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total liabilities |
$ | 8,131,584 | ||
| Fair value of net assets acquired |
$ | 548,890 | ||
| Preliminary goodwill |
11,992 | |||
| Total consideration transferred |
$ | 560,882 |
Note 7 – Pro Forma Transaction Accounting Adjustments
Adjustments related to the mergers included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2026
The following provides additional details about the methods and assumptions used to determine the transaction accounting adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet. All adjustments are based on current assumptions and/or valuations, which are subject to change.
| a. | To reflect the cash consideration paid in connection with the mergers of $2.8 million. The cash consideration represents payments made by OceanFirst to settle historical cash incentive awards of Flushing employees which have a single trigger change-in-control provision and become fully vested upon the closing of the mergers. Refer to “Note 6 – Preliminary Estimated Allocation of Consideration Transferred.” |
| b. | To record the equity financing of $225.0 million to be received at the closing of the first merger pursuant to the investment agreement less estimated equity issuance costs of $10.2 million. The adjustment results in an increase to cash of $214.8 million and an increase in common stock and additional paid-in capital of $0.1 million and $214.7 million, respectively. Non-voting common equivalent (“NVCE”) stock and equity-classified warrants are included in the adjustment. |
| c. | To record the fair value adjustment for Flushing’s debt securities held to maturity of $4.6 million, which is expected to be accreted over four (4) years based on the expected average life of the portfolio. |
| d. | To eliminate Flushing’s historical net unamortized premiums and unearned loan fees totaling $12.9 million. |
| e. | To record the fair value adjustment for Flushing’s loans of $295.3 million, which includes an estimated $127.3 million of interest rate mark and $168.0 million of allowance for credit losses. The estimated weighted average life of the loan portfolio is approximately four (4) years. All loans are accounted for as PCD or PSL loans upon adoption of ASU 2025-08 for the purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. |
| f. | Adjustments to record the elimination of Flushing’s existing allowance for credit losses of $44.5 million. |
| g. | To record the adjustment to remove Flushing’s historical intangible assets of $696 thousand and to recognize the estimated fair value of acquired core deposit intangibles of $50.0 million. OceanFirst’s identification of identifiable intangible assets is not complete and there may be more or less intangible assets recorded at the time of closing of the mergers. |
| h. | To record the fair value adjustment for Flushing’s time deposits of $8.8 million, which is expected to be accreted over one (1) year based on the contractual maturity of the related deposits. |
| i. | To record the fair value adjustment for Flushing’s other borrowings of $25.1 million, which is expected to be accreted over four (4) years based on the weighted average contractual maturity. |
| j. | Adjustment to record $18.7 million of nonrecurring estimated transaction costs to be incurred by OceanFirst. The pre-tax adjustment resulted in an increase to other liabilities and a decrease to retained earnings of $18.7 million. The adjustment represents the accrual of additional transaction costs incurred by OceanFirst subsequent to March 31, 2026. Incurred transaction costs are included in the historical income statement of the Company for the three-month period ended March 31, 2026. In addition and not reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income, OceanFirst expects to incur $60.3 million of estimated costs relating to severance, contract termination fees, system conversion costs, and marketing. |
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| k. | Adjustment to eliminate Flushing’s historical stockholders’ equity of $697.4 million. |
| l. | Adjustment to record the issuance of OceanFirst stock of $0.01 par value at an exchange ratio of 0.85. Adjustment results in an increase to common stock, at par of $293 thousand and additional paid-in capital in excess of par value to Flushing stockholders of $557.8 million, respectively. |
| m. | To record the goodwill of $12.0 million as a result of the preliminary purchase price allocation. Refer to “Note 6 – Preliminary Estimated Allocation of Consideration Transferred.” |
| n. | Adjustment to recognize tax impact (current and deferred taxes) associated with the transaction adjustments recorded above at an estimated effective tax rate of 27%, further adjusted by the treatment of transaction costs based on their estimated deductibility for tax purposes. The adjustment results in an increase to other assets and retained earnings of $38.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively. |
Adjustments related to the mergers included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and year ended December 31, 2025
The following provides additional details about the methods and assumptions used to determine the pro forma adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income. All adjustments are based on current assumptions and/or valuations, which are subject to change.
| a. | To record loan discount accretion of the estimated interest rate mark, based on the expected average life of the portfolio. The adjustments reflect the accretion of the $127.3 million estimated interest rate mark resulting in an increase in interest income from loans of $8.0 million and $33.2 million for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. The weighted average life of the loan portfolio is approximately four (4) years. |
| b. | To record accretion of the debt securities held-to-maturity fair value adjustment, based on the expected average life of the portfolio of four (4) years. The adjustments reflect the accretion of the $4.6 million fair value adjustment resulting in an increase in interest income from debt securities of $290 thousand and $1.2 million for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| c. | To record accretion of the time deposit fair value adjustment, based on the contractual maturity of the related deposits of one (1) year. The adjustments reflect the accretion of the $8.8 million fair value adjustment resulting in an increase in interest expense from deposits of $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025. |
| d. | To record accretion of the other borrowed money fair value adjustment, based on the weighted average contractual maturity of four (4) years. The adjustments reflect the accretion of the $25.1 million fair value adjustment resulting in an increase in interest expense from borrowed funds of $1.6 million and $6.3 million for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| e. | To record the adjustment to remove Flushing’s historical intangible asset amortization of $77 thousand and $350 thousand for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. Additionally, to recognize the estimated amortization of the core deposit intangibles of $2.7 million and $12.5 million over an estimated average remaining life of seven (7) years for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. |
| f. | Reflects adjustments to record $18.7 million of nonrecurring transaction costs incurred after and not yet recognized as of March 31, 2026. In addition and not reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income, OceanFirst expects to incur $60.3 million of estimated costs relating to severance, contract termination fees, system conversion costs, and marketing. |
| g. | To remove Flushing’s historical goodwill impairment of $17.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025. |
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| h. | To recognize the tax impact of pro forma transaction related adjustments at the estimated effective tax rate of 27%, further adjusted by the treatment of transaction costs based on their estimated deductibility for tax purposes, resulting in a net increase to provision for income taxes of $1.1 million for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026, and a net decrease to provision for income taxes of $378 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2025. |
| i. | To recognize the transaction adjustments to pro forma basic and diluted shares outstanding. Refer to “Note 8 – Earnings Per Share.” |
Note 8 – Earnings per Share
The unaudited pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025 have been calculated based on the estimated weighted average shares outstanding as if the shares to be issued in connection with the transaction had been issued and outstanding as of January 1, 2025. Pro forma weighted-average basic and diluted shares outstanding include an estimated 29.3 million shares of OceanFirst common stock to be issued to the Flushing stockholders and 11.4 million shares to be issued to Warburg Pincus LLC (“Warburg”) in the equity financing. As the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and year ended December 31, 2025, give effect to the adjustments made reflecting the accounting for mergers and equity financing as if the mergers and equity financing had occurred on January 1, 2025, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for both the unaudited pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share assumes that the shares issuable relating to the transaction have been outstanding for the entire periods presented.
The following table summarizes the calculation of unaudited pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands).
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 |
Year Ended December 31, 2025 |
|||||||
| OceanFirst average basic shares outstanding |
57,043 | 57,419 | ||||||
| Common stock to be issued to Flushing stockholders |
29,277 | 29,277 | ||||||
| Common and NVCE stock to be issued to Warburg |
11,387 | 11,387 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Average basic shares outstanding |
97,707 | 98,083 | ||||||
| Add: Effect of dilutive securities: |
||||||||
| Incentive awards |
5 | 6 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Average diluted shares outstanding |
97,712 | 98,089 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income available to common stockholders |
$ | 29,334 | $ | 92,543 | ||||
| Basic earnings per share |
$ | 0.30 | $ | 0.94 | ||||
| Diluted earnings per share |
$ | 0.30 | $ | 0.94 | ||||
Potentially issuable-shares are not included in the computation of diluted net income per share if the inclusion would be antidilutive. For the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and year ended December 31, 2025, antidilutive stock options and warrants of 12.7 million for both periods, were excluded from the earnings per share calculation.
As part of OceanFirst’s preliminary analysis of the warrants issued to Warburg, OceanFirst concluded that the warrants meet the criteria to be classified as equity in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and ASC Subtopic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The warrants are considered to be “in-the-money” when OceanFirst’s stock price is greater than $19.76 and would be accounted for under the treasury stock method.
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OceanFirst cannot predict when the warrants will be in-the-money. As the stock price used for pro forma purposes is less than $19.76 (Refer to “Note 5 – Preliminary Estimated Consideration Transferred”), the impact of the warrants is not reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information or the calculation of the unaudited pro forma diluted earnings per share. If the market price of OceanFirst’s common stock were to increase to $21.76, the warrants would be in-the-money and there would be a less than $0.01 decrease to the unaudited pro forma diluted earnings per share for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2026 and a $0.01 decrease to the unaudited pro forma diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2025.
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Exhibit 99.4
|
|
Company Contact:
Patrick S. Barrett
Chief Financial Officer
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
1.888.623.2633 ext. 27507
Email: [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP. COMPLETES MERGER WITH FLUSHING
FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND $225 MILLION STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FROM WARBURG PINCUS
RED BANK, N.J. June 1, 2026. OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: “OCFC”) (“OceanFirst”), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank N.A., today announced the completion of its previously announced merger with Flushing Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: “FFIC”) (“Flushing”), the holding company for Flushing Bank. The combination creates a scaled, high-performing regional bank with a significant presence across New Jersey, New York, Long Island, and the major metropolitan areas from Massachusetts through Virginia. Following completion of the transaction, the combined company operates under the OceanFirst brand across 71 retail branches across its footprint. Concurrent with the completion of the merger, OceanFirst also completed its $225 million strategic investment from affiliates of funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC (“Warburg Pincus”).
“Today marks an important milestone in our growth strategy and the next chapter for our combined organization,” said Christopher Maher, Chief Executive Officer of OceanFirst. “This combination pairs Flushing’s deeply rooted, 95-year community franchise with OceanFirst’s relationship-driven business model, expanded capabilities, and broader product set, and immediately scales our presence in the deposit-rich markets of Long Island and the New York City boroughs. By adding Warburg Pincus as a long-term capital partner, we are well positioned to deliver enhanced value to our clients, accelerate profitable growth, and create meaningful long-term value for our shareholders.”
OceanFirst now operates 71 retail branches across New Jersey, New York, Long Island, and Pennsylvania, providing clients with personalized service and a broader range of commercial and consumer banking, wealth, and treasury management capabilities.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Flushing shareholders received 0.85x of a share of OceanFirst common stock for each share of Flushing common stock, and cash in lieu of fractional shares.
Following the closing, and pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, John Buran, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Flushing, has joined OceanFirst as non-executive Chairman of the Board. The board of directors of the combined company consists of 17 directors: ten from the existing OceanFirst board, six from the existing Flushing board and one from Warburg Pincus.
“We are pleased to welcome these accomplished leaders to our Board,” Maher added. “They bring deep industry experience and strong knowledge of the New York and Long Island markets, and their insight will be invaluable as we deliver on the long-term potential of the combined franchise.”
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In connection with the merger, OceanFirst will make a $5 million contribution to the OceanFirst Foundation to support nonprofit community organizations across the combined company’s markets, including New York and Long Island.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., A Stifel Company, served as financial advisor to OceanFirst and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as its legal counsel. Piper Sandler & Co, served as financial advisor to Flushing and Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP served as its legal counsel. J.P. Morgan acted as capital markets advisor and sole placement agent to OceanFirst. Jefferies LLC served as financial advisor to Warburg Pincus and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as its legal counsel.
Additional information about the transaction is available in a Current Report on Form 8-K that is being filed by OceanFirst with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) simultaneously with the issuance of this press release.
###
About OceanFirst
OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank N.A., founded in 1902, is an approximately $23 billion regional bank serving business and retail customers throughout New Jersey, New York, Long Island, and the major metropolitan areas from Massachusetts through Virginia. OceanFirst Bank delivers commercial and residential financing, treasury management, trust and asset management, and deposit services and is one of the largest and oldest community-based financial institutions headquartered in New Jersey. To learn more about OceanFirst, please visit us at www.oceanfirst.com.
3
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the transaction between OceanFirst and Flushing and the investment by affiliates of funds managed by Warburg in equity securities of OceanFirst. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words such as “ estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “could,” “target,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the transaction between OceanFirst and Flushing and the investment by Warburg, including statements as to the expected effects of the transaction. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of OceanFirst’s and Flushing’s management and are not predictions of actual performance, and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict, may differ from assumptions and many are beyond the control of OceanFirst and Flushing. The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: (i) the effect of the transaction on OceanFirst’s relationships, operating results and business generally; (ii) potential difficulties in retaining OceanFirst customers and employees as a result of the transaction; (iii) OceanFirst’s estimates of its financial performance; (iv) changes in general economic, political, or industry conditions, including persistent inflation, supply chain issues or labor shortages, instability in global economic conditions and geopolitical matters, as well as volatility in financial markets; (v) uncertainty in U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve; (vi) the credit risks of lending activities, which may be affected by deterioration in real estate markets and the financial condition of borrowers, and the operational risk of lending activities, including the effectiveness of OceanFirst’s underwriting practices and the risk of fraud; (vii) fluctuations in the demand for loans; (viii) the ability to develop and maintain a strong core deposit base or other low cost funding sources necessary to fund OceanFirst’s activities particularly in a rising or high interest rate environment; (ix) the rapid withdrawal of a significant amount of deposits over a short period of time; (x) results of examinations by regulatory authorities of OceanFirst and the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, limit OceanFirst’s business activities, restrict OceanFirst’s ability to invest in certain assets, refrain from issuing an approval or non-objection to certain capital or other actions, increase OceanFirst’s allowance for credit losses, result in write-downs of asset values, restrict OceanFirst’s ability or that of OceanFirst’s bank subsidiary to pay dividends, or impose fines,
4
penalties or sanctions; (xi) the impact of bank failures or other adverse developments at other banks on general investor sentiment regarding the stability and liquidity of banks; (xii) changes in the markets in which OceanFirst competes, including with respect to the competitive landscape, technology evolution or regulatory changes; (xiii) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits; (xiv) slowdowns in securities trading or shifting demand for security trading products; (xv) the impact of pandemics and other catastrophic events or disasters on the global economy and financial market conditions and our business, results of operations, and financial condition; (xvi) legislative or regulatory changes; (xvii) changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, (xviii) impact of operating in a highly competitive industry; (xix) reliance on third party service providers; (xx) competition in retaining key employees; (xxi) risks related to data security and privacy, including the impact of any data security breaches, cyberattacks, employee or other internal misconduct, malware, phishing or ransomware, physical security breaches, natural disasters, or similar disruptions; (xxii) changes to accounting principles and guidelines; (xxiii) litigation that may be instituted against OceanFirst or their respective directors and officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (xxiv) volatility in the trading price of OceanFirst’s securities; (xxv) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities; (xxvi) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where OceanFirst does business; and (xxvii) the dilution caused by OceanFirst’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the transaction. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above.
You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of OceanFirst’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other documents filed by OceanFirst from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These filings do and will identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual events and results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that OceanFirst does not presently know or that OceanFirst currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual events and results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect OceanFirst’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. OceanFirst anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause OceanFirst’s assessments to change. While OceanFirst may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, OceanFirst specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing OceanFirst’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. OceanFirst does not give any assurance that OceanFirst will achieve the results or other matters set forth in the forward-looking statements.
5
Investor Relations Inquiries:
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
Alfred Goon
SVP Corporate Development and Investor Relations
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