Top Ships Inc F-1, filed Apr 24, 2026
Top Ships Inc. (TOPS)
As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2026.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
TOP Ships Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Republic of the Marshall Islands (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
4412 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
N/A (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
20 Iouliou Kaisara Str
19002 Paiania
Athens, Greece
+30 210 812 8107
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Attention: Will Vogel, Esq.
120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10036
(212) 922-2200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
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Will Vogel, Esq. Watson Farley & Williams LLP 120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor New York, New York 10036 +1 (212) 922-2200 (telephone number) |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are being offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED April 24, 2026
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Up to 50,000,000 Common Shares
TOP Ships Inc.
This prospectus relates in part to the offer and resale of up to 50,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (our “Common Shares”), including the associated preferred share purchase rights, by B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (the “Selling Shareholder” or “BRPC II”).
We have issued or will issue these Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under a common share purchase agreement, dated April 24, 2026 (the “Purchase Agreement”), that we entered into with the Selling Shareholder, pursuant to which we may, in our sole discretion, elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder up to $50,000,000 worth of our Common Shares in one or more transactions from time to time after the date of this prospectus.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder. However, we may receive up to $50,000,000 aggregate gross proceeds from sales of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. See “The Committed Equity Financing” for a description of the Purchase Agreement and “Selling Shareholder” for additional information regarding the Selling Shareholder.
The Selling Shareholder may resell or otherwise dispose of our Common Shares described in this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” for more information about how the Selling Shareholder may resell or otherwise dispose of our Common Shares pursuant to this prospectus. The Selling Shareholder is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
We will pay the expenses incurred in registering under the Securities Act the offer and resale of the Common Shares offered hereby by the Selling Shareholder. We have also engaged Seaport Global Securities LLC to act as a “qualified independent underwriter” in this offering, whose fees and expenses will be borne by the Selling Shareholder. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest).”
Our Common Shares are listed on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) under the symbol “TOPS.”
We have a multi-class capital structure consisting of Common Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and Series G Perpetual Convertible Preferred Shares (the “Series G Preferred Shares”). Our common shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Common Share held. Each Series D Preferred Share has the voting power of 1,000 Common Shares and counts for 1,000 votes for purposes of determining quorum at a meeting of shareholders, subject to certain adjustments to satisfy minimum voting right financing agreement covenants. Each Series G Preferred Share counts for 1,000 votes for purposes of determining quorum at a meeting of shareholders and the voting power of 1,000 Common Shares, provided that no holder of Series G Preferred Shares may exercise voting rights pursuant to Series G Preferred Shares that would result in the aggregate voting power of any beneficial owner of such shares and its affiliates (whether pursuant to ownership of Series G Preferred Shares, Common Shares or otherwise) to exceed 19.99% of the total number of votes eligible to be cast on any matter submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Except as otherwise required by law or provided by our Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, Statement of Designation for our Series D Preferred Shares and Statement of Designation for our Series G Preferred Shares, holders of our Series D Preferred Shares, Series G Preferred Shares and holders of our Common Shares shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock” for further information regarding our capital structure, and the rights, including the voting rights, privileges, and preferences of the holders of our shares. The Lax Trust, an irrevocable trust established for the benefit of certain family members of our President, Chief Executive Officer and director, Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, is the sole beneficial owner of our Series D Preferred Shares. The Series D Preferred Shares held by the Lax Trust represent 83.68% of our total voting power. In addition, 3 Sororibus Trust, which is an irrevocable trust established for the benefit of certain family members of Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, may be deemed to beneficially own 53.28% of our Common Shares and Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis may be deemed to beneficially own 8.01% of our Common Shares. Further, Central Mare Inc. (“Central Mare”), a Company affiliated with the family of Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, is the sole beneficial owner of the Series G Preferred Shares. The Series G Preferred Shares held by Central Mare represent 11.72% of our total voting power. The Lax Trust together with the 3 Sororibus Trust, Central Mare and Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis may be deemed to beneficially own 98.22% of our total voting power. Because the Lax Trust, the 3 Sororibus Trust, Central Mare and Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis together beneficially own the majority of our voting power, they collectively have the ability to control us and our affairs, including, among other matters, the election of our Board of Directors and, as a result, the ability of our common shareholders to influence our corporate matters is limited. Please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Company—Our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director has significant influence over us, and a trust established for the benefit of his family may be deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 100% of our Series D Preferred Shares, and thereby to control the outcome of matters on which our shareholders are entitled to vote” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, incorporated herein by reference.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus and those risk factors in the documents incorporated by reference for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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The date of this prospectus is , 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) by TOP Ships Inc. The Selling Shareholder named in this prospectus may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference, includes important information about us, the Common Shares, and other information you should know before investing. This information, other than exhibits to documents that are not specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, is available to you via the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
We may in the future prepare a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information contained in the prospectus supplement.
This prospectus does not contain all of the information provided in the registration statement that we filed with the SEC. You should read this prospectus together with the additional information about us described in the section below entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered to you. We have not, and the Selling Shareholder has not, authorized any other person to provide you with additional, different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the SEC, is effective. We are not, and the Selling Shareholder is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus unless otherwise specified herein. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.
The Selling Shareholder may offer and sell the securities through agents or to or through underwriters or dealers. A prospectus supplement, if required, may describe the terms of the plan of distribution and set forth the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of securities. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest).”
The market data and other statistical information used throughout this prospectus and incorporated by reference has been compiled from publicly available information and industry publications. These sources generally state that the information they provide is believed to be reliable however, it is subject to subjective assessments and changes and cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in any market research and statistical survey. Therefore, the accuracy and completeness of the information are not guaranteed and estimates and beliefs based on such data may not be reliable. In addition, such market data and statistical information may be different from other sources and may not reflect all or even a comprehensive set of the actual events and transactions occurring in the market. Although we are responsible for all of the disclosures contained in this prospectus and we believe that such market data and statistical information is reliable, we have not independently verified its accuracy or completeness. In addition, some data is also based on our good faith estimates and our management’s understanding of industry conditions. Such data involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.
This section summarizes material information that appears later in this prospectus and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information and financial statements included elsewhere herein. This summary may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read this summary together with the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, as well as the information in the documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025. In addition, certain statements include forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to the terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to TOP Ships Inc. and all of its subsidiaries, and “TOP Ships Inc.” refers only to TOP Ships Inc. and not to its subsidiaries. References to our “Fleet Manager” or “CSI” are to Central Shipping Inc., a related party of ours, which performs the day-to-day management of our fleet. References in this registration statement to “Rubico” refer to Rubico Inc., a company that was incorporated by us, under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to serve as the holding company, consummated a Spin-off (as defined below) from us.
Unless otherwise indicated, references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars,” “USD” and “$” in this prospectus are to the lawful currency of the United States of America. We use the term “deadweight tons”, or “dwt”, expressed in metric tons, each of which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, in describing the size of vessels.
Our Company
We are an international owner and operator of modern, fuel efficient eco tanker vessels focusing on the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products (clean and dirty) and bulk liquid chemicals. Our tanker operating fleet has a total capacity of 857,000 dwt. As of the date of this registration statement our tanker operating fleet consists of one 50,000 dwt product/chemical tanker, Marina Del Rey, one 157,000 dwt Suezmax tanker, the M/T Oceano CA, two 300,000 dwt VLCCs, M/T Julius Caesar and M/T Legio X Equestris, and we also own 50% interests in two 50,000 dwt product tankers, M/T Eco Yosemite Park and M/T Joshua Park. All of the vessels in our tanker operating fleet are IMO-certified and are capable of carrying a wide variety of oil products including chemical cargos which we believe make our vessels attractive to a wide base of charterers.
In addition, we are party to shipbuilding contracts with Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited and China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. for the purchase of nine 47,499 dwt MR chemical/product oil tankers scheduled for delivery during 2028 and 2029 (the “Newbuilding Tankers”).
In addition, in April 2025 we took delivery of a megayacht that has a beam of 47 meters and a gross tonnage of 499 tons with 5 guest cabins and is able to accommodate 12 guests and 10 crew.
For more information, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company-A. History and Development of the Company” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025.
We believe we have established a reputation in the international ocean transport industry for operating and maintaining vessels with high standards of performance, reliability and safety. We have assembled a management team comprised of executives who have extensive experience operating large and diversified fleets of tankers and who have strong ties to a number of national, regional and international oil companies, charterers and traders.
Our Current Fleet
The following tables present our fleet as of the date of this prospectus:
Operating MR Tanker Vessels on SLBs (treated as financings):
| Name | Deadweight | Charterer |
End of firm period |
Charterer’s Optional Periods |
Gross Rate fixed period / options |
| M/T Eco Marina Del Rey | 50,000 | WECO Tankers | May 2030 | 1 year | $20,500 until May 2027, $18,250 until May 2030/$20,000 |
Operating Suezmax Vessels on SLBs (treated as operating leases):
| Name | Deadweight | Charterer |
End of firm period |
Charterer’s Optional Periods |
Gross Rate fixed period / Options |
| M/T Eco Oceano CA | 157,000 | Central Tankers Chartering | December 2030 | none | $30,000 |
Operating VLCC Vessels on SLBs (treated as financings):
| Name | Deadweight | Charterer |
End of firm period |
Charterer’s Optional Periods |
Gross Rate fixed period / options |
| M/T Julius Caesar | 300,000 | Trafigura | January 2028 | 1+1 years | $41,500 / $44,000 / $46,000 |
| M/T Legio X Equestris | 300,000 | Trafigura | March 2028 | 1+1 years | $41,500 / $44,000 / $46,000 |
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Operating Joint Venture MR Tanker fleet (50% owned):
| Name | Deadweight | Charterer | End of firm period |
Charterer’s Optional Periods |
Gross Rate fixed period / options |
| M/T Eco Yosemite Park | 50,000 | Clearlake | August 2031 | 1+1 years | $19,500 / $18,650 / $19,900 |
| M/T Eco Joshua Park | 50,000 | Clearlake | August 2031 | 1+1 years | $19,500 / $18,650 / $19,900 |
Vessels under construction
| Name | Deadweight |
Delivery date |
Shipyard | Charterer |
End of firm period |
Charterer’s | Gross Rate |
|
Optional Periods |
fixed period/options | ||||||
| Hull no. 25110054 | 47,499 | Q2 2028 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q2 2035 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
|
$19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110055 | 47,499 | Q4 2028 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q4 2035 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
|
$19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110056 | 47,499 | Q1 2029 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q1 2036 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
|
$19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110057 | 47,499 | Q2 2029 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q2 2036 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
|
$19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110058 | 47,499 | Q2 2029 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q2 2036 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
| $19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110059 | 47,499 | Q2 2029 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q2 2036 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
| $19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110060 | 47,499 | Q3 2029 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q3 2036 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
|
$19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110061 | 47,499 | Q4 2029 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q4 2036 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
|
$19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 | |||||||
| Hull no. 25110063 | 47,499 | Q4 2029 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited | Trafigura | Q4 2036 | 1+1+1+1 years | $18,750 / |
| $19,000 / | |||||||
|
$19,250/ $19,500/$19,750 |
All the tankers in our operating fleet are equipped with engines of modern design with improved Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC) and in compliance with the latest emission requirements, fitted with energy saving improvements in the hull, propellers and rudder as well as equipment that further reduces fuel consumption and emissions certified with an improved Energy Efficiency Design Index (Phase 2 compliance level as minimum). Vessels with this combination of technologies, introduced from certain shipyards, are commonly referred to as eco vessels. We believe that recent advances in shipbuilding design and technology makes these latest generation vessels more fuel-efficient than older vessels in the global fleet that compete with our vessels for charters, providing us with a competitive advantage. Furthermore, all of our operating vessels are fitted with ballast water treatment equipment and exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers).
The following table presents our mega yacht as of the date of this prospectus:
| Name | GT | Length overall | Guests |
| M/Y Para Bellvm | 499.0 | 47 meters | 12 |
Management of our Fleet
Our Fleet Manager provides all operational, technical and commercial management services for our fleet. Please see “Item 18. Financial Statements—Note 5—Transactions with Related Parties” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Recent and Other Developments Summary
Equity Distribution Agreement
On May 24, 2024, we entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Maxim Group LLC, as sales agent, under which we may offer and sell, from time to time through Maxim Group LLC, up to $5.8 million of our common shares, par value $0.01 per share. As of April 24, 2026, we have sold 874,623 common shares under the Equity Distribution Agreement for gross proceeds of $4.3 million.
Addendum to Tanker SPA
As of April 15, 2026, we and Central Mare agreed to amend the Tanker SPA (defined below) to extend the payment deadline of the outstanding amount of $16.1 million payable to Central Mare as consideration for the shares of the Tanker SPVs (defined below) to May 31, 2026.
Committed Equity Facility
Agreements
On April 24, 2026, we entered into a common shares purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Selling Shareholder. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we have the right to sell to the Selling Shareholder, from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement, up to $50,000,000 of our Common Shares, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
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Sales of our Common Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and the timing of any sales, are solely at our option, and we are under no obligation to sell any securities to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement. In accordance with our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, we have filed the registration statement that includes this prospectus with the SEC to register under the Securities Act the resale by the Selling Shareholder of up to 50,000,000 of our Common Shares that we may, in our sole discretion, elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder in one or more transactions from time to time after the date of this prospectus.
Our right to cause the Selling Shareholder to purchase our Common Shares is subject to certain conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, including that the registration statement that includes this prospectus be declared effective by the SEC. The satisfaction of these conditions is referred to as the “Commencement”, and the date on which these conditions are satisfied is the “Commencement Date”.
Purchases
Beginning on the Commencement Date, and for 36 months thereafter, we will have the right, but not the obligation, from time to time, at our sole discretion, to direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase a specified number of our Common Shares (each, a “Purchase”). Each Purchase shall not exceed the lesser of the following (the “Purchase Maximum Amount”): (i) 1,000,000 of our Common Shares and (ii) a percentage to be specified by us, not to exceed 25% (the “Purchase Valuation Percentage”), times the aggregate number of our Common Shares traded on the NYSE American during the applicable Purchase Valuation Period (as defined below). The number of shares to be purchased by the Selling Shareholder in a given Purchase (the “Purchase Share Amount”) will be adjusted to the extent necessary to give effect to the applicable Purchase Maximum Amount and certain additional limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
We may elect to initiate a Purchase by timely delivering written notice to the Selling Shareholder (a “Purchase Notice”) prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on any day (each, a “Purchase Date”) on which our Common Shares trades or may be traded on the NYSE American (a “Trading Day”), so long as (a) the closing sale price of our Common Shares on the NYSE American on the Trading Day immediately prior to such Purchase Date is not less than $1.00, subject to adjustment as set forth in the Purchase Agreement (the “Threshold Price”), and (b) all Common Shares subject to all prior Purchases effected by us under the Purchase Agreement have been received by the Selling Shareholder prior to the time we deliver the Purchase Notice.
The per share purchase price that the Selling Shareholder is required to pay for our Common Shares in a Purchase will be 97% of the volume weighted average price of our Common Shares (the “VWAP”) over a specified period on the Purchase Date. This period (the “Purchase Valuation Period”) begins at the official open of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date, and ends at the earliest to occur of (i) 3:59 p.m., New York City time, on that Purchase Date or such earlier time publicly announced by the trading market as the official close of the regular trading session on that Purchase Date, (ii) such time that the total aggregate number of our Common Shares traded on the NYSE American during the Purchase Valuation Period reaches the applicable share volume maximum amount for such Purchase (the “Purchase Share Volume Maximum”), calculated by dividing (a) the applicable Purchase Share Amount for that Purchase, by (b) the Purchase Valuation Percentage for that Purchase, and (iii) if we further specify in the applicable Purchase Notice for such Purchase that a “limit order discontinue election” shall apply to such Purchase (a “Limit Order Discontinue Election”), such time that the trading price of our Common Shares on the NYSE American during the Purchase Valuation Period falls below the applicable minimum price threshold for that Purchase specified by us in the Purchase Notice, which shall not be less than the Threshold Price, or if we do not specify a minimum price threshold in such Purchase Notice, a price equal to 75% of the closing sale price of our Common Shares on the Trading Day immediately prior to the applicable Purchase Date for such Purchase (the “Minimum Price Threshold”).
Under the Purchase Agreement, for purposes of calculating the volume of Common Shares traded during a Purchase Valuation Period, as well as the VWAP for a Purchase Valuation Period, the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such Purchase Valuation Period, shall be excluded: (x) the opening or first purchase of Common Shares at or following the official open of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date for such Purchase, (y) the last or closing sale of Common Shares at or prior to the official close of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date for such Purchase, and (z) if we have specified in the applicable Purchase Notice for such Purchase that a “limit order continue election” (a “Limit Order Continue Election”) shall apply to such Purchase (instead of specifying that a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply), all purchases and sales of Common Shares on the NYSE American during such Purchase Valuation Period at a price per share that is less than the applicable Minimum Price Threshold for such Purchase.
Intraday Purchases
In addition to the regular Purchases described above, after the Commencement, we will also have the right, but not the obligation, subject to the continued satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, to direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase, on any Trading Day, including on a Purchase Date on which a regular Purchase is effected, a specified number of our Common Shares (each, an “Intraday Purchase”). Each Intraday Purchase is not to exceed the lesser of the following (the “Intraday Purchase Maximum Amount”): (i) 1,000,000 of our Common Shares and (ii) a percentage to be specified by us, not to exceed 25%, times the total aggregate volume of Common Shares traded on the NYSE American during the applicable “Intraday Purchase Valuation Period.” The number of shares to be purchased by the Selling Shareholder in a given Intraday Purchase (the “Intraday Purchase Share Amount”) will be adjusted to the extent necessary to give effect to the applicable Intraday Purchase Maximum Amount and certain additional limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
We may elect to initiate an Intraday Purchase by timely delivering irrevocable written notice (an “Intraday Purchase Notice”) to the Selling Shareholder after the later of (a) 10:00 a.m., New York City time (b) the end of the Purchase Valuation Period for any prior regular Purchase on that Purchase Date and (c) the end of the Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for the most recent prior Intraday Purchase effected on that Purchase Date (if any), and prior to 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date. We may only deliver an Intraday Purchase Notice so long as (i) the sale price of our Common Shares at the time of delivery of the Intraday Purchase Notice is not less than the Threshold Price and (ii) all Common Shares subject to all prior Purchases and all prior Intraday Purchases effected by us under the Purchase Agreement have been received by the Selling Shareholder prior to the time we deliver the Intraday Purchase Notice.
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The per share purchase price for our Common Shares that we elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder in an Intraday Purchase pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, if any, will be calculated in the same manner as in the case of a regular Purchase, provided that the VWAP for each Intraday Purchase effected on a Purchase Date will be calculated over a different period during the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the relevant Purchase Date, each of which will commence and end at different times on that Purchase Date, and the applicable minimum price threshold in the event we do not specify a minimum price threshold in the Intraday Purchase Notice will be a price equal to 75% of the sale price of our Common Shares at the time of delivery of the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice.
Other Terms
The Purchase Agreement does not set an upper limit on the price per share that the Selling Shareholder could be obligated to pay for Common Shares that we elect to sell to it in any Purchase or any Intraday Purchase. In the case of Purchases and Intraday Purchases, all share and dollar amounts used in determining the purchase price per share, or in determining the applicable maximum purchase share amounts or applicable volume or price threshold amounts, will be equitably adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction occurring during any period used to calculate any per share purchase price, maximum purchase share amount or applicable volume or price threshold amount.
From and after Commencement, we will control the timing and amount of any sales of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder. Whether we conduct actual sales of Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, and the size and terms of those sales, will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by us from time to time, including, among other things, market conditions, the trading price of our Common Shares and determinations by us as to the appropriate sources of funding for our business and operations.
The net proceeds to us from sales that we elect to make to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, if any, will depend on the frequency and prices at which we sell our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder. We expect that any proceeds received by us from such sales to the Selling Shareholder will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding for working capital needs, debt repayments, and fleet expansion.
We may not issue or sell any share of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement that, when aggregated with all other Common Shares then beneficially owned by the Selling Shareholder and its affiliates would result in the Selling Shareholder beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the outstanding Common Shares (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”).
Neither the Purchase Agreement nor the Registration Rights Agreement has restrictions on future financings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages, other than a prohibition (with certain limited exceptions) on entering into an “equity line of credit,” an “at the market offering” or other similar continuous offering.
The Selling Shareholder has agreed that none of the Selling Shareholder or any entity managed or controlled by the Selling Shareholder, or any of their respective officers, will engage in or effect, directly or indirectly, for its own account or for the account of any other of such persons or entities, any short sales of our Common Shares or hedging transaction that establishes a net short position in our Common Shares during the term of the Purchase Agreement.
The Purchase Agreement will automatically terminate on the earliest to occur of (i) the first day of the month next following the third anniversary of the Commencement Date, (ii) the date on which the Selling Shareholder shall have purchased from us under the Purchase Agreement Common Shares for an aggregate gross purchase price of $50 million, (iii) the date on which our Common Shares shall have failed to be listed or quoted on the NYSE American or another U.S. national securities exchange identified as an “eligible market” (an “Eligible Market”) in the Purchase Agreement, (iv) the 30th Trading Day after the date on which a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy proceeding involving our company has been commenced that is not discharged or dismissed prior to such Trading Day, and (v) the date on which a bankruptcy custodian is appointed for all or substantially all of our property or we make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors.
We have the right to terminate the Purchase Agreement at any time after Commencement, at no cost or penalty, at any time. We and the Selling Shareholder may also agree to terminate the Purchase Agreement by mutual written consent, provided that no termination of the Purchase Agreement will be effective during the pendency of any Purchase or any Intraday Purchase that has not then fully settled in accordance with the Purchase Agreement. Neither we nor the Selling Shareholder may assign or transfer our respective rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, and no provision of the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement may be modified or waived by us or the Selling Shareholder.
As consideration for the Selling Shareholder’s commitment to purchase Common Shares at our direction under the Purchase Agreement, we agreed to pay a commitment fee to the Selling Shareholder of $500,000, equal to 1% of the full amount of the maximum gross proceeds under the Purchase Agreement (the “Commitment Fee”). Prior to the filing of this registration statement, we paid an aggregate of $150,000 to the Selling Shareholder in partial satisfaction of the Commitment Fee. The remaining balance of the Commitment Fee shall be payable in amounts equal to 50% of each purchase amount, payable on the applicable settlement date(s) until the Commitment Fee is paid in full, but in no event later than 12 months after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we do not direct the Selling Shareholder to make any purchases under the Purchase Agreement, or if the Commencement does not occur, then we have agreed to pay the remaining balance of the Commitment Fee to the Selling Shareholder within three trading days following the termination of the Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms. Furthermore, we have agreed to reimburse the Selling Shareholder for the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of the Selling Shareholder’s legal counsel and fees paid to the QIU in a total amount not to exceed $215,000 in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, consisting of $125,000 paid prior to the filing of this registration statement and $7,500 per fiscal quarter, for a maximum three-year term, in which we direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase our Common Shares, as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
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The Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement contain customary representations, warranties, conditions and indemnification obligations of the parties. Copies of the agreements have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus and are available electronically on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
We do not know what the purchase price for our Common Shares will be and therefore cannot be certain as to the number of shares we might issue to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement after the Commencement Date. We have 5,500,820 Common Shares outstanding, of which 2,129,391 Common Shares are held by non-affiliates of ours (based on information available to us as of April 24, 2026. The Purchase Agreement provides that we may sell up to $50,000,000 of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder and we are registering 50,000,000 Common Shares under the Securities Act for resale by the Selling Shareholder under this prospectus. Depending on the market price of our Common Shares at the times we elect to issue and sell shares to the Selling Shareholder, we may need to register under the Securities Act additional Common Shares for resale by the Selling Shareholder in order to receive aggregate gross proceeds equal to the full amount available to us under the Purchase Agreement. If all of the 50,000,000 Common Shares offered for resale by the Selling Shareholder under this prospectus were issued and outstanding as of April 24, 2026, those shares would represent approximately 90.1% of the total number of outstanding Common Shares and approximately 95.9% of the total number of outstanding Common Shares held by non-affiliates of our company, in each case based on information known to us as of April 24, 2026. If we elect to issue and sell more than the 50,000,000 shares offered under this prospectus to the Selling Shareholder, which we have the right, but not the obligation, to do, we must first register under the Securities Act and have the SEC declare effective the sale by the Selling Shareholder of additional Common Shares, which could cause additional substantial dilution to our shareholders.
The number of our Common Shares ultimately offered for resale by the Selling Shareholder through this prospectus is dependent upon the number of Common Shares, if any, we elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement from and after the Commencement Date. The issuance of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement will not affect the rights or privileges of our existing shareholders, except that the economic and voting interests of each of our existing shareholders will be diluted. Although the number of Common Shares that our existing shareholders own will not decrease, the Common Shares owned by our existing shareholders will represent a smaller percentage of our total outstanding Common Shares after any such issuance.
Corporate Information
Our predecessor, Ocean Holdings Inc., was formed as a corporation in January 2000 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and renamed Top Tankers Inc. in May 2004. In December 2007, Top Tankers Inc. was renamed TOP Ships Inc.
Our common shares are currently listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “TOPS.” The current address of our principal executive office is 20 Iouliou Kaisara Str, 19002 Paiania, Athens, Greece. The telephone number of our principal executive office is +30 210 812 8107. Our corporate website address is www.topships.org. The information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus supplement. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information that we file electronically at http://www.sec.gov.
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
As a non-U.S. company which qualifies as a “foreign private issuer” subject to reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), we are subject to different requirements under the U.S. securities laws than U.S. domestic issuers.
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| Issuer | TOP Ships Inc. a Marshall Islands corporation. | |
| Common Shares Outstanding | 5,500,820 Common Shares. | |
| Common Shares being registered for resale by the Selling Shareholder | Up to 50,000,000 Common Shares that we may elect, in our sole discretion, to issue and sell to the Selling Shareholder, from time to time from and after the Commencement Date in the Purchase Agreement. | |
| NYSE American Symbol | “TOPS” | |
| Use of Proceeds |
All of the Common Shares being sold in this offering are being sold by the Selling Shareholder. We will not receive any proceeds from these sales. We may receive up to $50 million in aggregate gross proceeds from the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement in connection with sales of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder. We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder could be up to $49.2 million, after estimated fees and expenses, over a 36-month period, assuming that we sell Common Shares to them for aggregate gross proceeds of $50 million. The net proceeds from sales, if any, under the Purchase Agreement, will depend on the frequency and prices at which we sell our Common Shares to the Holder after the date of this prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” and “The Committed Equity Financing” elsewhere in this prospectus for more information. We intend to use the net proceeds from sales under the Purchase Agreement to for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding for working capital needs, debt repayments, and fleet expansion. | |
| Conflict of Interest |
BRPC II is an affiliate of B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“BRS”), a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). BRS will act as an executing broker that will effectuate resales to the public in this offering of the Common Shares that BRPC II may acquire from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Because BRPC II will receive all the net proceeds from those resales, BRS is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. FINRA Rule 5121 requires that a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in FINRA Rule 5121) participate in the preparation of the registration statement that includes this prospectus and exercise the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect thereto. Accordingly, we have engaged Seaport Global Securities LLC, a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member (the “QIU”), to be the qualified independent underwriter in this offering and, in such capacity, participate in the preparation of the registration statement that includes this prospectus and exercise the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect thereto. BRPC II has agreed to pay the QIU a cash fee of $50,000 upon completion of this offering as consideration for its services and to reimburse the QIU up to $5,000 for expenses incurred in connection with acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering. The QIU will receive no other compensation for acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering. In addition, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, BRS is not permitted to sell our Common Shares in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest).” | |
| Risk Factors | An investment in our Common Shares involves risks. You should read the “Risk Factors” section starting on page 7 of this prospectus and “Item 3. – Key Information – D. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 before you make an investment in our Common Shares. |
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You should carefully consider the following risk factors described below and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 that may affect our business, future operating results and financial condition, as well as the other information set forth in this prospectus and the financial or other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, before making a decision to invest in our securities. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, operating results, cash flows, financial condition, and ability to pay dividends could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our securities would likely decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not currently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also adversely affect us.
Risks Relating to Our Common Shares and this Offering
Since we have broad discretion in how we use the proceeds from this offering, we may use the proceeds in ways with which you disagree.
Our management will have significant flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that the net proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for us. The failure of our management to use such funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, operating results and cash flow.
It is not possible to predict the actual number of shares we will sell under the Purchase Agreement to the Selling Shareholder, or the actual gross proceeds resulting from those sales.
On April 24, 2026, we entered into the Purchase Agreement with the Selling Shareholder, pursuant to which the Selling Shareholder has committed to purchase up to $50,000,000 of our Common Shares, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement. We may issue Common Shares and sell them to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement at our discretion from time to time over the 36-month period beginning on the Commencement Date. We generally have the right to control the timing and amount of any sales of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement. Sales of our Common Shares, if any, to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement will depend upon market conditions and other factors to be determined by us. We may ultimately decide to sell to the Selling Shareholder all, some or none of the Common Shares that may be available for us to sell to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Because the purchase price that the Selling Shareholder will pay for Common Shares under the Purchase Agreement will fluctuate based on the market price of our Common Shares at the time we elect to sell shares to the Selling Shareholder, it is not possible for us to predict, as of the date of this prospectus and prior to any such sales, the number of our Common Shares that we will sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, the purchase price per share that the Selling Shareholder will pay for shares purchased from us under the Purchase Agreement, or the aggregate gross proceeds that we will receive from those purchases by the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement. The Purchase Agreement provides that we may sell up to an aggregate of $50,000,000 of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder and we are registering 50,000,000 Common Shares for resale under the registration statement that includes this prospectus. If it becomes necessary for us to issue and sell to the Selling Shareholder more than this number of Common Shares in order to receive aggregate gross proceeds equal to $50,000,000 under the Purchase Agreement, we must first file with the SEC one or more additional registration statements to register under the Securities Act the resale by the Selling Shareholder of those additional Common Shares, and the SEC must declare them effective, in each case before we may elect to sell any additional Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement. Any issuance and sale by us under the Purchase Agreement of a substantial amount of Common Shares in addition to the 50,000,000 Common Shares being registered for resale under this prospectus could cause additional substantial dilution to our shareholders. The number of Common Shares ultimately offered for resale by the Selling Shareholder is dependent upon the number of Common Shares, if any, we ultimately elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement.
Investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold to the Selling Shareholder. If and when we do elect to sell Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Selling Shareholder may resell all, some or none of those shares at any time or from time to time in its discretion and at different prices. As a result, investors who purchase shares from the Selling Shareholder in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices for those shares, and so may experience different levels of dilution and in some cases substantial dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase from the Selling Shareholder in this offering as a result of future sales made by us to the Selling Shareholder at prices lower than the prices such investors paid for their shares in this offering. In addition, if we sell a substantial number of shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, or if investors expect that we will do so, the actual sales of shares or the mere existence of our arrangement with the Selling Shareholder may make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and at a price that we might otherwise wish to effect such sales.
Future issuance of Common Shares may trigger anti-dilution provisions in our Series G Preferred Shares and affect the interests of our common shareholders.
The Series G Preferred Shares contain anti-dilution provisions that can be triggered by securities we may issue, including Common Shares, convertible preferred shares, and warrants, depending on the offering price of equity issuances, the conversion price or formula of convertible shares or the exercise price or formula of warrants. Any issuance, including pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, below the then-applicable conversion price of the Series G Preferred Shares, which are convertible at our option, could result in an adjustment downward of the Series G Preferred Shares conversion price and an increase in the number of Common Shares each Series G Share is converted into. These adjustments could affect the interests of our common shareholders and the trading price for our Common Shares. The Series G Preferred Shares are convertible at the lowest of (i) 120% of the closing price of our Common Shares on the trading day immediately preceding the first issuance of Series G Preferred Shares (ii) 80% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price of our Common Shares over the 20 previous trading days, (iii) the conversion price or exercise price per share of any of our then-outstanding convertible shares or warrants, and (iv) the lowest issuance price of our Common Shares in any transaction following the issuance of the Series G Preferred Shares, but in any case not less than $0.60. As of April 24, 2026, the Series G Preferred Shares have a conversion price of approximately $2.29 and are convertible into 6,118,881 Common Shares, as may be further adjusted.
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The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this cautionary statement in connection therewith. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements.
Many of these statements are based on our assumptions about factors that are beyond our ability to control or predict and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are described more fully in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025. Any of these factors or a combination of these factors could materially affect our future results of operations and the ultimate accuracy of the forward-looking statements. In addition to these important factors, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include among other things:
| • | our ability to maintain or develop new and existing customer relationships with major refined product importers and exporters, major crude oil companies and major commodity traders, including our ability to enter into long-term charters for our vessels; |
| • | our future operating and financial results; |
| • | our future vessel acquisitions, our business strategy and expected and unexpected capital spending or operating expenses, including any dry-docking, crewing, bunker costs and insurance costs; |
| • | our financial condition and liquidity, including our ability to pay amounts that we owe and to obtain financing in the future to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate activities; |
| • | oil and chemical tanker industry trends, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values and factors affecting vessel supply and demand; |
| • | our ability to take delivery of, integrate into our fleet, and employ any newbuildings we may acquire or order in the future and the ability of shipyards to deliver vessels on a timely basis; |
| • | the aging of our vessels and resultant increases in operation and dry-docking costs; |
| • | the ability of our vessels to pass classification inspections and vetting inspections by oil majors and big chemical corporations; |
| • | significant changes in vessel performance, including increased vessel breakdowns; |
| • | the creditworthiness of our charterers and the ability of our contract counterparties to fulfill their obligations to us; |
| • | our ability to repay outstanding indebtedness, to obtain additional financing and to obtain replacement charters for our vessels, in each case, at commercially acceptable rates or at all; |
| • | changes to governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities and the expected costs thereof; |
| • | our ability to comply with additional costs and risks related to our environmental, social and governance policies; |
| • | potential liability from litigation and our vessel operations, including purported discharge of pollutants; |
| • | changes in general economic and business conditions; |
| • | general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, political events, including “trade wars,” piracy, acts by terrorists or other hostilities or conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, the war between Israel and Hamas, war between the United States and Iran and between Israel and Iran, the Houthi crisis in and around the Red Sea, current instability in Venezuela and Iran and potential tensions between the U.S. and Greenland, Denmark or the European Union (the “EU”); |
| • | changes in production of or demand for oil and petroleum products and chemicals, either globally or in particular regions; |
| • | the strength of world economies and currencies, including fluctuations in charterhire rates and vessel values; |
| • | potential liability from future litigation and potential costs due to our vessel operations, including due to any environmental damage and vessel collisions; |
| • | our ability to successfully expand into and achieve expected results from the integrations of new lines of business; |
| • | fluctuations in real estate values and the conditions of the global residential real estate market; |
| • | the length and severity of public health threats, epidemics and pandemics and other disease outbreaks and their impact on the demand for commercial seaborne transportation and the condition of the financial markets and governmental responses thereto; and |
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| • | other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus; and |
| • | those factors referred to in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, which is incorporated by reference herein, in “Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors,” “Item 4. Information on the Company,” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” as well as in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 generally, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. |
Should one or more of the foregoing risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects, on us. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable laws. If one or more forward-looking statements are updated, no inference should be drawn that additional updates will be made with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
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THE COMMITTED EQUITY FINANCING
On April 24, 2026, we entered into the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement with the Selling Shareholder. Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the Purchase Agreement, from and after the Commencement Date, we will have the right, in our sole discretion, to sell to the Selling Shareholder up to $50,000,000 of our Common Shares, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement, from time to time after the date of this prospectus and during the term of the Purchase Agreement. Sales of Common Shares by us to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, and the timing of any such sales, are solely at our option, and we are under no obligation to sell any securities to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement. In accordance with our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, we have filed the registration statement that includes this prospectus with the SEC to register under the Securities Act the resale by the Selling Shareholder of up to 50,000,000 Common Shares that we may, in our sole discretion, elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder, from time to time from and after the Commencement Date pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, following our execution of the Purchase Agreement, on April 24, 2026, as consideration for its commitment to purchase our Common Shares that we may, in our sole discretion, direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, from time to time after the date of this prospectus and during the term of the Purchase Agreement.
We do not have the right to commence any sales of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement until the Commencement Date, which is the date on which all of the conditions to the Selling Shareholder’s purchase obligation set forth in the Purchase Agreement have initially been satisfied, none of which are in the Selling Shareholder’s control, including that the registration statement that includes this prospectus shall have been declared effective by the SEC and the final form of this prospectus shall have been filed with the SEC. From and after the Commencement Date, we have the right, but not the obligation, from time to time at our sole discretion over the 36-month period beginning on the Commencement Date, to direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase up to a specified maximum amount of Common Shares in one or more Purchases and Intraday Purchases as set forth in the Purchase Agreement, by timely delivering a written Purchase Notice for each Purchase, and timely delivering a written Intraday Purchase Notice for each Intraday Purchase, if any, to the Selling Shareholder in accordance with the Purchase Agreement on any Trading Day we select as the Purchase Date therefor, so long as, (i) with respect to Purchases, the closing sale price of our Common Shares on the Trading Day immediately prior to such Purchase Date is not less than the Threshold Price and, with respect to Intraday Purchases, the sale price of our Common Shares at the time of delivery of the Intraday Purchase Notice is not less than the Threshold Price and (ii) all Common Shares subject to all prior Purchases and all prior Intraday Purchases effected by us under the Purchase Agreement (as applicable) have been received by the Selling Shareholder in the manner set forth in the Purchase Agreement, prior to the time we deliver such notice to the Selling Shareholder.
From and after Commencement, the Company will control the timing and amount of any sales of Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder. Actual sales of shares of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by us from time to time, including, among other things, market conditions, the trading price of our Common Shares and determinations by us as to the appropriate sources of funding for our company and its operations.
We may not issue or sell any Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement that, when aggregated with all other Common Shares then beneficially owned by the Selling Shareholder and its affiliates (as calculated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder), would result in the Selling Shareholder beneficially owning Common Shares in excess of the 4.99% Beneficial Ownership Limitation, which is defined in the Purchase Agreement as 4.99% of our outstanding Common Shares.
The net proceeds to us from sales that we elect to make to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, if any, will depend on the frequency and prices at which we sell our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder. We expect that any proceeds received by us from such sales to the Selling Shareholder will be used as described under “Use of Proceeds.”
Neither we nor the Selling Shareholder may assign or transfer our respective rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, and no provision of the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement may be modified or waived by us or the Selling Shareholder.
As consideration for the Selling Shareholder’s commitment to purchase Common Shares at our direction upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, we agreed to pay a commitment fee to the Selling Shareholder of $500,000, equal to 1% of the full amount of the gross proceeds under the Purchase Agreement. Prior to the filing of this registration statement, we paid an aggregate of $150,000 to the Selling Shareholder in partial satisfaction of the Commitment Fee. The remaining balance of the Commitment Fee shall be payable in amounts equal to 50% of each purchase amount, payable on the applicable settlement date(s) until the Commitment Fee is paid in full but in no event later than 12 months after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we do not direct the Selling Shareholder to make any purchases under the Purchase Agreement, or if the Commencement does not occur, then we have agreed to pay the remaining balance of the Commitment Fee to the Selling Shareholder within three trading days following the termination of the Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms. In addition, we have agreed to reimburse the Selling Shareholder for the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of the Selling Shareholder’s legal counsel and fees paid to the QIU in a total amount not to exceed $215,000 in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, consisting of $125,000 paid prior to the filing of this registration statement and $7,500 per fiscal quarter in which we direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase our Common Shares, as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement contain customary representations, warranties, conditions and indemnification obligations of the parties. Copies of the agreements have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus and are available electronically on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Purchases of Common Shares Under the Purchase Agreement
Purchases
From and after the Commencement Date, we will have the right, but not the obligation, from time to time at our sole discretion over the 36-month period beginning on the Commencement Date, to direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase a specified number of Common Shares, not to exceed the applicable Purchase Maximum Amount, in a Purchase under the Purchase Agreement, by timely delivering a written Purchase Notice to the Selling Shareholder, prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Trading Day we select as the Purchase Date for such Purchase, so long as the closing sale price of our Common Shares on the Trading Day immediately prior to such Purchase Date is not less than the Threshold Price and all Common Shares subject to all prior Purchases and all prior Intraday Purchases effected by us under the Purchase Agreement have been received by the Selling Shareholder prior to the time we deliver such Purchase Notice to the Selling Shareholder.
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The Purchase Maximum Amount applicable to such Purchase will be equal to the lesser of:
| • | 1,000,000 Common Shares; and |
| • | the Purchase Percentage (as specified in the applicable Purchase Notice for such Purchase) of the total aggregate number (or volume) of shares of our Common Shares traded on the NYSE American during the applicable Purchase Valuation Period for such Purchase. |
The actual number of shares of Common Shares that the Selling Shareholder will be required to purchase in a Purchase, which we refer to as the Purchase Share Amount, will be equal to the number of shares that we specify in the applicable Purchase Notice, subject to adjustment to the extent necessary to give effect to the applicable Purchase Maximum Amount and other applicable limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement, including the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
The per share purchase price that the Selling Shareholder will be required to pay for the Purchase Share Amount in a Purchase effected by us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, if any, will be equal to the VWAP of our Common Shares for the applicable Purchase Valuation Period on the Purchase Date for such Purchase, less a fixed 3% discount to the VWAP for such Purchase Valuation Period. The Purchase Valuation Period for a Purchase is defined in the Purchase Agreement as the period beginning at the official open (or “commencement”) of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date for such Purchase, and ending at the earliest to occur of:
| • | 3:59 p.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date or such earlier time publicly announced by the trading market as the official close of the regular trading session on such Purchase Date; |
| • | such time that the total aggregate number (or volume) of Common Shares traded on the NYSE American during such Purchase Valuation Period reaches the applicable Purchase Share Volume Maximum for such Purchase, which will be determined by dividing (a) the applicable Purchase Share Amount for such Purchase, by (b) the Purchase Percentage we specified in the applicable Purchase Notice for such Purchase); and |
| • | if we further specify in the applicable Purchase Notice for such Purchase that a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply to such Purchase, such time that the trading price of our Common Shares on the NYSE American during such Purchase Valuation Period (calculated in accordance with the Purchase Agreement) falls below the applicable Minimum Price Threshold. |
Under the Purchase Agreement, for purposes of calculating the volume of Common Shares traded during a Purchase Valuation Period, including for purposes of determining whether the applicable Purchase Share Volume Maximum for a Purchase has been reached, for purposes of calculating the VWAP of our Common Shares for the applicable Purchase Valuation Period, and to the extent that we specify in the applicable Purchase Notice that the Limit Order Discontinue Election will apply, the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such Purchase Valuation Period, shall be excluded: (x) the opening or first purchase of Common Shares at or following the official open of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date for such Purchase, (y) the last or closing sale of Common Shares at or prior to the official close of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date for such Purchase, and (z) if we have specified in the applicable Purchase Notice for such Purchase that a Limit Order Continue Election shall apply to such Purchase (instead of specifying that a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply), all purchases and sales of Common Shares on the NYSE American during such Purchase Valuation Period at a price per share that is less than the applicable Minimum Price Threshold for such Purchase.
Intraday Purchases
In addition to the Purchases described above, from and after the Commencement Date, we will also have the right, but not the obligation, subject to the continued satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, to direct the Selling Shareholder to make Intraday Purchases, not to exceed the applicable Intraday Purchase Maximum Amount, in an Intraday Purchase under the Purchase Agreement, by timely delivering a written Intraday Purchase Notice to the Selling Shareholder, after 10:00 a.m., New York City time (and after the Purchase Valuation Period for any earlier Purchase and the Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for the most recent prior Intraday Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date if applicable, have ended), and prior to 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date, so long as the sale price of our Common Shares at the time of delivery of the Intraday Purchase Notice is not less than the Threshold Price and all Common Shares subject to all prior Purchases and all prior Intraday Purchases effected by us under the Purchase Agreement (as applicable) have been received by the Selling Shareholder in the manner set forth in the Purchase Agreement, prior to the time we deliver such Intraday Purchase Notice to the Selling Shareholder.
The Intraday Purchase Maximum Amount applicable to such Intraday Purchase will be equal to the lesser of:
| • | 1,000,000 Common Shares; and |
| • | the Purchase Percentage (as specified by us in the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice for such Intraday Purchase) of the total aggregate number (or volume) of shares of our Common Shares traded on the NYSE American during the applicable Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for such Intraday Purchase. |
The actual number of Common Shares that the Selling Shareholder will be required to purchase in an Intraday Purchase, which we refer to as the Intraday Purchase Share Amount, will be equal to the number of shares that we specify in the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice, subject to adjustment to the extent necessary to give effect to the applicable Intraday Purchase Maximum Amount and other applicable limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement, including the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
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The per share purchase price that the Selling Shareholder will be required to pay for the Intraday Purchase Share Amount in an Intraday Purchase effected by us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, if any, will be calculated in the same manner as in the case of a Purchase (including the same fixed percentage discounts to the applicable VWAP used to calculate the per share purchase price for a Purchase as described above), provided that the VWAP used to determine the purchase price for the Intraday Purchase Share Amount to be purchased in an Intraday Purchase will be equal to the VWAP for the applicable Intraday Purchase Valuation Period on the Purchase Date for such Intraday Purchase and the applicable minimum price threshold in the event we do not specify a minimum price threshold in the Intraday Purchase Notice will be a price equal to 75% of the sale price of our Common Shares at the time of delivery of the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice. The Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for an Intraday Purchase is defined in the Purchase Agreement as the period during the regular trading session on the NYSE American on such Purchase Date, beginning at the latest to occur of:
| • | such time of confirmation of the Selling Shareholder’s receipt of the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice; |
| • | such time that the Purchase Valuation Period for any prior regular Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date (if any) has ended; and |
| • | such time that the Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for the most recent prior Intraday Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date (if any) has ended, |
| • | and ending at the earliest to occur of: |
| • | 3:59 p.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date or such earlier time publicly announced by the trading market as the official close of the regular trading session on such Purchase Date; |
| • | such time that the total aggregate number (or volume) of Common Shares traded on the NYSE American during such Intraday Purchase Valuation Period reaches the applicable Intraday Purchase Share Volume Maximum for such Intraday Purchase, which will be determined by dividing (a) the applicable Intraday Purchase Share Amount for such Intraday Purchase, by (b) the Purchase Percentage we specified in the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice for determining the applicable Intraday Purchase Share Amount for such Intraday Purchase); and |
| • | if we further specify Limit Order Discontinue Election in the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice for such Intraday Purchase, such time that the trading price of our Common Shares on the NYSE American during such Intraday Purchase Valuation Period (calculated in accordance with the Purchase Agreement) falls below the applicable Minimum Price Threshold. |
As with regular Purchases, for purposes of calculating the volume of Common Shares traded during an Intraday Purchase Valuation Period, including for purposes of determining whether the applicable Intraday Purchase Share Volume Maximum for an Intraday Purchase has been reached, for purposes of calculating the VWAP of our Common Shares for the applicable Intraday Purchase Valuation Period, the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such Intraday Purchase Valuation Period, are excluded: (x) the opening or first purchase of Common Shares at or following the official open of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date for such Intraday Purchase, (y) the last or closing sale of Common Shares at or prior to the official close of the regular trading session on the NYSE American on the applicable Purchase Date for such Intraday Purchase, and (z) if we have specified in the applicable Intraday Purchase Notice for such Intraday Purchase that a Limit Order Continue Election shall apply to such Intraday Purchase (instead of specifying that a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply), all purchases and sales of Common Shares on the NYSE American during such Intraday Purchase Valuation Period at a price per share that is less than the applicable Minimum Price Threshold for such Intraday Purchase.
We may, in our sole discretion, timely deliver multiple Intraday Purchase Notices to the Selling Shareholder prior to 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on a single Purchase Date to effect multiple Intraday Purchases on such same Purchase Date, provided that the Purchase Valuation Period for any earlier regular Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date (as applicable) and the Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for the most recent prior Intraday Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date have ended prior to 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date, and, so long as all Common Shares subject to all prior Purchases and all prior Intraday Purchases effected by us under the Purchase Agreement, including those effected earlier on the same Purchase Date (as applicable), have been received by the Selling Shareholder prior to the time we deliver to the Selling Shareholder a new Intraday Purchase Notice to effect an additional Intraday Purchase on the same Purchase Date as an earlier regular Purchase (as applicable) and one or more earlier Intraday Purchases effected on such same Purchase Date.
The terms and limitations that will apply to each subsequent additional Intraday Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date will be the same as those applicable to any earlier regular Purchase (as applicable) and any earlier Intraday Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date as such subsequent additional Intraday Purchase, and the per share purchase price for the Common Shares that we elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder in each subsequent additional Intraday Purchase effected on the same Purchase Date as an earlier regular Purchase (as applicable) and/or earlier Intraday Purchase(s) effected on such Purchase Date will be calculated in the same manner as in the case of such earlier regular Purchase (as applicable) and such earlier Intraday Purchase(s) effected on the same Purchase Date as such subsequent additional Intraday Purchase, with the exception that the Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for each subsequent additional Intraday Purchase will begin and end at different times (and may vary in duration) during the regular trading session on such Purchase Date, in each case as determined in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
In the case of Purchases and Intraday Purchases effected by us under the Purchase Agreement, if any, all share and dollar amounts used in determining the purchase price per share of Common Shares to be purchased by the Selling Shareholder in a Purchase or an Intraday Purchase (as applicable), or in determining the applicable maximum purchase share amounts or applicable volume or price threshold amounts in connection with any such Purchase or Intraday Purchase (as applicable), in each case, will be equitably adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction occurring during any period used to calculate such per share purchase price, maximum purchase share amounts or applicable volume or price threshold amounts.
At or prior to 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable Purchase Date for a Purchase and/or Intraday Purchase, the Selling Shareholder will provide us with a written confirmation for such Purchase and/or Intraday Purchase, as applicable, setting forth the applicable purchase price (both on a per share basis and the total aggregate purchase price) to be paid by the Selling Shareholder for the Common Shares purchased by the Selling Shareholder in such Purchase and/or Intraday Purchase, as applicable.
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The payment for, against delivery of, Common Shares purchased by the Selling Shareholder in any Purchase or any Intraday Purchase under the Purchase Agreement will be fully settled within one Trading Day immediately following the applicable Purchase Date for such Purchase or such Intraday Purchase (as applicable), as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
Conditions Precedent to Commencement and Each Purchase
The Selling Shareholder’s obligation to accept Purchase Notices and Intraday Purchase Notices that are timely delivered by us under the Purchase Agreement and to purchase shares of our Common Shares in Purchases and Intraday Purchases under the Purchase Agreement, are subject to (i) the initial satisfaction, at the Commencement, and (ii) the satisfaction, at the applicable “Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time” (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) on the applicable Purchase Date for each Purchase and Intraday Purchase after the Commencement Date, of the conditions precedent thereto set forth in the Purchase Agreement, all of which are entirely outside of the Selling Shareholder’s control, which conditions including the following:
| • | the accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties of the Company included in the Purchase Agreement; |
| • | the Company having performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Purchase Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company; |
| • | the registration statement that includes this prospectus (and any one or more additional registration statements filed with the SEC that include Common Shares that may be issued and sold by the Company to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement) having been declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC, and the Selling Shareholder being able to utilize this prospectus (and the prospectus included in any one or more additional registration statements filed with the SEC under the Registration Rights Agreement) to resell all of the Common Shares included in this prospectus (and included in any such additional prospectuses); |
| • | the SEC shall not have issued any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement that includes this prospectus (or any one or more additional registration statements filed with the SEC that include Common Shares that may be issued and sold by the Company to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement) or prohibiting or suspending the use of this prospectus (or the prospectus included in any one or more additional registration statements filed with the SEC under the Registration Rights Agreement), and the absence of any suspension of qualification or exemption from qualification of the Common Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction; |
| • | FINRA shall not have provided an objection to, and shall have confirmed in writing that it has determined not to raise any objections with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of, the terms and arrangements of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement; |
| • | there shall not have occurred any event and there shall not exist any condition or state of facts, which makes any statement of a material fact made in the registration statement that includes this prospectus (or in any one or more additional registration statements filed with the SEC that include Common Shares that may be issued and sold by the Company to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement) untrue or which requires the making of any additions to or changes to the statements contained therein in order to state a material fact required by the Securities Act to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements then made therein (in the case of this prospectus or the prospectus included in any one or more additional registration statements filed with the SEC under the Registration Rights Agreement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; |
| • | this prospectus, in final form, shall have been filed with the SEC under the Securities Act prior to Commencement, and all reports, schedules, registrations, forms, statements, information and other documents required to have been filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act shall have been filed with the SEC; |
| • | trading in the Common Shares shall not have been suspended by the SEC or the NYSE American, the Company shall not have received any final and non-appealable notice that the listing or quotation of the Common Shares on the NYSE American, shall be terminated on a date certain (unless, prior to such date, the Common Shares are listed or quoted on any other Eligible Market, as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement), and there shall be no suspension of, or restriction on, accepting additional deposits of the Common Shares, electronic trading or book-entry services by The Depository Trust Company with respect to the Common Shares; |
| • | the Company shall have complied with all applicable federal, state and local governmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement; |
| • | the absence of any statute, regulation, order, decree, writ, ruling or injunction by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction which prohibits the consummation of or that would materially modify or delay any of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement; |
| • | the absence of any action, suit or proceeding before any arbitrator or any court or governmental authority seeking to restrain, prevent or change the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, or seeking material damages in connection with such transactions; |
| • | all of the Common Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement shall have been approved for listing or quotation on the NYSE American (or if the Common Shares is not then listed on the NYSE American, then on any Eligible Market), subject only to notice of issuance; |
| • | no condition, occurrence, state of facts or event constituting a Material Adverse Effect (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) shall have occurred and be continuing; |
| • | the absence of any bankruptcy proceeding against the Company commenced by a third party, and the Company shall not have commenced a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, consented to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary bankruptcy case, consented to the appointment of a custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property in any bankruptcy proceeding, or made a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; and |
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| • | the receipt by the Selling Shareholder of the legal opinions and negative assurances, bring-down legal opinions and negative assurances, and audit comfort letters, in each case as required under the Purchase Agreement. |
Termination of the Purchase Agreement
Unless earlier terminated as provided in the Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Agreement will terminate automatically on the earliest to occur of:
| • | the first day of the month next following the third anniversary of the Commencement Date; |
| • | the date on which the Selling Shareholder shall have purchased Common Shares under the Purchase Agreement for an aggregate gross purchase price equal to $50,000,000; |
| • | the date on which the Common Shares shall have failed to be listed or quoted on the NYSE American or any other Eligible Market; |
| • | the 30th Trading Day after the date on which a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy proceeding involving our company has been commenced that is not discharged or dismissed prior to such Trading Day; and |
| • | the date on which a bankruptcy custodian is appointed for all or substantially all of our property, or we make a general assignment for the benefit of our creditors. |
We have the right to terminate the Purchase Agreement at any time after Commencement, at no cost or penalty, at any time. We and the Selling Shareholder may also terminate the Purchase Agreement at any time by mutual written consent.
The Selling Shareholder also has the right to terminate the Purchase Agreement upon 10 Trading Days’ prior written notice to us, but only upon the occurrence of certain events, including:
| • | the occurrence and continuation of a Material Adverse Effect (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement); |
| • | the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction (as such term defined in the Purchase Agreement) involving our company; |
| • | if any registration statement is not filed by the applicable Filing Deadline (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or declared effective by the SEC by the applicable Effectiveness Deadline (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), or the Company is otherwise in breach or default in any material respect under any of the other provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, and, if such failure, breach or default is capable of being cured, such failure, breach or default is not cured within 10 Trading Days after notice of such failure, breach or default is delivered to us; |
| • | if we are in breach or default in any material respect of any of our covenants and agreements in the Purchase Agreement or in the Registration Rights Agreement, and, if such breach or default is capable of being cured, such breach or default is not cured within 10 Trading Days after notice of such breach or default is delivered to us; |
| • | the effectiveness of the registration statement that includes this prospectus or any additional registration statement we file with the SEC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement lapses for any reason (including the issuance of a stop order by the SEC), or this prospectus or the prospectus included in any additional registration statement we file with the SEC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement otherwise becomes unavailable to the Selling Shareholder for the resale of all of the Common Shares included therein, and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of 20 consecutive Trading Days or for more than an aggregate of 60 Trading Days in any 365-day period, other than due to acts of the Selling Shareholder; or |
| • | trading in the Common Shares on the NYSE American (or if the Common Shares is then listed on an Eligible Market, trading in the Common Shares on such Eligible Market) has been suspended for a period of three consecutive Trading Days. |
No termination of the Purchase Agreement by us or by the Selling Shareholder will become effective prior to the time when any pending Purchase and any pending Intraday Purchase has been fully settled in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement, and no termination will affect any of our respective rights and obligations under the Purchase Agreement with respect to any pending Purchase, any pending Intraday Purchase, the Commitment Fee and any fees and disbursements of the Selling Shareholder’s legal counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. Both we and the Selling Shareholder have agreed to complete our respective obligations with respect to any such pending Purchase and any pending Intraday Purchase under the Purchase Agreement. Furthermore, no termination of the Purchase Agreement will affect the Registration Rights Agreement, which will survive any termination of the Purchase Agreement.
No Short-Selling or Hedging by the Selling Shareholder
The Selling Shareholder has agreed not to engage in or effect, directly or indirectly, for its own principal account or for the principal account of its sole member, any of its or its sole member’s respective officers, or any entity managed or controlled by it or its sole member, any (i) “short sale” (as such term is defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act) of the Common Shares or (ii) hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Shares, during the term of the Purchase Agreement.
Effect of Sales of our Common Shares under the Purchase Agreement on our Shareholders
All Common Shares that may be issued or sold by us to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement that are being registered under the Securities Act for resale by the Selling Shareholder in this offering are expected to be freely tradable. The Common Shares being registered for resale in this offering may be issued and sold by us to the Selling Shareholder from time to time at our discretion over a period of up to 36 months commencing on the Commencement Date. The resale by the Selling Shareholder of a significant amount of shares registered for resale in this offering at any given time, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our Common Shares to decline and to be highly volatile. Sales of our Common Shares, if any, to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement will depend upon market conditions and other factors to be determined by us. We may ultimately decide to sell to the Selling Shareholder all, some or none of the shares of our Common Shares that may be available for us to sell to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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If and when we do elect to sell shares of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, after the Selling Shareholder has acquired such shares, the Selling Shareholder may resell all, some or none of such shares at any time or from time to time in its discretion and at different prices. As a result, investors who purchase shares from the Selling Shareholder in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices for those shares, and so may experience different levels of dilution and in some cases substantial dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase from the Selling Shareholder in this offering as a result of future sales made by us to the Selling Shareholder at prices lower than the prices such investors paid for their shares in this offering. In addition, if we sell a substantial number of shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, or if investors expect that we will do so, the actual sales of shares or the mere existence of our arrangement with the Selling Shareholder may make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and at a price that we might otherwise wish to effect such sales.
Because the purchase price per share to be paid by the Selling Shareholder for the Common Shares that we may elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, if any, will fluctuate based on the market prices of our Common Shares during the applicable Purchase Valuation Period for each Purchase, and during the applicable Intraday Purchase Valuation Period for each Intraday Purchase, made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, if any, as of the date of this prospectus it is not possible for us to predict the number of Common Shares that we will sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement, the actual purchase price per share to be paid by the Selling Shareholder for those shares, or the actual gross proceeds to be raised by us from those sales, if any.
We have 5,500,820 Common Shares outstanding, of which 2,129,391 shares are held by our non-affiliates, based on information available to us as of April 24, 2026. The Purchase Agreement provides that we may sell up to $50,000,000 of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder, and we are registering 50,000,000 of our Common Shares under the Securities Act for resale by the Selling Shareholder under this prospectus. If all of the 50,000,000 Common Shares offered for resale by the Selling Shareholder under this prospectus were issued and outstanding as of April 24, 2026, such shares would represent approximately 90.1% of the total number of outstanding Common Shares and approximately 95.9% of the total number of outstanding Common Shares held by non-affiliates of our company, in each case, based on information available to us as of April 24, 2026.
If we elect to issue and sell more than the 50,000,000 Common Shares offered under this prospectus to the Selling Shareholder, which we have the right, but not the obligation, to do, we must first file with the SEC one or more additional registration statements to register under the Securities Act the resale by the Selling Shareholder of any such additional shares of our Common Shares we wish to sell from time to time under the Purchase Agreement, which the SEC must declare effective, in each case before we may elect to sell any additional shares of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement. Any issuance and sale by us under the Purchase Agreement of a substantial amount of Common Shares in addition to the 50,000,000 Common Shares being registered for resale by the Selling Shareholder under the registration statement that includes this prospectus could cause additional substantial dilution to our shareholders.
The number of Common Shares ultimately offered for resale by the Selling Shareholder through this prospectus is dependent upon the number of Common Shares, if any, we elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement from and after the Commencement Date. The issuance of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement will not affect the rights or privileges of our existing shareholders, except that the economic and voting interests of each of our existing shareholders will be diluted. Although the number of shares of our Common Shares that our existing shareholders own will not decrease, the shares of our Common Shares owned by our existing shareholders will represent a smaller percentage of our total outstanding shares of our Common Shares after any such issuance.
The following table sets forth the amount of gross proceeds we would receive from the Selling Shareholder from our sale of Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement at varying purchase prices:
|
Assumed Average Purchase Price Per Share |
Number of Registered Shares to be Issued if Full Purchase (1) |
Percentage of Outstanding Shares After Giving Effect to the Issuance to the Selling Shareholder (2) |
Gross Proceeds from the Sale of Shares to the Selling Shareholder Under the Purchase Agreement | |||||||||||
| $ | 1.00 | 50,000,000 | 90.1 | % | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||||||
| $ | 2.00 | 25,000,000 | 82.0 | % | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||||||
| $ | 3.00 | 16,666,666 | 75.2 | % | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||||||
| $ | 4.00 | 12,500,000 | 69.4 | % | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||||||
| $ | 5.00 | 10,000,000 | 64.5 | % | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||||||
| $ | 6.00 | 8,333,333 | 60.2 | % | $ | 50,000,000 | ||||||||
(1) Although the Purchase Agreement provides that we may sell up to $50,000,000 of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder, we are only registering 50,000,000 Common Shares under the registration statement that includes this prospectus, which may or may not cover all of the shares we ultimately sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement. The number of shares to be issued as set forth in this column is without regard for the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
(2) The denominator is based on 5,500,820 Common Shares outstanding as of April 24, 2026, adjusted to include the issuance of the number of shares set forth in the adjacent column that we would have sold to the Selling Shareholder, assuming the average purchase price in the first column. The numerator is based on the number of shares issuable under the Purchase Agreement (that are the subject of this offering) at the corresponding assumed average purchase price set forth in the first column.
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All of the Common Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Shareholder for its own account. We will not receive any proceeds from these sales of Common Shares.
However, we may receive up to $50.0 million in aggregate gross proceeds from the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement in connection with sales of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder. We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder could be up to $49.2 million, after estimated fees and expenses, over a 36-month period, assuming that we sell Common Shares to them for aggregate gross proceeds of $50.0 million. The net proceeds from sales, if any, under the Purchase Agreement, will depend on the frequency and prices at which we sell our Common Shares to the Holder after the date of this prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” and “The Committed Equity Financing” elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of our Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding for working capital needs, debt repayments, and fleet expansion, including the construction of our Newbuilding Tankers or the acquisition of secondhand or newbuilding vessels from third parties or affiliated companies. At this time, we have not specifically determined the allocation of proceeds with respect to our current newbuilding vessels, nor have we identified any other vessels to acquire or debt repayment, nor have we specifically identified another material use for which we intend to use the net proceeds, and, accordingly, we are not able to allocate the net proceeds among any of these potential uses in light of the variety of factors that will impact how such net proceeds are ultimately utilized by us. The foregoing represents our current intentions with respect to the use of the net proceeds based upon our present plans and business conditions, but our management will have significant flexibility and discretion in applying the net proceeds. The occurrence of unforeseen events or changed business conditions could result in the application of the net proceeds in a manner other than as described above. See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain risks that may affect our intended use of the net proceeds.
The Selling Shareholder will pay any underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions incurred by it in connection with any sale of Common Shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the Common Shares covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, NYSE American listing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and independent registered public accountants.
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The following table sets forth our capitalization and indebtedness as of December 31, 2025:
| 1. | on an actual basis; |
| 2. | on an adjusted basis to give effect to the following transactions which occurred between December 31, 2025 and April 24, 2026: |
| • | $3.9 million of scheduled debt repayments under the New Huarong Facility and the credit facility with HSBC for the financing of the M/Y Para Bellvm (the “HSBC Facility”); | |
| • |
the receipt of $51.9 million from the sale and leaseback financing arrangement with two Chinese leasing Companies for the Newbuilding Tankers (the sale and leaseback will be accounted as a financing transaction);
| |
| • | the issuance and sale of 874,623 Common Shares under the 2024 ATM for net proceeds of $4.1 million; and | |
| • | the issuance of 14,000 Series G Preferred Shares to Central Mare on March 31, 2026 for the settlement of the $14.0 million consideration for the acquisition of the Newbuilding Tankers; and |
| 3. | on an as further adjusted basis, assuming our issuance and sale of 50,000,000 Common Shares for net proceeds of $49.2 million after deducting estimated issuance costs and commissions. |
| Based on our audited consolidated financial statements of TOP Ships Inc.: | ||||||||||||
| Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars Debt:(1) (2) | Actual | As Adjusted | As Further Adjusted | |||||||||
| Current portion of long -term debt | 11,824 | 11,824 | 11,824 | |||||||||
| Non-current portion of long -term debt | 204,788 | 252,787 | 252,787 | |||||||||
| Total debt | 216,612 | 264,611 | 264,611 | |||||||||
| Mezzanine equity | ||||||||||||
| Series G Preferred Shares(3) | — | 16,100 | 16,100 | |||||||||
| Stockholder’s equity(4) | ||||||||||||
| Common shares | 46 | 55 | 555 | |||||||||
| Series D Preferred Shares | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 425,433 | 427,428 | 476,128 | |||||||||
| Accumulated other Comprehensive Income | 697 | 697 | 697 | |||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (336,988 | ) | (336,988 | ) | (336,988 | ) | ||||||
| Total Stockholder’s and mezzanine equity | 89,189 | 107,293 | 156,493 | |||||||||
| Total capitalization | 305,801 | 371,904 | 421,104 | |||||||||
| (1) | Our indebtedness in the form of sale and lease back financing (both current and non-current portions) is guaranteed by us; the titles of ownership of our vessels are held by the respective vessel lenders to secure the relevant sale and lease back financing transactions. Our indebtedness in the form of debt financing (both current and non-current portions) is guaranteed by us and is secured by a mortgage on the respective vessel. |
| (2) | The capitalization table does not take into account any amortization of deferred finance fees incurred after December 31, 2025. The foreign exchange rate used for the HSBC Facility is the rate used by the Company as of December 31, 2025. |
| (3) |
The accounting treatment for the Series G Preferred Shares has not been finalized as of the date of this prospectus and it is presented in Mezzanine Equity. The carrying value of the Series G Preferred Shares is adjusted to the current maximum redemption amount (i.e., at 115%), with the difference between carrying amount and maximum redemption amount being presented as deemed dividend, reducing the Additional Paid in Capital.
|
| (4) | The accounting treatment for the acquisition of the Tanker SPVs has not been finalized as of the date of this prospectus. |
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This prospectus relates to the possible offer and resale from time to time by the Selling Shareholder of up to 50,000,000 Common Shares that we may issue to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. For additional information regarding the issuance of the Common Shares to be offered by the Selling Shareholder pursuant to this prospectus, see the section titled “Committed Equity Financing.” We are registering the Common Shares pursuant to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement in order to permit the Selling Shareholder to offer the Common Shares for resale from time to time. Except for the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and as set forth in the section titled “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” in this prospectus, the Selling Shareholder has not had any material relationship with us or any of our affiliates within the past three years. All of the data in the following table are as of April 24, 2026.
The table below presents information regarding the Selling Shareholder and the Common Shares that may be resold by the Selling Shareholder from time to time under this prospectus. This table is prepared based on information supplied to us by the Selling Shareholder and reflects holdings as of April 24, 2026. The number of shares in the column “Maximum Number of Common Shares to be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus” represents all of the Common Shares being offered for resale by the Selling Shareholder under this prospectus. The Selling Shareholder may sell some, all or none of the shares being offered for resale in this offering. We do not know how long the Selling Shareholder will hold the shares before selling them and, except as set forth in the section titled “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” in this prospectus, we are not aware of any existing arrangements between the Selling Shareholder and any other shareholder, broker, dealer, underwriter or agent relating to the sale or distribution of the Common Shares being offered for resale by this prospectus.
Beneficial ownership in the table has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act and includes Common Shares with respect to which the Selling Shareholder has sole or shared voting and investment power. Because the purchase price to be paid by the Selling Shareholder for Common Shares that we may elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder will be determined on the applicable Purchase Dates therefor, the actual number of Common Shares that we may sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement may be fewer than the number of shares being offered for resale under this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the resale by the Selling Shareholder of all of the Common Shares being offered for resale pursuant to this prospectus.
| | | Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering |
| Maximum Number of Common Shares to be Offered |
Number of Common Shares to be Beneficially Owned After Offering(3) | |||||||||
| Name of Selling shareholder | | | Number(1) | | | Percentage(2) | | |
Pursuant to this Prospectus |
Number | | | Percent | |
| B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC(4) | | | 0 | | | – | | | 50,000,000 | 0 | | | – | |
(1) In accordance with Rule 13d-3(d) under the Exchange Act, we have excluded from the number of shares beneficially owned prior to the offering all of the Common Shares that the Selling Shareholder may be required to purchase under the Purchase Agreement, because the issuance of such shares is solely at our discretion and is subject to conditions contained in the Purchase Agreement, the satisfaction of which are entirely outside of the Selling Shareholder’s control, including the registration statement that includes this prospectus becoming and remaining effective. Furthermore, the Purchases and the Intraday Purchases of Common Shares under the Purchase Agreement are subject to certain agreed upon maximum amount limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Also, the Purchase Agreement prohibits us from issuing and selling any Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder to the extent such shares would cause the Selling Shareholder’s beneficial ownership of our Common Shares to (i) require a Regulatory Approval or (ii) exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation may not be amended or waived under the Purchase Agreement.
(2) Applicable percentage ownership is based on 5,500,820 Common Shares.
(3) Assumes the sale of all Common Shares being offered for resale pursuant to this prospectus.
(4) The business address of B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC is 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, California 90025. BRPC II’s principal business is that of a private investor. BRPC II is a wholly-owned subsidiary of B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC (“BRPI”). As a result, BRPI may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II. B. Riley Financial, Inc. (“BRF”) is the parent company of BRPC II and BRPI. As a result, BRF may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II and indirectly beneficially owned by BRPI. Bryant R. Riley is the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of BRF. As a result, Bryant R. Riley may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II and indirectly beneficially owned by BRPI. Each of BRF, BRPI and Bryant R. Riley expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II, except to the extent of its/his pecuniary interest therein. We have been advised that none of BRF, BRPI or BRPC II is a member of FINRA or an independent broker-dealer; however, each of BRF, BRPI, BRPC II and Bryant R. Riley is an affiliate of B. Riley Securities, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, and Bryant R. Riley is an associated person of BRS. BRS will act as an executing broker that will effectuate resales of our Common Stock that have been and may be acquired by BRPC II from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to the public in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” for more information about the relationship between BRPC II and BRS.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICT OF INTEREST)
The Common Shares offered by this prospectus are being offered by the Selling Shareholder. The shares may be sold or distributed from time to time by the Selling Shareholder directly to one or more purchasers or through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or at fixed prices, which may be changed. The sale of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus could be effected in one or more of the following methods:
| • | ordinary brokers’ transactions; |
| • | transactions involving cross or block trades; |
| • | through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents; |
| • | “at the market” into an existing market for our Common Shares; |
| • | in other ways not involving market makers or established business markets, including direct sales to purchasers or sales effected through agents; |
| • | in privately negotiated transactions; or |
| • | any combination of the foregoing. |
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the shares may be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states, the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from the state’s registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.
The Selling Shareholder is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act.
BRPC II has informed us that it presently anticipates using, but is not required to use, BRS, a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member and an affiliate of BRPC II, as a broker to effectuate resales, if any, of our Common Shares that it may acquire from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and that it may also engage one or more other registered broker-dealers to effectuate resales, if any, of such Common Shares that it may acquire from us. Such resales will be made at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price. Each such registered broker-dealer will be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. BRPC II has informed us that each such broker-dealer it engages to effectuate resales of our Common Shares on its behalf, excluding BRS, may receive commissions from BRPC II for executing such resales for BRPC II and, if so, such commissions will not exceed customary brokerage commissions.
BRPC II is an affiliate of BRS, a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, which will act as an executing broker that will effectuate resales of our Common Shares that may be acquired by BRPC II from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to the public in this offering. Because BRPC II will receive all the net proceeds from such resales of our Common Shares made to the public through BRS, BRS is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121, which requires that a “qualified independent underwriter,” as defined in FINRA Rule 5121, participate in the preparation of the registration statement that includes this prospectus and exercise the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect thereto. Accordingly, we have engaged the QIU to be the qualified independent underwriter in this offering and, in such capacity, participate in the preparation of the registration statement that includes this prospectus and exercise the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect thereto. BRPC II shall pay the QIU a cash fee of upon the initial filing of the registration statement that includes this prospectus with the SEC as consideration for its services and to reimburse certain expenses incurred in connection with acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, the cash fee and expense reimbursement to be paid to the QIU for acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering are deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our Common Stock by BRPC II to the public. The QIU will receive no other compensation for acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, BRS is not permitted to sell shares of our Common Stock in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.
Except as set forth above, we know of no existing arrangements between the Selling Shareholder and any other shareholder, broker, dealer, underwriter or agent relating to the sale or distribution of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus.
Brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts, or concessions from the purchasers, for whom the broker-dealers may act as agent, of the shares sold by the Selling Shareholder through this prospectus. The compensation paid to any such particular broker-dealer by any such purchasers of Common Shares sold by the Selling Shareholder may be less than or in excess of customary commissions. Neither we nor the Selling Shareholder can presently estimate the amount of compensation that any agent will receive from any purchasers of Common Shares sold by the Selling Shareholder.
We may from time to time file with the SEC one or more supplements to this prospectus or amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part to amend, supplement or update information contained in this prospectus, including, if and when required under the Securities Act, to disclose certain information relating to a particular sale of shares offered by this prospectus by the Selling Shareholder, including with respect to any compensation paid or payable by the Selling Shareholder to any brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents that participate in the distribution of such shares by the Selling Shareholder, and any other related information required to be disclosed under the Securities Act.
We will pay the expenses incident to the registration under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of the Common Shares covered by this prospectus by the Selling Shareholder.
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As consideration for the Selling Shareholder’s irrevocable commitment to purchase our Common Shares at our direction under the Purchase Agreement, we agreed to pay a Commitment Fee to the Selling Shareholder of $500,000, equal to 1% of the full amount of the maximum gross proceeds under the Purchase Agreement. Prior to the filing of this registration statement, we paid an aggregate of $150,000 to the Selling Shareholder in partial satisfaction of the Commitment Fee. The remaining balance of the Commitment Fee shall be payable in amounts equal to 50% of each purchase amount, payable on the applicable settlement date(s) until the Commitment Fee is paid in full, but in no event later than 12 months after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we do not direct the Selling Shareholder to make any purchases under the Purchase Agreement, or if the Commencement does not occur, then we have agreed to pay the remaining balance of the Commitment Fee to the Selling Shareholder within three trading days following the termination of the Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, the $500,000 Commitment Fee is deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our shares of Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder to the public.
Furthermore, we have agreed to reimburse the Selling Shareholder for the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of the Selling Shareholder’s legal counsel and fees paid to the QIU in a total amount not to exceed $215,000 in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, consisting of $125,000 paid prior to the filing of this registration statement and $7,500 per fiscal quarter, for a maximum three-year term, in which we direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase our Common Shares, as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, these reimbursed fees and expenses are deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder to the public. Moreover, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, the 3% fixed discount to current market prices of our Common Shares reflected in the purchase prices payable by the Selling Shareholder for our Common Shares that we may require it to purchase from us from time to time under the Purchase Agreement is deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder to the public.
We also have agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholder and certain other persons against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of Common Shares offered hereby, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities. The Selling Shareholder has agreed to indemnify us against liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from certain written information furnished to us by the Selling Shareholder specifically for use in this prospectus or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore, unenforceable.
We estimate that the total expenses for the offering will be approximately $0.8 million.
The Selling Shareholder has represented to us that at no time prior to the date of the Purchase Agreement has the Selling Shareholder, its sole member, any of their respective officers, or any entity managed or controlled by the Selling Shareholder or its sole member, engaged in or effected, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, for its own account or for the account of any of its affiliates, any short sale (as such term is defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act) of our Common Shares or any hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to our Common Shares. The Selling Shareholder has agreed that during the term of the Purchase Agreement, none of the Selling Shareholder, its sole member or any of their respective officers, or any entity managed or controlled by the Selling Shareholder or its sole member, will enter into or effect, directly or indirectly, any of the foregoing transactions for its own account or for the account of any other such person or entity.
We have advised the Selling Shareholder that it is required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act. With certain exceptions, Regulation M precludes the Selling Shareholder, any affiliated purchasers, and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in the distribution from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase any security which is the subject of the distribution until the entire distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the distribution of that security. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the securities offered by this prospectus.
This offering will terminate on the date that all Common Shares offered by this prospectus have been sold by the Selling Shareholder.
Our Common Shares are currently listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “TOPS”.
The Selling Shareholder and/or one or more of its affiliates has provided, currently provides and/or from time to time in the future may provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and/or one or more of our affiliates that are unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the offering of shares for resale by the Selling Shareholder to which this prospectus relates, for which investment banking and other financial services they have received and may continue to receive customary fees, commissions and other compensation from us, aside from any discounts, fees and other compensation that the Selling Shareholder has received and may receive in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, including the $500,000 Commitment Fee we have agreed to pay to the Selling Shareholder, (ii) the 3% fixed discount to current market prices of our Common Shares reflected in the purchase prices payable by the Selling Shareholder for our Common Shares that we may require it to purchase from us from time to time under the Purchase Agreement, and (iii) our reimbursement of up to an aggregate of $215,000 of the Selling Shareholder’s legal fees and fees paid to the QIU ($125,000 paid prior to the filing of this registration statement and $7,500 per fiscal quarter for the maximum three year term of the Purchase Agreement) in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
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SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a Marshall Islands corporation and our principal executive office is located outside of the United States in Athens, Greece.
Most of our directors and officers and those of our subsidiaries are residents of countries other than the United States. Substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets and a substantial portion of the assets of our directors and officers are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for United States investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us, our directors or officers, our subsidiaries or to realize against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. The Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, Inc., Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Island, Ajeltake Road, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH96960 as our registered agent, can accept service of process on our behalf in any such action.
In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Marshall Islands would (1) recognize or enforce against us, or our directors, or officers, judgments of courts of the United States based on civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws; or (2) impose liabilities against us or our directors and officers in original actions brought in the Marshall Islands, based on these laws.
EXPENSES RELATING TO THIS OFFERING
Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, expected to be incurred in connection with the offer and sale of our Common Shares. Except for the SEC registration fee, all amounts are estimates.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 6,905 | ||
| FINRA filing fee | 8,000 | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 30,000 | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | 245,000 | |||
| Printing expenses | 5,000 | |||
| Miscellaneous | 5,095 | |||
| Total | $ | 300,000 |
Certain legal matters with respect to United States Federal and New York law and Marshall Islands law in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Watson Farley & Williams LLP, New York, New York. The Selling Shareholder is being represented by Duane Morris LLP, New York, New York.
The financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, by reference to Top Ships Inc.’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, have been audited by Deloitte Certified Public Accountants S.A., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The office of Deloitte Certified Public Accountants, S.A. is located at Fragoklissias 3a & Granikou Street, Maroussi, Athens 151 25, Greece.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act, including relevant exhibits and schedules, under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. For the purposes of this section, the term registration statement on Form F-1 means the original registration statement on Form F-1 and any and all amendments including the schedules and exhibits to the original registration statement or any amendment. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement. Each statement made in this prospectus concerning a document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form F-1 is qualified by reference to that exhibit for a complete statement of its provisions. You should read the registration statement on Form F-1 and its exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and the securities offered hereby.
We are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is http://www.sec.gov. Additionally, we will make these filings available, free of charge, on our website at https://www.topships.org as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The information on our website, other than these filings, is not, and should not be, considered part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this document.
As a foreign private issuer, we will be exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the following document:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2026 and. |
| • | our Report on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on April 2, 2026. |
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the Sales Agent has not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the Sales Agent is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus as well as the information we previously filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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Up to 50,000,000 Common Shares
TOP Ships Inc.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
, 2026
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PART II
| Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
| I. | Section 12 of Article III of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of TOP Ships inc. (the “Corporation”) provides as follows: |
| 1. | Any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation upon the same terms, under the same conditions, and to the same extent as authorized by Section 60 of the Business Corporation Act of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. |
| II. | Section 60 of the Business Corporations Act of the Republic of the Marshall Islands provides as follows: |
| 1. | Actions not by or in right of the corporation. A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of no contest, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the bests interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. |
| 2. | Actions by or in right of the corporation. A corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claims, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper. |
| 3. | When director or officer successful. To the extent that a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (1) or (2) of this section, or in the defense of a claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. |
| 4. | Payment of expenses in advance. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. |
| 5. | Indemnification pursuant to other rights. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. |
| 6. | Continuation of indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. |
| 7. | Insurance. A corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in such capacity whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this section. |
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| Item 7. | Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities. |
On February 18, 2026, we entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Tanker SPA”) with Central Mare, a related party affiliated with the family of Mr. Evangelos J. Pistiolis, to purchase the shares of certain entities (the Tanker SPVs”) that have entered into shipbuilding contracts, dated February 3, 2026, with Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited and China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. for the purchase of nine 47,499 dwt MR chemical/product oil tankers. $14.0 million of the purchase price was settled through the issuance of 14,000 Series G Preferred Shares on March 31, 2026. We believe the issuance of these Series G Preferred Shares was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation S promulgated thereunder.
| Item 8. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. |
(a) The following exhibits are included in this registration statement on Form F-1:
Exhibit Index
25
26
27
28
| Exhibit No. | Description |
| 23.2 | Consent of Watson Farley & Williams LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 8.1 hereto)* |
| 24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included in the signature page hereto)* |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table* |
*Filed herewith
| Item 9. | Undertakings |
| The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
| (2) | That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (6) | That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (7) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
29
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Athens, Greece on the 24th day of April, 2026.
| TOP SHIPS INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Evangelos J. Pistiolis | ||
| Name: | Evangelos J. Pistiolis | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Evangelos J. Pistiolis and Will Vogel, each with full power to act alone, his or her true lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or supplements to this registration statement, whether pre-effective or post-effective, including any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 24, 2026.
| /s/ Evangelos J. Pistiolis |
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
|||||
| Evangelos J. Pistiolis | ||||||
| /s/ Alexandros Tsirikos |
Director and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
|||||
| Alexandros Tsirikos | ||||||
| /s/ Konstantinos Karelas | Director | |||||
| Konstantinos Karelas | ||||||
| /s/ Maria Zoupou | ||||||
| Maria Zoupou | Director | |||||
| /s/ Paolo Javarone | ||||||
| Paolo Javarone | Director | |||||
30
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative of the Registrant in the United States, has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on April 24, 2026.
| PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES | |||
| By: | /s/ Donald J. Puglisi | ||
| Name: | Donald J. Puglisi | ||
| Title: | Authorized Representative in the United States | ||
Exhibit 5.1
TOP Ships Inc.
20 Iouliou Kaisara Str,
19002 Paiania, Athens, Greece
April 24, 2026
Re:
TOP Ships Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to TOP Ships Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1, as publicly filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), with respect to the Company’s registration of the distribution of its common shares, par value $0.01 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 (the “Common Shares”), which Common Shares include preferred stock purchase rights (the “Preferred Stock Purchase Rights” and, collectively with the Common Shares, the “Securities”). The Registration Statement relates to the sale by B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“BRPC II”) of Common Shares it will acquire from the Company from time-to-time pursuant to a common shares purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated April 24, 2026, between BRPC II and the Company.
As such counsel, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following documents:
| (i) | the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (the “Prospectus”); |
| (ii) | the Shareholders’ Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”) between the Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, LLC, as rights agent relating to the Preferred Stock Purchase Rights; |
| (iii) | the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws; |
| (iv) | the Purchase Agreement; and |
| (v) | such other papers, documents, agreements, certificates of public officials and certificates of representatives of the Company, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the opinions hereafter expressed. |
In such examination, we have assumed (a) the legal competence or capacity of persons or entities (other than the Company) to complete the execution of documents, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinions set forth herein are true, correct and complete, and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us. As to matters of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we have relied upon the representations and certificates of officers or representatives of the Company and of public officials, in each case as we have deemed relevant and appropriate. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.
 | Page 2 |
We have further assumed for the purposes of this opinion, without investigation, that all documents contemplated by the Prospectus to be executed in connection with the distribution of the Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto other than the Company, and the terms of the distribution comply in all respects with the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and all of the instruments, agreements and other documents relating thereto or executed in connection therewith.
This opinion letter is limited to Marshall Islands and New York law and is as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinion expressed herein.
Based on the foregoing and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | the Securities have been duly authorized, and the Common Shares, when issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Prospectus or any supplement thereto and the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and |
| 2. | when the Common Shares are issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Prospectus or any supplement thereto and the Purchase Agreement, the related Preferred Share Purchase Rights will constitute binding obligations of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement. |
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement, and the references to our firm in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Exhibit 8.1
TOP Ships Inc.
20 Iouliou Kaisara Str,
19002 Paiania, Athens, Greece
April 24, 2026
Re: TOP Ships Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to TOP Ships Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1, as publicly filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), with respect to the Company’s registration of the distribution of its common shares, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”) and preferred stock purchase rights. The Registration Statement relates to the sale by B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“BRPC II”) of Common Shares it will acquire from the Company from time-to-time pursuant to a common shares purchase agreement, dated April 24, 2026, between BRPC II and the Company.
In rendering this opinion, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following documents:
| (i) | the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (as amended and supplemented, the “Prospectus”), including the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (the “Annual Report”) incorporated by reference therein; and |
| (ii) | such other papers, documents, agreements, certificates of public officials and certificates of representatives of the Company, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the opinions hereafter expressed. |
In such examination, we have assumed (a) the legal capacity of each natural person, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinion set forth herein are true, correct and complete and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us.
As to matters of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we have relied upon the representations and certificates of public officials, directors and officers of the Company and others, in each case as we have deemed relevant and appropriate. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.
We have reviewed the discussion set forth in the Annual Report under the heading “Item 10.—Additional Information—E. Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders”. Based on the representations, covenants, assumptions, conditions and qualifications described in such section, and taking into account the fact that the discussions set forth in such section do not purport to discuss all possible U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Company’s Common Shares, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we confirm that the discussions set forth in such section, to the extent they constitute summaries of law or legal conclusions, unless otherwise noted, constitute our opinion with respect to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Company’s Common Shares as of the date of the Prospectus, and accurately state our views as to the tax matters discussed therein (except for the representations and statements of fact of the Company included under such caption, as to which we express no opinion). We express no opinion as to any U.S. federal income tax consequences other than the opinion set forth above. Except as set forth in the paragraph below concerning Marshall Islands tax considerations, we express no opinion with respect to tax consequences under any state, local, or non-U.S. tax law.
| Page 2 |
We have reviewed the discussion set forth in the Annual Report under the heading “Item 10.—Additional Information—E. Taxation—Marshall Islands Tax Consequences”. Based on the facts as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we confirm that the statements in such discussion, to the extent they constitute legal conclusions, unless otherwise noted, constitute our opinion with respect to Marshall Islands tax consequences as of the date of the Prospectus (except for the representations and statements of fact of the Company included under such caption, as to which we express no opinion).
Our opinions and the tax discussion as set forth in the Annual Report are based on the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, published pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service which may be cited or used as precedents and case law, and the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands as in effect on the date hereof, any of which may be changed at any time with retroactive effect. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise our opinion to reflect any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof or the impact of any information, document, certificate, record, statement, representation, covenant, or assumption relied upon herein that becomes incorrect or untrue.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Rules”), nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act or related Rules.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-1 of our report dated April 1, 2026, relating to the financial statements of Top Ships Inc. appearing in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte Certified Public Accountants S.A.
Athens, Greece
April 24, 2026
Exhibit 10.73
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 24, 2026
by and between
TOP SHIPS INC.
and
B. RILEY PRINCIPAL CAPITAL II, LLC
Table of Contents
Page
| Article I DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| Article II PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK | 2 |
| Section 2.1. Purchase and Sale of Stock | 2 |
| Section 2.2. Closing Date; Settlement Dates | 2 |
| Section 2.3. Initial Public Announcements and Required Filings | 2 |
| Article III PURCHASE TERMS | 3 |
| Section 3.1. VWAP Purchases | 3 |
| Section 3.2. Intraday VWAP Purchases | 4 |
| Section 3.3. Settlement | 5 |
| Section 3.4. Beneficial Ownership Limitation | 6 |
| Article IV REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE INVESTOR | 6 |
| Section 4.1. Organization and Standing of the Investor | 6 |
| Section 4.2. Authorization and Power | 6 |
| Section 4.3. No Conflicts | 7 |
| Section 4.4. Investment Purpose | 7 |
| Section 4.5. Accredited Investor Status | 7 |
| Section 4.6. Reliance on Exemptions | 8 |
| Section 4.7. Information | 8 |
| Section 4.8. No Governmental Review | 8 |
| Section 4.9. No General Solicitation | 8 |
| Section 4.10. Not an Affiliate | 8 |
| Section 4.11. No Prior Short Sales | 9 |
| Section 4.12. Statutory Underwriter Status | 9 |
| Section 4.13. Resales of Securities | 9 |
| Article V REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | 9 |
| Section 5.1. Organization, Good Standing and Power | 9 |
| Section 5.2. Authorization, Enforcement | 10 |
| Section 5.3. Capitalization | 10 |
| Section 5.4. Issuance of Securities | 11 |
| Section 5.5. No Conflicts | 11 |
| Section 5.6. Commission Documents, Financial Statements; Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting; Accountants | 12 |
| Section 5.7. Subsidiaries | 14 |
| Section 5.8. No Material Adverse Effect or Material Adverse Change | 14 |
| Section 5.9. No Undisclosed Liabilities | 14 |
| Section 5.10. No Material Defaults on Indebtedness | 14 |
| Section 5.11. Solvency | 14 |
| Section 5.12. Title to Real and Personal Property | 15 |
| Section 5.13. Litigation; Compliance with Laws | 15 |
i
| Section 5.14. Certain Fees | 16 |
| Section 5.15. Reserved | 16 |
| Section 5.16. Disclosure | 16 |
| Section 5.17. Material Permits | 16 |
| Section 5.18. Environmental Matters | 17 |
| Section 5.19. Intellectual Property Rights | 18 |
| Section 5.20. Material Contracts | 19 |
| Section 5.21. Transactions With Affiliates | 19 |
| Section 5.22. Labor Relations | 19 |
| Section 5.23. Use of Proceeds | 19 |
| Section 5.24. Investment Company Act Status | 19 |
| Section 5.25. Tax Matters | 20 |
| Section 5.26. Insurance | 20 |
| Section 5.27. Exemption from Registration | 20 |
| Section 5.28. No General Solicitation or Advertising | 21 |
| Section 5.29. No Integrated Offering | 21 |
| Section 5.30. Dilutive Effect | 21 |
| Section 5.31. Manipulation of Price | 21 |
| Section 5.32. Securities Act | 21 |
| Section 5.33. Listing and Maintenance Requirements; DTC Eligibility | 22 |
| Section 5.34. Application of Takeover Protections | 22 |
| Section 5.35. Foreign Corrupt Practices | 22 |
| Section 5.36. Office of Foreign Assets Control | 22 |
| Section 5.37. Money Laundering | 23 |
| Section 5.38. Reserved | 23 |
| Section 5.39. IT Systems | 23 |
| Section 5.40. Privacy Laws | 23 |
| Section 5.41. U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation | 24 |
| Section 5.42. Margin Rules | 24 |
| Section 5.43. Emerging Growth Company Status | 24 |
| Section 5.44. Bad Actor Disqualification | 24 |
| Section 5.45. Market Capitalization | 25 |
| Section 5.46. Broker/Dealer Relationships; FINRA Information | 25 |
| Section 5.47. Acknowledgement Regarding Relationship with Investor and BRS | 25 |
| Section 5.48. Acknowledgement Regarding Investor’s Affiliate Relationships | 25 |
| Section 5.49. Distributions | 26 |
| Section 5.50. No Immunity | 26 |
| Section 5.51. Foreign Private Issuer | 27 |
| Section 5.52. Passive Foreign Investment Company | 27 |
| Section 5.53. Federal Income Tax | 27 |
| Section 5.54. Vessels | 27 |
| Section 5.55. No Tax | 27 |
| Article VI ADDITIONAL COVENANTS | 27 |
| Section 6.1. Securities Compliance | 28 |
| Section 6.2. Reservation of Common Stock | 28 |
| Section 6.3. Registration and Listing | 28 |
ii
| Section 6.4. Compliance with Laws. | 29 |
| Section 6.5. Keeping of Records and Books of Account; Due Diligence. | 29 |
| Section 6.6. No Frustration; No Other Similar Transactions. | 30 |
| Section 6.7. Corporate Existence | 30 |
| Section 6.8. Fundamental Transaction | 30 |
| Section 6.9. Selling Restrictions. | 30 |
| Section 6.10. Effective Registration Statement | 32 |
| Section 6.11. Blue Sky | 32 |
| Section 6.12. Non-Public Information | 32 |
| Section 6.13. Broker-Dealer | 32 |
| Section 6.14. FINRA Filing | 33 |
| Section 6.15. QIU | 33 |
| Section 6.16. Disclosure Schedule. | 34 |
| Section 6.17. Delivery of Compliance Certificates, Bring-Down Negative Assurance Letters, Bring-Down CFO Certificates and Bring-Down Comfort Letters Upon Occurrence of Certain Events | 34 |
| Article VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING, COMMENCEMENT AND PURCHASES | 36 |
| Section 7.1. Conditions Precedent to Closing | 36 |
| Section 7.2. Conditions Precedent to Commencement | 36 |
| Section 7.3. Conditions Precedent to Purchases after Commencement Date | 40 |
| Article VIII TERMINATION | 45 |
| Section 8.1. Automatic Termination | 45 |
| Section 8.2. Other Termination | 45 |
| Section 8.3. Effect of Termination | 46 |
| Article IX INDEMNIFICATION | 47 |
| Section 9.1. Indemnification of Investor | 47 |
| Section 9.2. Indemnification Procedures | 48 |
| Article X MISCELLANEOUS | 49 |
| Section 10.1. Certain Fees and Expenses; Commitment Fee; Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions. | 49 |
| Section 10.2. Specific Enforcement, Consent to Jurisdiction, Waiver of Jury Trial. | 51 |
| Section 10.3. Entire Agreement | 52 |
| Section 10.4. Notices | 52 |
| Section 10.5. Waivers | 53 |
| Section 10.6. Amendments | 53 |
| Section 10.7. Headings | 54 |
| Section 10.8. Construction | 54 |
| Section 10.9. Binding Effect | 54 |
| Section 10.10. No Third Party Beneficiaries | 54 |
| Section 10.11. Governing Law | 54 |
| Section 10.12. Survival | 54 |
| Section 10.13. Counterparts | 54 |
| Section 10.14. Publicity | 55 |
| Section 10.15. Severability | 55 |
| Section 10.16. Further Assurances | 55 |
Annex I. Definitions
iii
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of April 24, 2026 (this “Agreement”), by and between B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Investor”), and TOP Ships Inc., a Republic of the Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”).
RECiTALS
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth herein, the Company may issue and sell to the Investor, from time to time as provided herein, and the Investor shall purchase from the Company, up to $50,000,000 in aggregate gross purchase price of newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”);
WHEREAS, such sales of Common Stock by the Company to the Investor will be made in reliance upon the provisions of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Section 4(a)(2)”), and upon such other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (together, the “Securities Act”) as may be available with respect to any or all of the sales of Common Stock to the Investor to be made hereunder;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto are concurrently entering into a Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company shall register under the Securities Act the resale of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) by the Investor, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS, in consideration for the Investor’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Commitment Fee to the Investor in such manner, at such time(s) and otherwise pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.1(ii); and
WHEREAS, the Company acknowledges that the Investor is an Affiliate of the B. Riley group of entities, and its Affiliate, B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“BRS”), is acting as the Investor’s representative in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Article
I
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Annex I hereto, and hereby made a part hereof, or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.
Article
II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK
Section 2.1. Purchase and Sale of Stock. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, during the Investment Period, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall have the right, but not the obligation, to issue and sell to the Investor, and the Investor shall purchase from the Company, up to $50,000,000 (the “Total Commitment”) in aggregate gross purchase price of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock by the delivery to the Investor of VWAP Purchase Notices and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices as provided in Article III.
Section 2.2. Closing Date; Settlement Dates. This Agreement shall become effective and binding (the “Closing”) upon (a) the delivery of counterpart signature pages of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement executed by each of the parties hereto and thereto, and (b) the delivery of all other documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered at the Closing, in each case as provided in Section 7.1(iv), to the offices of Duane Morris LLP, at 22 Vanderbilt, 335 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10017, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Closing Date. In consideration of and in express reliance upon the representations, warranties and covenants contained in, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions of, this Agreement, during the Investment Period, the Company, at its sole option and discretion, may issue and sell to the Investor, and, if the Company elects to so issue and sell, the Investor shall purchase from the Company, the Shares in respect of each VWAP Purchase and each Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable). The delivery of Shares in respect of each VWAP Purchase and each Intraday VWAP Purchase, and the payment for such Shares, shall occur in accordance with Section 3.3.
Section 2.3. Initial Public Announcements and Required Filings. The Company shall, not later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately after the date of this Agreement, file with the Commission a report on Form 6-K disclosing the execution of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement by the Company and the Investor and describing the material terms thereof, including, without limitation, the Commitment Fee payable by the Company to the Investor pursuant to Section 10.1(ii) of this Agreement, and attaching as exhibits thereto copies of each of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and, if applicable, any press release issued by the Company disclosing the execution of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement by the Company (including all exhibits thereto, the “Current Report”). The Company shall provide the Investor a reasonable opportunity to comment on a draft of the Current Report prior to filing the Current Report with the Commission and shall give due consideration to all such comments. From and after the filing of the Current Report with the Commission, the Company shall have publicly disclosed all material, nonpublic information delivered to the Investor (or the Investor’s representatives or agents) by the Company, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives (if any) in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Investor covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company as described in this Section 2.3, the Investor shall maintain the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including the existence and terms of the transactions contemplated thereby), except that the Investor may disclose the terms of such transactions to its financial, accounting, legal and other advisors (provided that the Investor directs such Persons to maintain the confidentiality of such information). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the applicable Filing Deadline, file with the Commission the Initial Registration Statement and any New Registration Statement covering only the resale by the Investor of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the Securities Act and the Registration Rights Agreement. On or before the second Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement and any New Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereto), the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with resales of the Registrable Securities by the Investor pursuant to such Registration Statement (or post-effective amendment thereto).
| 2 |
Article
III
PURCHASE TERMS
Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the parties agree as follows:
Section 3.1. VWAP Purchases. Upon the initial satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 (the “Commencement” and the date of initial satisfaction of all of such conditions, the “Commencement Date”) and from time to time thereafter, subject to the satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to direct the Investor, by its timely delivery to the Investor of a VWAP Purchase Notice for a VWAP Purchase (each, a “VWAP Purchase”), specifying in such VWAP Purchase Notice (a) the VWAP Purchase Percentage for such VWAP Purchase and (b) whether a Limit Order Continue Election or a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply to such VWAP Purchase, on the applicable Purchase Date therefor, to purchase a specified VWAP Purchase Share Amount, which shall not exceed the applicable VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount, at the applicable VWAP Purchase Price therefor on such Purchase Date in accordance with this Agreement. The Company may timely deliver to the Investor a VWAP Purchase Notice for a VWAP Purchase on any Trading Day selected by the Company as the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase, so long as (i) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding such Purchase Date is not less than the Threshold Price, and (ii) all Shares subject to all prior VWAP Purchases and Intraday VWAP Purchases (as applicable) pursuant to this Agreement have been received by the Investor as DWAC Shares prior to the Company’s delivery to the Investor of such VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase on such Purchase Date. The Investor is obligated to accept each VWAP Purchase Notice prepared and delivered by the Company in accordance with the terms of and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in this Agreement. If the Company delivers any VWAP Purchase Notice directing the Investor to purchase a VWAP Purchase Share Amount in excess of the applicable VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount that the Company is then permitted to include in such VWAP Purchase Notice (taking into account the VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase), such VWAP Purchase Notice shall be void ab initio to the extent of the amount by which the VWAP Purchase Share Amount set forth in such VWAP Purchase Notice exceeds such applicable VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount, and the Investor shall have no obligation to purchase, and shall not purchase, such excess Shares pursuant to such VWAP Purchase Notice; provided, however, that the Investor shall remain obligated to purchase the applicable VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount pursuant to such VWAP Purchase. At or prior to 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date for each VWAP Purchase, the Investor shall provide to the Company, by email correspondence to each of the individual notice recipients of the Company set forth in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice, a written confirmation for such VWAP Purchase, setting forth the applicable VWAP Purchase Price per Share to be paid by the Investor for the Shares purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase, and the total aggregate VWAP Purchase Price to be paid by the Investor for the total VWAP Purchase Share Amount purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not deliver any VWAP Purchase Notices to the Investor during the PEA Period, any Allowable Grace Period or any MPA Period.
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Section 3.2. Intraday VWAP Purchases. Upon the initial satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 on the Commencement Date and from time to time thereafter, subject to the satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3, in addition to VWAP Purchases as described in Section 3.1, the Company shall also have the right, but not the obligation, to direct the Investor, by its timely delivery to the Investor of an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for an Intraday VWAP Purchase (each, an “Intraday VWAP Purchase”), specifying in such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (a) the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage for such Intraday VWAP Purchase and (b) whether a Limit Order Continue Election or a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply to such Intraday VWAP Purchase, on the applicable Purchase Date therefor, to purchase a specified Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount, which shall not exceed the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount, at the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Price therefor on such Purchase Date in accordance with this Agreement. The Company may timely deliver to the Investor an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for an Intraday VWAP Purchase on any Trading Day selected by the Company as the Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, so long as (i) the Sale Price of the Common Stock at the time of delivery of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice is not less than the Threshold Price, and (ii) all Shares subject to all prior VWAP Purchases and Intraday VWAP Purchases (as applicable) have been received by the Investor as DWAC Shares prior to the Company’s delivery to the Investor of such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase on such Purchase Date. The Investor is obligated to accept each Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice prepared and delivered by the Company in accordance with the terms of and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in this Agreement. If the Company delivers any Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice directing the Investor to purchase an Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount in excess of the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount that the Company is then permitted to include in such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (taking into account the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase), such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice shall be void ab initio to the extent of the amount by which the Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount set forth in such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice exceeds such applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount, and the Investor shall have no obligation to purchase, and shall not purchase, such excess Shares pursuant to such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice; provided, however, that the Investor shall remain obligated to purchase the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount pursuant to such Intraday VWAP Purchase. At or prior to 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date on which one or more Intraday VWAP Purchases shall have occurred, the Investor shall provide to the Company, by email correspondence to each of the individual notice recipients of the Company set forth in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice, a written confirmation for each such Intraday VWAP Purchase, setting forth the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Price per Share to be paid by the Investor for the Shares purchased by the Investor in such Intraday VWAP Purchase, and the total aggregate Intraday VWAP Purchase Price to be paid by the Investor for the total Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount purchased by the Investor in such Intraday VWAP Purchase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not deliver any Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices to the Investor during the PEA Period, any Allowable Grace Period or any MPA Period.
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Section 3.3. Settlement. The Shares constituting the applicable VWAP Purchase Share Amount purchased by the Investor in each VWAP Purchase, and the Shares constituting the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount purchased by the Investor in each Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), in each case shall be delivered to the Investor as DWAC Shares not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately following the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase and for each such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) (the “Purchase Share Delivery Date”). Subject to the provisions set forth in Section 10.1(ii) regarding deductions from the amount otherwise payable to the Company under this Section 3.3 for partial satisfaction of the Remaining Commitment Fee, for (a) each VWAP Purchase, the Investor shall pay to the Company an amount in cash equal to the product of (1) the total number of Shares purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase and (2) the applicable VWAP Purchase Price for such Shares, as full payment for such Shares purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase, and (b) each Intraday VWAP Purchase, the Investor shall pay to the Company an amount in cash equal to the product of (1) the total number of Shares purchased by the Investor in such Intraday VWAP Purchase and (2) the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Price for such Shares, as full payment for such Shares purchased by the Investor in such Intraday VWAP Purchase, in each case via wire transfer of immediately available funds, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately following the applicable Purchase Share Delivery Date for such VWAP Purchase and for each such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), provided the Investor shall have timely received, as DWAC Shares, all of such Shares purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase(s) (as applicable) on such Purchase Share Delivery Date in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 3.3, or, if any of such Shares are received by the Investor after 1:00 p.m., New York City time, then the Company’s receipt of such funds in its designated account may occur on the Trading Day next following the Trading Day on which the Investor shall have received all of such Shares as DWAC Shares, but not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such next Trading Day. If the Company or its transfer agent shall fail for any reason to deliver to the Investor, as DWAC Shares, any Shares purchased by the Investor in a VWAP Purchase or an Intraday VWAP Purchase prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately following the applicable Purchase Share Delivery Date for such VWAP Purchase and for each such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), and if on or after such Trading Day the Investor purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Investor of such Shares that the Investor anticipated receiving from the Company on such Purchase Share Delivery Date in respect of such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), then the Company shall, within one Trading Day after the Investor’s request, either (i) pay cash to the Investor in an amount equal to the Investor’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “Cover Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such Shares as DWAC Shares shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Investor such Shares as DWAC Shares and pay cash to the Investor in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Cover Price over the total purchase price paid by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement for all of the Shares purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable). The Company shall not issue any fraction of a share of Common Stock to the Investor in connection with any VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase effected pursuant to this Agreement. If any issuance would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round such fraction of a share of Common Stock up or down to the nearest whole share. All payments to be made by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Company may from time to time designate by written notice to the Investor in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
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Section 3.4. Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not issue or sell, and the Investor shall not purchase or acquire, any shares of Common Stock under this Agreement which, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by the Investor and its Affiliates (as calculated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated thereunder), would result in the beneficial ownership by the Investor of more than 4.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”). Upon the written request of the Investor, the Company shall promptly (but not later than the next business day on which the Company’s transfer agent is open for business) confirm orally or in writing to the Investor the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. The Investor and the Company shall each cooperate in good faith in the determinations required under this Section 3.4 and the application of this Section 3.4. The Investor’s determination of the applicability of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the resulting effect thereof hereunder at any time, shall be conclusive with respect to the applicability thereof and such result, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. The provisions of this Section 3.4 shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 3.4 to the extent necessary to properly give effect to the limitations contained in this Section 3.4.
Article
IV
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE INVESTOR
The Investor hereby makes the following representations, warranties and covenants to the Company:
Section 4.1. Organization and Standing of the Investor. The Investor is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 4.2. Authorization and Power. The Investor has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to purchase or acquire the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof. The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action, and no further consent or authorization of the Investor, its officers or its sole member is required. Each of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Investor and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Investor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, conservatorship, receivership, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditor’s rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application (including any limitation of equitable remedies).
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Section 4.3. No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by the Investor of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and shall not (i) result in a violation of such Investor’s certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other applicable organizational instruments, (ii) conflict with, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give rise to any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any material agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, indenture, note, bond, license, lease agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Investor is a party or is bound, (iii) create or impose any lien, charge or encumbrance on any property of the Investor under any agreement or any commitment to which the Investor is party or under which the Investor is bound or under which any of its properties or assets are bound, or (iv) result in a violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, rule, or regulation, or any Order of any Governmental Entity applicable to the Investor or by which any of its properties or assets are bound or affected, except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for such conflicts, defaults, terminations, amendments, acceleration, cancellations and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or otherwise interfere with, in any material respect, the ability of the Investor to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. The Investor is not required under any applicable federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or Order of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Entity in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement or to purchase or acquire the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, other than as may be required by FINRA; provided, however, that for purposes of the representation made in this sentence, the Investor is assuming and relying upon the accuracy of the relevant representations and warranties and the compliance with the relevant covenants and agreements of the Company in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.
Section 4.4. Investment Purpose. The Investor is acquiring the Securities for its own account, for investment purposes and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, the Investor does not agree, or make any representation or warranty, to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with, or pursuant to, a Registration Statement filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or an applicable exemption under the Securities Act. The Investor does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to sell or distribute any of the Securities. The Investor is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.
Section 4.5. Accredited Investor Status. The Investor is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.
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Section 4.6. Reliance on Exemptions. The Investor understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and upon specific exemptions set forth in state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Investor’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Investor set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Investor to acquire the Securities.
Section 4.7. Information. All materials relating to the business, financial condition, management and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Investor have been furnished or otherwise made available to the Investor or its advisors, including, without limitation, the Commission Documents. The Investor understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. The Investor is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of a proposed investment in the Securities. The Investor and its advisors have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning the financial condition and business of the Company and other matters relating to an investment in the Securities. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by the Investor or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect the Investor’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document to which the Company is a party or the Investor’s right to rely on any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the opinions of the Company’s counsel delivered pursuant to Sections 7.1(iv), 7.2(xvi) and 7.3(x)). The Investor has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities. The Investor understands that it (and not the Company) shall be responsible for its own tax liabilities that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.8. No Governmental Review. The Investor understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or Governmental Entity has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of an investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
Section 4.9. No General Solicitation. The Investor is not purchasing or acquiring the Securities as a result of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
Section 4.10. Not an Affiliate. The Investor is not an officer, director or an Affiliate of the Company. As of the date of this Agreement, the Investor does not beneficially own any shares of Common Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock. During the Investment Period, the Investor will not acquire for its own account any shares of Common Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock, other than pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or be deemed to prohibit the Investor from purchasing, in an open market transaction or otherwise, shares of Common Stock necessary to make delivery by the Investor in satisfaction of a sale by the Investor of Shares that the Investor anticipated receiving from the Company in connection with the settlement of a VWAP Purchase or an Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) if the Company or its transfer agent shall have failed for any reason (other than a failure of the Investor or its Broker-Dealer to set up a DWAC and required instructions) to electronically transfer all of the Shares subject to such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) to the Investor on the applicable Purchase Share Delivery Date by crediting the Investor’s or its designated Broker-Dealer’s account at DTC through its DWAC delivery system in compliance with Section 3.3 of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restriction does not apply to any Affiliate of the Investor, provided that any such purchases do not cause the Investor to violate any applicable Exchange Act requirement, including Regulation M.
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Section 4.11. No Prior Short Sales. At no time prior to the date of this Agreement has the Investor, its sole member, any of their respective officers, or any entity managed or controlled by the Investor or its sole member, engaged in or effected, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, for its own account or for the account of any of its Affiliates, any (i) “short sale” (as such term is defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock or (ii) hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock.
Section 4.12. Statutory Underwriter Status. The Investor acknowledges that it will be disclosed as an “underwriter” and a “selling stockholder” in each Registration Statement and in any Prospectus contained therein to the extent required by applicable law and to the extent the Prospectus is related to the resale of Registrable Securities.
Section 4.13. Resales of Securities. The Investor represents, warrants and covenants that it will resell Securities purchased or acquired by the Investor from the Company pursuant to this Agreement only pursuant to the Registration Statement in which the resale of such Securities is registered under the Securities Act and the Prospectus contained therein, in a manner described under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in such Registration Statement and Prospectus, and in a manner in compliance with all applicable U.S. federal and applicable state securities laws, rules and regulations.
Article
V
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to the Investor, if any (which is hereby incorporated by reference in, and constitutes an integral part of, this Agreement) (the “Disclosure Schedule”), the Company hereby makes the following representations, warranties, acknowledgments, and covenants to the Investor:
Section 5.1. Organization, Good Standing and Power. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries (as defined below) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own its respective properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.2. Authorization, Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. Except for approvals of the Company’s Board of Directors or a committee thereof as may be required in connection with any issuance and sale of Shares to the Investor hereunder (which approvals shall be obtained prior to the delivery of any VWAP Purchase Notice and any Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice), the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no further consent or authorization of the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders is required. Each of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, conservatorship, receivership or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditor’s rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application (including any limitation of equitable remedies).
Section 5.3. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company and the shares thereof issued and outstanding were as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of the dates reflected therein. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company is obligated to register the sale of any securities under the Securities Act. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no shares of Common Stock are entitled to preemptive rights and there are no outstanding debt securities and no contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company other than those issued or granted in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive and/or compensatory plans or arrangements. Except for customary transfer restrictions contained in agreements entered into by the Company to sell restricted securities or as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to, and it has no Knowledge of, any agreement restricting the voting or transfer of any shares of capital stock of the Company. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or the consummation of the transactions described herein or therein. The Company has filed with the Commission true and correct copies of the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as in effect on the Closing Date (the “Charter”), and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws as in effect on the Closing Date (the “Bylaws”).
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Section 5.4. Issuance of Securities. Payment of the Commitment Fee by the Company to the Investor in such manner, at such time(s) and otherwise pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.1(ii) of this Agreement and the Total Commitment worth of Shares available for issuance by the Company to the Investor under this Agreement have been, or with respect to the amount of Shares to be purchased by the Investor pursuant to a particular VWAP Purchase Notice or pursuant to a particular Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) will be, prior to the delivery to the Investor hereunder of such VWAP Purchase Notice and prior to the delivery to the Investor hereunder of such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable), in each case duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. An aggregate of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and reserved by the Company for issuance and sale to the Investor as Shares pursuant to VWAP Purchases and Intraday VWAP Purchases under this Agreement.
Section 5.5. No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and shall not (i) result in a violation of any provision of the Company’s Charter or Bylaws, (ii) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give rise to any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any material agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, indenture, note, bond, license, lease agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Company is a party or is bound, (iii) create or impose a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Company under any agreement or any commitment to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, or (iv) result in a violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, rule, regulation or Order applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Trading Market or applicable Eligible Market), except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for such conflicts, defaults, terminations, amendments, acceleration, cancellations, liens, charges, encumbrances and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement and as required under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, the Company is not required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or Order of, or make any filing or registration with, any Governmental Entity (including, without limitation, the Trading Market) in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party (except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), or to issue the Securities to the Investor in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof (other than such consents, authorizations, Orders, filings or registrations as have been obtained or made prior to the Closing Date); provided, however, that, for purposes of the representation made in this sentence, the Company is assuming and relying upon the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investor in this Agreement and the compliance by it with its covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
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Section 5.6. Commission Documents, Financial Statements; Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting; Accountants.
(a) The Company has timely filed (giving effect to permissible extensions in accordance with Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act) all Commission Documents required to be filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, including those required to be filed with or furnished to the Commission under Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As of its filing date (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the Closing Date, as of the date of such amended or superseded filing), each Commission Document filed with or furnished to the Commission prior to the Closing Date complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable. Each Registration Statement, on the date it is filed with the Commission, on the date it is declared effective by the Commission and on each Purchase Date, shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415 under the Securities Act) and shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, except that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from such Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Investor furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein. The Prospectus and each Prospectus Supplement required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement after the Closing Date, when taken together, on its date and on each Purchase Date, shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act) and shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Investor furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein. Each Commission Document (other than the Initial Registration Statement or any New Registration Statement, or the Prospectus included therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto) to be filed with or furnished to the Commission after the Closing Date and filed as part of or incorporated by reference in the Initial Registration Statement or any New Registration Statement, or the Prospectus included therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement (including, without limitation, the Current Report), when such document is filed with or furnished to the Commission and, if applicable, when such document becomes effective, as the case may be, shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable. Except as disclosed in the Commission Documents, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments or undertakings in the comment letters and substantive correspondence received by the Company from the Commission relating to the Commission Documents filed with or furnished to the Commission as of the Closing Date. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other Order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
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(b) The financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus filed with the Commission, together with the related notes and schedules, comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, as a whole, as of the dates indicated and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods therein specified in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the documents in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus constitute a fair summary of the information purported to be summarized and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement. The other financial and statistical data with respect to the Company contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, if any, are accurately and fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Company. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus under the Securities Act except as so included or incorporated by reference. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or incorporated by reference therein regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission) comply, in all material respects, with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act to the extent applicable. Deloitte Certified Public Accountants S.A. (the “Accountant”), which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules, if any, filed as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is and, during the periods covered by its report, was an independent public accountant within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), and to the Company’s knowledge, is a registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, and in the performance of its work for the Company has not been in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).
(c) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have established and maintain systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) amounts reflected on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet for assets are compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has been (i) no new material weakness identified to the Company’s board of directors (or committee thereof) in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company has presented in its most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, the conclusions of its principal executive and principal financial officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations, with respect to Annual Reports on Form 20-F as of the end of the period covered by the Annual Report on Form 20-F and, except as set forth in such Form 20-F or any Commission Document filed with the Commission for a period subsequent to the period covered by such Form 20-F, that, the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” are effective. Since December 31, 2024, there have been no internal investigations regarding accounting or revenue recognition discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, the Company’s board of directors or any committee thereof.
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(d) The Company has timely filed all certifications and statements the Company is required to file under (i) Rule 13a-14 or Rule 15d-14 under the Exchange Act or (ii) 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) with respect to all Commission Documents with respect to which the Company is required to file such certifications and statements thereunder.
Section 5.7. Subsidiaries. The Company has no material subsidiaries other than those listed in Exhibit 8.1 (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) to the Form 20-F. Except as listed in Exhibit 8.1, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any other corporation or have any equity interest in any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust or other entity.
Section 5.8. No Material Adverse Effect or Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in any Commission Documents and filed with the Commission: (i) the Company has not experienced or suffered any Material Adverse Effect, and there exists no current state of facts, condition or event which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the Company has conducted its business consistent with past practice in all material respects.
Section 5.9. No Undisclosed Liabilities. There is no transaction, arrangement or other relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that is not so disclosed.
Section 5.10. No Material Defaults on Indebtedness. Except as set forth in the Commission Documents, the Company is not (i) in violation of its Charter or Bylaws or similar organizational documents or (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, promissory note, or loan agreement or other instrument relating to Indebtedness to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for any such default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.11. Solvency. The Company has not taken any steps, and does not currently expect to take any steps, to seek protection pursuant to any Bankruptcy Law, nor does the Company have any Knowledge that its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for relief under any Bankruptcy Law. Except as set forth in the Commission Documents, the Company is financially solvent and is generally able to pay its debts as they become due.
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Section 5.12. Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all property (whether real or personal) described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as being owned by it, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects except such as are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The property held under lease by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.13. Litigation; Compliance with Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries: (A) is and at all times has been in material compliance with all United States (federal, state and local) and foreign statutes, rules, regulations, treaties, or guidances applicable to the Company or the Subsidiaries (“Applicable Laws”); (B) has not received any notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from any Governmental Authority (as defined below) alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws (“Authorizations”); (C) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any Governmental Authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Authority or third party intends to assert any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (D) has not received notice that any Governmental Authority has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and the Company has no knowledge that any such Governmental Authority is considering such action; or (E) is not, and has not been, in violation of any Order applicable to the Company, except in all cases for any such violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except in the case of (A) through (D) above, as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. “Governmental Authority” means any federal, provincial, state, local, foreign or other governmental or quasi-governmental agency or body or any other type of regulatory authority or body, including, without limitation, the Trading Market. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, neither the Company, nor any director or officer of the Company, is or has been the subject of any Proceeding involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty, which would reasonably be expected to result in a judgment, decree or order having a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, there has not been, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company, which would reasonably be expected to result in a judgment, decree or order having a Material Adverse Effect
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Section 5.14. Certain Fees.
Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. he Company has not entered into any other sales agency agreements or other similar arrangements with any agent or any other representative in respect of “at the market” or “equity line of credit” offerings of the Shares in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
Section 5.15. Reserved.
Section 5.16. Disclosure. The Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided the Investor or any of its agents, advisors or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, nonpublic information concerning the Company that has not been publicly disclosed by the Company in a Commission Document filed by the Company with the Commission, other than the existence of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company understands and confirms that the Investor will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting resales of Securities under the Registration Statement.
Section 5.17. Material Permits. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries holds, and is operating in compliance with all grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, consents, certificates and orders of any governmental or self-regulatory body required for the conduct of its respective businesses and all such grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, consents, certifications and orders are valid and in full force and effect, except for such noncompliance or failures to be in full force and effect that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such grant, authorization, license, permit, consent, certification or order or has reason to believe that any such grant, authorization, license, permit, consent, certification or order will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except for such notices and such possibility of non-renewal that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, orders and decrees, except for such noncompliance that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) as have been obtained or may be required under the Securities Act, (ii) as have been obtained or may be required under the blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by the Investor, (iii) the filing of any reports under the Exchange Act, (iv) such approvals as may be required by FINRA, (v) approval of the listing of the Shares by the Trading Market, or (vi) such approvals as have been obtained or made as of the Purchase Date. This Section 5.17 does not relate to environmental matters, such items being the subject of Section 5.18.
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Section 5.18. Environmental Matters. (a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable international, national, state or local convention, law, regulation, order, governmental license, convention, treaty (including those promulgated by the International Maritime Organization) or other requirement relating to pollution or protection of human health or safety (as they relate to exposure to Materials of Environmental Concern (as defined below)) or protection of the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or protection of natural resources, including without limitation, conventions, laws or regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum, petroleum products or other hydrocarbons (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern, or any authorizations, codes, decrees, demands, or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received any written communication, whether from a Governmental Authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any such Subsidiary is in violation of any Environmental Law or governmental license required pursuant to Environmental Law; except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or Governmental Authority and no investigation, or other action with respect to which the Company or any Subsidiary has received written notice alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys' fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary, now or in the past, or from any vessel owned, leased or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claim”), pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any Subsidiary has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably would be expected to result in a violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditures to be incurred pursuant to Environmental Law, or form the basis of an Environmental Claim against the Company, any Subsidiary or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any Subsidiary has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (for the avoidance of doubt, the operation of vessels in the ordinary course of business shall not be deemed, by itself, an action, activity, circumstance or condition set forth in this clause (c)); (d) none of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject to any pending proceeding under Environmental Law to which a Governmental Authority is a party and which the Company reasonably believes is likely to result in monetary sanctions of US$100,000 or more; and (e) the Company and its Subsidiaries have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has reasonably concluded that any existing compliance and remediation costs and liabilities arising under Environmental Laws and resulting from the business, operations or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). No facts or circumstances have come to the Company's attention that could result in costs or liabilities that could be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.19. Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns, possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all Intellectual Property (as defined below) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as now conducted or as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to be conducted. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property owned by the Company, except as otherwise disclosed to the Agent in writing by the Company prior to the date hereof; (B) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (C) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (D) the Intellectual Property owned by the Company and each of the Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property licensed to the Company, each of the Subsidiaries, has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (E) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of others, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any written notice of such claim; and (F) to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in or has ever been in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. “Intellectual Property” shall mean all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, domain names, technology, know-how and other intellectual property.
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Section 5.20. Material Contracts. Except as set forth in the Commission Documents filed with the Commission, the descriptions in such Commission Documents of the material Contracts therein described present fairly in all material respects the information required to be shown, and there are no material Contracts of a character required to be described in such Commission Documents or to be filed as exhibits thereto which are not described or filed as required; all material Contracts between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in such Commission Documents are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other contracting party thereto, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles, and except where the failure of any such Contract to be enforceable in accordance with its terms would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.21. Transactions With Affiliates. No transaction has occurred or agreement or understanding entered into between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the one hand, and any officer, director or 5% or greater stockholder of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any affiliate or affiliates of any such officer, director or 5% or greater stockholder that is required to be described that is not so described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, extended or maintained credit, or arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any of its directors or executive officers in violation of applicable laws, including Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as set forth in the Commission Documents, there are no loans, leases, agreements, contracts, royalty agreements, management contracts, service arrangements or other continuing transactions exceeding $120,000 between (a) the Company, on the one hand, and (b) any person or entity who would be covered by Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, on the other hand, for the time period as required under Item 404(a) thereof.
Section 5.22. Labor Relations. No material labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent. Except as disclosed in the Commission Documents, the Company is in compliance with all Laws relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.23. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds from the sale of the Shares by the Company to Investor shall be used by the Company in the manner as will be set forth in the Prospectus included in any Registration Statement (and any post-effective amendment thereto) and any Prospectus Supplement thereto filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 5.24. Investment Company Act Status. The Company is not, and as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as will be set forth in the Prospectus included in any Registration Statement (and any post-effective amendment thereto) and any Prospectus Supplement thereto filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement the Company will not be required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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Section 5.25. Tax Matters. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has timely filed all applicable federal, state, local, foreign and other income and franchise tax returns required to be filed and are not in default in the payment of any taxes which were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto, other than any which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is contesting in good faith. There is no pending dispute with any taxing authority relating to any of such returns, and the Company has no knowledge of any proposed liability for any tax to be imposed upon the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which there is not an adequate reserve reflected in the Company’s financial statements included in the Registration Statement. There are no documentary, stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties or similar fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or any political subdivision of any thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance, sale and delivery by the Company of the Shares.
Section 5.26. Insurance. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks the Company reasonably believes are adequate for the conduct of its respective business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; all policies of insurance and any fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company, each of its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; there are no claims by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.27. Exemption from Registration. Subject to, and in reliance on, the representations, warranties and covenants made herein by the Investor, the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Investor in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2); provided, however, that at the request of and with the express agreement of the Investor (including, without limitation, the representations, warranties and covenants of Investor set forth in Sections 4.4 through 4.7 and 4.9 through 4.13), the Securities to be issued from and after Commencement to or for the benefit of the Investor pursuant to this Agreement shall be issued to the Investor or its designee only as DWAC Shares and will not bear legends noting restrictions as to resale of such securities under federal or state securities laws, nor will any such securities be subject to stop transfer instructions.
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Section 5.28. No General Solicitation or Advertising. Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
Section 5.29. No Integrated Offering. None of the Company or any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the offer, issuance and sale by the Company to the Investor of any of the Securities under the Securities Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of stockholders of the Company under any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of the Trading Market. None of the Company, its Affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps referred to in the preceding sentence that would require registration of the offer, issuance and sale by the Company to the Investor of any of the Securities under the Securities Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with any other offering of securities of the Company.
Section 5.30. Dilutive Effect. The Company is aware and acknowledges that issuance of the Securities could cause dilution to existing stockholders and could significantly increase the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue the Shares pursuant to the terms of a VWAP Purchase Notice and pursuant to the terms of an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) in accordance with this Agreement is, in each case, absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.
Section 5.31. Manipulation of Price. Neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or to the Knowledge of the Company, its Affiliates has, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Person acting on their behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company, or which caused or resulted in, or which would in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company, in each case to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or to the Knowledge of the Company, its Affiliates will during the term of this Agreement, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Person acting on their behalf will during the term of this Agreement, take any of the actions referred to in the immediately preceding sentence.
Section 5.32. Securities Act. The Company has complied and shall comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws in connection with the offer, issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder, including, without limitation, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act. Each Registration Statement, upon filing with the Commission and at the time it is declared effective by the Commission, shall satisfy all of the requirements of the Securities Act to register the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein by the Investor in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement on a delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 under the Securities Act at then-prevailing market prices, and not fixed prices. The Company is not currently and has not been an issuer identified in, or subject to, Rule 144(i)(1).
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Section 5.33. Listing and Maintenance Requirements; DTC Eligibility. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its Knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not received written notice from the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, from such Eligible Market) to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of the Trading Market (or of such Eligible Market, as applicable). Except as disclosed in the Commission Documents filed with the Commission, the Company is in compliance with all applicable listing and maintenance requirements of the Trading Market. The Common Stock may be issued and transferred electronically to third parties via DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) delivery system. The Company has not received written notice from DTC to the effect that a suspension of, or restriction on, accepting additional deposits of the Common Stock, electronic trading or book-entry services by DTC with respect to the Common Stock is being imposed or is contemplated.
Section 5.34. Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and its Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, Spin Off, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s Charter or laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, that is or could become applicable to the Investor as a result of the Investor and the Company fulfilling their respective obligations or exercising their respective rights under the Transaction Documents (as applicable), including, without limitation, as a result of the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Investor’s ownership of the Securities.
Section 5.35. Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company has, directly or indirectly, (1) made any unlawful contribution to any federal, state, local and foreign candidate for public office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, (2) made any payment to any federal, state, local and foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof, (3) violated or is in violation of any provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”), or (4) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
Section 5.36. Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions (the “Sanctions Regulations”) administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such net proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or listed on the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. Neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company, is named on any denied party or entity list administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce pursuant to the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the sale of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any Sanctions Regulations or to support activities in or with countries sanctioned by said authorities, or for engaging in transactions that violate the EAR.
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Section 5.37. Money Laundering. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any applicable Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Entity, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
Section 5.38. Reserved.
Section 5.39. IT Systems. To the Knowledge of the Company and except as otherwise described in the Commission Documents, and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there has been no security breach or attack or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of its customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on its behalf), equipment or technology (“IT Systems and Data”), (ii) the Company has not been notified of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any security breach, attack or compromise to its IT Systems and Data, (iii) the Company has complied in all material respects, and is presently in material compliance with, all applicable Laws of any Governmental Entity and all industry guidelines, standards, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification and (iv) the Company has implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practice.
Section 5.40. Privacy Laws. Except as otherwise described in the Commission Documents, and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company is, and at all prior times was, in compliance with all applicable data privacy and security Laws; and the Company has taken all necessary actions to comply in all respects with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, “Privacy Laws”). The Company has in place, complies with, and takes appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with its policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). The Company provides accurate notice of its Policies to its customers, employees, third party vendors and representatives. The Policies provide accurate and sufficient notice of the Company’s then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter and such Policies do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural persons’ name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (iv) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of such disclosures made or contained in any of the Policies have been inaccurate, misleading, deceptive or in violation of any Privacy Laws or Policies. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents will not result in a breach of any Privacy Laws or Policies. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company (i) has not received written notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no Knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is not currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is not a party to any Order or agreement that imposed any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.
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Section 5.41. U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. Except as disclosed in the Commission Documents, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company is not, and has not been at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of this Agreement, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code.
Section 5.42. Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Commission Documents filed with the Commission will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.
Section 5.43. Emerging Growth Company Status. As of the Closing Date, the Company was, and as of the Commencement Date the Company will be, an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.
Section 5.44. Bad Actor Disqualification. None of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering contemplated hereby, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company's outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act. The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event.
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Section 5.45. Market Capitalization . As of the date of this Agreement, the aggregate market value of the outstanding voting and non-voting common equity (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) of the Company held by Persons other than Affiliates of the Company (the “Non-Affiliate Shares”), was approximately $11.2 million (calculated by multiplying (i) the highest price at which the common equity of the Company closed on the Trading Market within 60 days of the date of this Agreement by (ii) the number of Non-Affiliate Shares).
Section 5.46. Broker/Dealer Relationships; FINRA Information. The Company (i) is not required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) does not, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or is a “person associated with a member” or “associated person of a member” (within the meaning set forth in the FINRA Manual). All of the information provided to the Investor, BRS or to their counsel, specifically for use by BRS in connection with the FINRA Filing (and related disclosure) with FINRA, by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents is true, complete, correct and compliant with FINRA’s rules and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rules.
Section 5.47. Acknowledgement Regarding Relationship with Investor and BRS. The Company acknowledges and agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, that the Investor is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s-length purchaser with respect to this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and BRS is acting as a representative of the Investor in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and of no other party, including the Company. The Company further acknowledges that while the Investor will be deemed to be a statutory “underwriter” with respect to certain of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in accordance with interpretive positions of the Staff of the Commission, the Investor is a “trader” that is not required to register with the Commission as a broker-dealer under Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company further acknowledges that the Investor and its representatives are not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and any advice given by the Investor or any of its representatives (including BRS) or agents in connection therewith is merely incidental to the Investor’s acquisition of the Securities. The Company understands and acknowledges that employees of BRS may discuss market color, VWAP Purchase Notice and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice timing and parameter considerations and other related capital markets considerations with the Company in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, in all cases on behalf of the Investor. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Investor has not made and does not make any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than those specifically set forth in Article IV.
Section 5.48. Acknowledgement Regarding Investor’s Affiliate Relationships. Affiliates of the Investor, including BRS, engage in a wide range of activities for their own accounts and the accounts of customers, including corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, merchant banking, equity and fixed income sales, trading and research, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, asset management, custody, clearance and securities lending. In the course of their respective business, Affiliates of the Investor may, directly or indirectly, hold long or short positions, trade and otherwise conduct such activities in or with respect to debt or equity securities or bank debt of, or derivative products relating to, the Company. Any such position will be created, and maintained, independently of the position the Investor takes in the Company. In addition, at any given time Affiliates of the Investor, including BRS, may have been or in the future may be engaged by one or more entities that may be competitors with, or otherwise adverse to, the Company in matters unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and Affiliates of the Investor, including BRS may have or may in the future provide investment banking or other services to the Company in matters unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Activities of any of the Investor’s Affiliates performed on behalf of the Company may give rise to actual or apparent conflicts of interest given the Investor’s potentially competing interests with those of the Company. The Company expressly acknowledges the benefits it receives from the Investor’s participation in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, on the one hand, and the Investor’s Affiliates’ activities, if any, on behalf of the Company unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, on the other hand, and understands the conflict or potential conflict of interest that may arise in this regard, and has consulted with such independent advisors as it deems appropriate in order to understand and assess the risks associated with these potential conflicts of interest. Consistent with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, applicable Affiliates of the Investor have adopted policies and procedures to establish and maintain the independence of their research departments and personnel from their investment banking groups and the Investor. As a result, research analysts employed by Affiliates of the Investor may hold views, make statements or investment recommendations or publish research reports with respect to the Company or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents that differ from the views of the Investor.
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Section 5.49. Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, and all such dividends and other distributions are not subject to income withholding or other taxes under the current laws and regulations of the jurisdictions where such subsidiaries are organized. All dividends and other distributions declared and payable on the shares of capital stock of the Company may under the current laws and regulations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands be paid in United States dollars and may be freely transferred out of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and all such dividends and other distributions are not subject to income withholding or other taxes under the current laws and regulations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Greece or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and are otherwise free and clear of any other tax, withholding or deduction in, and without the necessity of obtaining any consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations, clearances and qualifications of or with any court or governmental agency or body or any stock exchange authorities in, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Greece or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.
Section 5.50. No Immunity. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of the United States, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or any political subdivisions thereof.
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Section 5.51. Foreign Private Issuer. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.
Section 5.52. Passive Foreign Investment Company. Based on current law and the Company’s current operations and future projections, the Company does not believe it would be treated as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect to any taxable year. Although the Company intends to conduct its affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, the Company can make no assurances that the nature of its operations will not change in the future.
Section 5.53. Federal Income Tax. The Company believes that it and its subsidiaries will qualify for the exemption from U.S. federal income tax on their U.S. source international transportation income under Section 883 of the Code for the taxable year ending December 31, 2024 and future taxable years.
Section 5.54. Vessels. Each of the vessels described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as being owned by the Company or any Subsidiary as described therein (“Owned Vessels”) has been duly and validly registered in the name of a Subsidiary under the laws and regulations and flag of the nation of its registration; no other action is necessary to establish and perfect such entity’s title to and interest in any of the Owned Vessels as against any third party; and each Owned Vessel is owned directly by the Company or such Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances, except such as are described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Each such Subsidiary has good title to the applicable Owned Vessel, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests and claims and all defects of the title of record except for maritime liens incurred in the ordinary course and those liens arising under Credit Facilities, each as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Each of the Owned Vessels is in good standing with respect to the payment of past and current taxes, fees and other amounts payable under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is registered, except where such lien or defect of title or record would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.55. No Tax. No stamp duty, stock exchange tax, value-added tax, withholding tax or any other similar duty or tax is payable in the United States, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or Greece, or any political subdivision thereof, or to any authority therein having power to tax, in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this agreement by the parties hereto or the issuance, sale or delivery of the Securities.
Article
VI
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
The Company covenants with the Investor, and the Investor covenants with the Company, as follows, which covenants of one party are for the benefit of the other party, during the Investment Period (and with respect to the Company, for the period following the termination of this Agreement specified in Section 8.3 pursuant to and in accordance with Section 8.3):
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Section 6.1. Securities Compliance. The Company shall notify the Commission and the Trading Market, if and as applicable, in accordance with their respective rules and regulations, of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and shall take all necessary action, undertake all proceedings and obtain all registrations, permits, consents and approvals for the legal and valid issuance of the Securities to the Investor in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, as applicable.
Section 6.2. Reservation of Common Stock. The Company has available and during the Investment Period the Company shall reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive and other similar rights of stockholders, the requisite aggregate number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to enable the Company to timely effect (i) the issuance, sale and delivery of all Shares to be issued, sold and delivered in respect of each VWAP Purchase effected under this Agreement, and (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of all Shares to be issued, sold and delivered in respect of each Intraday VWAP Purchase effected under this Agreement, in the case of this clause (ii), at least prior to the delivery by the Company to the Investor of the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice in connection with such Intraday VWAP Purchase. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as of the date of this Agreement the Company has reserved, and as of the Commencement Date shall have continued to reserve, out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock solely for the purpose of issuing Shares pursuant to one or more VWAP Purchases and pursuant to one or more Intraday VWAP Purchases (as applicable) that may be effected by the Company, in its sole discretion, from time to time from and after the Commencement Date under this Agreement. The number of shares of Common Stock so reserved for the purpose of effecting issuances of Shares pursuant to VWAP Purchases and pursuant to Intraday VWAP Purchases under this Agreement (as applicable) may be increased from time to time by the Company from and after the Commencement Date, and such number of reserved shares may be reduced from and after the Commencement Date only by the number of Shares actually issued, sold and delivered to the Investor pursuant to any VWAP Purchase and any Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) effected from and after the Commencement Date pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 6.3. Registration and Listing. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Common Stock to continue to be registered as a class of securities under Sections 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and to comply with its reporting and filing obligations under the Exchange Act, and shall not take any action or file any document (whether or not permitted by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) to terminate or suspend such registration or to terminate or suspend its reporting and filing obligations under the Exchange Act or Securities Act, except as permitted herein. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock and the listing of the Securities purchased or acquired by the Investor hereunder on the Trading Market (or another Eligible Market) and to comply with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the rules and regulations of the Trading Market (or other Eligible Market, as applicable). The Company shall not take any action which could be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on the Trading Market (or other Eligible Market, as applicable). If the Company receives any final and non-appealable notice that the listing or quotation of the Common Stock on the Trading Market (or other Eligible Market, as applicable) shall be terminated on a date certain, the Company shall promptly (and in any case within 24 hours) notify the Investor of such fact in writing and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Common Stock to be listed or quoted on another Eligible Market.
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Section 6.4. Compliance with Laws.
(i) During the Investment Period, the Company (a) shall comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply, with all laws, rules, regulations and Orders applicable to the business and operations of the Company, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) with applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including Regulation M thereunder, applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws (but only to the extent set forth in Section 6.11), and applicable listing rules of the Trading Market (or Eligible Market, as applicable), except in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or otherwise interfere with the ability of the Company to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect or for Investor to conduct resales of Securities under the Registration Statement in any material respect. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers, agents, employees or any other Persons acting on their behalf shall, in connection with the operation of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses, (1) use any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, payments, gifts or entertainment or to make any unlawful expenditures relating to political activity to government officials, candidates or members of political parties or organizations, (2) pay, accept or receive any unlawful contributions, payments, expenditures or gifts, or (3) violate or operate in noncompliance with any export restrictions, anti-boycott regulations, embargo regulations or other applicable domestic or foreign laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the FCPA and Money Laundering Laws.
(ii) The Investor shall comply with all laws, rules, regulations and Orders applicable to the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement and its investment in the Securities, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or otherwise interfere with the ability of the Investor to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect. Without limiting the foregoing, the Investor shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including Regulation M thereunder, the rules and regulations of FINRA, and all applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws.
Section 6.5. Keeping of Records and Books of Account; Due Diligence.
(i) The Investor and the Company shall each maintain records showing the remaining Total Commitment, the dates and VWAP Purchase Share Amount for each VWAP Purchase, and the dates and Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount for each Intraday VWAP Purchase.
(ii) Subject to the requirements of Section 6.12, from time to time from and after the Closing Date and prior to termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2, the Company shall make available for inspection and review by the Investor during normal business hours and after reasonable notice, customary documentation reasonably requested by the Investor and/or its appointed counsel or advisors to conduct due diligence; provided, however, that (i) the Investor shall have no right to receive any information that the Company reasonably determines to be material non-public information and (ii) after the Closing Date, the Investor’s continued due diligence shall not be a condition precedent to the Commencement or to the Investor’s obligation to accept each VWAP Purchase Notice and each Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice timely delivered by the Company to the Investor in accordance with this Agreement.
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Section 6.6. No Frustration; No Other Similar Transactions.
(i) No Frustration. The Company shall not enter into, announce or recommend to its shareholders any agreement, plan, arrangement or transaction in or of which the terms thereof would materially restrict, delay, conflict with or impair the ability or right of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, including, without limitation, the obligation of the Company to (a) pay the Commitment Fee to the Investor in such manner, at such time and otherwise pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.1(ii), and (b) deliver the Shares to the Investor in respect of each VWAP Purchase and each Intraday VWAP Purchase effected by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, in each case not later than the applicable Purchase Share Delivery Date with respect to such VWAP Purchase and such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) in accordance with Section 3.3. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 6.6(i) shall in any way limit the Company’s right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.2 (subject in all cases to Section 8.3).
(ii) No Similar Transactions. Prior to termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2, the Company shall not effect or enter into an agreement to effect any issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (or a combination of units thereof) involving an “equity line of credit,” an “at the market offering” or other similar continuous offering, other than Common Stock issued by the Company in connection with any “at the market offering” or “equity distribution program” or similar offering of Common Stock exclusively to or through B. Riley Securities, Inc. pursuant to one or more written agreements between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc.
Section 6.7. Corporate Existence. The Company shall take all steps necessary to preserve and continue the corporate existence of the Company; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 6.8, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit the Company from engaging in any Fundamental Transaction with another Person. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 6.7 shall in any way limit the Company’s right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.2 (subject in all cases to Section 8.3).
Section 6.8. Fundamental Transaction. If a VWAP Purchase Notice or an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice has been delivered to the Investor and the transactions contemplated therein have not yet been fully settled in accordance with Section 3.3 of this Agreement, the Company shall not effect any Fundamental Transaction until the expiration of five Trading Days following the date of full settlement thereof and the issuance to the Investor of all of the Shares that are issuable to the Investor pursuant to the VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) to which such VWAP Purchase Notice or Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) relates.
Section 6.9. Selling Restrictions.
(i) Except as expressly set forth below, the Investor covenants that from and after the Closing Date through and including the Trading Day next following the expiration or termination of this Agreement as provided in Article VIII (the “Restricted Period”), none of the Investor, its sole member, any of their respective officers, or any entity managed or controlled by the Investor or its sole member (collectively, the “Restricted Persons” and each of the foregoing is referred to herein as a “Restricted Person”) shall, directly or indirectly, engage in any (i) Short Sales of the Common Stock or (ii) hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock, with respect to each of clauses (i) and (ii) hereof, either for its own account or for the account of any other Restricted Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly understood and agreed that nothing contained herein shall (without implication that the contrary would otherwise be true) prohibit any Restricted Person during the Restricted Period from: (1) selling “long” (as defined under Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO) the Securities; or (2) selling a number shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Shares that the Investor is unconditionally obligated to purchase under any pending VWAP Purchase Notice or any pending Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable), but has not yet received from the Company or its transfer agent pursuant to this Agreement, so long as (X) the Investor (or its Broker-Dealer, as applicable) delivers the Shares purchased pursuant to such pending VWAP Purchase Notice and the Shares purchased pursuant to such pending Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) to the purchaser thereof promptly upon the Investor’s receipt of such Shares from the Company in accordance with Section 3.3 of this Agreement and (Y) neither the Company or its transfer agent shall have failed for any reason to deliver such Shares to the Investor or its Broker-Dealer so that such Shares are timely received by the Investor as DWAC Shares on the applicable Purchase Share Delivery Date for such VWAP Purchase and on the applicable Purchase Share Delivery Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchases (as applicable) in accordance with Section 3.3 of this Agreement.
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(ii) In addition to the foregoing, in connection with any sale of Securities (including any sale permitted by paragraph (i) above), the Investor shall comply in all respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and Orders, including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(iii) The Investor covenants and agrees that during the Restricted Period, none of the Investor or any other Restricted Person shall, directly or indirectly, allow any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investor to be borrowed against for any third Person to utilize in any Short Sale of Common Stock. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, the Investor covenants and agrees that, with respect to each brokerage account of the Investor and each other Restricted Person in which shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investor are held or to be held during the Restricted Period, the Investor and each other Restricted Person (as applicable) shall provide written instructions to the applicable broker that the Investor or the Restricted Person (as applicable) does not wish to participate in, and expressly opts out of, any “fully paid lending program” or similar program with respect to such brokerage account so that shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Investor that are or to be held in such brokerage account during the Restricted Period will not be made available by the broker for lending to any third Person in connection with, to effect or otherwise to facilitate any Short Sale of Common Stock by any Person.
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Section 6.10. Effective Registration Statement. During the Investment Period, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the continuous effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement and each New Registration Statement filed with the Commission under the Securities Act for the applicable Registration Period pursuant to and in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 6.11. Blue Sky. The Company shall take such action, if any, as is necessary by the Company in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Securities for sale by the Company to the Investor pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and at the request of the Investor, the subsequent resale of Registrable Securities by the Investor, in each case, under applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Investor from time to time following the Closing Date; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 6.11, (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
Section 6.12. Non-Public Information. Neither the Company, nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall disclose any material non-public information about the Company to the Investor, unless a simultaneous public announcement thereof is made by the Company in the manner contemplated by Regulation FD. In the event of a breach of the foregoing covenant by the Company, or any of its directors, officers, employees and agents (as determined in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Investor), (i) the Investor shall promptly provide written notice of such breach to the Company and (ii) after such notice has been provided to the Company and, provided that the Company shall have failed demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Investor in writing within 48 hours that such information does not constitute material, non-public information or the Company shall have failed to publicly disclose such material, non-public information within 48 hours following demand therefor by the Investor, in addition to any other remedy provided herein or in the other Transaction Documents, if the Investor is holding any Shares at the time of the disclosure of material, non-public information, the Investor shall have the right to make a public disclosure, in the form of a press release, public advertisement or otherwise, of such material, nonpublic information without the prior approval by the Company, or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents. The Investor shall not have any liability to the Company, or any of its directors, officers, employees, stockholders or agents, for any such disclosure.
Section 6.13. Broker-Dealer. The Investor shall use one or more broker-dealers (one of which is BRS, an Affiliate of the Investor) to effectuate all sales, if any, of the Securities that it may purchase or otherwise acquire from the Company pursuant to the Transaction Documents, as applicable, which (or whom) shall be a DTC participant (collectively, the “Broker-Dealer”). The Investor shall, from time to time, provide the Company and the Company’s transfer agent with all information regarding the Broker-Dealer reasonably requested by the Company. The Investor shall be solely responsible for all fees and commissions of the Broker-Dealer (if any), which shall not exceed customary brokerage fees and commissions and shall be responsible for designating only a DTC participant eligible to receive DWAC Shares.
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Section 6.14. FINRA Filing. The Company shall assist the Investor and BRS with BRS’ preparation and filing with FINRA’s Corporate Financing Department via the Public Offering System of all documents and information required to be filed with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 with regard to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “FINRA Filing”). In connection therewith, on or prior to the date the FINRA Filing is first made by BRS with FINRA, the Company shall pay to FINRA by wire transfer of immediately available funds the applicable filing fee with respect to the FINRA Filing, and the Company shall be solely responsible for payment of such fee. The parties hereby agree to provide each other and BRS all requisite information and otherwise to assist each other and BRS in a timely fashion in order for BRS to complete the preparation and submission of the FINRA Filing in accordance with this Section 6.14 and to assist BRS in promptly responding to any inquiries or requests from FINRA or its staff. Each party hereto shall (a) promptly notify the other party and BRS of any communication to that party or its Affiliates from FINRA, including, without limitation, any request from FINRA or its staff for amendments or supplements to or additional information in respect of the FINRA Filing and permit the other party and BRS to review in advance any proposed written communication to FINRA and (b) furnish the other party and BRS with copies of all written correspondence, filings and communications between them and their affiliates and their respective representatives and advisors, on the one hand, and FINRA or members of its staff, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each of the parties hereto agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other party and BRS in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable in order for BRS to obtain as promptly as practicable written confirmation from FINRA to the effect that FINRA's Corporate Financing Department has determined not to raise any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Commencement Date shall not occur, unless and until BRS shall have received written confirmation from FINRA to the effect that FINRA's Corporate Financing Department has determined not to raise any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.15. QIU. If the Investor or any of its Affiliates, including BRS, reasonably determines that a Qualified Independent Underwriter is required to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in order for such transactions to be in full compliance with the rules and regulations of FINRA, including, without limitation, FINRA Rule 5121, each of the parties hereto shall have executed such documentation as may reasonably be required to engage a Qualified Independent Underwriter to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA, including, without limitation, FINRA Rule 5121. The Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such Qualified Independent Underwriter pursuant to an engagement letter between the Company and such Qualified Independent Underwriter at such time and otherwise as set forth in such engagement letter. On the Commencement Date, the Investor shall reimburse (or shall cause one of its Affiliates to reimburse) the Company, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company on or prior to the Commencement Date, an amount in cash equal to the full amount of the fees and expenses of such Qualified Independent Underwriter that were paid by the Company to such Qualified Independent Underwriter prior to the Commencement Date pursuant to the engagement letter between the Company and such Qualified Independent Underwriter.
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Section 6.16. Disclosure Schedule.
(i) The Company may, from time to time, update the Disclosure Schedule as may be required to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(i) and Section 7.3(i) (to the extent such condition set forth in Section 7.3(i) relates to the condition in Section 7.2(i) as of a specific Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time). For purposes of this Section 6.16, any disclosure made in a schedule to the Compliance Certificate shall be deemed to be an update of the Disclosure Schedule. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no update to the Disclosure Schedule pursuant to this Section 6.16 shall cure any breach of a representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement and made prior to the update and shall not affect any of the Investor’s rights or remedies with respect thereto.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Disclosure Schedule or in this Agreement, the information and disclosure contained in any Schedule of the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to be disclosed and incorporated by reference in any other Schedule of the Disclosure Schedule as though fully set forth in such Schedule for which applicability of such information and disclosure is readily apparent on its face. The fact that any item of information is disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule shall not be construed to mean that such information is required to be disclosed by this Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, such information and the thresholds (whether based on quantity, qualitative characterization, dollar amounts or otherwise) set forth herein shall not be used as a basis for interpreting the terms “material” or “Material Adverse Effect” or other similar terms in this Agreement.
Section 6.17. Delivery of Compliance Certificates, Bring-Down Negative Assurance Letters, Bring-Down CFO Certificates and Bring-Down Comfort Letters Upon Occurrence of Certain Events. Within three Trading Days immediately following: (i) each date on which the Company files with the Commission (A) an annual report on Form 20-F under the Exchange Act, (B) a Form 20-F/A containing amended (or restated) financial information or a material amendment to a previously filed annual report on Form 20-F, (C) its quarterly or semi-annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis on Form 6-K under the Exchange Act, or (D) a report on Form 6-K containing amended (or restated) financial information (other to provide disclosure relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act; and (ii) the effective date of (A) each post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement, (B) each New Registration Statement and (C) each post-effective amendment to each New Registration Statement, and in any case, not more than once per calendar quarter (each, a “Representation Date”), the Company shall (I) deliver to the Investor a Compliance Certificate, dated the date of delivery to the Investor, (II) cause to be furnished to the Investor an opinion and negative assurance letter “bring-down” from outside counsel to the Company, dated the date of delivery to the Investor, substantially in the form mutually agreed to by the Company and the Investor prior to the date of this Agreement, modified, as necessary, to relate to a New Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or a New Registration Statement, and the Prospectus contained in a Registration Statement or post-effective amendment as then amended or supplemented by any Prospectus Supplement thereto as of the date of such letter, as applicable (each, a “Bring-Down Negative Assurance Letter”) and (III) other than with respect to a Representation Date pursuant to clause (i)(C) and (D) above, cause to be furnished to the Investor (A) a customary “comfort letter” provided by the Accountant or a successor independent registered public accounting firm for the Company (as applicable), dated the date of delivery to the Investor, substantially in the form, scope and substance as the information contained in the Initial Comfort Letter (to the extent such information is then applicable), stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the Initial Comfort Letter (to the extent such financial information or other matters are then applicable), modified, as necessary, to address such
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new, amended or restated financial information contained in any of the Commission Documents referred to in clause (i) above or to relate to a New Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or a New Registration Statement, or the Prospectus contained in a Registration Statement or post-effective amendment as then amended or supplemented by any Prospectus Supplement thereto as of the date of such letter, as applicable (each, a “Bring-Down Comfort Letter”) and (B) a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer, dated the date of delivery to the Investor, substantially in the form mutually agreed to by the Company and the Investor prior to the date of this Agreement, modified, as necessary, to relate to a New Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or a New Registration Statement, and the Prospectus contained in a Registration Statement or post-effective amendment as then amended or supplemented by any Prospectus Supplement thereto as of the date of such letter, as applicable (each, a “Bring-Down CFO Certificate”). The requirement to provide the documents identified in the previous sentence shall be tolled with respect to any Representation Date, if (A) the Company has given written notice to the Investor (with a copy to its counsel) in accordance with Section 10.4, not later than one Trading Day prior to the applicable Representation Date, of the Company’s decision to suspend delivery of VWAP Purchase Notices for future VWAP Purchases and delivery of Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices for future Intraday VWAP Purchases (each, a “Future Purchase Suspension”) (it being hereby acknowledged and agreed that no Future Purchase Suspension shall limit, alter, modify, change or otherwise affect any of the Company’s or the Investor’s rights or obligations under the Transaction Documents with respect to any pending VWAP Purchase and any pending Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) that has not been fully settled in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and that the parties shall fully perform their respective obligations with respect to any such pending VWAP Purchase and any pending Intraday VWAP Purchase under the Transaction Documents), and (B) such Representation Date does not occur during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date for a VWAP Purchase or an Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) and ending on the third Trading Day following the date of full settlement thereof and the issuance to the Investor of all of the Shares that are issuable to the Investor pursuant to such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), which tolling shall continue until the Trading Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date for a VWAP Purchase or an Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to deliver a VWAP Purchase Notice or an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice following a Representation Date when a Future Purchase Suspension was in effect and did not provide the Investor with the documents identified in clauses (I), (II) and (III) of the first sentence of this Section 6.17, then prior to the Company’s delivery to the Investor of such VWAP Purchase Notice or such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) on a Purchase Date, the Company shall provide the Investor with the documents identified in clauses (I), (II) and (III) of the first sentence of this Section 6.17, dated as of the applicable Purchase Date.
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Article
VII
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING, COMMENCEMENT AND PURCHASES
Section 7.1. Conditions Precedent to Closing. The Closing is subject to the satisfaction of each of the conditions set forth in this Section 7.1 on the Closing Date.
(i) Accuracy of the Investor’s Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Investor contained in this Agreement (a) that are not qualified by “materiality” shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such other date and (b) that are qualified by “materiality” shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date.
(ii) Accuracy of the Company’s Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (a) that are not qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such other date and (b) that are qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date.
(iii) Payment of Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Investor on or prior to the date hereof, the Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement in accordance with Section 10.1(i), which shall be fully earned and non-refundable as of the Closing Date, regardless of whether the Commencement occurs or whether any VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are made or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement.
(iv) Closing Deliverables. At the Closing, counterpart signature pages of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement executed by each of the parties hereto shall be delivered as provided in Section 2.2. Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, the Investor’s counsel shall have received the closing certificate from the Company, dated the Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
Section 7.2. Conditions Precedent to Commencement. The right of the Company to commence delivering VWAP Purchase Notices and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices under this Agreement, and the obligation of the Investor to accept VWAP Purchase Notices and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices timely delivered to the Investor by the Company under this Agreement, are subject to the initial satisfaction, at Commencement, of each of the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2.
(i) Accuracy of the Company’s Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (a) that are not qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall have been true and correct in all material respects when made and shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Commencement Date with the same force and effect as if made on such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such other date and (b) that are qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall have been true and correct when made and shall be true and correct as of the Commencement Date with the same force and effect as if made on such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date.
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(ii) Performance of the Company. The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Commencement. The Company shall deliver to the Investor on the Commencement Date the compliance certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Compliance Certificate”).
(iii) Initial Registration Statement Effective. The Initial Registration Statement covering the resale by the Investor of the Registrable Securities included therein required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act by the Commission, and the Investor shall be permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell all of the Shares included in such Prospectus.
(iv) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (a) receipt of any request by the Commission or any other Governmental Entity for any additional information relating to the Initial Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto, or for any amendment of or supplement to the Initial Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto; (b) the issuance by the Commission or any other Governmental Entity of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement or prohibiting or suspending the use of the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto, or of the suspension of qualification or exemption from qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or contemplated initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; (c) the objection of FINRA to the terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or (d) the occurrence of any event or the existence of any condition or state of facts, which makes any statement of a material fact made in the Initial Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto untrue or which requires the making of any additions to or changes to the statements then made in the Initial Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto in order to state a material fact required by the Securities Act to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements then made therein (in the case of the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or which requires an amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or a supplement to the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto to comply with the Securities Act, or any other applicable law. The Company shall have no Knowledge of any event that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of causing the suspension of the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement or the prohibition or suspension of the use of the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto in connection with the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Investor.
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(v) Other Commission Filings. The Current Report shall have been filed with the Commission as required pursuant to Section 2.3. The final Prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission prior to Commencement in accordance with Section 2.3 and the Registration Rights Agreement. All reports, schedules, registrations, forms, statements, information and other documents required to have been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, including all material required to have been filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to Commencement shall have been filed with the Commission.
(vi) No Suspension of Trading in or Notice of Delisting of Common Stock. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission, the Trading Market or FINRA (except for any suspension of trading of limited duration agreed to by the Company, which suspension shall be terminated prior to the Commencement Date), the Company shall not have received any final and non-appealable notice that the listing or quotation of the Common Stock on the Trading Market shall be terminated on a date certain (unless, prior to such date certain, the Common Stock is listed or quoted on any other Eligible Market), nor shall there have been imposed any suspension of, or restriction on, accepting additional deposits of the Common Stock, electronic trading or book-entry services by DTC with respect to the Common Stock that is continuing, the Company shall not have received any notice from DTC to the effect that a suspension of, or restriction on, accepting additional deposits of the Common Stock, electronic trading or book-entry services by DTC with respect to the Common Stock is being imposed or is contemplated (unless, prior to such suspension or restriction, DTC shall have notified the Company in writing that DTC has determined not to impose any such suspension or restriction).
(vii) Compliance with Laws. The Company shall have complied with all applicable federal, state and local governmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the Company shall have obtained all permits and qualifications required by any applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Investor and the subsequent resale of the Registrable Securities by the Investor (or shall have the availability of exemptions therefrom).
(viii) No Injunction. No statute, regulation or Order shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated, threatened or endorsed by any court or Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction which prohibits the consummation of or which would materially modify or delay any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(ix) No Proceedings or Litigation. No action, suit or proceeding before any arbitrator or any court or Governmental Entity shall have been commenced, and no inquiry or investigation by any Governmental Entity shall have been commenced, against the Company, or any of the officers, directors or Affiliates of the Company, seeking to restrain, prevent or change the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, or seeking material damages in connection with such transactions.
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(x) Listing of Securities. All of the Securities that have been and may be issued pursuant to this Agreement shall have been approved for listing or quotation on the Trading Market (or on an Eligible Market) as of the Commencement Date, subject only to notice of issuance.
(xi) No Material Adverse Effect. No condition, occurrence, state of facts or event constituting a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred and be continuing.
(xii) No Bankruptcy Proceedings. No Person shall have commenced a proceeding against the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law. The Company shall not have, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, (a) commenced a voluntary case, (b) consented to the entry of an Order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (c) consented to the appointment of a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or (d) made a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors. A court of competent jurisdiction shall not have entered an Order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (I) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (II) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or (III) orders the liquidation of the Company.
(xiii) [Reserved].
(xiv) Delivery of Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions and Notice of Effectiveness. The Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions shall have been executed by the Company and delivered to and acknowledged in writing, which may be by email correspondence, by the Company’s transfer agent, and the Notice of Effectiveness relating to the Initial Registration Statement shall have been executed by the Company’s outside counsel and delivered to the Company’s transfer agent, in each case directing such transfer agent to issue to the Investor or its designated Broker-Dealer all of the Shares included in the Initial Registration Statement as DWAC Shares in accordance with this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
(xv) Reservation of Shares. As of the Commencement Date, the Company shall have reserved out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock solely for the purpose of issuing Shares pursuant to VWAP Purchases and Intraday VWAP Purchases that may be effected by the Company, in its sole discretion, from and after the Commencement Date under this Agreement.
(xvi) Opinions and Negative Assurances of Company Counsel. On the Commencement Date, the Investor shall have received the opinions and negative assurances from outside counsel to the Company, dated the Commencement Date, in the forms mutually agreed to by the Company and the Investor prior to the date of this Agreement.
(xvii) Initial Comfort Letter of Company Auditor. On the Commencement Date, the Investor shall have received from the Accountant, or a successor independent registered public accounting firm for the Company (as applicable), a letter dated the Commencement Date and addressed to the Investor, in substantially the form, scope and substance mutually agreed to by the Company and the Investor at least one Trading Day prior to the date on which the Initial Registration Statement is first filed with the Commission, stating the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as supplemented by any Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission on or prior to the Commencement Date), and certain other matters customarily covered by auditor “comfort letters” (the “Initial Comfort Letter”).
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(xviii) CFO Certificate. On the Commencement Date, the Investor shall have received from the Company, a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer dated the Commencement Date, in the form mutually agreed to by the Company and the Investor prior to the date of this Agreement.
(xix) FINRA No Objections. Prior to the Commencement Date, FINRA’s Corporate Financing Department shall have confirmed in writing that it has determined not to raise any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
Section 7.3. Conditions Precedent to Purchases after Commencement Date. The right of the Company to deliver VWAP Purchase Notices and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices under this Agreement after the Commencement Date, and the obligation of the Investor to accept VWAP Purchase Notices and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices timely delivered to the Investor by the Company under this Agreement after the Commencement Date, are subject to the satisfaction of each of the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3, (X) with respect to a VWAP Purchase Notice for a VWAP Purchase that is timely delivered by the Company to the Investor in accordance with this Agreement, as of the VWAP Purchase Commencement Time of the applicable VWAP Purchase Period for such VWAP Purchase to be effected pursuant to such VWAP Purchase Notice and (Y) with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for an Intraday VWAP Purchase that is timely delivered by the Company to the Investor in accordance with this Agreement, as of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Commencement Time of the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase to be effected pursuant to such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (each such VWAP Purchase Commencement Time (with respect to a VWAP Purchase Notice) and each such Intraday VWAP Purchase Commencement Time (with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice), at which time all such conditions must be satisfied, a “Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time”).
(i) Satisfaction of Certain Prior Conditions. Each of the conditions set forth in subsections (i), (ii), and (vii) through (xiv) set forth in Section 7.2 shall be satisfied at the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time after the Commencement Date (with the terms “Commencement” and “Commencement Date” in the conditions set forth in subsections (i) and (ii) of Section 7.2 replaced with “applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to deliver the Compliance Certificate after the Commencement Date, except as provided in Section 6.17 and Section 7.3(x).
(ii) Initial Registration Statement Effective. The Initial Registration Statement covering the resale by the Investor of the Registrable Securities included therein filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement, and any post-effective amendment thereto required to be filed by the Company with the Commission after the Commencement Date and prior to the applicable Purchase Date pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in each case shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act by the Commission and shall remain effective for the applicable Registration Period, and the Investor shall be permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein, and any Prospectus Supplement thereto, to resell (a) all of the Shares included in the Initial Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, that have been issued and sold to the Investor hereunder pursuant to all VWAP Purchase Notices and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices (as applicable) delivered by the Company to the Investor prior to such applicable Purchase Date and (b) all of the Shares included in the Initial Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, that are issuable pursuant to the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice or Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) delivered by the Company to the Investor with respect to a VWAP Purchase or an Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) to be effected hereunder on such applicable Purchase Date.
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(iii) Any Required New Registration Statement Effective. Any New Registration Statement covering the resale by the Investor of the Registrable Securities included therein, and any post-effective amendment thereto, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement after the Commencement Date and prior to the applicable Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), in each case shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act by the Commission and shall remain effective for the applicable Registration Period, and the Investor shall be permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein, and any Prospectus Supplement thereto, to resell (a) all of the Shares included in such New Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, that have been issued and sold to the Investor hereunder pursuant to all VWAP Purchase Notices and Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices (as applicable) delivered by the Company to the Investor prior to such applicable Purchase Date and (b) all of the Shares included in such new Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, that are issuable pursuant to the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice or Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) delivered by the Company to the Investor with respect to a VWAP Purchase or an Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) to be effected hereunder on such applicable Purchase Date.
(iv) Delivery of Subsequent Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions and Notice of Effectiveness. With respect to any post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to any New Registration Statement, in each case declared effective by the Commission after the Commencement Date, the Company shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Company’s transfer agent (a) irrevocable instructions in the form substantially similar to the Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions executed by the Company and acknowledged in writing, which may be by email correspondence, by its transfer agent and (b) the Notice of Effectiveness, in each case modified as necessary to refer to such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment and the Registrable Securities included therein, to issue the Registrable Securities included therein as DWAC Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
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(v) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (a) receipt of any request by the Commission or any other Governmental Entity for any additional information relating to the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus contained in any of the foregoing or any Prospectus Supplement thereto, or for any amendment of or supplement to the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus contained in any of the foregoing or any Prospectus Supplement thereto; (b) the issuance by the Commission or any other Governmental Entity of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or prohibiting or suspending the use of the Prospectus contained in any of the foregoing or any Prospectus Supplement thereto, or of the suspension of qualification or exemption from qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or contemplated initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; (c) the objection of FINRA to the terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or (d) the occurrence of any event or the existence of any condition or state of facts, which makes any statement of a material fact made in the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus contained in any of the foregoing or any Prospectus Supplement thereto untrue or which requires the making of any additions to or changes to the statements then made in the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus contained in any of the foregoing or any Prospectus Supplement thereto in order to state a material fact required by the Securities Act to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements then made therein (in the case of the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or which requires an amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus contained in any of the foregoing or any Prospectus Supplement thereto to comply with the Securities Act, or any other applicable law (other than the transactions contemplated by the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice delivered by the Company to the Investor with respect to a VWAP Purchase, or the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice delivered by the Company to the Investor with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) to be effected hereunder on such applicable Purchase Date and the settlement thereof). The Company shall have no Knowledge of any event that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of causing the suspension of the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the prohibition or suspension of the use of the Prospectus contained in any of the foregoing or any Prospectus Supplement thereto in connection with the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Investor.
(vi) Other Commission Filings. The final Prospectus included in any post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement, and any Prospectus Supplement thereto, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 2.3 and the Registration Rights Agreement after the Commencement Date and prior to the applicable Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 2.3 and the Registration Rights Agreement. The final Prospectus included in any New Registration Statement and in any post-effective amendment thereto, and any Prospectus Supplement thereto, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 2.3 and the Registration Rights Agreement after the Commencement Date and prior to the applicable Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 2.3 and the Registration Rights Agreement. All reports, schedules, registrations, forms, statements, information and other documents required to have been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, including all material required to have been filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the Commencement Date and prior to the applicable Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), shall have been filed with the Commission and, if any Registrable Securities are covered by a Registration Statement on Form F-3, such filings shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing under the Exchange Act.
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(vii) No Suspension of Trading in or Notice of Delisting of Common Stock. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission, the Trading Market (or Eligible Market, as applicable) or FINRA (except for any suspension of trading of limited duration agreed to by the Company, which suspension shall be terminated prior to the applicable Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase or such Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable)), the Company shall not have received any final and non-appealable notice that the listing or quotation of the Common Stock on the Trading Market (or Eligible Market, as applicable) shall be terminated on a date certain (unless, prior to such date certain, the Common Stock is listed or quoted on any other Eligible Market), nor shall there have been imposed any suspension of, or restriction on, accepting additional deposits of the Common Stock, electronic trading or book-entry services by DTC with respect to the Common Stock that is continuing, the Company shall not have received any notice from DTC to the effect that a suspension of, or restriction on, accepting additional deposits of the Common Stock, electronic trading or book-entry services by DTC with respect to the Common Stock is being imposed or is contemplated (unless, prior to such suspension or restriction, DTC shall have notified the Company in writing that DTC has determined not to impose any such suspension or restriction).
(viii) Certain Limitations. The issuance and sale of the Shares issuable pursuant to the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice or the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) shall not (a) exceed, in the case of a VWAP Purchase Notice, the VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount applicable to such VWAP Purchase Notice or, in the case of an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice, the Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount applicable to such Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice or (b) cause the Investor to beneficially own (under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated thereunder) Common Stock in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
(ix) Shares Authorized and Delivered. All of the Shares issuable pursuant to the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice or Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice (as applicable) shall have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company. All Shares relating to all prior VWAP Purchase Notices and all prior Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices required to have been received by the Investor as DWAC Shares under this Agreement prior to the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time for the applicable VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) shall have been delivered to the Investor as DWAC Shares in accordance with this Agreement.
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(x) Bring-Down Negative Assurance Letters; Bring-Down Comfort Letters; Bring-Down CFO Certificates; and Compliance Certificates. The Investor shall have received (a) all Bring-Down Negative Assurance Letters from outside counsel to the Company, which the Company was obligated to instruct its outside counsel to deliver to the Investor prior to the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time for the applicable VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), (b) all Bring-Down Comfort Letters from the Accountant, or a successor independent registered public accounting firm for the Company (as applicable), which the Company was obligated to instruct such firm to deliver to the Investor prior to the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time for the applicable VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), (c) all Bring-Down CFO Certificates from the Company, which the Company was obligated to deliver to the Investor prior to the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time for the applicable VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), and (d) all Compliance Certificates from the Company that the Company was obligated to deliver to the Investor prior to the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time for the applicable VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), in each case in accordance with Section 6.17.
(xi) Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement and Commitment Fee. The Company shall have paid, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Investor all Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement payments that the Company was obligated to pay to the Investor prior to the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time for the applicable VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) in accordance with Section 10.1(i), each of which Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement payments shall be fully earned and non-refundable as of the date such payments are made by the Company to the Investor, regardless of whether any additional VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are made or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement. Prior to the applicable Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time for any VWAP Purchase or any Intraday VWAP Purchase occurring after the date on which the first VWAP Purchase effected by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is fully settled in accordance with Section 3.3 (or, if the Company effects an Intraday VWAP Purchase prior to the first VWAP Purchase effected pursuant to this Agreement, the date on which the first Intraday VWAP Purchase effected by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is fully settled in accordance with Section 3.3), the Commitment Fee shall have been paid to the Investor in the manner, at such time and otherwise pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.1(ii). For the avoidance of doubt, the Commitment Fee shall be fully earned by the Investor as of the Closing Date and shall be non-refundable as of the date such Commitment Fee is paid to the Investor as set forth in Section 10.1(ii), regardless of whether any additional VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are made or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement.
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Article
VIII
TERMINATION
Section 8.1. Automatic Termination. Unless earlier terminated as provided hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate automatically on the earliest to occur of (i) the first day of the month next following the third anniversary of the Commencement Date, (ii) the date on which the Investor shall have purchased from the Company, pursuant to all VWAP Purchases and Intraday VWAP Purchases that have occurred and fully settled pursuant to this Agreement, an aggregate number of Shares for a total aggregate gross purchase price to the Company equal to the Total Commitment, (iii) the date on which the Common Stock shall have failed to be listed or quoted on the Trading Market or any Eligible Market for a period of one Trading Day, (iv) the 30th Trading Day next following the date on which, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, the Company commences a voluntary case or any Person commences a proceeding against the Company, in each case that is not discharged or dismissed prior to such 30th Trading Day, and (v) the date on which, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, a Custodian is appointed for the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or the Company makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors.
Section 8.2. Other Termination. Subject to Section 8.3, the Company may terminate this Agreement at any time after the Commencement Date effective upon written notice to the Investor in accordance with Section 10.4; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall have (A) paid the Commitment Fee required to be paid to the Investor, pursuant to Section 10.1(ii) of this Agreement and (B) paid the Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement and all Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement payments required to be paid to the Investor pursuant to Section 10.1(i) of this Agreement, in each case in this clause (i) prior to such termination, and (ii) prior to issuing any press release, or making any public statement or announcement, with respect to such termination, the Company shall consult with the Investor and its counsel on the form and substance of such press release or other disclosure. Subject to Section 8.3, this Agreement may be terminated at any time by the mutual written consent of the parties, effective as of the date of such mutual written consent unless otherwise provided in such written consent. Subject to Section 8.3, the Investor shall have the right to terminate this Agreement effective upon ten Trading Days’ prior written notice to the Company in accordance with Section 10.4, if: (a) any condition, occurrence, state of facts or event constituting a Material Adverse Effect has occurred and is continuing; (b) a Fundamental Transaction shall have occurred; (c) the Initial Registration Statement and any New Registration Statement is not filed by the applicable Filing Deadline therefor or declared effective by the Commission by the applicable Effectiveness Deadline (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) therefor, or the Company is otherwise in breach or default in any material respect under any of the other provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, and, if such failure, breach or default is capable of being cured, such failure, breach or default is not cured within ten (10) Trading Days after notice of such failure, breach or default is delivered to the Company pursuant to Section 10.4; (d) while a Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, is required to be maintained effective pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor holds any Registrable Securities, the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order by the Commission) or such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, the Prospectus contained therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto otherwise becomes unavailable to the Investor for the resale of all of the Registrable Securities included therein in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of 45 consecutive Trading Days or for more than an aggregate of 90 Trading Days in any 365-day period, other than due to acts of the Investor; (e) trading in the Common Stock on the Trading Market (or if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, trading in the Common Stock on such Eligible Market) shall have been suspended and such suspension continues for a period of five consecutive Trading Days; or (f) the Company is in material breach or default of this Agreement, and, if such breach or default is capable of being cured, such breach or default is not cured within ten Trading Days after notice of such breach or default is delivered to the Company pursuant to Section 10.4. Unless notification thereof is required elsewhere in this Agreement (in which case such notification shall be provided in accordance with such other provision), the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than 24 hours) notify the Investor (and, if required under applicable law, including, without limitation, Regulation FD promulgated by the Commission, or under the applicable rules and regulations of the Trading Market (or Eligible Market, as applicable), the Company shall publicly disclose such information in accordance with Regulation FD and the applicable rules and regulations of the Trading Market (or Eligible Market, as applicable)) upon becoming aware of any of the events set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.
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Section 8.3. Effect of Termination. In the event of termination by the Company or the Investor (other than by mutual termination) pursuant to Section 8.2, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other party as provided in Section 10.4 and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be terminated without further action by either party. If this Agreement is terminated as provided in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force and effect, except that (i) the provisions of Article V (Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company), Article IX (Indemnification), Article X (Miscellaneous) and this Article VIII (Termination) shall remain in full force and effect indefinitely notwithstanding such termination, and, (ii) so long as the Investor owns any Securities, the covenants and agreements of the Company contained in Article VI (Additional Covenants) shall remain in full force and notwithstanding such termination for a period of six months following such termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no termination of this Agreement by any party shall (i) become effective prior to the settlement date related to any pending VWAP Purchase or any pending Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable) that has not been fully settled in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (it being hereby acknowledged and agreed that no termination of this Agreement shall limit, alter, modify, change or otherwise affect any of the Company’s or the Investor’s rights or obligations under the Transaction Documents with respect to any pending VWAP Purchase and any pending Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable), and that the parties shall fully perform their respective obligations with respect to any such pending VWAP Purchase and any pending Intraday VWAP Purchase under the Transaction Documents), (ii) limit, alter, modify, change or otherwise affect the Company’s or the Investor’s rights or obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, all of which shall survive any such termination, (iii) affect the Commitment Fee payable to the Investor pursuant to Section 10.1(ii), it being hereby acknowledged and agreed that the entire amount of the Commitment Fee shall be fully earned by the Investor as of the Closing Date and shall be nonrefundable as of the date such Commitment Fee is paid to the Investor, in the manner, at such time and otherwise pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.1(ii), regardless of whether any additional VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are made or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement, (iv) affect the Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement payable or paid to the Investor, all of which Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement shall be fully earned by the Investor and non-refundable when paid on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 10.1(i), regardless of whether the Commencement shall have occurred, whether any VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are made or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement, and (v) affect any Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement payments payable or paid to the Investor, all of which Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement payments shall be fully earned by the Investor and non-refundable when paid by the Company to the Investor pursuant to Section 10.1(i), regardless of whether any additional VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are made or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 8.3 shall be deemed to release the Company or the Investor from any liability for any breach or default under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, or to impair the rights of the Company and the Investor to compel specific performance by the other party of its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.
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Article
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 9.1. Indemnification of Investor. In consideration of the Investor’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and acquiring the Securities hereunder and in addition to all of the Company’s other obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, subject to the provisions of this Section 9.1, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Investor, each of its directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, agents and advisors (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title), each Person, if any, who controls the Investor (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act), and the respective directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, agents and advisors (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling Persons (each, an “Investor Party”), from and against all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses (including all judgments, amounts paid in settlement, court costs, reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and costs of defense and investigation) (collectively, “Damages”) that any Investor Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to (a) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party or (b) any action, suit, claim or proceeding (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company) instituted against such Investor Party arising out of or resulting from the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Transaction Documents, other than claims for indemnification within the scope of Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement; provided, however, that (x) the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to any Damages to the extent, but only to the extent, that such Damages resulted directly and primarily from a breach of any of the Investor’s representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement, and (y) the Company shall not be liable under subsection (b) of this Section 9.1 to the extent, but only to the extent, that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment (from which no further appeals are available) that such Damages resulted directly and primarily from any acts or failures to act, undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Investor Party through its fraud, bad faith, gross negligence, or willful or reckless misconduct.
The Company shall reimburse any Investor Party promptly upon demand (with accompanying presentation of sufficiently detailed documentary evidence) for all reasonable and documented legal and other costs and expenses incurred by such Investor Party in connection with (i) any action, suit, claim or proceeding, whether at law or in equity, to enforce compliance by the Company with any provision of the Transaction Documents or (ii) any other any action, suit, claim or proceeding, whether at law or in equity, with respect to which it is entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.1; provided, that the Investor shall promptly reimburse the Company for all such legal and other costs and expenses to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any Investor Party was not entitled to such reimbursement.
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An Investor Party’s right to indemnification or other remedies based upon the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company set forth in the Transaction Documents shall not in any way be affected by any investigation or knowledge of such Investor Party. Such representations, warranties, covenants and agreements shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of the fact that an Investor Party knew or should have known that any representation or warranty might be inaccurate or that the Company failed to comply with any agreement or covenant. Any investigation by such Investor Party shall be for its own protection only and shall not affect or impair any right or remedy hereunder.
To the extent that the foregoing undertakings by the Company set forth in this Section 9.1 may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Damages which is permissible under applicable law.
Section 9.2. Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after an Investor Party receives notice of a claim or the commencement of an action for which the Investor Party intends to seek indemnification under Section 9.1, the Investor Party will notify the Company in writing of the claim or commencement of the action, suit or proceeding; provided, however, that failure to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from liability under Section 9.1, except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by the failure to give notice. The Company will be entitled to participate in the defense of any claim, action, suit or proceeding as to which indemnification is being sought, and if the Company acknowledges in writing the obligation to indemnify the Investor Party against whom the claim or action is brought, the Company may (but will not be required to) assume the defense against the claim, action, suit or proceeding with counsel satisfactory to it. After the Company notifies the Investor Party that the Company wishes to assume the defense of a claim, action, suit or proceeding, the Company will not be liable for any further legal or other expenses incurred by the Investor Party in connection with the defense against the claim, action, suit or proceeding except that if, in the opinion of counsel to the Investor Party, it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the Company and such Investor Party. In such event, the Company will pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of no more than one separate counsel for all such Investor Parties promptly as such fees and expenses are incurred. Each Investor Party, as a condition to receiving indemnification as provided in Section 9.1, will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the Company in the defense of any action or claim as to which indemnification is sought. The Company will not be liable for any settlement of any action effected without its prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Investor Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, effect any settlement of a pending or threatened action with respect to which an Investor Party is, or is informed that it may be, made a party and for which it would be entitled to indemnification, unless the settlement includes an unconditional release of the Investor Party from all liability and claims which are the subject matter of the pending or threatened action.
The remedies provided for in this Article IX are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Investor Party at law or in equity.
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Article
X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Certain Fees and Expenses; Commitment Fee; Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions.
(i) Certain Fees and Expenses. Each party shall bear its own fees and expenses related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company, (1) on or prior to the Closing Date, shall have paid to the Investor, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Investor prior to the date of this Agreement, an amount of up to $125,000 as reimbursement for the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Investor’s legal counsel incurred by the Investor prior to the Closing (the “Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement”) with $50,000 of such payment being due to the Qualified Independent Underwriter, and (2) within ten Business Days after each Representation Date (provided a Future Purchase Suspension is not then in effect), shall have paid to the Investor, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Investor, an additional $7,500 per fiscal quarter as reimbursement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Investor’s legal counsel incurred by the Investor in connection with the Investor’s ongoing due diligence and review of deliverables subject to Section 6.17 (the “Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement”), in each case in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, (1) the Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement shall be fully earned by the Investor and shall be non-refundable as of the Closing Date, regardless of whether the Commencement shall have occurred, any VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are effected by the Company or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement and (2) each Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement payment shall be fully earned by the Investor and shall be nonrefundable when paid in accordance with this Section 10.1(i), regardless of whether any additional VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are effected by the Company or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all U.S. federal, state and local stamp and other similar transfer and other taxes and duties levied in connection with issuance of the Securities pursuant hereto.
(ii) Payment of the Commitment Fee. In consideration for the Investor’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Investor the Commitment Fee in the manner, at such time and otherwise as set forth in this Section 10.1(ii). The Company shall pay to the investor, on or prior to the Closing Date, the Upfront Commitment Fee by wire transfer of immediate available funds to the Investor. Until the Remaining Commitment Fee has been paid in full, the Investor shall retain 50% of any amounts otherwise payable to the Company under Section 3.3 on each date of settlement thereunder as partial satisfaction of the Commitment Fee, with the full Commitment fee due within twelve (12) months from the Closing Date. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) the Commitment Fee shall be fully earned by the Investor as of the Closing Date and shall be non-refundable when withheld by the Investor (or when paid by the Company to the Investor, as applicable) in accordance with Section 3.3 and this Section 10.1(ii), regardless of whether any additional VWAP Purchases or Intraday VWAP Purchases are effected by the Company or settled hereunder or any subsequent termination of this Agreement, and (y) in the event that the Commencement shall not occur under this Agreement or, if the Commencement shall occur, in the event that no VWAP Purchase or Intraday VWAP Purchase is effected pursuant to this Agreement prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, then, in either case, upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, the Company shall pay the Remaining Commitment Fee to the Investor, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Investor, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third (3rd) the Trading Day immediately following the date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII.
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(iii) Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions; Notice of Effectiveness. On the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement and prior to Commencement, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to its transfer agent (and thereafter, shall deliver or cause to be delivered to any subsequent transfer agent of the Company), irrevocable instructions executed by the Company and acknowledged in writing, which may be by email correspondence, by the Company’s transfer agent (the “Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions”), together with a written notification from the Company’s outside counsel advising the transfer agent the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission (the “Notice of Effectiveness”), directing the Company’s transfer agent to issue to the Investor or its designee the Shares included in the Initial Registration Statement as DWAC Shares in accordance with this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. With respect to any post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement, any New Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to any New Registration Statement, in each case declared effective by the Commission after the Commencement Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to its transfer agent (and thereafter, shall deliver or cause to be delivered to any subsequent transfer agent of the Company) (i) irrevocable instructions in the form substantially similar to the Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions executed by the Company and acknowledged in writing by the Company’s transfer agent and (ii) the Notice of Effectiveness, in each case modified as necessary to refer to such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment and the Registrable Securities included therein, to issue the Registrable Securities included therein as DWAC Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, all Shares to be issued and delivered from and after Commencement to or for the benefit of the Investor pursuant to this Agreement shall be issued and delivered to the Investor or its designee only as DWAC Shares. The Company represents and warrants to the Investor that, while this Agreement is effective, no instruction other than those referred to in this Section 10.1(iii) will be given by the Company to its transfer agent, or any successor transfer agent of the Company, with respect to the Shares from and after Commencement, and the Shares covered by the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof, or any New Registration Statement or post-effective amendment thereof, as applicable, shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company and no stop transfer instructions shall be maintained against the transfer thereof. The Company agrees that if the Company fails to fully comply with the provisions of this Section 10.1(iii) within three (3) Trading Days after the date on which the Investor has provided any deliverables that the Investor is required to provide to the Company or its transfer agent, the Company shall, at the Investor’s written instruction, purchase from the Investor all shares of Common Stock acquired by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement that contain any restrictive legend or that have any stop transfer orders maintained that prohibit or impede the transfer thereof in any respect, at the greater of (i) the purchase price paid for such shares of Common Stock (as applicable) and (ii) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the date of the Investor’s written instruction.
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Section 10.2. Specific Enforcement, Consent to Jurisdiction, Waiver of Jury Trial.
(i) The Company and the Investor acknowledge and 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 or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that either party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by the other party and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required), this being in addition to any other remedy to which either party may be entitled by law or equity.
(ii) Each of the Company and the Investor (a) hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court and other courts of the United States sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, in the State of New York for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, and (b) hereby waives, and agrees not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and the Investor consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 10.2 shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(iii) EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISPUTES RELATING HERETO. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR (A) CERTIFIES THAT 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 AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.2.
(iv) The Company hereby irrevocably appoints Watson Farley & Williams LLP, located at 120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10019, as its agent for service of process in any suit, action or proceeding described in this Section 10.2 and agrees that service of process in any suit, action or proceeding may be made upon it at the office of such agent. The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. The Company represents and warrants that such agent has agreed to act as the Company’s agent for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect.
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(v) To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from jurisdiction of any court of (i) the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or any political subdivision thereof, (ii) the United States or the State of New York, (iii) any jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or assets or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution, set-off or otherwise) with respect to themselves or their respective property and assets or this Agreement, the Company hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 10.3. Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, negotiations and understandings between the parties, both oral and written, with respect to such matters. There are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by either party relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents. The Disclosure Schedule and all exhibits to this Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this Agreement as if set forth in full herein.
Section 10.4. Notices. Any notice, demand, request, waiver or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be effective (a) upon hand delivery or electronic mail delivery at the relevant address designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to the physical address set forth below, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The address for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
TOP Ships Inc.
20 Iouliou Kaisara Str,
19002 Paiania, Athens, Greece
Telephone Number: +30 210 812 8107
Email: info@topships.org
Attention: Alexandros Tsirikos
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Watson Farley & Williams LLP
120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10036
Telephone Number: (212) 922-2280
Email: wvogel@wfw.com
Attention: Will Vogel
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If to the Investor:
B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC
11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Telephone Number: (310) 966-1444
Email: legal@brileyfin.com
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Duane Morris LLP
22 Vanderbilt
335 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10017
Telephone Number: (973) 424-2020
Email: dmcolucci@duanemorris.com
Attention: Dean M. Colucci, Esq.
Either party hereto may from time to time change its address for notices by giving at least five days’ advance written notice of such changed address to the other party hereto.
Section 10.5. Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived by the parties from and after the date that is one Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the Commission. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, no provision of this Agreement may be waived other than in a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought. No failure or delay in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercises thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.
Section 10.6. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended by the parties from and after the date that is one Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the Commission; provided, however, that an amendment or waiver will be permitted under this Agreement if such amendment or waiver would not preclude the sale of the Shares being considered a valid private placement that had been completed prior to the date on which the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the Commission. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, no provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by a written instrument signed by both parties hereto.
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Section 10.7. Headings. The article, section and subsection headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
Section 10.8. Construction. The parties agree that each of them and their respective counsel has reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents. In addition, each and every reference to share prices (other than the Threshold Price) and number of shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall, in all cases, be subject to adjustment for any stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations and other similar transactions that occur on or after the date of this Agreement. Any reference in this Agreement to “Dollars” or “$” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America. Any references to “Section” or “Article” in this Agreement shall, unless otherwise expressly stated herein, refer to the applicable Section or Article of this Agreement.
Section 10.9. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors. Neither the Company nor the Investor may assign this Agreement or any of their respective rights or obligations hereunder to any Person.
Section 10.10. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided in Article IX, this Agreement is intended only for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
Section 10.11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal procedural and substantive laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any laws or rules of such state that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
Section 10.12. Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company and the Investor contained in this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery hereof until the termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) the provisions of Article V (Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company), Article VIII (Termination), Article IX (Indemnification) and this Article X (Miscellaneous) shall remain in full force and effect indefinitely notwithstanding such termination, and, (ii) so long as the Investor owns any Securities, the covenants and agreements of the Company and the Investor contained in Article VI (Additional Covenants), shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination for a period of six months following such termination.
Section 10.13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile signature or signature delivered by e-mail in a “.pdf” format data file, including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com, www.echosign.adobe.com, etc., shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original signature.
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Section 10.14. Publicity. The Company shall afford the Investor and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon, shall consult with the Investor and its counsel on the form and substance of, and shall give due consideration to all such comments from the Investor or its counsel on, any press release, Commission filing or any other public disclosure made by or on behalf of the Company relating to the Investor, its purchases hereunder or any aspect of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby, including any press release disclosing the execution of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement by the Company, prior to the issuance, filing or public disclosure thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be required to submit for review any such disclosure (i) contained in periodic reports filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act if it shall have previously provided substantially the same disclosure to the Investor or its counsel for review in connection with a previous filing or (ii) any Prospectus Supplement if it contains disclosure that does not reference the Investor, its purchases hereunder or any aspect of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby.
Section 10.15. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and, in the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any one or more of the provisions or part of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or part of a provision of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be reformed and construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of such provision, had never been contained herein, so that such provisions would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 10.16. Further Assurances. From and after the Closing Date, upon the request of the Investor or the Company, each of the Company and the Investor shall execute and deliver such instrument, documents and other writings as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to confirm and carry out and to effectuate fully the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officer as of the date first above written.
| THE COMPANY: | |||
| TOP SHIPS INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Alexandros Tsirikos | ||
| Name: | Alexandros Tsirikos | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| THE INVESTOR: | |||
| B. RILEY PRINCIPAL CAPITAL II, LLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Andy Moore | ||
| Name: | Andy Moore | ||
| Title: | CEO | ||
ANNEX I TO THE
COMMON SHARES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
“Accountant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.6(d).
“Additional Investor Expense Reimbursement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1(i).
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 144.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Allowable Grace Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Average Price” means a price per Share (rounded to the nearest tenth of a cent) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate gross purchase price paid by the Investor for all Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement, by (ii) the aggregate number of Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar U.S. federal or state bankruptcy Law or any Law for the relief of debtors.
“Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.4.
“Bloomberg” means Bloomberg, L.P.
“Bring-Down CFO Certificate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.17.
“Bring-Down Comfort Letter” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.17.
“Bring-Down Negative Assurance Letter” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.17.
“Broker-Dealer” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.13.
“BRS” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“Bylaws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.3.
“Charter” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.3.
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“Closing” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2.
“Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement.
“Closing Sale Price” means, for the Common Stock as of any date, the last closing trade price for the Common Stock on the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, on such Eligible Market), as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Trading Market (or such Eligible Market, as applicable) begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing trade price for the Common Stock, then the last trade price for the Common Stock prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions during such period.
“Code” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.52.
“Commencement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1.
“Commencement Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1.
“Commencement Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1(iii).
“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor entity.
“Commission Documents” shall mean (1) all reports, schedules, registrations, forms, statements, information and other documents filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, including all material filed with or furnished to the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, since December 31, 2025 and prior to the date of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F (“Form 20-F”), and which hereafter shall be filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company (including, without limitation, the Current Report), (2) each Registration Statement, as the same may be amended from time to time, the Prospectus contained therein and each Prospectus Supplement thereto and (3) all information contained in such filings and all documents and disclosures that have been and heretofore shall be incorporated by reference therein.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company which entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Company” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
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“Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2(ii).
“Commitment Fee” shall mean an amount in cash equal to one percent (1.0%) of the Total Commitment, consisting of the Upfront Commitment Fee and the Remaining Commitment Fee. The Commitment Fee shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.1(ii).
“Contracts” means any legally binding contracts, agreements, subcontracts, leases, and purchase orders.
“Cover Price” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3.
“COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions thereof or any other related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks.
“Current Report” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.3.
“Custodian” shall mean any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Damages” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.1.
“Disclosure Schedule” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to Article V.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or any successor thereto.
“DWAC” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.33.
“DWAC Shares” means shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement that are (i) issued in electronic form, (ii) freely tradable and transferable and without restriction on resale and without stop transfer instructions maintained against the transfer thereof and (iii) timely credited by the Company’s transfer agent to the Investor’s (or its designee’s) specified DWAC account with DTC under its Fast Automated Securities Transfer (FAST) Program, or any similar program hereafter adopted by DTC performing substantially the same function.
“EAR” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.36.
“EDGAR” means the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System.
“Effective Date” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement (or any post-effective amendment thereto) or any New Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Registration Rights Agreement (or any post-effective amendment thereto), as applicable, the date on which the Initial Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereto) or any New Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereto) is declared effective by the Commission.
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“Effectiveness Deadline” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Eligible Market” means the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select or the Nasdaq Global Market (or any nationally recognized successor to any of the foregoing).
“Environmental Laws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.18.
“ERISA” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.38.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
“FCPA” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.36.
“Filing Deadline” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“FINRA Filing” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.14.
“Form 20-F” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Commission Documents.
“Fundamental Transaction” means that (i) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (1) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Person, with the result that the holders of the Company’s capital stock immediately prior to such consolidation or merger together beneficially own less than 50% of the outstanding voting power of the surviving or resulting corporation, or (2) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company to another Person, or (3) take action to facilitate a purchase, tender or exchange offer by another Person that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (excluding any shares of Common Stock held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (4) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (5) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock, or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than Evangelos Pistiolis, 3 Sororibus Trust or Lax Trust or their associated or affiliated persons) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s ordinary course chartering and financing of its vessels shall not be considered a Fundamental Transaction.
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“Future Purchase Suspension” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.17.
“GDPR” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.40.
“Governmental Entity” means any United States or non-United States (a) federal, state, regional, provincial, local, municipal or other government, (b) governmental or quasi-governmental entity of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal) or (c) body exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature, including any arbitral tribunal (public or private).
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person as of any time, without duplication, (a) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (b) all guaranties, endorsements, indemnities and other contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (c) the present value of any lease payments due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
“Initial Comfort Letter” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.2(xvi).
“Initial Investor Expense Reimbursement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1(i).
“Initial Purchase Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereof.
“Initial Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.19.
“Intraday VWAP Purchase” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2.
“Intraday VWAP Purchase Commencement Time” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, the time that is the latest of: (i) the VWAP Purchase Ending Time of the VWAP Purchase Period for the VWAP Purchase preceding the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase occurring on the same Purchase Date as such earlier VWAP Purchase, if the Company has timely delivered a VWAP Purchase Notice to the Investor for a VWAP Purchase on such Purchase Date, (ii) the Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for the most recent prior Intraday VWAP Purchase, if any, occurring on the same Purchase Date as such Intraday VWAP Purchase, and (iii) the Investor’s timely receipt (acknowledged by email correspondence to each of the individual notice recipients of the Company set forth in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice, other than via auto-reply) from the Company of the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase on the applicable Purchase Date therefor.
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“Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, the time on the Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase that is the earliest of: (i) 3:59 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, or such earlier time publicly announced by the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, by such Eligible Market) as the official close of the primary (or “regular”) trading session on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) on such Purchase Date; (ii) immediately at such time following the Intraday VWAP Purchase Commencement Time of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase that the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period has exceeded the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum for such Intraday VWAP Purchase (taking into account the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase); provided, however, that the calculation of the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period shall exclude from such calculation all shares of Common Stock traded in any of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (C) provided the Company shall have specified in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice that clause (iii) below shall not trigger the Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time for such Intraday VWAP Purchase (such specification by the Company, whether in an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice or in a VWAP Purchase Notice, a “Limit Order Continue Election”), all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold; and (iii) provided the Company shall have specified in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice that this clause (iii) shall trigger the Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time for such Intraday VWAP Purchase (such specification by the Company, whether in an Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice or in a VWAP Purchase Notice, a “Limit Order Discontinue Election”), immediately at such time following the Intraday VWAP Purchase Commencement Time of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase that the Sale Price of any share of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period is less than the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold; provided, however, that the determination of whether the Sale Price of any share of Common Stock traded during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period is less than the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold shall exclude (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date and (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable). All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction.
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“Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, such number of shares of Common Stock equal to the lesser of: (i) 1,000,000 shares, and (ii) the product of (A) the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, multiplied by (B) the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, by such Eligible Market) during the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase; provided, however, that the calculation of the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period referred to in clause (ii)(B) above shall exclude from such calculation all Common Stock traded in any of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (1) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (2) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (3) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold. All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction.
“Intraday VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, either (a) the dollar amount specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase as the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in determining whether the event in clause (iii) of the definition of “Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time” shall have occurred during the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, if the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Discontinue Election in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, or (b) the dollar amount specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase as the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in determining the sales of Common Stock during the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Period that shall be excluded from the calculation of the total number (or volume) of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period, if the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase; provided, however, that in each case if the Company has specified a lower dollar amount than the Threshold Price, then the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in such Intraday VWAP Purchase shall be equal to the Threshold Price; provided, further, that in each case if the Company has not specified any such dollar amount as the per share minimum Sale Price threshold in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, then the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in such Intraday VWAP Purchase shall be such dollar amount equal to the product of (a) the Sale Price of the Common Stock at the time of the Investor’s confirmation of receipt of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice, multiplied by (b) 0.75. All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction.
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“Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, an irrevocable written notice from the Company to the Investor, specifying the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage that shall apply to such Intraday VWAP Purchase and whether a Limit Order Continue Election or a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply to such Intraday VWAP Purchase, and directing the Investor to subscribe for and purchase a specified Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount (such specified Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 3.2 as necessary to give effect to the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount for such Intraday VWAP Purchase), at the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Price therefor on the Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase in accordance with this Agreement, that is delivered by the Company to the Investor and received by the Investor (i) after the latest of (X) 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date, if the Company has not timely delivered a VWAP Purchase Notice to the Investor for a VWAP Purchase on such Purchase Date, (Y) the VWAP Purchase Ending Time of the VWAP Purchase Period for the VWAP Purchase preceding the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase occurring on the same Purchase Date as such earlier VWAP Purchase, if the Company has timely delivered a VWAP Purchase Notice to the Investor for a VWAP Purchase on such Purchase Date, and (Z) the Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for the most recent prior Intraday VWAP Purchase, if any, occurring on the same Purchase Date as such Intraday VWAP Purchase, and (ii) prior to the earlier of (X) 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date and (Y) such time that is exactly 30 minutes immediately prior to the official close of the primary (or “regular”) trading session on the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, on such Eligible Market) on such Purchase Date, if the Trading Market (or such Eligible Market, as applicable) has theretofore publicly announced that the official close of the primary (or “regular”) trading session on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) on such Purchase Date shall be earlier than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date.
“Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, the percentage specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, which shall not exceed 25.0%, for purposes of calculating, among other things, the Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount, the Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount and the Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum, in each case applicable to such Intraday VWAP Purchase.
“Intraday VWAP Purchase Period” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, the period on the Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, beginning at the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Commencement Time and ending at the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time on such Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase.
| I-8 |
“Intraday VWAP Purchase Price” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, the purchase price per Share to be purchased by the Investor in such Intraday VWAP Purchase, equal to the product of (i) 0.97, multiplied by (ii) the VWAP of the Common Stock for the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Period on the applicable Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase; provided, however, that the calculation of the VWAP for the Common Stock for the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for an Intraday VWAP Purchase shall exclude each of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (C) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold for such Intraday VWAP Purchase. All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction.
“Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, the total number of Shares to be purchased by the Investor in such Intraday VWAP Purchase as specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, which total number of Shares shall not exceed the Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount applicable to such Intraday VWAP Purchase, taking into account the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase (and such number of Shares specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase shall be subject to automatic adjustment in accordance with Section 3.2 hereof as necessary to give effect to the Intraday VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount limitation applicable to such Intraday VWAP Purchase, taking into account the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, as set forth in this Agreement).
“Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum” means, with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Intraday VWAP Purchase Share Amount to be subscribed for and purchased by the Investor in such Intraday VWAP Purchase, by (ii) the Intraday VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase (to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction).
“Investment Period” means the period commencing on the Commencement Date and expiring on the date this Agreement is subsequently terminated pursuant to Article VIII.
“Investor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Investor Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.1.
“IT Systems and Data” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.39.
| I-9 |
“Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of any of (i) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and (ii) the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, in each case after reasonable inquiry of all officers, directors and employees of the Company under such Person’s direct supervision who would reasonably be expected to have knowledge or information with respect to the matter in question.
“Law” means any federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, national or supranational statute, law (including common law), act, statute, ordinance, treaty, rule, code, regulation or other binding directive issued, promulgated or enforced by a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over a given matter.
“Limit Order Continue Election” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time,” which election shall be applicable to an Intraday VWAP Purchase, if such election is specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, and shall be applicable to a VWAP Purchase, if such election is specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, as the case may be.
“Limit Order Discontinue Election” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time,” which election shall be applicable to an Intraday VWAP Purchase, if such election is specified by the Company in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, and shall be applicable to a VWAP Purchase, if such election is specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, as the case may be.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (i) any condition, occurrence, state of facts or event having, or insofar as reasonably can be foreseen would likely have, any effect on the business, operations, properties or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as set forth in the Commission Documents that is material and adverse to the Company, taken as a whole, excluding any facts, circumstances, changes or effects, individually or in the aggregate, exclusively and directly resulting from, relating to or arising out of one or more of the following: (a) changes in conditions in the U.S. or global capital, credit or financial markets generally, including changes in the availability of capital or currency exchange rates, provided such changes shall not have affected the Company in a materially disproportionate manner as compared to other similarly situated companies, (b) changes generally affecting the industries in which the Company operate, provided such changes shall not have affected the Company, taken as a whole, in a materially disproportionate manner as compared to other similarly situated companies, (c) any effect of the announcement of, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement on the Company’s relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, vendors, bank lenders, strategic venture partners or employees, (d) changes arising in connection with earthquakes, hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions or any escalation or material worsening of any such hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions existing as of the date hereof, (e) any effect of COVID-19 or any Law, directive, pronouncement or guideline issued by a Governmental Entity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization or industry group providing for business closures, changes to business operations, “sheltering-in-place” or other restrictions that relate to, or arise out of, an epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 pandemic) or any change in such Law, directive, pronouncement or guideline or interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement, (f) any action taken by the Investor, any of its officers, its sole member or the Investor’s Broker-Dealer, or any of such Person’s successors with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, and (g) the effect of any changes in applicable laws or accounting rules, provided such changes shall not have affected the Company in a materially disproportionate manner as compared to other similarly situated companies; (ii) any condition, occurrence, state of facts or event having, or insofar as reasonably can be foreseen would likely have, any material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby; or (iii) any condition, occurrence, state of facts or event that would, or insofar as reasonably can be foreseen would likely, prohibit or otherwise materially interfere with or materially delay the ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.
| I-10 |
“Materials of Environmental Concern” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.18.
“Money Laundering Laws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.37.
“MPA Period” means the period commencing at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Trading Day on which any Affiliate of the Investor, including, without limitation, BRS, shall have published or distributed any research report (as such term is defined in Rule 500 of Regulation AC) concerning the Company, and ending at 6:00 a.m., New York City time, on the sixth Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which any Affiliate of the Investor, including, without limitation, BRS, shall have published or distributed any research report (as such term is defined in Rule 500 of Regulation AC) concerning the Company.
“New Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Notice of Effectiveness” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1(iii).
“OFAC” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.36.
“Order” means any outstanding writ, order, judgment, injunction, binding decision or determination, award, ruling, subpoena, verdict or decree entered, issued or rendered by any Governmental Entity.
“PEA Period” means the period commencing at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the third Trading Day immediately prior to the filing of (i) any post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or any New Registration Statement or (ii) any New Registration Statement, as applicable, and ending at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day immediately following, the Effective Date of such post-effective amendment or New Registration Statement, as applicable.
“Permits” means any approvals, authorizations, clearances, licenses, registrations, permits or certificates of a Governmental Entity.
| I-11 |
“Person” means any person or entity, whether a natural person, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, business association, firm, joint venture or Governmental Entity.
“Personal Data” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.40.
“Policies” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.40.
“Privacy Laws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.40.
“Proceeding” means any lawsuit, litigation, action, audit, investigation, examination, claim, complaint, charge, proceeding, suit, arbitration, investigation, or mediation (in each case, whether civil, criminal or administrative and whether public or private) pending by or before or otherwise involving any Governmental Entity.
“Prospectus” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Prospectus Supplement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Purchase Condition Satisfaction Time” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.3.
“Purchase Date” means, (i) with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, the Trading Day on which the Investor timely receives, (A) after 6:00 a.m., New York City time, and (B) prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Trading Day, a valid VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase in accordance with this Agreement, and (ii) with respect to an Intraday VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.2, the Trading Day on which the Investor timely receives a valid Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase in accordance with this Agreement, (A) after the latest of (X) 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Trading Day, if the Company has not timely delivered a valid VWAP Purchase Notice to the Investor for a VWAP Purchase on such Trading Day, (Y) the VWAP Purchase Ending Time of the VWAP Purchase Period for the VWAP Purchase preceding the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for such Intraday VWAP Purchase occurring on the same Trading Day as such earlier VWAP Purchase, if the Company has timely delivered a valid VWAP Purchase Notice to the Investor for a VWAP Purchase on such Trading Day, and (Z) the Intraday VWAP Purchase Ending Time of the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for the most recent prior Intraday VWAP Purchase, if any, occurring on the same Trading Day as such Intraday VWAP Purchase, and (B) prior to the earlier of (X) 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such Trading Day for such Intraday VWAP Purchase and (Y) such time that is exactly 30 minutes immediately prior to the official close of the primary (or “regular”) trading session on the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, on such Eligible Market) on such Trading Day, if the Trading Market (or such Eligible Market, as applicable) has publicly announced that the official close of the primary (or “regular”) trading session shall be earlier than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Trading Day.
| I-12 |
“Purchase Share Delivery Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3.
“Qualified Independent Underwriter” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in FINRA Rule 5121(f)(12).
“Reference Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.6(ii).
“Reference Price” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.6(ii).
“Registrable Securities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereof.
“Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Regulation D” means Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act.
“Remaining Commitment Fee” shall be equal to $350,000.
“Representation Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.17.
“Representatives” means with respect to a Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, and legal, financial, internal and independent accounting and other advisors and representatives.
“Restricted Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9(i).
“Restricted Person” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9(i).
“Restricted Persons” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9(i).
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect.
“Sale Price” means any trade price for a share of Common Stock on the Trading Market, or if the Common Stock is then traded on an Eligible Market, on such Eligible Market, as reported by Bloomberg.
“Sanctions Regulations” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.36.
| I-13 |
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.6(d).
“Section 4(a)(2)” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Securities” means the Shares.
“Securities Act” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Shares” shall mean the shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by the Investor under this Agreement pursuant to one or more VWAP Purchase Notices or one or more Intraday VWAP Purchase Notices.
“Short Sales” shall mean “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act.
“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interest having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time owned directly or indirectly by the Company and/or any of its other Subsidiaries.
“Threshold Price” means $1.00, which shall not be adjusted (proportionally or otherwise) for any forward stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the capital stock of the Company that occurs on or after the date of the Agreement.
“Total Commitment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.
“Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the Trading Market or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, such Eligible Market is open for “regular” trading, including any day on which the Trading Market (or such Eligible Market, as applicable) is open for “regular” trading for a period of time less than the customary “regular” trading period.
“Trading Market” means the NYSE American (or any nationally recognized successor thereto).
“Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement (as qualified by the Disclosure Schedule) and the exhibits hereto, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the exhibits thereto, and each of the other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments entered into or furnished by the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
“Upfront Commitment Fee” shall be equal to $150,000.
| I-14 |
“VWAP” means, for the Common Stock for a specified period, the dollar volume-weighted average price for the Common Stock on the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, on such Eligible Market), for such period, as reported by Bloomberg through its “AQR” function; provided, however, that (i) the calculation of the dollar volume-weighted average price for the Common Stock for the VWAP Purchase Period for each VWAP Purchase shall exclude each of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (C) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold for such VWAP Purchase; and (ii) the calculation of the dollar volume-weighted average price for the Common Stock for the Intraday VWAP Purchase Period for each Intraday VWAP Purchase shall exclude each of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (C) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice for such Intraday VWAP Purchase, all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such Intraday VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable Intraday VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold for such Intraday VWAP Purchase. All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction.
“VWAP Purchase” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1.
“VWAP Purchase Commencement Time” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase, or such later time on such Purchase Date publicly announced by the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, by such Eligible Market) as the official open of the primary (or “regular”) trading session on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) on such Purchase Date.
“VWAP Purchase Ending Time” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, the time on the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase that is the earliest of: (i) 3:59 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase, or such earlier time publicly announced by the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, by such Eligible Market) as the official close of the primary (or “regular”) trading session on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) on such Purchase Date; (ii) immediately at such time following the VWAP Purchase Commencement Time of the VWAP Purchase Period for such VWAP Purchase that the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period has exceeded the applicable VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum for such VWAP Purchase (taking into account the VWAP Purchase
| I-15 |
Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase); provided, however, that the calculation of the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period shall exclude from such calculation all shares of Common Stock traded in any of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (C) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold; and (iii) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Discontinue Election in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, immediately at such time following the VWAP Purchase Commencement Time of the VWAP Purchase Period for such VWAP Purchase that the Sale Price of any share of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period is less than the applicable VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold; provided, however, that the determination of whether the Sale Price of any share of Common Stock traded during such VWAP Purchase Period is less than the applicable VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold shall exclude (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date and (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable). All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction.
“VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, such number of shares of Common Stock equal to the lesser of: (i) 1,000,000 shares, and (ii) the product of (A) the VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, multiplied by (B) the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on an Eligible Market, by such Eligible Market) during the VWAP Purchase Period for such VWAP Purchase; provided, however, that the calculation of the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period referred to in clause (ii)(B) above shall exclude from such calculation all shares of Common Stock traded in any of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (1) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (2) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (3) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold. All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction.
| I-16 |
“VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, either (a) the dollar amount specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase as the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in determining whether the event in clause (iii) of the definition of “VWAP Purchase Ending Time” shall have occurred during the applicable VWAP Purchase Period for such VWAP Purchase, if the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Discontinue Election in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, or (b) the dollar amount specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase as the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in determining the sales of Common Stock during the applicable VWAP Purchase Period that shall be excluded from the calculation of the total number (or volume) of shares of Common Stock traded on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period, if the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase; provided, however, that in each case if the Company has specified a lower dollar amount than the Threshold Price, then the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in such Intraday VWAP Purchase shall be equal to the Threshold Price; provided, further, that in each case if the Company has not specified any such dollar amount as the per share minimum Sale Price threshold in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, then the per share minimum Sale Price threshold to be used in such VWAP Purchase shall be such dollar amount equal to the product of (A) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase, multiplied by (B) 0.75. All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction.
“VWAP Purchase Notice” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, an irrevocable written notice delivered by the Company to the Investor, and received by the Investor, after 6:00 a.m., New York City time, and prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase, specifying the VWAP Purchase Percentage that shall apply to such VWAP Purchase and whether a Limit Order Continue Election or a Limit Order Discontinue Election shall apply to such VWAP Purchase, and directing the Investor to subscribe for and purchase a specified VWAP Purchase Share Amount (such specified VWAP Purchase Share Amount subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 3.1 as necessary to give effect to the applicable VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount for such VWAP Purchase), at the applicable VWAP Purchase Price therefor on such Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase in accordance with this Agreement.
“VWAP Purchase Percentage” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, the percentage specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, which shall not exceed 25.0%, for purposes of calculating, among other things, the VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount, the VWAP Purchase Share Amount and the VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum, in each case applicable to such VWAP Purchase.
| I-17 |
“VWAP Purchase Period” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, the period on the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase, beginning at the applicable VWAP Purchase Commencement Time and ending at the applicable VWAP Purchase Ending Time on such Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase.
“VWAP Purchase Price” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, the purchase price per Share to be purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase, equal to the product of (i) 0.97, multiplied by (ii) the VWAP of the Common Stock for the applicable VWAP Purchase Period on the applicable Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase; provided, however, that the calculation of the VWAP for the Common Stock for the VWAP Purchase Period for a VWAP Purchase shall exclude each of the following transactions, to the extent they occur during such VWAP Purchase Period (as applicable): (A) the opening or first purchase of Common Stock at or following the official open of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date, (B) the last or closing sale of Common Stock at or prior to the official close of such primary (or “regular”) trading session that is reported in the consolidated system on such Purchase Date (as applicable), and (C) provided the Company shall have specified a Limit Order Continue Election in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, all sales of Common Stock on the Trading Market (or on such Eligible Market, as applicable) during such VWAP Purchase Period at a Sale Price that is less than the applicable VWAP Purchase Minimum Price Threshold for such VWAP Purchase. All such calculations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction.
“VWAP Purchase Share Amount” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, the total number of Shares to be purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase as specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, which total number of Shares shall not exceed the VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount applicable to such VWAP Purchase, taking into account the VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase (and such number of Shares specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase shall be subject to automatic adjustment in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof as necessary to give effect to the VWAP Purchase Maximum Amount limitation applicable to such VWAP Purchase, taking into account the VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase, as set forth in this Agreement).
“VWAP Purchase Share Volume Maximum” means, with respect to a VWAP Purchase made pursuant to Section 3.1, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the VWAP Purchase Share Amount to be subscribed for and purchased by the Investor in such VWAP Purchase, by (ii) the VWAP Purchase Percentage specified by the Company in the applicable VWAP Purchase Notice for such VWAP Purchase (to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction).
| I-18 |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
[TO BE FURNISHED SEPARATELY]
| A-1 |
EXHIBIT B
CLOSING CERTIFICATE
[•], 2026
The undersigned, the [●] of TOP Ships Inc., a Republic of the Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”), delivers this certificate in connection with the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2026 (the “Agreement”), by and between the Company and B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Investor”), and hereby certifies on the date hereof that (capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings assigned to them in the Agreement):
1. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true, complete and correct copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended through the date hereof, as filed with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Articles of Incorporation”). The Articles of Incorporation of the Company have not been further amended or restated, and no document with respect to any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company has been filed in the office of the Registrar of the Republic of the Marshall Islands since the date shown on the face of the certification relating to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, which is in full force and effect on the date hereof, and no action has been taken by the Company in contemplation of any such amendment or the dissolution, merger or consolidation of the Company.
2. Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a true and complete copy of the Bylaws of the Company, as amended through, and as in full force and effect on, the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), and no proposal for any amendment, repeal or other modification to the Bylaws of the Company has been taken or is currently pending before the Board of Directors or stockholders of the Company.
3. The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents; said approval has not been amended, rescinded or modified and remains in full force and effect as of the date hereof. Attached hereto as Exhibit C are true, correct and complete copies of the resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on [•], 2026.
4. Each person who, as an officer of the Company, or as attorney-in-fact of an officer of the Company, signed the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, was duly elected, qualified and acting as such officer or duly appointed and acting as such attorney-in-fact, and the signature of each such person appearing on any such document is his genuine signature.
Watson Farley & Williams LLP and Duane Morris LLP shall be entitled to rely on the representations and warranties set forth herein for purposes of rendering its opinion and negative assurance letter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed my name as of the date first above written.
| Name: | |
| Title: |
| B-1 |
EXHIBIT C
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, the [●] of TOP Ships Inc., a Republic of the Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”), delivers this certificate in connection with the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2026 (the “Agreement”), by and between the Company and B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Investor”), and hereby certifies on the date hereof that, to the best of [his/her] knowledge after reasonable investigation, on behalf of the Company (capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings assigned to them in the Agreement):
1. The undersigned is the duly appointed [●] of the Company.
2. Except as set forth in the attached Disclosure Schedule, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article V of the Agreement (i) that are not qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” are true and correct in all material respects as of [the Commencement Date] [the date hereof] with the same force and effect as if made on [the Commencement Date] [the date hereof], except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of such other date and (ii) that are qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” are true and correct as of [the Commencement Date] [the date hereof] with the same force and effect as if made on [the Commencement Date] [the date hereof], except to the extent such representations and warranties are as of another date, in which case, such representations and warranties are true and correct as of such other date.
3. The Company has performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company [at or prior to Commencement][on or prior to the date hereof].
4. The Shares issuable in respect of each VWAP Purchase Notice and each Intraday VWAP Purchase Notice effected pursuant to the Agreement shall be delivered to the Investor electronically as DWAC Shares, and shall be freely tradable and transferable and without restriction on resale and without any stop transfer instructions maintained against such Shares.
5. As of [the Commencement Date][the date hereof], the Company does not possess any material non-public information.
6. As of [the Commencement Date][the date hereof], the Company has reserved out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, [●] shares of Common Stock solely for the purpose of issuing Shares pursuant to VWAP Purchases and Intraday VWAP Purchases effected under the Agreement.
7. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus under the Securities Act has been issued and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act are pending before or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.
Watson Farley & Williams LLP and Duane Morris LLP shall be entitled to rely on the representations and warranties set forth herein for purposes of rendering its opinion and negative assurance letter.
The undersigned has executed this Certificate this [●] day of [●], 202[●].
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
| C-1 |
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE
RELATING TO THE COMMON STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF April 24, 2026
BETWEEN TOP SHIPS INC. AND B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC
This disclosure schedule is made and given pursuant to Article V of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2026 (the “Agreement”), by and between TOP Ships Inc., a Republic of the Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”), and B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Unless the context otherwise requires, all capitalized terms are used herein as defined in the Agreement. The numbers below correspond to the section numbers of representations and warranties in the Agreement most directly modified by the below exceptions.
None.
Exhibit 10.74
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 24, 2026, is by and between B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Investor”), and TOP Ships Inc., a Republic of the Marshall Islands corporation (the “Company”).
RECITALS
A. The Company and the Investor have entered into that certain Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company may issue, from time to time, to the Investor up to $50,000,000 in aggregate gross purchase price of newly issued shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”).
B. Pursuant to the terms of, and in consideration for the Investor entering into, the Purchase Agreement, and to induce the Investor to execute and deliver the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the Investor with certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and the Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
(b) “Allowable Grace Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3(p).
(c) “Blue Sky Filing” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
(d) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
(e) “Claims” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
(f) “Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor entity.
(g) “Common Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
(h) “Company” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
(i) “Company Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(b).
(j) “Effective Date” means the date that the applicable Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission.
(k) “Effectiveness Deadline” means (i) with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed to pursuant to Section 2(a), the earlier of (A) the 60th calendar day immediately after the Filing Deadline with respect to the Initial Registration Statement, if the Initial Registration Statement is subject to review by the Commission, or (B) if the Company is notified (orally or in writing) by the Commission that the Initial Registration Statement will not be reviewed by the Commission, the fifth Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Initial Registration Statement will not be reviewed by the Commission, and (ii) with respect to any New Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the earlier of (A) the 60th calendar day immediately after the Filing Deadline with respect to such New Registration Statement, if such New Registration Statement is subject to review by the Commission, or (B) if the Company is notified (orally or in writing) by the Commission that such New Registration Statement will not be reviewed by the Commission, the 5th Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such New Registration Statement will not be reviewed by the Commission.
(l) “Filing Deadline” means (i) with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed to pursuant to Section 2(a), the tenth Business Day after the date of this Agreement and (ii) with respect to any New Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the tenth Business Day following the sale of substantially all of the Registrable Securities included in the Initial Registration Statement or the most recent prior New Registration Statement, as applicable, or such other date as permitted by the Commission.
(m) “FINRA Filing” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Purchase Agreement.
(n) “Indemnified Damages” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
(o) “Initial Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(a).
(p) “Investor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.
(q) “Investor Party” and “Investor Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in Section 6(a).
(r) “Legal Counsel” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(b).
(s) “New Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(c).
(t) “Person” means any person or entity, whether a natural person, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, business association, firm, joint venture, governmental agency or authority.
(u) “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form included in the Registration Statement at the applicable Effective Date of the Registration Statement, as supplemented from time to time by any Prospectus Supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein.
(v) “Prospectus Supplement” means any prospectus supplement to the Prospectus filed with the Commission from time to time pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein.
(w) “Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
(x) “register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and the declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the Commission.
(y) “Registrable Securities” means all of (i) the shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to such Shares, including, without limitation, (1) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2) shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged and shares of capital stock of a successor entity into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, in each case until such time as such securities cease to be Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(f).
(z) “Registration Statement” means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the Securities Act covering the resale by the Investor of Registrable Securities, as such registration statement or registration statements may be amended and supplemented from time to time, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein.
(aa) “Registration Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3(a).
(bb) “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit the Investor to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration.
(cc) “Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the Commission providing for offering securities on a delayed or continuous basis.
(dd) “Staff” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(c).
(ee) “Violations” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6(a).
2. Registration.
(a) Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare and, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Filing Deadline, file with the Commission the Initial Registration Statement on Form F-1 (or any successor form) covering the resale by the Investor of (i) the maximum number of Registrable Securities as shall be permitted to be included thereon in accordance with applicable Commission rules, regulations and interpretations so as to permit the resale of such Registrable Securities by the Investor under Rule 415 under the Securities Act at then prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices) (the “Initial Registration Statement”). The Initial Registration Statement shall contain the “Selling Stockholder” and “Plan of Distribution” sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Initial Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline.
(b) Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Investor shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review, solely on its behalf, any registration pursuant to this Section 2 (“Legal Counsel”), which shall be Duane Morris LLP, or such other counsel as thereafter designated by the Investor. Except as provided under Section 10.1(i) of the Purchase Agreement, the Company shall have no obligation to reimburse the Investor for any and all legal fees and expenses of the Legal Counsel incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. If at any time all Registrable Securities are not covered by the Initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) as a result of Section 2(e) or otherwise, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission one or more additional Registration Statements so as to cover all of the Registrable Securities not covered by the Initial Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable (taking into account any position of the staff of the Commission (“Staff”) with respect to the date on which the Staff will permit such additional Registration Statement(s) to be filed with the Commission and the rules and regulations of the Commission) (each such additional Registration Statement, a “New Registration Statement”), but in no event later than the applicable Filing Deadline for such New Registration Statement(s). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such New Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable following the filing thereof with the Commission, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline for such New Registration Statement.
(d) No Inclusion of Other Securities. In no event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(c).
(e) Offering. If the Staff or the Commission seeks to characterize any offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement as constituting an offering of securities that does not permit such Registration Statement to become effective and be used for resales by the Investor on a delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 at then-prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices), or if after the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(c), the Company is otherwise required by the Staff or the Commission to reduce the number of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, then the Company shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration Statement (after consultation with the Investor and Legal Counsel as to the specific Registrable Securities to be removed therefrom) until such time as the Staff and the Commission shall so permit such Registration Statement to become effective and be used as aforesaid. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if after giving effect to the actions referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, the Staff or the Commission does not permit such Registration Statement to become effective and be used for resales by the Investor on a delayed or continuous basis under Rule 415 at then-prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices), the Company shall not request acceleration of the Effective Date of such Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than 48 hours) request the withdrawal of such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 477 under the Securities Act, and the Effectiveness Deadline shall automatically be deemed to have elapsed with respect to such Registration Statement at such time as the Staff or the Commission has made a final and non-appealable determination that the Commission will not permit such Registration Statement to be so utilized (unless prior to such time the Company has received assurances from the Staff or the Commission that a New Registration Statement filed by the Company with the Commission promptly thereafter may be so utilized). In the event of any reduction in Registrable Securities pursuant to this paragraph, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file one or more New Registration Statements with the Commission in accordance with Section 2(c) until such time as all Registrable Securities have been included in Registration Statements that have been declared effective and the Prospectuses contained therein are available for use by the Investor.
(f) Any Registrable Security shall cease to be a “Registrable Security” at the earliest of the following: (i) when a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement; and (ii) the date that is the later of (A) the first anniversary of the effective date of termination of the Purchase Agreement in accordance with Article VIII of the Purchase Agreement and (B) the first anniversary of the date of the last sale of any Registrable Securities by the Company to the Investor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
3. Related Obligations.
The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and, pursuant thereto, during the term of this Agreement, the Company shall have the following obligations:
(a) The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission the Initial Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof and one or more New Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof with respect to the Registrable Securities, but in no event later than the applicable Filing Deadline therefor, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline therefor. Subject to Allowable Grace Periods, the Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective (and the Prospectus contained therein available for use) pursuant to Rule 415 for resales by the Investor on a continuous basis at then-prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices) at all times until the earlier of (i) the date on which the Investor shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and (ii) the date of termination of the Purchase Agreement if as of such termination date the Investor holds no Registrable Securities (or, if applicable, the date on which such securities cease to be Registrable Securities after the date of termination of the Purchase Agreement) (the “Registration Period”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement (but subject to the provisions of Section 3(p) hereof), the Company shall ensure that, when filed and at all times while effective, each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) and the Prospectus (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) used in connection with such Registration Statement shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of Prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading. The Company shall submit to the Commission, as soon as reasonably practicable after the date that the Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the Staff or that the Staff has no further comments on a particular Registration Statement (as the case may be), a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline in accordance with Rule 461 under the Securities Act.
(b) Subject to Section 3(p) of this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection with each such Registration Statement, which Prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep each such Registration Statement effective (and the Prospectus contained therein current and available for use) at all times during the Registration Period for such Registration Statement, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company required to be covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Investor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company covenants and agrees that (i) on or before the second Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement and any New Registration
Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereto), the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement (or post-effective amendment thereto), and (ii) if the transactions contemplated by any one or more VWAP Purchases and/or any one or more Intraday VWAP Purchases are material to the Company (individually or collectively), the material terms of which have not previously been described in the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (or in any periodic report, statement, schedule or other document filed by the Company with the Commission under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus), or if otherwise required under the Securities Act (or the public written interpretive guidance of the Staff of the Commission relating thereto), in each case as reasonably and mutually determined by the Company and the Investor, then, no later than (i) 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date for such VWAP Purchase and (ii) as soon as reasonably practicable on the Purchase Date for such Intraday VWAP Purchase(s), the Company shall file with the Commission a Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act with respect to such VWAP Purchase(s) and such Intraday VWAP Purchase(s) (as applicable) requiring such filing, disclosing the total number of Shares that are to be issued and sold to the Investor pursuant to such VWAP Purchase(s) and Intraday VWAP Purchase(s) (as applicable), the total purchase price for the Shares subject thereto, the applicable purchase price(s) for such Shares and the estimated net proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of such Shares. To the extent not previously disclosed in the Prospectus or a Prospectus Supplement, the Company shall disclose in its quarterly or semi-annual financial statements on Form 6-K and in its Annual Reports on Form 20-F the information described in the immediately preceding sentence relating to all VWAP Purchase(s) and all Intraday VWAP Purchase(s) (as applicable) effected and settled during the relevant fiscal quarter and shall file such quarterly or semi-annual financial statements on Form 6-K and Annual Reports on Form 20-F with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such report under the Exchange Act. In the case of amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement on Form F-1 or Prospectus related thereto which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 6-K or Form 20-F or any analogous report under the Exchange Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement and Prospectus, if applicable, or shall promptly file such amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus with the Commission, for the purpose of including or incorporating such report into such Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus (including, without limitation, any supplement thereto) included in each Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act and with the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the jurisdictions in which the Registrable Securities may be sold by the Investor, in connection with the resale of the Registrable Securities and for such period of time thereafter as such Prospectus (including, without limitation, any supplement thereto) (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with resales of Registrable Securities.
(c) The Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel an opportunity to review and comment upon (i) each Registration Statement at least two Business Days prior to its filing with the Commission and (ii) all amendments and supplements to each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, the Prospectus contained therein) (except for Annual Reports
on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K, and any similar or successor reports or Prospectus Supplements the contents of which is limited to that set forth in such reports) within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the Commission, and (B) shall reasonably consider any comments of the Investor and Legal Counsel on any such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto or to any Prospectus contained therein. The Company shall promptly furnish to Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) electronic copies of any correspondence from the Commission or the Staff to the Company or its representatives relating to each Registration Statement (which correspondence shall be redacted to exclude any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), (ii) after the same is prepared and filed with the Commission, one electronic copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by the Investor, and all exhibits and (iii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one electronic copy of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus, which may be provided in .PDF format) to Legal Counsel to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.
(d) Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Purchase Agreement, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Investor, without charge, (i) after the same is prepared and filed with the Commission, at least one electronic copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by the Investor, all exhibits thereto, (ii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one electronic copy of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as the Investor may reasonably request from time to time) and (iii) such other documents, including, without limitation, copies of any final Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement thereto, as the Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Investor; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus, which may be provided in .PDF format) to the Investor to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.
(e) The Company shall take such action as is reasonably necessary to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by the Investor of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or “Blue Sky” laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel and the Investor of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
(f) The Company shall notify Legal Counsel and the Investor in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the Prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and, subject to Section 3(p), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement and such Prospectus contained therein to correct such untrue statement or omission and deliver one electronic copy of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel and the Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel or the Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel and the Investor in writing (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and the Investor by e-mail on the same day of such effectiveness), and when the Company receives written notice from the Commission that a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment will be reviewed by the Commission, (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or related information, (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate and (iv) of the receipt of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for any additional information relating to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any related Prospectus. The Company shall also advise the Investor promptly (but in no event later than 24 hours) and shall confirm such advice in writing of the Company becoming aware of the happening of any event, which makes any statement made in the FINRA Filing untrue or which requires the making of any additions to or changes to the statements then made in the FINRA Filing in order to comply with FINRA Rules 5110 and 5121. The Company shall respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto. Nothing in this Section 3(f) shall limit any obligation of the Company under the Purchase Agreement.
(g) The Company shall (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus contained therein, or the suspension of the qualification, or the loss of an exemption from qualification, of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible time and (ii) notify Legal Counsel and the Investor of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding.
(h) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning the Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required to be disclosed in such Registration Statement pursuant to the Securities Act, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning the Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to the Investor and allow the Investor, at the Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
(i) Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Purchase Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement to be listed on the Trading Market, or (ii) secure designation and quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement on another Eligible Market. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(i).
(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Investor and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of Registrable Securities, as DWAC Shares, to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such DWAC Shares to be in such denominations or amounts (as the case may be) as the Investor may reasonably request from time to time and registered in such names as the Investor may request. Investor hereby agrees that it shall cooperate with the Company, its counsel and its transfer agent in connection with any issuances of DWAC Shares, and hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that it will resell such DWAC Shares only pursuant to the Registration Statement in which such DWAC Shares are included, in a manner described under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in such Registration Statement, and in a manner in compliance with all applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, any applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. At the time such DWAC Shares are offered and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, such DWAC Shares shall be free from all restrictive legends and may be transmitted by the Company’s transfer agent to the Investor by crediting an account at DTC as directed in writing by the Investor.
(k) Upon the written request of the Investor, the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of notice from the Investor and subject to Section 3(p) hereof, (i) incorporate in a Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement or Prospectus contained therein if reasonably requested by the Investor.
(l) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
(m) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders (which may be satisfied by making such information available on EDGAR) as soon as practical, but not later than 90 days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of each Registration Statement.
(n) The Company shall otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission in connection with any registration hereunder.
(o) Within one Business Day after each Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared effective by the Commission, the Company shall deliver to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investor) an opinion of the Company’s legal counsel advising the transfer agent that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, in such form as shall be acceptable to the transfer agent.
(p) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein (but subject to the last sentence of this Section 3(p)), at any time after the Effective Date of a particular Registration Statement, the Company may, upon written notice to Investor, suspend Investor’s use of any prospectus that is a part of any Registration Statement (in which event the Investor shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, but shall settle any previously made sales of Registrable Securities) if the Company (x) is pursuing an acquisition, merger, tender offer, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Company determines in good faith that (A) the Company’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in such Registration Statement or other registration statement or (B) such transaction renders the Company unable to comply with Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it impractical or inadvisable to cause any Registration Statement (or such filings) to be used by Investor or to promptly amend or supplement any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement on a post effective basis, as applicable, or (y) has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Company, would materially adversely affect the Company (each, an “Allowable Grace Period”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Investor be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement for a period that exceeds 30 consecutive Trading Days or an aggregate of 90 Trading Days in any 365-day period; and provided, further, the Company shall not effect any such suspension during (A) the first ten consecutive Trading Days after the Effective Date of the particular Registration Statement or (B) the five-Trading Day period commencing on the Purchase Date for each VWAP Purchase and for each Intraday VWAP Purchase (as applicable). Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Company shall provide prompt notice, but in any event within one Business Day of such disclosure or termination, to the Investor and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement (including as set forth in the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public information is no longer applicable). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3(p), the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver DWAC Shares to a transferee of the Investor in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which (i) the Company has made a sale to Investor and (ii) the Investor has entered into a contract for sale, and delivered a copy of the Prospectus included as part of the particular Registration Statement to the extent applicable, in each case prior to the Investor’s receipt of the notice of an Allowable Grace Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
4. Obligations of the Investor.
(a) At least five Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of each Registration Statement (or such shorter period to which the parties agree), the Company shall notify the Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from the Investor with respect to such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of the Investor that the Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect and maintain the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.
(b) The Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of each Registration Statement hereunder, unless the Investor has notified the Company in writing of the Investor’s election to exclude all of the Investor’s Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c) The Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(p) or the first sentence of 3(f), the Investor shall immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until the Investor’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(p) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(c), the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver DWAC Shares to a transferee of the Investor in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which the Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor’s receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(p) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
(d) The Investor covenants and agrees that it shall comply with the prospectus delivery and other requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
5. Expenses of Registration.
Each party shall bear its own fees and expenses related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall pay for all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and the Investor shall pay any sales or brokerage commissions and fees and disbursements of counsel for, and other expenses of, the Investor incurred in connection with the registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Section 2 and 3, and all U.S. federal, state and local stamp and other similar transfer and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the sale of the Securities pursuant hereto.
6. Indemnification.
(a) In the event any Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement under this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Investor, each of its directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) and each Person, if any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each of the directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling Persons (each, an “Investor Party” and collectively, the “Investor Parties”), against any losses, obligations, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including, without limitation, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs of defense and investigation), amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, “Claims”) reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the Commission, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an Investor Party is or may be a party thereto (“Indemnified Damages”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (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 a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “Blue Sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (“Blue Sky Filing”), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) or in any Prospectus Supplement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being, collectively, “Violations”). Subject to Section 6(e), the Company shall reimburse the Investor Parties, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable and documented legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Investor Party arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Investor Party for such Investor Party expressly for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto (it being hereby acknowledged and agreed that the written information set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto is the only written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement); (ii) shall not be available to the Investor to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) made available by the Company (to the extent applicable), including, without limitation, a corrected Prospectus, if such Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) or corrected Prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d) and then only if, and to the extent that, following the receipt of the corrected Prospectus no grounds for such Claim would have existed; and (iii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Investor Party and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by the Investor pursuant to Section 9.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Investor is participating, the Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, a “Company Party”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case, to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the Investor furnished to the Company by the Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein or any Prospectus Supplement thereto (it being hereby acknowledged and agreed that the written information set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto is the only written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement); and, subject to Section 6(e) and the below provisos in this Section 6(b), the Investor shall reimburse a Company Party any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Company Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; and provided, further that the Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to the Investor as a result of the applicable sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Company Party and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by the Investor pursuant to Section 9.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including, without limitation, any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Investor Party or the Company Party (as the case may be); provided, however, an Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party if: (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Claim and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) in any such Claim; or (iii) the named parties to any such Claim (including, without limitation, any impleaded parties) include both such Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) and the indemnifying party, and such Investor Party or such Company Party (as the case may be) shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Investor Party or such Company Party and the indemnifying party (in which case, if such Investor Party or such Company Party (as the case may be) notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof on behalf of the indemnified party and such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party, provided further that in the case of clause (iii) above the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate legal counsel for all Investor Parties or Company Parties (as the case may be). The Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent; provided, however, the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be), which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) of a release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Company Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to Sections 6(a) and 6(b) hereof. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Company Party or Investor Party (as the case may be) with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Investor Party or Company Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(d) No Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities who is guilty of bad faith, gross negligence, willful or reckless misconduct or fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to indemnification from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who is not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred; provided, that any Person receiving any payment pursuant to this Section 6 shall promptly reimburse the Person making such payment for the amount of such payment to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such Person receiving such payment was not entitled to such payment.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Company Party or Investor Party against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. Contribution.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however: (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement, (ii) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the applicable sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, the Investor shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by the Investor from the applicable sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that the Investor has otherwise been required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(b), by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
8. Reports Under the Exchange Act.
With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144, the Company agrees to:
(a) use its commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
(b) use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (taking into account any additional time afforded the Company by its filing of a Form 12b-25 in respect of such a report) so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit any of the Company’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144;
(c) furnish to the Investor so long as the Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting, submission and posting requirements of Rule 144 and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the Commission if such reports are not publicly available via EDGAR, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investor to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration; and
(d) take such additional action as is reasonably requested by the Investor to enable the Investor to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, including, without limitation, delivering all such legal opinions, consents, certificates, resolutions and instructions to the Company’s transfer agent as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Investor and otherwise fully cooperate with Investor and Investor’s broker to effect such sale of securities pursuant to Rule 144.
9. Assignment of Registration Rights.
Neither the Company nor the Investor shall assign this Agreement or any of their respective rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that any transaction, whether by merger, reorganization, restructuring, consolidation, financing or otherwise, whereby the Company remains the surviving entity immediately after such transaction shall not be deemed an assignment.
10. Amendment or Waiver.
No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived by the parties from and after the date that is one Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the Commission; provided, however, that an amendment or waiver will be permitted under this Agreement if such amendment or waiver would not preclude the sale of the Shares being considered a valid private placement that had been completed prior to the date on which the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the Commission. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, no provision of this Agreement may be (i) amended other than by a written instrument signed by both parties hereto or (ii) waived other than in a written instrument signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Solely for purposes of this Agreement, a Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from such record owner of such Registrable Securities.
(b) Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement shall be given in accordance with Section 10.4 of the Purchase Agreement.
(c) Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof. The Company and the Investor acknowledge and 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 or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that either party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by the other party and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required), this being in addition to any other remedy to which either party may be entitled by law or equity.
(d) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any law or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(e) The Transaction Documents set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties solely with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, negotiations and understandings between the parties, both oral and written, solely with respect to such matters. There are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by either party relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary and without implication that the contrary would otherwise be true, nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit, modify or affect in any manner whatsoever (i) the conditions precedent to a VWAP Purchase and an Intraday VWAP Purchase contained in Article VII of the Purchase Agreement or (ii) any of the Company’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
(f) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors. This Agreement is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any Person, other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and the Persons referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof.
(g) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
(h) This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile signature or signature delivered by e-mail in a “.pdf” format data file, including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com, www.echosign.adobe.com, etc., shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original signature.
(i) Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(j) The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Investor and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
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THE COMPANY:
TOP SHIP INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Alexandros Tsirikos | ||
| Name: Alexandros Tsirikos | |||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Investor and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| THE INVESTOR: | |||
| B. RILEY PRINCIPAL CAPITAL II, LLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Andy Moore | ||
| Name: | Andy Moore | ||
| Title: | CEO | ||
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
SELLING SHAREHOLDER
This prospectus relates to the possible offer and resale from time to time by the Selling Shareholder of up to 50,000,000 Common Shares that we may issue to the Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. For additional information regarding the issuance of the Common Shares to be offered by the Selling Shareholder pursuant to this prospectus, see the section titled “Committed Equity Financing.” We are registering the Common Shares pursuant to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement in order to permit the Selling Shareholder to offer the Common Shares for resale from time to time. Except for the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and as set forth in the section titled “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” in this prospectus, the Selling Shareholder has not had any material relationship with us or any of our affiliates within the past three years. All of the data in the following table are as of April 24, 2026.
The table below presents information regarding the Selling Shareholder and the Common Shares that may be resold by the Selling Shareholder from time to time under this prospectus. This table is prepared based on information supplied to us by the Selling Shareholder, and reflects holdings as of April 24, 2026. The number of shares in the column “Maximum Number of Common Shares to be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus” represents all of the Common Shares being offered for resale by the Selling Shareholder under this prospectus. The Selling Shareholder may sell some, all or none of the shares being offered for resale in this offering. We do not know how long the Selling Shareholder will hold the shares before selling them and, except as set forth in the section titled “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” in this prospectus, we are not aware of any existing arrangements between the Selling Shareholder and any other shareholder, broker, dealer, underwriter or agent relating to the sale or distribution of the Common Shares being offered for resale by this prospectus.
Beneficial ownership in the table has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d) promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act and includes Common Shares with respect to which the Selling Shareholder has sole or shared voting and investment power. Because the purchase price to be paid by the Selling Shareholder for Common Shares that we may elect to sell to the Selling Shareholder will be determined on the applicable Purchase Dates therefor, the actual number of Common Shares that we may sell to the Selling Shareholder under the Purchase Agreement may be fewer than the number of shares being offered for resale under this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the resale by the Selling Shareholder of all of the Common Shares being offered for resale
pursuant to this prospectus.
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Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering |
Maximum Number of Common Shares to be Offered Pursuant to this Prospectus |
Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After Offering(3) | ||
| Number(1) | Percent(2) | Number | Percent | ||
| B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC(4) | 0 | -- | 50,000,000 | 0 | -- |
(1) In accordance with Rule 13d-3(d) under the Exchange Act, we have excluded from the number of shares beneficially owned prior to the offering all of the Common Shares that the Selling Shareholder may be required to purchase under the Purchase Agreement, because the issuance of such shares is solely at our discretion and is subject to conditions contained in the Purchase Agreement, the satisfaction of which are entirely outside of the Selling Shareholder’s control, including the registration statement that includes this prospectus becoming and remaining effective. Furthermore, the Purchases and the Intraday Purchases of Common Shares under the Purchase Agreement are subject to certain agreed upon maximum amount limitations set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Also, the Purchase Agreement prohibits us from issuing and selling any Common Shares to the Selling Shareholder to the extent such shares would cause the Selling Shareholder’s beneficial ownership of our Common Shares to (i) require a Regulatory Approval or (ii) exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation may not be amended or waived under the Purchase Agreement.
(2) Applicable percentage ownership is based on 5,500,820 Common Shares.
(3) Assumes the sale of all Common Shares being offered for resale pursuant to this prospectus.
(4) The business address of B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC is 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, California 90025. BRPC II’s principal business is that of a private investor. BRPC II is a wholly-owned subsidiary of B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC (“BRPI”). As a result, BRPI may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II. B. Riley Financial, Inc. (“BRF”) is the parent company of BRPC II and BRPI. As a result, BRF may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II and indirectly beneficially owned by BRPI. Bryant R. Riley is the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of BRF. As a result, Bryant R. Riley may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II and indirectly beneficially owned by BRPI. Each of BRF, BRPI and Bryant R. Riley expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II, except to the extent of its/his pecuniary interest therein. We have been advised that none of BRF, BRPI or BRPC II is a member of FINRA or an independent broker-dealer; however, each of BRF, BRPI, BRPC II and Bryant R. Riley is an affiliate of B. Riley Securities, Inc., a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, and Bryant R. Riley is an associated person of BRS. BRS will act as an executing broker that will effectuate resales of our Common Stock that have been and may be acquired by BRPC II from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to the public in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflict of Interest)” for more information about the relationship between BRPC II and BRS.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICT OF INTEREST)
The Common Shares offered by this prospectus are being offered by the Selling Shareholder. The shares may be sold or distributed from time to time by the Selling Shareholder directly to one or more purchasers or through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or at fixed prices, which may be changed. The sale of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus could be effected in one or more of the following methods:
| • | ordinary brokers’ transactions; |
| • | transactions involving cross or block trades; |
| • | through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents; |
| • | “at the market” into an existing market for our Common Shares; |
| • | in other ways not involving market makers or established business markets, including direct sales to purchasers or sales effected through agents; |
| • | in privately negotiated transactions; or |
| • | any combination of the foregoing. |
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the shares may be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states, the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from the state’s registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.
The Selling Shareholder is an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act.
BRPC II has informed us that it presently anticipates using, but is not required to use, BRS, a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member and an affiliate of BRPC II, as a broker to effectuate resales, if any, of our Common Shares that it may acquire from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and that it may also engage one or more other registered broker-dealers to effectuate resales, if any, of such Common Shares that it may acquire from us. Such resales will be made at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price. Each such registered broker-dealer will be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. BRPC II has informed us that each such broker-dealer it engages to effectuate resales of our Common Shares on its behalf, excluding BRS, may receive commissions from BRPC II for executing such resales for BRPC II and, if so, such commissions will not exceed customary brokerage commissions.
BRPC II is an affiliate of BRS, a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, which will act as an executing broker that will effectuate resales of our Common Shares that may be acquired by BRPC II from us pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to the public in this offering. Because BRPC II will receive all the net proceeds from such resales of our Common Shares made to the public through BRS, BRS is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121, which requires that a “qualified independent underwriter,” as defined in FINRA Rule 5121, participate in the preparation of the registration statement that includes this prospectus and exercise the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect thereto. Accordingly, we have engaged the QIU to be the qualified independent underwriter in this offering and, in such capacity, participate in the preparation of the registration statement that includes this prospectus and exercise the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect thereto. BRPC II shall pay the QIU a cash fee of upon the initial filing of the registration statement that includes this prospectus with the SEC as consideration for its services and to reimburse certain expenses incurred in connection with acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, the cash fee and expense reimbursement to be paid to the QIU for acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering are deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our Common Stock by BRPC II to the public. The QIU will receive no other compensation for acting as the qualified independent underwriter in this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, BRS is not permitted to sell shares of our Common Stock in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.
Except as set forth above, we know of no existing arrangements between the Selling Shareholder and any other shareholder, broker, dealer, underwriter or agent relating to the sale or distribution of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus.
Brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the Common Shares offered by this prospectus may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts, or concessions from the purchasers, for whom the broker-dealers may act as agent, of the shares sold by the Selling Shareholder through this prospectus. The compensation paid to any such particular broker-dealer by any such purchasers of Common Shares sold by the Selling Shareholder may be less than or in excess of customary commissions. Neither we nor the Selling Shareholder can presently estimate the amount of compensation that any agent will receive from any purchasers of Common Shares sold by the Selling Shareholder.
We may from time to time file with the SEC one or more supplements to this prospectus or amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part to amend, supplement or update information contained in this prospectus, including, if and when required under the Securities Act, to disclose certain information relating to a particular sale of shares offered by this prospectus by the Selling Shareholder, including with respect to any compensation paid or payable by the Selling Shareholder to any brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents that participate in the distribution of such shares by the Selling Shareholder, and any other related information required to be disclosed under the Securities Act.
We will pay the expenses incident to the registration under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of the Common Shares covered by this prospectus by the Selling Shareholder.
As consideration for the Selling Shareholder’s irrevocable commitment to purchase our Common Shares at our direction under the Purchase Agreement, we agreed to pay a Commitment Fee to the Selling Shareholder of $500,000, equal to 1% of the full amount of the maximum gross proceeds under the Purchase Agreement. Prior to the filing of this registration statement, we paid an aggregate of $150,000 to the Selling Shareholder in partial satisfaction of the Commitment Fee. The remaining balance of the Commitment Fee shall be payable in amounts equal to 50% of each purchase amount, payable on the applicable settlement date(s) until the Commitment Fee is paid in full, but in no event later than 12 months after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we do not direct the Selling Shareholder to make any purchases under the Purchase Agreement, or if the Commencement does not occur, then we have agreed to pay the remaining balance of the Commitment Fee to the Selling Shareholder within three trading days following the termination of the Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, the $500,000 Commitment Fee is deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our shares of Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder to the public.
Furthermore, we have agreed to reimburse the Selling Shareholder for the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of the Selling Shareholder’s legal counsel and fees paid to the QIU in a total amount not to exceed $215,000 in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, consisting of $125,000 paid prior to the filing of this registration statement and $7,500 per fiscal quarter, for a maximum three-year term, in which we direct the Selling Shareholder to purchase our Common Shares, as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, these reimbursed fees and expenses are deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder to the public. Moreover, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, the 3% fixed discount to current market prices of our Common Shares reflected in the purchase prices payable by the Selling Shareholder for our Common Shares that we may require it to purchase from us from time to time under the Purchase Agreement is deemed to be underwriting compensation in connection with sales of our Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder to the public.
We also have agreed to indemnify the Selling Shareholder and certain other persons against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of Common Shares offered hereby, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities. The Selling Shareholder has agreed to indemnify us against liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from certain written information furnished to us by the Selling Shareholder specifically for use in this prospectus or, if such indemnity is unavailable, to contribute amounts required to be paid in respect of such liabilities. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore, unenforceable.
We estimate that the total expenses for the offering will be approximately $0.8 million.
The Selling Shareholder has represented to us that at no time prior to the date of the Purchase Agreement has the Selling Shareholder, its sole member, any of their respective officers, or any entity managed or controlled by the Selling Shareholder or its sole member, engaged in or effected, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, for its own account or for the account of any of its affiliates, any short sale (as such term is defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act) of our Common Shares or any hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to our Common Shares. The Selling Shareholder has agreed that during the term of the Purchase Agreement, none of the Selling Shareholder, its sole member or any of their respective officers, or any entity managed or controlled by the Selling Shareholder or its sole member, will enter into or effect, directly or indirectly, any of the foregoing transactions for its own account or for the account of any other such person or entity.
We have advised the Selling Shareholder that it is required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act. With certain exceptions, Regulation M precludes the Selling Shareholder, any affiliated purchasers, and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in the distribution from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase any security which is the subject of the distribution until the entire distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the distribution of that security. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the securities offered by this prospectus.
This offering will terminate on the date that all Common Shares offered by this prospectus have been sold by the Selling Shareholder.
Our Common Shares are currently listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “TOPS”.
The Selling Shareholder and/or one or more of its affiliates has provided, currently provides and/or from time to time in the future may provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and/or one or more of our affiliates that are unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the offering of shares for resale by the Selling Shareholder to which this prospectus relates, for which investment banking and other financial services they have received and may continue to receive customary fees, commissions and other compensation from us, aside from any discounts, fees and other compensation that the Selling Shareholder has received and may receive in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, including the $500,000 Commitment Fee we have agreed to pay to the Selling Shareholder, (ii) the 3.0% fixed discount to current market prices of our Common Shares reflected in the purchase prices payable by the Selling Shareholder for our Common Shares that we may require it to purchase from us from time to time under the Purchase Agreement, and (iii) our reimbursement of up to an aggregate of $215,000 of the Selling Shareholder’s legal fees and fees paid to the QIU ($125,000 paid prior to the filing of this registration statement and $7,500 per fiscal quarter for the maximum three year term of the Purchase Agreement) in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
EXHIBIT B
The business address of B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“BRPC II”) is 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, California 90025. BRPC II’s principal business is that of a private investor. BRPC II is a wholly owned subsidiary of B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC (“BRPI”). As a result, BRPI may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II. B. Riley Financial, Inc. (“BRF”) is the parent company of BRPC II and BRPI. As a result, BRF may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II and indirectly beneficially owned by BRPI. Bryant R. Riley is the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of BRF. As a result, Bryant R. Riley may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II and indirectly beneficially owned by BRPI. Each of BRF, BRPI and Bryant R. Riley expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities of the company held of record by BRPC II, except to the extent of its/his pecuniary interest therein. None of BRF, BRPI or BRPC II is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or an independent broker-dealer; however, each of BRF, BRPI, BRPC II and Bryant R. Riley is an affiliate of B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“BRS”), a registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, and Bryant R. Riley is an associated person of BRS. BRS will act as an executing broker that will effectuate resales of Common Stock that have been and may be acquired by BRPC II from the company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to the public in this offering.
Exhibit 10.75
ADDENDUM No.1
To the Share Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) entered into as of February 18, 2026, by and between Central Mare Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the “Seller”), and TOP Ships Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation (the “Buyer”). The Seller and the Buyer are sometimes referred to in this Agreement as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”, pursuant to which the Buyer and the Seller as per Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of the Agreement agreed that the Seller shall sell, convey, transfer, assign and deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer shall purchase and acquire from the Seller, the Shares, together with all rights and interests associated therewith for an aggregate purchase price of $41,093,188 (the “Purchase Price”).
It is hereby agreed that with effect from the date of this Addendum No.1, the Agreement shall be read and construed subject to the amendments set out below:
Dated: 15 April 2026
Definitions Words and expressions used in the Agreement shall have the same meaning when used in this Addendum No.1, unless herein amended.
Agreed Amendments to the Agreement Clause 1.2(c) of the Agreement shall be partially modified and replaced by the following wording:
“ an amount of $4,000,000 shall be paid to the seller no later than April 15, 2026 and the outstanding balance of the Purchase Price, being $16,093,188 as of April 15, 2026, shall be paid to the seller no later than May 31, 2026.
Miscellaneous Save as expressly amended by this Addendum No 1, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
In the event of conflict between the terms of this Addendum No.1 and the Agreement, this Addendum No.1 shall prevail over the Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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BUYER:
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| By: | /s/ Alexandros Tsirikos | |
| Name: | Alexandros Tsirikos | |
| Title: | Director | |
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| SELLER | ||
| By: | /s/ Pinelopi Athanasia Platsouka | |
| Name: | Pinelopi Athanasia Platsouka | |
| Title: | President, Treasurer and Director | |