Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
As previously announced, on June 30, 2022, Charge Enterprises, Inc. (sometimes referred to herein as “we,” “us,” “our” or similar terms) entered into and closed an Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with funds affiliated with Arena Investors LP (the “Arena Investors”) pursuant to which we issued 1,177,023 shares of our newly-designated Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series D Preferred Stock”). The Series D Preferred Stock was issued in exchange for the Arena Investors’ $3,000,000 principal amount convertible notes issued on May 8, 2020, $3,888,889 principal amount convertible notes issued on November 3, 2020, and $5,610,000 principal amount convertible notes issued on May 19, 2021. In connection with the Exchange Agreement, we also entered into an Amendment, Consent and Waiver dated June 30, 2022 (the “Amendment, Consent and Waiver”) with the Arena Investors, whereby we agreed, among other things, to allow each holder of the warrants previously issued to Arena (the “Arena Warrants”) the option to require us to issue to such holder, upon exercise, in lieu of issuing common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), such number of shares of a to-be-issued class of our preferred stock, which shall be convertible into the same number of shares of Common Stock as would have been issued upon exercise of such Arena Warrants. The preferred stock will be of like tenor as our Series D Preferred Stock, except such newly issued preferred stock shall not pay any dividends (the “New Preferred Stock”).
On March 14, 2023, the Arena Investors delivered us a notice of exercise pursuant to which they elected to exercise the warrants issued in May 2020 (the “May 2020 Warrants”) into (i) 4,400,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 3,200,000 shares of a to-be-created preferred stock which shall be designated as Series E preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
A Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations (the “Certificate of Designation”), designating 3,200,000 shares of to-be-issued Preferred Stock was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 27, 2023. The following is a summary of the material terms of the Certificate of Designation and the Preferred Stock:
Liquidation Preference
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a liquidation distribution (the “Liquidation Preference”), per share equal to $0.50 per share (the “Stated Value”). The Liquidation Preference is senior in liquidation rights to the holders of our Common Stock.
Voting
Except as otherwise provided in our Certificate of Incorporation, the Certificate of Designation or as otherwise required by law, holders of the Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights, however, we shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of 66 2/3% of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock:
| · | alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Certificate of Designation, |
| · | amend our Certificate of Incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that materially adversely affects any rights of any holder of Preferred Stock, |
| · | increase the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock, or |
| · | enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing. |
Conversion
Each share of Preferred Stock is convertible, at any time, at the option of the holder, into such number of shares of our Common Stock equal to the Stated Value divided by the conversion price of $0.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided in the Certificate of Designation.
Each holder is prohibited from converting the Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock if, as a result of such conversion, the holder, together with its affiliates, would own more than 9.99% of the total number of shares of our Common Stock then issued and outstanding, (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”). Any holder may reset the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to a higher or lower number, but never in excess of 19.99%, upon providing written notice to us. Such notice will be effective 61 days after delivery to us.
On March 27, 2023, we entered into an amended and restated registration rights Agreement with the Arena Investors in connection with the issuance of Preferred Stock (the “Amended Registration Rights Agreement”). The Amended Registration Rights Agreement amends that certain registration rights agreement entered into with the Arena Investors on June 30, 2022. The Amended Registration Rights Agreement granted the holders of Preferred Stock up to two demand registration rights requiring us to file no later than 90 days after demand a resale Securities Act registration statement for the offer and resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (the “Conversion Shares”). If we fail to have it filed by such date, or if we fail to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until all of such Conversion Shares have been sold or are otherwise able to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (as defined below), without any volume or manner of sale restrictions, then we will be obligated to pay liquidated damages to the holders of such securities of $75,000, in addition to any other rights such holders may have, upon the occurrence of any such event and on each monthly anniversary thereafter until the event is cured. The Amended Registration Rights Agreement also contains mutual indemnifications by us and the holders of registrable securities thereunder, which we believe are customary for transactions of this type.
The Preferred Stock and the Conversion Shares were issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The Arena Investors are each an accredited investor. Neither this Current Report on Form 8-K, nor any Exhibit attached hereto, is an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein.
The following descriptions of the the Certificate of Designation, the Amended Registration Rights Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Certificate of Designation and the Amended Registration Rights Agreement, copies of which are filed as Exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K.